Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter Apparently dissatisfied with the job summary provided by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and published by The Sunday Gleaner last week, Reneé Anne Shirley, senior adviser to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has unequivocally stated that her anti-doping assignment is not all she does at the expense of taxpayers.
In her letter to The Sunday Gleaner, Miss Shirley stopped short of saying that the tax dollars, which is paying her approximately $3.5 million a year for her services, is being well spent. "A one-sentence job description does not do justice to the job that I currently undertake (and) I must state for the record that I do not consider my work to be a laughing matter," she said.
"To set the record straight, I would like to state that the work that I undertake in the area of anti-doping in sport on behalf of the Prime Minister is one of my major assignments, but not the only assignment or task that I undertake for the Most Honourable Prime Minister."
Miss Shirley was responding to last week Sunday's article on PM Simpson Miller's personal staff. The information describing her job function and the other persons employed directly to the Prime Minister was supplied by the OPM under the Access to Information (ATI) Act.
Financial background
Based on the information provided, the article highlighted that despite Miss Shirley's strong finance background, it seemed that her primary job is apparently to keep Mrs. Simpson Miller informed about the latest developments on doping in sport.
However, Miss Shirley defended her appointment. "It should be noted that while I have a strong background in finance, my training is also in other areas including diplomacy and international commerce, management, economics, public finance and public administration," she explained.
"The anti-doping in sport assignment entails ensuring that the proper Anti-Doping in Sport Programme is rapidly put in place with the accompanying legislation and the establishment of the three legal entities within that programme, as well as to make sure that all these entities become operational in the shortest possible time."
Ms. Shirley, who was listed as one of two senior advisers, pointed out that since signing her contract with the OPM in April of this year, she has, in addition to other accomplishments within the anti-doping portfolio, prepared the Cabinet submission for the ratification of the International Convention against Doping in Sport. She has also prepared a draft bill entitled the Jamaica Sport Anti-Doping Act 2006.
"Further, during my consulting career, I have carried out several
legislative assignments - in fact the draft anti-doping bill represents the fourth piece of legislation that I have crafted to date."
Parliamentary matters
She added that her other major assignments include overseeing the Prime Minister's parliamentary matters. "While carrying out all of the above functions, the bottom line for me is that I work for the Prime Minister as one of her senior advisers, and this entails being flexible and responsive to requests from the Prime Minister, and periodically from other members of the Cabinet."
She added: "The job is multi-faceted and involves providing advice, conducting research and financial analysis, liaising with Members of Parliament, the private sector, ministry and agency officials, and any other assignments as directed from time to time by the (Prime Minister)."
In overseeing the PM's parliamentary matters, Miss Shirley is required to:
Carry out detailed analysis of the estimates of expenditure and revenue and all other relevant Government financial reports, annual reports, and ministry papers tabled in the House of Representatives and provide reports/advice to the MHPM as required.
Attend all sessions of the Standing Finance Committee, take detailed notes of the proceedings, track areas of concerns/consensus and advise the MHPM accordingly.
Attend meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, particularly those involving agencies/matters within the Prime Minister's portfolio responsibilities, for example, the current investigation of the Sandals Whitehouse Project.
Liaise with Members of Parliament (Govern-ment and Opposition), House leadership and ministers of government as directed by the MHPM.
Track motions on the order papers, questions to be answered by ministers and bills brought from the Senate, and advise the Prime Minister accordingly on those matters requiring her attention.
Any other assignments as directed by the MHPM from time to time.
