UWI senior lecturer also full-time gov't adviser

Opposition Senator Lambert Brown has expressed concern that Dr Lloyd Waller has full-time jobs at two public institutions. Dr Waller is senior lecturer and head of the Department of Government at he University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. He is also a senior adviser and consultant to the minister of tourism.

"Could you tell us, Minister (Ruel Reid), if that senior consultant is working full time as an adviser/consultant? And I raise it because somebody with a similar name as Dr Lloyd Waller is also employed to the University of the West Indies on a full-time basis," Brown said in the Senate on Friday.

He continued, "So I am wondering ... if it is the same person or if there is a conflict here? Because that person is earning head of department salary at the UWI. [So, is he working] full time in the Ministry of Tourism at $4 million-plus?"

Reid, the information minister, told Brown that he would have to find out the terms of Waller's engagement with the ministry.

According to the list of advisers and consultants submitted by Reid, Waller earns a basic salary of $2,933,174.20, plus $1,243,608 for travelling, from the tourism ministry. His three-year contract commenced on March 8, 2016, and an adviser is usually paid gratuity on completion of the contract.

Brown pointed out that the list of consultants made a distinction between those who were contracted on a part-time and full-time basis. Waller is classified under the latter.

Professor Archibald McDonald, UWI principal, told The Gleaner that Waller has "a full-time job" with the University of the West Indies. "That's all I can confirm, because I don't know what arrangements he has made with the minister. You [as a lecturer] are allowed to do consultancies, essentially, but not to take on a full-time job," McDonald advised The Gleaner.

The Gleaner contacted the tourism ministry and Waller for a comment on his engagement, but neither responded up to press time.