Kevin Keen was tasked with helping the government find millions in efficiencies in 2015, but after months of work spent on reports he walked away, frustrated at not being able to put things into action.
Now, government chief executive Charlie Parker has begun putting in place a transformation project, although he has faced regular criticism for the amount of money being spent on highly paid consultants.
Mr Keen, a former head of the JSPCA, Jersey Post and Jersey Dairy, believes Islanders need to give the government a chance to drive change.
He said: ‘I think back then more was spent on consultants than there is now, and now I think some things are actually getting done.
‘There is nothing wrong with the government needing and getting some advice on things, but projects like Fort Regent are the classic example of using consultants – I think if you stacked up all the consultancy reports you could probably reach the moon.
‘When I was consulting I got frustrated because I could see nothing was being done and I was just writing reports.
‘There was a lot of time and a lot of money being spent on it, but with the latest stuff I think people need to give it a chance.’
Chief Minister John Le Fondré has defended the amount spent on consultants, saying the government was in a period of transformation. He said that the number of consultants was due to reduce significantly in 2020.
Mr Keen also welcomed the introduction of six-monthly reports into spending on consultants, brought in following a successful proposition by Deputy Kirsten Morel. ‘I think what Deputy Morel has done to make this happen is great,’ he said. ‘It means the government can be held to account. Something like 1p in each £1 is spent on consultants, which is big money. But the States are a big organisation with big problems.
‘So, I am wanting to see what they do with these reports. They need to be given more time before anyone criticises them.’
