Premier Ewart Brown has revealed closely guarded details on the six-figure salaries of his senior staff, according to Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert.

A document seen by ? but not independently verified ? puts Press Secretary Scott Simmons' salary at $102,000 per year.

Mr. Simmons' position was newly created under the Brown administration and permits the job holder to use a Government vehicle and makes the employee eligible for enrolment in the Government Employees Health Insurance Scheme.

The Press Secretary's job description is also outlined in the document.

The role is paid for using taxpayer funds.

Dr. Brown's predecessor, Alex Scott, employed Beverle Lottimore as his communication co-ordinator. For Premier Scott she served in a dual role ? Director of Communication and Information and Press Secretary.

The Opposition Leader has criticised Dr. Brown for creating an added layer of highly paid staff because the chief Government communicator and chief press liaison are now two different people.

"I don't see much strenuous work from the job description as laid out there ? for that size of money," said Mr. Furbert.

"It's quite a bit. I don't know if we're getting a bang for our buck. That's the real issue right now."

An e-mail and phone call to the Press Secretary's Office at 5.30 p.m. yesterday were not returned by news time.

The Opposition is also raising questions about the salary of Sen. Wayne Caines who is now the Premier's Chief of Staff.

His salary is exactly the same as Mr. Simmons', according to the document ? $102,000.

"From what we can see right now, there's a lot of money being spent by the Premier just to surround himself with individuals," said Mr. Furbert.

Chief of Staff is not entirely a new position for the Premier's Office. When Dame Jennifer Smith was Premier, Lt. Col. David Burch was Chief of Staff.

The Opposition widely criticised her administration for that publicly funded appointment too.

According to statements in the House of Assembly in 1999, Col. Burch's salary was believed to be about $55,000.

Sen. Caines' salary is almost twice the amount paid to the man who held the post before him, although Premier Scott did not hire a Chief of Staff.

In the early weeks of Brown's administration it's been typical for the Chief of Staff to accompany the Premier wherever he goes ? including trips overseas, like the recent visit to the United Kingdom for official country business. It's assumed Bermuda's taxpayers foot the bill.

The Opposition does not allege it is improper to use taxpayers' money for that purpose, but suggests the expenses of the senior staff should be more fully explained in the House of Assembly. Mr. Furbert is especially critical of the role of Rolfe Commissiong, a special consultant to Bermuda's highest elected official. The document shared by the Opposition Leader, said to be from the Premier, describes Mr. Commissioning as a "Consultant on a short term contract" who will develop and implement "four specific projects".

It is those last three words which have raised the eyebrows of Mr. Furbert.

"It says four specific projects. What are the projects?"

Mr. Commissiong's fee of about $8,000 per month works out to be around $47,800 for the six-month length of the contract.

The Premier could not be reached for comment yesterday on these new criticisms from the Opposition Leader.

Meantime, on the floor of the House of Assembly yesterday, the Opposition Leader gave his official Parliamentary response to a heated discussion one week ago. During the motion to adjourn on December 1, Dr. Brown used the term "racist dog", which created a week-long public firestorm about race relations, parliamentary code of conduct and leadership. Yesterday, Mr. Furbert began his motion to adjourn speech by saying: "The United Bermuda Party utterly deplores what was said here last Friday." When the Premier used the term "racist dog" the preceding Friday, Mr. Furbert was not present. As he rose to give his response one week later, the Premier was absent.

After dodging criticism from across the aisle for reading from a prepared text instead of adlibbing, Mr. Furbert continued by suggesting his party would turn the other cheek, but continue to ask tough questions: "It is about upholding the highest standards and values. "It has nothing to do with black or white. It has everything to do with what is right and what is wrong. It has nothing to do with particular personalities or party affiliation.

"It has everything to do with doing whatever it takes to make sure that Bermuda gets the best Government that the people need and want."