The Government insisted it had been transparent about the roles of two public officials after questions raised in the Senate about their remuneration separate from their parliamentary salaries.

It came after Arianna Hodgson, the spokeswoman for finance, responded to a question in the Upper House on Wednesday — telling the senate that Jaché Adams, who was appointed Junior Minister of Finance last month, was paid $142,400 between May 2023 and August 2024 as an adviser to the Minister of Finance.

Asked what criteria had been used to select Mr Adams for the role, Ms Hodgson responded that the query went beyond the scope of the question initially asked.

In a follow-up, Opposition senator Dwayne Robinson asked whether Mr Adams was still being paid as an adviser.

However, Ms Hodgson again stated that the question was beyond the ambit of what had originally been asked.

In response to another question by Opposition Senate Leader Robin Tucker, Owen Darrell, the Government Senate Leader, said that Jamahl Simmons, a government MP, was employed in the Cabinet Office to provide communications support.

He said the Sandys South MP was paid a monthly salary of $7,767.

In a statement the next day, Opposition senator Douglas De Couto said the Government would not confirm whether Mr Adams was continuing in his role as a paid adviser.

He said: “We note that MP Adams was appointed as Junior Minister of Finance on 16 September, a position, which also earns additional pay over his salary as an MP.”

Dr De Couto added: “The One Bermuda Alliance believe the people of Bermuda have a right to know how government is spending its money, what its elected and appointed representatives are receiving from government, and whether that money is being put to good use for our people.”

In response, the Government said it remained fully committed to transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

A spokeswoman said: “It is important to note that the Government answered the questions from the One Bermuda Alliance in the Senate, so it is surprising that they would claim a lack of transparency.”

She said Mr Adams had been an adviser to the Minister of Finance since May 2020.

The spokeswoman added: “His work with the ministry has resulted in a mortgage guarantee programme, pension reform, elimination of stamp duty on mortgage transfers, tax reform, and other initiatives that benefit Bermudians.”

She said Mr Adams’s salary of $8,900 a month had been previously disclosed.

The spokeswoman said Mr Simmons’s role in providing communications support to the Department of Communications had been valuable in ensuring that the public remained fully informed of the latest Government programmes.

She said that the Government was committed to ensuring that all public servants, whether elected or appointed, were focused on delivering for the people of Bermuda in a responsible and accountable manner.

“The questions posed were answered and we will continue to be transparent as we carry out the mandate entrusted to us by the people,” the spokeswoman added.