The Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) is investigating a string of complaints that career civil servants are being overlooked while plum posts are allegedly given to political appointees.

Secretary Ed Ball yesterday confirmed the Union is addressing "a number of concerns" expressed by Government workers who believe traditional hiring and promotion practices have been bypassed. Although he refused to state what specific placements are under question, Mr. Ball said the issue was compounded by an anxiety that senior civil servants would have to report to persons with less experience.

"A number of concerns have been voiced to the Union which are being investigated," he said. "And if there are violations, someone will have to answer. The Bermuda Public Services Commission is there to stop political interference. It checks to see if the proper steps have been followed.

"I can state that no contract worker can give direction to a civil servant, period. A consultant is hired for a specific job and has no vested powers greater than a civil servant especially a senior civil servant."

The hiring of Premier Ewart Brown's former press secretary Scott Simmons as a consultant to the Ministry of Education was criticised as a political appointment earlier this month as was the decision to make Education Minister Randy's Horton's sister Ellen-Kate his permanent secretary. Teacher representatives were particularly outraged by Ms Horton's appointment, claiming she lacked experience and, as Mr. Horton's sister, would likely continually be confronted with a conflict of interest.

Questions have also been raised over posts within the Department of Tourism ¿ Government was interrogated over its faith-based tourism scheme headed by Dr. Brown's political campaign manager Andre Curtis. As part of that initiative, Mr. Curtis was paid $400,000 and brought 2,200 tourists to the island over a 12-month period. Although the assertion has been denied the Opposition has claimed the scheme is a way of getting cash to Mr. Curtis as a thank you for his campaign assistance.

More recently, Emily-Gail Dill was transferred from the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts to help run the faith-based initiative out of the Department of Tourism's New York office and assist with the Bermuda Music Festival and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

While he did not comment directly on any of the mentioned appointments, Mr. Ball said: "There are issues the Union will be addressing shortly. There is a process in place for secondments, contract officers and the like. We like to operate with transparency. One of the biggest criticisms I have is of people who only tell one side of the story, people who are not open enough to tell the truth.

"This is a principled matter and there are certain principles we like to work to. If (an appointment) doesn't satisfy that criteria, then something is wrong.

"The Bermuda Government is supposed to be the employer of choice. It must do things above board and follow (standards set by) the Bermuda Public Services Commission."