United Bermuda Party Leader Wayne Furbert has hit out at the lack of response to a question tabled in Parliament about the salaries of the Premier?s new senior staff.

Mr. Furbert asked for job descriptions, benefits and compensation associated with the posts of press secretary, chief of staff and consultant appointed by Ewart Brown in the past few weeks.

However, Dr. Brown?s response failed to reveal specific details about what any of the posts entailed, or what their salaries were.

Last night, Mr. Furbert said the public had a right to know how the Government?s money was being spent.

He said: ?We feel total anguish about the Government not being open about this. The Government is short-changing the people of Bermuda because the people have a right to know the answers to these questions.

?All we want to do is be informed when it comes to spending the Government?s money.

?We understand the salary for the press secretary is $120,000 a year. We want to find out whether that is true or not. At least, they should tell the public.

?We as the opposition have the right to get a reasonable or decent answer to this.

?The public should not be exempt from knowing how the Government?s purse is spent.?

reported last month how Dr. Brown had appointed Scott Simmons to a new publicly-funded press secretary post. Mr. Simmons previously served an executive role with the Progressive Labour Party.

The role of press secretary to former Premier Alex Scott was held by Beverle Lottimore, who carried out the duty in addition to her role as the Government?s director of communication and information, and was not paid any extra for it.

Dr. Brown also appointed Sen. Wayne Caines as his chief of staff, to manage his personal and administrative staff. Sen. Caines resigned as a prosecutor and his commission as a Captain in the Bermuda Regiment to take the post.

Meanwhile Rolfe Commissiong was appointed to the role of consultant to the Premier, to investigate race relations, particularly the plight of young black males in Bermuda.

Mr. Furbert?s question in Parliament on Friday stated: ?Would the Honourable Premier Dr. Ewart Brown please inform this Honourable House as to the terms and conditions of the appointment of his press secretary / chief of staff / consultant, including job description and details of total compensation / benefits and use of a Government car??

Dr. Brown?s response was: ?The terms and conditions of the appointment of the press secretary / chief of staff / consultant are consistent with those offered to members of the civil service and employees in the private sector and pursuant to the provisions of the Employment Act 2000.? put the same question to Mr. Simmons yesterday. The press secretary answered: ?I can reconstitute what was stated on the floor of the house.?

When asked his salary, Mr. Simmons declined to answer. He said there would also be no comment on the criticisms made by Mr. Furbert. Opposition Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley echoed Mr. Furbert?s sentiments.

He said the UBP had not been given the ?courtesy of a reply? to their question and described Dr. Brown?s answer as ?blas?.

Mr. Dunkley claimed that ?when the questioning gets tough?, the Premier does not answer. UBP house leader John Barritt added: ?He?s obviously ducking and weaving and deciding not to say anything.?