The Government has hired a lobbying firm led by a former Obama campaign strategist to improve Bermuda's relationship with the US President and his executive branch at an annual cost of $200,000.

Washington, DC-based Public Private Partnership Inc was officially hired on April 1, weeks before the controversial Uighur resettlement deal was cemented.

The UK Times newspaper has reported that Public Private Partnership Inc came up with the idea to resettle the four Guantánamo detainees in Bermuda, although neither Premier Ewart Brown nor the lobbying firm returned a request for comment from The Royal Gazette to confirm this.

According to the report in The Times, Dr. Brown then put the lobbying firm's Uighur resettlement proposal to US officials.

In paperwork filed with the US Department of Justice, the company's purpose is described as strengthening the relationship between President Obama's administration and the Bermuda Government, including monitoring political developments and advising Bermuda on public policy.

Dr. Brown has come under fire in recent weeks for setting up the Uighur move with the US without consulting his Cabinet, the Governor or UK authorities, who are now set to decide whether Bermuda will still be allowed to negotiate on Britain's behalf.

Public Private Partnership Inc is led by prominent black lobbyist Arthur R. Collins, a veteran of President Obama's successful campaign and a former adviser to failed Presidential nominee John Kerry.

Mr. Collins has been active within the Congressional Black Caucus organisation, a group Dr. Brown has met with on numerous occasions. Mr. Collins and his team will be paid $200,000 per year at a rate of $16,666.67 per month plus "reasonable out of pocket expenses".

Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque is listed as the Bermuda Government's representative in this deal in US Department of Justice paperwork, filed in accordance with the US' Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires US companies acting for foreign organisations in a "political or quasi-political capacity" to disclose their activity.

Mr. Telemaque did not respond to questions on the appointment from The Royal Gazette by press time.