Michael Dunkley has defended his financial record following criticism of his decision to increase Cabinet from ten to 12 ministers.

The Premier urged those questioning the move to “look at the whole picture”, pointing out that his new-look Cabinet has five ministers working part-time.

Senator Jeff Baron, Sylvan Richards and Cole Simons all joined Cabinet in Friday’s reshuffle, as Ministers for National Security, Social Development and Sport, and Environment respectively.

The only outgoing minister was Shawn Crockwell, who resigned from his tourism and transport role during the Pathways to Status protests in March.

Mr Dunkley spoke to The Royal Gazette after economist Craig Simmons and political commentator Charles Jeffers both queried the fiscal wisdom of increasing Cabinet by 20 per cent.

“We’re moving in the wrong direction, at least from a taxpayer’s perspective. But politics is a different story,” said Mr Simmons, a lecturer at Bermuda College.

“Why they’ve added the additional ministers, I don’t know. We should have fewer ministers with more ministries,” said Mr Jeffers, the former leader of the National Liberal Party.

The five part-time ministers are: Grant Gibbons (Economic Development), Michael Fahy (Tourism, Transport and Municipalities), Patricia Gordon-Pamplin (Home Affairs), Cole Simons and Sylvan Richards. The 2016-17 Budget book states that a part-time minister in the House of Assembly earns half the annual salary of his or her full-time counterpart — $50,421 versus $100,841.

This means that the 12-person Cabinet is paid the equivalent of 9.5 full-time salaries per year.

Mr Dunkley said that, despite the part-time ministers’ designation, they were “industrious and conscientious people” who worked beyond expectations.

“All of the ministers in Cabinet know that I’m on the job 24-7 and to expect a call from me at any time, and they answer,” he said.

“So I think we’re getting excellent value for money, even in these very tough times.”

Mr Dunkley added that the Cabinet’s Budget this year of $7 million is $2 million less than it was five years ago, and that he operates as Premier with a skeleton personal staff.

When Mr Dunkley assumed the leadership role from Craig Cannonier in 2014, he dispensed with his predecessor’s chief of staff Dale Jackson and press secretary Charmaine Burgess, while retaining the services of special advisor Don Grearson.

“As a businessman with 35 years’ experience, budgets are very important to me and I operate within them,” Mr Dunkley said.

“Everything I’ve done has been about making sure we’re getting value for money and protecting taxpayers’ dollars.

“I ask the people of Bermuda to look at it in that light, and to hold me accountable for the work that we do going forward.”