Opposition MP John Barritt fears the appointment of former PLP spin doctor Scott Simmons to the new Government TV station means it could become a propaganda vehicle rather than neutral information channel.

Mr. Barritt said the United Bermuda Party were concerned about how Mr. Simmons could so easily be absorbed into the Department of Communications and Information after being dumped as the Premier’s press secretary.

However in written answers to parliamentary questions Premier Ewart Brown said the post had not been advertised because it was going to a consultant.

Mr. Barritt told The Royal Gazette: “To my mind it’s quite disturbing. We didn’t support the idea of a Government TV station to begin with. But we thought it would be informative and run by civil servants meant to be politically neutral.

“I am not aware of any expertise Mr. Simmons has in broadcasting or setting up TV stations or news for that matter.

“But what experience he does have is being a former candidate for the PLP, the PLP’s PR person and press secretary for the Premier — a political appointment.”

Mr. Barritt said it looked as if the new station would end up being party political rather than neutral — at great cost to the taxpayer with more than $1 million already budgeted.

Mr. Simmons, who was replaced as the Premier’s press secretary, with an annual salary of $102,000, by former Royal Gazette senior reporter Glenn Jones, has been appointed to a temporary post setting up the Government’s television station.

Answers to parliamentary questions also revealed Mr. Simmons has taken a pay cut after being given a three-month contract as a production associate where he will pay paid at a pro rata rate of $71,811.

Premier Brown said Mr. Simmons will assist the programme content manager with research, development and production of public services announcements, the community bulletin board and other preliminary start-up content.

The Premier added: “The work done by the former press secretary will allow full-time post-holders, once engaged, to begin work on complete programme packages.”

Recruitment began for the new station earlier this year, but Government has been tight-lipped on when it will go live and what format it will take.

In last year’s budget the television project was allotted $840,000. This year’s budget set aside $690,000 and five full-time staff. Yesterday Mr. Simmons could not be reached and both DCI head Beverle Lottimore and Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque declined to comment.