Bermuda College?s president has scotched claims that a financial investigation into alleged perks received by him could produce embarrassing findings.

Dr. Charles Green ? speaking days after College chairman Nalton Brangman, who was conducting the inquiry, was fired by new Education Minister Neletha Butterfield ? said:?I came here on the cheap. If you look at the perks that presidents of colleges get, I?m probably the least perked in the world.?

The 66-year-old revealed that he took the post for $136,000 a year ? a salary he described as ?very, very low? compared to college presidents in the US.

And he said he had never been informed of the investigation ? ordered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ? into alleged financial irregularities at the publicly-funded college.

He said he assumed Mr. Brangman questioned him about his contract and any perks as a matter of course after being appointed board chairman.

?If the Public Accounts Committee is concerned about me and my conduct, I can guarantee you that there is no wrongdoing on my part,? added Dr. Green.

Mr. Brangman received a letter from Ms Butterfield on Thursday telling him that he was relieved of his duties from September 30 ? just nine months into his tenure as board chairman and before he had delivered the results of his investigation.

sister paper, the Mid-Ocean News, reported yesterday that a number of sources claimed Mr. Brangman had been close to exposing financial irregularities which would have embarrassed Dr. Green and PLP Senator Raymond Tannock, chairman of the College Board at the time of the president?s appointment in 2004.

Dr. Green said of the claim: ?It?s absolutely not fair. I?m a person of integrity so if there is any irregularity, I?m not aware of it, but I don?t think there is. I do know what I can do and can?t do.?

Sen. Tannock said: ?I know of no irregularities and no one has approached me, whether it be Mr. Brangman, the PAC or Bermuda College, about whether any investigation is taking place. I stand by my record at the College.?

Mr. Brangman said he did not believe the inquiry had anything to do with his sacking. He said he had made several unsuccessful attempts to speak with Ms Butterfield since her appointment to offer his continued service and had not been expecting her letter.

?I think I?m probably the first chairman in the board?s history who has been removed ... without even completing so much as a year,? he said. ?It?s embarrassing when you consider that you have been cut short at nine months. But it?s life, it?s politics.?

He said he had a frank, open and friendly relationship with Dr. Green and had found the president forthcoming with documents and information in response to his queries.

?There are some that would make the case that there is a sea or a swamp of corruption or negativity,? he said. ?That isn?t the case.?

The businessman said he had completed his inquiry but had not yet presented a report to the PAC and could not comment on the results. He said he had briefed his board deputy, Pandora Wright, to pass on his findings.

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, chairman of the PAC and Shadow Finance Minister, said Mr. Brangman had been asked to get answers to questions about the college?s finances arising from the Auditor-General?s annual report for 2005 and from ?rumours? circulating in the community about alleged perks.

The Auditor-General?s concerns included the fact that the last audited financial statements for the college were for the year ended March, 2003.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said there were also public concerns which needed addressing, such as Dr. Green?s membership of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, paid for from the public purse.

?We just wanted verification as to whether such perks were included as part and parcel of the employment contract,? she said.