Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley criticised Government this week for not publicising the appointment of Olga Scott as a consultant with the Department of Financial Assistance. He said Mrs. Scott?s appointment was indicative of a failure to plan ahead.

?I was quite surprised that this Government, which talks about transparency non-stop, didn?t make it public earlier,? Mr. Dunkley said.

?In this instance, as close as this matter is to the Premier, one would have thought a responsible leadership would have gone above and beyond to ensure the public knows what?s going on so they fully understand and don?t get any hint that there?s something irresponsible taking place.?

Mrs. Scott?s consultancy contract ends in June.

Health Minister Patrice Minors explained in response to Parliamentary Questions last week that the former Director of Financial Assistance had been taken on as a consultant to help smooth the transition to a new Director. Mr. Dunkley was quick to add that Mrs. Scott was clearly the ?most qualified person? to oversee the transition.

?But what could be in question is that, with Mrs. Scott retiring, there wasn?t more forward planning being done to eliminate the need for an expensive consultancy agreement. I would have hoped that Mrs. Scott didn?t just walk into the office and say ?I would like to retire in a week?s time?. It?s very difficult to operate that way especially in Bermuda where labour is at a premium and difficult to find at this time.?

He added: ?Mrs. Scott was well respected and did a good job in that area. But we just find it curious that there seems to be a lack of planning.?

He said the very nature of the work done by the Department would suggest that it is handled ?with a little bit more tenderness?. ?So in this case you want to do everything you can to ensure that the client base gets served to the best of the ability of the staff. With this lack of forward planning we could create some tension in this area.?

But Mrs. Minors said the situation was entirely clear and transparent. ?It?s quite clear that we have someone who everyone knows is the Premier?s wife and she had the position of heading up the Department of Financial Assistance,? she said.

?She took the position of retiring and it?s just rational that we would want to have continuity.?

She added: ?How much more transparency do you want? Obviously the aim is to provide the new Director of Financial Assistance with as much guidance as is available for that new position. It?s straightforward. We have nothing to hide.?

On the criticism of a lack of forward planning Mrs. Minors said: ?I think the answers that have been given are sufficient. If he wants to make a big issue out of it, that?s his prerogative.?