Civil service head Kenneth Dill has called on Public Accounts Committee chairman Bob Richards to withdraw a report which criticises the Department of Tourism for its dealings with American firm GlobalHue.

Major Dill wrote to the Shadow Finance Minister on July 21 on behalf of the civil service executive claiming that the document contained "errors and misleading information".

"We urge its immediate withdrawal and amendment," he wrote. "It is our view that the responsibility of any committee appointed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly should be thorough in its review and accurate in its submission."

Mr. Richards told The Royal Gazette the PAC stood by the contents of the report, which was agreed to in the House in the early hours of Saturday.

Major Dill took issue in his letter with the report's assertions that:

• The Attorney General did not vet the original multimillion dollar contract agreed between the Department of Tourism and advertising agency GlobalHue in 2006;

• There was no tendering process when the contract was renewed; and

• The Department's permanent secretary Cherie Whitter was "fully responsible" for a failure to follow Government's Financial Instructions on contracts worth more than $50,000, which require that three or more quotes are obtained;

Major Dill said in his letter, copied to The Royal Gazette, that Government records showed the GlobalHue contract was reviewed by the Attorney General.

But Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews said last night: "Tourism officials are on record confirming that the contract was not vetted by the Attorney General's Chambers."

Mr. Richards said: "The Attorney General signed a Cabinet paper, which is not the same thing as vetting."

This newspaper contacted current AG Kim Wilson, who was appointed in December 2007, after she had left her office last night. She said she would need to confirm the involvement of her chambers upon review of the file.

Major Dill denied in his letter that the way the contract was awarded violated Financial Instructions, as he said at least six bids were received and reviewed in response to a request for proposal (RFP).

But Mr. Richards said the civil service head appeared to be talking about the initial contract with GlobalHue, when the PAC's complaint was that the agreement was renewed or "rolled over" without being put back out to tender.

Major Dill defended Ms Whitter in his letter, arguing it was Cabinet, not her, which decided to renew the deal.

He pointed out she was not permanent secretary when the original contract was awarded.

Mr. Richards said Ms Whitter was PS when the contract with GlobalHue was rolled over. "The Cabinet can make any decision it likes but the civil service has to follow Financial Instructions," he said.

"The Cabinet cannot waive Financial Instructions. In this case, if the Cabinet decided it didn't want to go out to tender, it is the permanent secretary's responsibility to say it has to go out to tender."

The PAC report which criticises the GlobalHue deal is for the financial years ending March 2007 and March 2008.

Former Auditor General Larry Dennis released a damning special report on GlobalHue last year, in which he raised concerns about the appropriateness of payments it received from the Department of Tourism, as well as hefty markups from a media agency working for the firm and a failure to provide invoices.