Premier Ewart Brown's "top public relations agency" from the United States will join a team of publicly funded persons employed to convey the Government's message.

According to the Premier yesterday, the Government needed a new PR firm to "design and implement a media campaign to counter the destructive imagery promoted by the Opposition and its assembled media forces."

Though the price for this service was not revealed, it is understood that at least one private organisation on the Island which employed a New York City-based PR firm paid $40,000 a month for its services.

In the statement yesterday the Premier added that: "We will not entertain the opposition's masquerade of debate but will conduct the business of government, the people's business in an efficient manner, focused on the task at hand and continuing to deliver as we promised we would."

Already helping the Government deliver its message is the Department of Communication and Information (DCI), which was allocated $2,942,000 for the 2008-09 year.

This department is tasked according to the budget, to: "proactively develop public awareness of Government activities and to provide media, printing and public relations advisory service to all Government departments."

The nearly $3 million includes among other things, salaries for 22 staff in administration, photographic services, graphic services, public affairs and for the Government Television Station.

Government's Television Station, CITV which launched last year was given $992,000 in the DCI budget for the 2008-09 year and provides varied viewing.

One task for the station is to provide information about Government as, according to the Premier's letter on their website he hopes that: "you will tune in regularly to keep informed about Government and the Services we provide."

Also added to the message-deliverers was at least one post created for a Communications' consultant for the Ministry of Education though it is unknown how much that position is paid.

Helping the Premier get his message out is the position of Press Secretary, which was created in November 2006 by Premier Brown.

Currently holding the position is Glenn Jones who is thought to be earning more than $100,000.

The role of press secretary to former Premier Alex Scott was held by Beverle Lottimore, who carried out the duty in addition to her role as the Government's Director of Communication and Information and was not paid any extra for it.