Premier Ewart Brown's new press secretary is being paid about $30,000 a year less than his predecessors.

Jamahl Simmons told The Royal Gazette he was receiving an annual salary of $71,110 for the full-time job, which is publicly funded but a political appointment, rather than a Civil Service post.

Former press secretaries Glenn Jones and Scott Simmons earned between $102,000 and $108,000 and it is believed that Arnold Minors, who stepped down as press secretary last week, picked up a similar amount.

Mr. Minors has been kept on as a speech writer for the Premier and will be paid $25,000 for his contracted role.

This newspaper understands that the pay for the press secretary position has been reduced because it no longer includes the speech writing element.