Hospitals board hires MP Simmons as new comms head
A Government MP has been appointed vice-president for public relations at the Bermuda Hospitals Board.
Jamahl Simmons started in the role on Monday, a spokeswoman for the publicly-funded quango told The Royal Gazette.
The Progressive Labour Party backbencher updated his parliamentary register of interests form with his new position on October 28.
He told the Gazette today that a contract he had with the Cabinet Office for $7,766 a month, or $93,192, as a communications consultant, ended on October 31.
The contract was due to end on March 31 next year, according to a recent public access to information disclosure.
The Gazette asked the BHB if Mr Simmons was required as a public authority staff member to be politically neutral.
Mr Simmons said the board would issue a statement shortly in response.
He has been a PLP MP for Sandys South since 2012, having previously been a United Bermuda Party MP.
Mr Simmons was the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism from 2017 to 2018 and Minister without Portfolio from 2018 to 2020, holding responsibility for government communications during the early stages of the pandemic.
He was the junior minister for communications between June and August 2020, before becoming chairman of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.
The Cabinet Office said in March that Mr Simmons received $15,000 as a Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority board member, $12,000 as an Aviation Authority board member and $300 from being on BEDC’s board — all in addition to his $73,555-a-year MP’s salary.
• To view the parliamentary register of interests form for Mr Simmons, see Related Media
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