Ministerial travel costs will be made public on a new website as part of a drive to promote transparency within Government.

The move comes as Government hit back yesterday at Opposition criticism of a recent trip by the Premier and two Ministers to New York.

Shadow Tourism Minister, Zane DeSilva, branded the trip a ‘junket’ claiming the cost of the trip should be made public.

But last night Government maintained the US trip was “prudent and fiscally managed” to attract investment and showcase Bermuda.

And it revealed plans to put all Ministerial and Government MP travel costs on line in the near future for the public to see. An OBA spokesman said travel to market the island is essential for Bermuda’s economic survival.

He added: “Bermudians have every right to know how their tax dollars are spent, and they can have confidence that this Government is making prudent decisions as it works to attract businesses and visitors to our shores.

“Premier Dunkley has demonstrated the Government’s commitment to transparency by introducing and passing the Public Access to Information (PATI) bill within weeks of his Premiership.

“The commitment to transparency and accountability will be extended with the imminent launch of a website that will outline all travel expenses for any travel taken by Government Ministers and MPs.

“Attracting more visitors and more investment dollars means more economic activity, which means more jobs.

“To get the economy working better for Bermudians, the Government must fish where the fish are, the east coast of America is our primary market for business and visitors.

“The trip to New York City this week — the world’s business capital — is part of the Government’s work to re-establish Bermuda’s profile in overseas tourism and business markets — a profile diminished in recent years because of the mishandling of Bermuda Tourism marketing and antagonistic government attitudes that alienated investors and stakeholders — key sources for the Island’s income and jobs.”

The OBA spokesman accused Mr DeSilva of using falsehood and disparaging language to criticise the New York trip and cheapen Government’s efforts to bring new business to the island.

He added: “First, Premier Dunkley doesn’t do “junkets”. Mr DeSilva’s use of that word betrays more about his own government’s approach to ministerial travel than the new reality today.

“Second, Mr DeSilva’s statement about the Premier’s “refusal to disclose” the cost of the trip is a deliberate falsehood.

“The Premier has been very clear that all ministerial travel will be made available to the public, starting with the imminent posting on a Cabinet travel website of the cost for this week’s New York trip.

“Finally, let’s consider the hypocritical shallowness of Mr DeSilva’s opposition to the New York trip.

“Mr. DeSilva, we recall, was a vigorous defender of PLP Government travel including former Premier Brown’s trip to China, which he said was a trip “to try and build up our relationships with that country.” Right.

“Premier Dunkley has said he will take every opportunity to promote Bermuda to benefit Bermudians and no amount of misleading criticism from the Opposition will sway those efforts.

“In conclusion, we want to be clear about one thing: the need and the urgency behind Bermuda’s efforts to restore visitor interest and investor confidence in the Island today is because of the damage done by the previous government.”

In his statement earlier this week Mr DeSilva said the public had a right to know why it was necessary for Premier Dunkley, Ministers Grant Gibbons and Shawn Crockwell, and Senator Jeff Baron to travel to New York.

He also called for the cost of the trip to be made public.

A Government spokeswoman responded: “New York is considered to be the business capital of the world and a critical market for Bermuda’s economy.

“The public can be assured that the visit was prudent and fiscally managed, with the aim of achieving key national objectives of attracting direct inward investment and showcasing Bermuda as a premier vacation destination.

“The Premier and Ministers who attended New York were there in key capacities.

“This resulted in considerable exposure for Bermuda on various levels.

“As a note, Government is in the process of finalising a travel website detailing Ministerial travel costs, which can be viewed by the public. The website launch is forthcoming.”

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