A taxi driver who let rip with a negative rant about tourism to a visiting couple has received a tongue-lashing himself — from no less than the Premier.

For little did the cabbie know that the pair in the back of his vehicle were hotel developer Carl Bazarian — the man planning to build a new Park Hyatt hotel in St. George's — and his wife.

Premier Ewart Brown related the incident to MPs in the House of Assembly on Monday, telling them the taxi driver — whose name he did not reveal — was an "aberration" and not representative of the Island's cabbies.

He said Mr. Bazarian was visiting Bermuda about three weeks ago to relax after his "miraculous escape" from the US Airways flight which plunged into the Hudson River in January.

He and his wife decided to take a cab out to the former Club Med site — the spot where Mr. Bazarian is planning to build a $294 million luxury hilltop resort.

The developer, not revealing his identity, asked the taxi driver about the Park Hyatt plan and, according to Dr. Brown, was told: "Some months ago the Government blew up a hotel that was here and now the Premier is talking about building a hotel but it probably won't happen because the money has already been given. He's already been given part of the money and it's already in his Swiss bank account."

Tourism and Transport Minister Dr. Brown continued: "The gentleman thought that he would ask a few more questions and, of course, the taxi driver went on to talk about all the negative things about tourism in Bermuda.

"That would probably not be worth me telling the story if his passengers were not Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bazarian."

After his fellow MPs cried out: "Say it ain't so", Dr. Brown said the majority of taxi drivers were good ambassadors for Bermuda.

"What a terrible coincidence," he said of the incident, adding that if Mr. Bazarian was thin-skinned he could have taken it to mean he wasn't welcome in Bermuda.

Dr. Brown described such negative talk to visitors as a "sport that will not help us in efforts to rebuild the hospitality sector".

He added: "Even though we feel depressed and miserable at times, we should try our best not to discourage people who want to do things to help Bermuda."

l Are you the cabbie who vented his views to Carl Bazarian? Call our newsdesk on 278-0137 or email news@royalgazette.bm.