Government Senate leader Senator David Burch has defended a $320,000 budget for Bermuda's Washington DC office which opened in September, but which still remains unstaffed.

In the Cabinet Office budget debate on Friday, Sen. Burch argued that the Government had to act quickly to get a deal on the rent.

He said: "As I indicated in my comments during the general economic debate, we were strongly committed to setting our sights on Washington DC in order to cover all the bases in this increasingly competitive global economy.

"The office is well appointed and the allocation of this funding will enable the engagement of suitably talented individuals to manage the office.

"As foreshadowed by former Congressman Harold Ford last week, the issues of tax policy in the United States will become more and more focused and as a result our early positioning in Washington will serve us well. We will have established our presence and made our friends before we needed them."

UBP Senate leader, Senator Michael Dunkley questioned why there was a need to be closer to Washington DC and London Bermuda also has a London office when effective communication was held between Bermuda and the respective governments without them.

Sen. Dunkley said: "Clearly if you followed the reports of those offices there has to be questions about the money that was spent. For example the explanation about opening the office in September in Washington DC last year (so as not to) lose the space because it was a bargain that we couldn't pass up."

Bermuda's empty Washington DC is expected to be manned by three staff this year. The office, close to Capitol Hill, required $58,000 to set up and renovate and costs taxpayers almost $180,000-a-year to lease.

Lobbyist Darlene Richeson earned $313,000 to set up the Washington DC office and develop a long-term strategic plan for Government to work with the US Congress. Her monthly rate is $20,000.

Meanwhile the London office, which is located in Arlington Street, in Mayfair, was allocated $834,000 in last year's budget and $844,000 in this year's.

Government Senator Walton Brown, defended the office expenses saying that meeting people in person did immeasurable good.

He said: "We know in the past that the Bermudian Government had offices in Toronto, London, Atlanta and, I believe, in Boston and those were for promoting tourism.

"If you can appreciate developing and promoting tourism there cannot be opposition to these. I know the staff in the London office. They have worked diligently to get visas for people who have been stuck in places around the world.

"We live in a highly competitive world and you can send e-mails or faxes, but nothing is better than meeting face-to-face to get things done."