The Opposition United Bermuda Party is crying foul after Government on Friday failed to release an annual economic report when it tabled the annual Budget in the House.

Traditionally, the Minister of Finance releases the Annual Economic Review, a crucial report detailing the state of Bermuda's economy, at the same time the Budget statement is released.

Government has expressed its regret in not releasing the report on Friday, blaming the delay on a design difficulty in the report. Furthermore, Government says the report will be released in Parliament this Friday.

In a statement released yesterday by Opposition Leader Kim Swan, he charged that Government was preventing the country from hearing an informed debate on the economy, scheduled for Friday in Parliament.

Mr. Swan stated: "The Government is depriving the people of Bermuda a chance for the most informed debate on the economy this Friday by failing to produce beforehand a key report on the economy.

"We have not been told why the Annual Economic Review was not tabled with the Government's Budget Statement last Friday.

"It has been customary for the Economic Review to be released with the Budget Statement, but the failure to do so deprives all MPs of information that is critical to constructive discussion of the budget and the island's economic situation."

However, last night, Minister of Finance Paula Cox said: "I regret that the Report was not released the exact same time as the 2008/09 Budget this past Friday," Ms. Cox said.

"However, the delay centres around design flaws with the document, and we are of the view that it is better to sacrifice promptness for accuracy."

Acknowledging that the Opposition was made aware the report might be tabled this coming Friday, Mr. Swan slammed: "We understand the report may be tabled this Friday, but this makes a mockery of the House of Assembly's economic debate, which is scheduled to take place on that day."

And while calling on Government to provide answers to the situation, he questioned: "What is the reason for the delay in receiving the Economic Review?

"Its publication and distribution has a date certain each year, coinciding with the Government's Budget.

"Its preparation has always contributed positively to providing empirical information; information that would contribute to 'raising the level of debate' in Parliament that the Premier spoke about a few short weeks ago.

"We are extremely disappointed with the delay of this information and encourage the Government to start leading by example and move with all deliberate speed to provide the Opposition and the people of Bermuda with the findings of the economic review."

Ms. Cox added: "The reasons for the delay, were made quite clear to the Opposition on Friday (February 15).

"And at that time, I advised them that the full Report will be released and tabled in the House of Assembly this coming Friday."

Ms Cox said that typically the economic data that is normally included in the Annual Economic Review is a compilation of information that can be found in numerous documents, whichhave been released by various Government Departments throughout the year.

The Minister continued: "As a further courtesy, this afternoon, the Ministry of Finance faxed preliminary details from the 2007 Employment Survey, balance of payments information, 2006 GDP data as released by the Department of Statistics in December 2007 and year-end CPI information (recently published) to the Opposition's Office.

"Therefore the Opposition has in its possession the essential data should it wish to use it in the forthcoming debate on the economy."