Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley has called the Corporation of Hamilton's exclusion from this week's St. Regis hotel announcement "a slap in the face" to the municipal body.

The Opposition Tourism spokesman said he was "puzzled" that the Corporation was not included in Monday's press conference, when Premier Ewart Brown announced the planned opening of a five-star hotel overlooking Par-lLa-Ville Park in 2013.

Mr. Dunkley's comments follow those of Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros, who told The Royal Gazette he was "appalled" that the Corporation was not invited to the unveiling, given they were heavily involved in making the deal after 15 years of negotiations.

"The development is a project between the developer and the Corporation of Hamilton and in my estimation, the Bermuda Government has only been a facilitator in that a Special Development Order was initiated to help it go forward," he said on Monday.

Mr. Dunkley said that while the United Bermuda Party supports any opportunity for new hotel development in Bermuda, the Corporation should have been included in Monday's announcement alongside the Government, developer and hotel chain representative.

The Premier's press secretary Glenn Jones said on Monday that neither the Premier's office nor the Ministry of Tourism was responsible for arranging participants for the press conference, placing the responsibility with developer Par la Ville Hotel and Residences Ltd. The company's president Ted Adams called the apparent snub a "miscommunication", saying earlier this week: "I thought ... expected them to be there and was surprised when it started and I saw they were not."

Mr. Dunkley believes that the Corporation's exclusion was intentional, citing last week's Cabinet decision to abolish both Hamilton's municipal body and the Corporation of St. George's, delegating their responsibilities to Government departments.

"The Premier is already acting like the Corporations are gone," he said. "This is the height of arrogance and poor leadership. All along it appeared the Corporation was working closely with the developer. Any deal for that piece of property has to go through the Corporation. I come out clearly and say I don't think this was an oversight. This is like a slap in the face to the Corporation of Hamilton it's unacceptable. It gives Bermuda a bad name."

Mr. Dunkley questioned the timing of the announcement in light of the recent Uighur controversy and the motion of no confidence in the Premier's leadership in the House of Assembly.

"I've always considered the Premier to be a shrewd politician," he said. "I think it is a little more than ironic that so soon after the motion of no confidence vote, he makes a positive announcement. This is another play to keep the dogs from biting at his heels. The Premier has a warranted reputation for spin for being good at getting the cameras set up and the media around."

He added that while he would be pleased to see a new hotel for Bermuda, he remains unconvinced that the St. Regis development will come to fruition. He mentioned the failure of the Ritz-Carlton hotel planned for the same Par-la-Ville Road space to materialise.

"Talk, and seeing it actually happen, are two different things," he said. "You've got to remember this project is not new. I'm pleased to hear this talk, but I remain sceptical."

The Premier's press secretary Glenn Jones said: "'Sen. Dunkley's comments really do nothing to change the reality of the situation which I articulated yesterday. In fact after reading Sen. Dunkley's comments I realise he doesn't actually know anything about this stuff. He's just speculating from the sidelines which appears to be his M.O. everytime there's a positive tourism development."