Government Senate Leader David Burch reiterated on Wednesday his claim that Hamilton Rotary is a "mouthpiece" for the United Bermuda Party (UBP).

And Tourism Minister Renee Webb yesterday flatly denied a claim by Hamilton Rotary president W.A. (Toppy) Cowen that she had been invited to speak at the club.

Last week, Mr. Cowen angrily rejected the charge that Rotary was biased towards the UBP, saying numerous Government Ministers, including Ms Webb, had been invited in the past year or so but, apart from Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown, none had attended.

He said Ms Webb was invited to respond to recent comments from Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell but she did not.

In the Senate on Wednesday, Sen Burch said: "The Rotary, I am not sure what their aim is. I did accuse, and I reiterate the claim, that they are a mouthpiece for the UBP.

"I read the article in the Royal Gazette and the response (from Mr. Cowen) to my assertion. You do not invite the Government to speak at an organisation in response to comments from a shadow minister. That is not an invitation."

He said while Dr. Brown had spoken, he named UBP leader Grant Gibbons, Mr. Dodwell, party chairman Wayne Furbert, a UBP candidate Al Wharton, and former Bermuda Housing Corporation general manager Ed Cowen as speaking recently at the club for the Opposition. Ed Cowen has said he has no ties to any party.

Sen. Burch said: "If that is not a mouthpiece, I don't know what is."

Last night Ms Webb told The Royal Gazette: "It is absolute nonsense to say I have been invited to speak at Rotary. I double checked with my staff and it is not the case.

"It (Rotary) was looking kind of strange because every time you looked it was someone from the UBP.

"It is ridiculous. They are saying they want me to respond to David Dodwell.

"Are they organising political debates? That is not their mandate. They are supposed to be a public service organisation and they shouldn't be getting involved in politics and being set up as a platform to attacking Government. It's ridiculous.

"There are 12 ministers. If they have invited three ministers, well they've had three UBP MP's speaking in the last month or so. I agree its a mouthpiece for the UBP."

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