Time magazine advertorial promoting Bermuda.

The Opposition claimed the articles were wasteful and self-congratulatory.

UBP leader Pamela Gordon said the money should have been spent on more pressing social issues and she said the propaganda about Bermuda's new Government and tourist industry would go largely unread.

The eight-page advertorial went in the September 27 issue of Time magazine and covered topics such as e-commerce, Bermuda's history, its financial operations, the legal profession and the stock exchange.

It also promotes Bermuda as a top tourism spot.

However, the UBP claims the piece has gone in an edition which will only be seen in Europe -- which provides few of the Island's tourists.

Ms Gordon said: "Why put them in an area with limited airlift?'' "It's a self-congratulatory piece. It's so frustrating when they talk about the neglect and mismanagement under the previous government, then extol the virtues of Bermuda created under the UBP.

"What incentive is there for these people to come to Bermuda? Anyone reading that would see the ambiguity and have second thoughts about whether Bermuda is a jurisdiction they would want to come to.'' Ms Gordon said the bill for the piece was unbudgeted so Ministries were forced to chip in cash.

"They wanted to promote Bermuda herself, her Ministers of Tourism, Finance, and Development and Opportunity.

Time feature under fire "They got $75,000 off three Ministries and then went to the community to try and get the rest.

"They sent letters to banks to try and get themselves out of difficulty.

"But a lot of the people they approached hadn't budgeted for it so they didn't agree with doing it by sleight of hand.

"I understand Bermuda has an issue to increase tourism and we need to reposition ourselves as far as the tourist market is concerned.

"What we need to determine whether it is the best value for money, especially when there are pressing issues at home such as housing and education.

"Most people know that because it's an advertorial it's bound to be self congratulatory.

"People are very discerning and they can see right through it. We never did this in the UBP.'' When contacted by The Royal Gazette , Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell slammed the section as a waste of money which did little to encourage visitors to come to the Island.

He said: "This is a political piece which, even if you agree with it doesn't belong outside Bermuda.

"It mentions Jennifer Smith starting a successful ad campaign which won the praise of the industry's movers and shakers.

"Yet that was the comparative ad campaign which ended up being pulled after people complained. It certainly didn't win any praise.

"This advertorial has gone to Europe which provides less than eight percent of our visitors compared with North America which gives us around 85 percent.

"It's riddled with doublespeak. On page one they say the public service must be made more efficient and effective. Yet on another page Minister of Development, Opportunity and Government Services Terry Lister is quoted as saying there isn't any need for widespread structural reforms in the civil service.'' Tourism Minister David Allen could not be contacted last night, but Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb defended the decision to put an ad aimed at the European market.

She said: "I am sure that if the Tourism Minister made a decision to market in Europe, then clearly we need to advertise there and Time magazine is as good as any other.

"I have faith in the Minister of Tourism to bring the industry up after it had declined under successive UBP governments.'' MAGAZINE NJ