Under-fire faith-based tourism boss Andre Curtis yesterday faced questions over the validity of a document he produced to justify being paid hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars.

United Bermuda Party Leader Michael Dunkley called a press conference to attack a print-out which Mr. Curtis presented as answers to Parliamentary questions over the subject.

Mr. Curtis had alleged the document which he distributed to the press and described as a "complete breakdown" of how he spent $200,000 in 2006-07 had already been sent to the Opposition.

However, Mr. Dunkley, who put the questions to Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown, insists neither he nor his party colleagues has received any answers.

Deputy Clerk to the Legislature Clark Somner, whose signature is apparently on the answer sheet, yesterday said he was not aware of any answers being filed with his department, but that Clerk Shernette Wolffe would be able to respond next week.

Dr. Brown's Press Secretary Glenn Jones has advised the media not to consider the item official, stating: "It would be unwise to consider whatever document you have as the Premier's answers to Parliamentary questions."

The Premier, who is under no obligation to answer Mr. Dunkley's questions because the Parliamentary session closed two days after they were issued, has stated he will answer them within the Parliamentary process. The Opposition has taken this to mean they will only be answered if they are resubmitted after Parliament's summer break.

Raising further questions, Mr. Dunkley told yesterday's press conference that the answer sheet Mr. Curtis provided did not follow the Premier's usual format. He said a different print and font was used, and that the Premier usually signed his answers, which was not the case with the sheet supplied by Mr. Curtis.

"Based on comments by the Premier's Press Secretary Mr. Glenn Jones, I have serious doubts about the authenticity of this document," Mr. Dunkley told the press conference. "I invite you to take a closer look and draw your conclusion."

Asked whether the document was a forgery, the Opposition Leader replied: "That's your suggestion. I'm asking for clarification."

Yesterday, Mr. Curtis was attacked after the same document revealed the initiative clocked up $27,000 on business lunches over the course of the year. The print-out shows nearly $3,000 went on business trips and nearly $230,000 on five church-based projects.

Mr. Curtis is contracted to receive $400,000 to run faith-based tourism this year, on top of the $200,000 he was given for 2006-07. The money is paid to his company Harvest Investment Holdings. He runs the Premier's constituency in Warwick South Central, but both deny faith-based tourism is being used as a means of getting cash to him as a thank you gesture.

Mr. Dunkley yesterday repeated his call for the Premier to speak out to kill speculation on the subject, saying: "It is now necessary for only the Premier himself to bring an end to this total lack of accountability of the people's money.

"The Premier appointed Mr. Curtis to this position. The Premier budgeted the money through Tourism. It is now the Premier's responsibility to protect the public purse. This begs the question, Mr. Premier, what is the real story behind this Government-funded initiative?"

Former Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert, who has repeatedly asked how the money is being spent, said yesterday: "Speaking from a Christian point of view: Curtis, who is a Christian, it's time for him to come out and speak the truth. He represents Christ, who expects nothing less. It's time to be beyond politics and remember who is head of his life, as he says."