CIVIL servants should keep out of politics and not act as "human shields" for Ministers, Opposition Senate Leader Kim Swan said.

Sen. Swan was speaking after Cherie Whitter, the Director of Tourism, defended the tendering process that led to the appointment of GlobalHue as the Ministry of Tourism's main advertisers.

Ms Whitter added: "It is unfortunate that Sen. Swan's comments come at a time when others are celebrating the historical achievement of a black-owned agency."

Sen. Swan said the important issue was not the skin colour of the American company's owners, but rather that Bermuda got value for money in terms of attracting visitors to the island.

"We are talking a $13.2-million contract for a company that we need to help us bring in tourists ? the issue is about tourism green-backs," said Sen. Swan.

"We need visitors from all walks of life and preferably from the US gateway cities. Ms Whitter says people are celebrating the success of a black-owned agency. But since when did Bermuda become a cash cow for African-American companies?

"We have issues of empowerment with our own people, but that does not mean we have to turn a blind eye to accountability and empower African-American companies to offset the difficulties that Bermudian business people of African descent face here."

Sen. Swan said it was not a civil servant's role to get involved in political debate. "I have a great deal of respect for our Civil Service, but I'm seeing too many instances where they are out there acting as human shields for the Ministers who should be dealing with these issues.

"There will be an election within the next couple of years and I have to put the Civil Service on notice that they have to work with whoever is in Government and they have to stay out of the political arena."

Sen. Swan and his United Bermuda Party (UBP) colleague Sen. Bob Richards suggested in the Senate last week that the process that led to GlobalHue's appointment had been questionable.

Sen. Richards said he had been surprised the company won the bid, as it had no experience in advertising resort tourism.

Junior Tourism and Transport Minister Walter Roban called on Sen. Swan to apologise and said: "The comments were outright inflammatory and plain wrong."

Sen. Swan said that speculation was rife that GlobalHue was going to be awarded the contract last September, before the tendering process started.

GlobalHue owner Don Coleman started working as a consultant to the Tourism Department early in 2005. The agency boasts several major US clients, but lists no previous experience in tourism on its web site.

"When you scratch the surface it starts to smell," Sen. Swan said. "It looks to me like this was a done deal before the tendering process started."

But this week, Ms Whitter said: "The best practice was applied in the selection of the right agency. GlobalHue demonstrated the right strategic thinking and, more importantly, GlobalHue demonstrated an understanding of Bermuda's brand challenge."

Sen. Swan said he had brought up GlobalHue in the Senate at the conclusion of a list of examples of lack of consultation by the Tourism Ministry.

He mentioned the deal struck by the Ministry with package vacation company TNT, which required participating hotels to make a financial contribution.

In the end, many hoteliers signed up to the deal, which has enabled tourists to come here from Boston and New York for air fares as low as $49.

Sen. Swan also cited the appointment of top global travel site Expedia.com to power the Ministry of Tourism's web site booking engine ? which enables the Ministry to take a cut from each hotel booking made through the site ? also without consultation with hoteliers.