The new chairman of the Tourism Board said yesterday he should not be singled out for having run a failed business that racked up more than $500,000 in unpaid taxes a decade ago.

And he accused the Opposition of attempting to throw up a smokescreen to detract from improvements in the tourism industry by questioning his appointment.

Andre Curtis said owing money to Government is not unique to any business which runs into trouble. He claimed only Progressive Labour Party supporters were singled out when it occurred.

Mr. Curtis, who was appointed on July 25 by Tourism Minister Ewart Brown, was a partner in First Choice Construction Ltd. which went into liquidation owing $229,000 to the Contributory Pension Fund and $237,000 in payroll taxes.

The company went into liquidation in 1999 and has not cleared the debt.

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons blasted the appointment this week saying it was at odds with Government?s plans to be more aggressive about collecting money owed from seriously delinquent employers.

He said Mr. Curtis did not display good business practices and questioned the appointment since Mr. Curtis would be taking on a position on a Board which deals with a significant sector of the economy.

When Dr. Brown announced Mr. Curtis? appointment, he said he would be looking at the structure of the board and would be redefining its role and its standard operating procedures.

Yesterday, Mr. Curtis told that yesterday?s article referred to an incident which was almost ten years old.

He said his current business, Vision Construction Company, of which he is general manager, does not owe any money to Government.

?At this time my business does not owe any money,? he said. ?Further the attack is unfortunate and beneath a politician of the Opposition Leader?s stature.

?Owing money to the Government, failing in business and starting again is not unique to supporters of the PLP or the UBP, however, it appears as if only PLP supporters are subject to these attacks on their character while UBP supporters are not attacked in this manner.?

However, Mr. Curtis said the ?attack? was personal and nothing more than ?a smokescreen devised to detract from the recent successes in tourism?.

Mr. Curtis, whom Dr. Brown described as having wide-ranging experience in the hospitality business, said he was looking forward to directing his energies to furthering the success of tourism.

?With that, I will now direct my energies to the Bermuda tourism business and no longer allow this matter to move me from that course,? he said.

When questioned about his experience in the hospitality industry, Mr. Curtis would not provide any specific information except to say he had taken a few courses at the Bermuda College and had worked locally at restaurants and hotels.