Government travel expenses have come under question after a minister spent more than $8,000 on a trip to the Middle East.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, travelled to Dubai in March for a three-day conference on women’s empowerment.

According to the Government’s website, Ms Furbert spent $7,014.10 on air travel, $62.71 on ground transportation and $1,140.59 on accommodation. The total cost to the taxpayer was $8,217.40.

The government website added: “The annual 2025 International Woman Leadership Conference brought together more than 600 businesswomen and professionals from across Africa and the diaspora.

“The three-day conference included leadership sessions and insightful panel discussions that aligned with the United Nations Joint Programme with Bermuda that focused on ‘Building Back Equal Through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’.

“The various topics of the leadership sessions covered women in leadership, the journey of entrepreneurs, a corporate mindset and workplace realities, closing the gender gap in technology and the vital role that women play in driving sustainable economic growth.

“During the opening plenary session, Ms Furbert shared a powerful, dynamic goodwill message to Dubai government officials, respected business leaders and women entrepreneurs who were in attendance.”

The One Bermuda Alliance questioned the cost and value of the trip in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Linda Smith, the Shadow Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, suggested that 15 Bermuda representatives had attended the conference, and asked how much the excursion had cost in total.

In response, Ms Furbert said that six women in addition to herself took part and that some of their expenses were covered by the Government.

She said: “I want to start by acknowledging the Bermudian women entrepreneurs and professional delegates who are listening for that answer to that question today and who are taxpayers and went through an organised process through this partial sponsored process.

“There were six women that were partially sponsored and not 15, and they were selected for the ministry’s partial sponsorship.

“Four women received $2,500, which went towards the cost of their airfare, accommodation and conference registration fee, and two women entrepreneurs also received partial sponsorship at the amount of $3,500 for their airfare, accommodation and conference registration fee.

“They were also responsible for organising the delegates to the conference and side events that also occurred within the conference.

“I have witnessed the women delegates who did attend the conference paying it forward and already providing educational sessions and informational sessions to our community.

“I’m very proud of the work that they are doing — and they’re doing this for free. They’re providing informational sessions to Bermuda.”

Questioned further by Ms Smith, the minister said that only delegates who had taken part in Building Back Equal programmes were eligible to go to Dubai.

She added: “The funds, you know we had a budget that we stayed within and that’s how they were able to participate.

“What I would like to share is the investment in its people. The women that attended are entrepreneurs and businesswomen, and the pain I have I already spoke about.

“They have been in sessions in which they are already providing to their fellow Bermudians as far as information that they’ve learnt from the conference, building their businesses, building our entrepreneur opportunities, also our information as it relates to organisation and also self-confidence building when pushing your businesses forward

“Some of these sessions have been able to see the work that the women continue to do after attending the conference.”