The Opposition has reiterated its call for accountability and transparency in the Government’s faith based tourism programme.

Former UBP leader Wayne Furbert spoke out against the Premier’s claim that the Opposition was attacking the programme and urged him to provide answers to a series of questions.

Mr. Furbert questioned the handling of hundreds of thousands of dollars awarded to the project, which was set up by Premier Dr. Ewart Brown and is run by Andre Curtis, who organises the Premier’s constituency committee in Warwick South Central.

Mr. Furbert alleges no accountability has been shown for the money — which he believes totals $600,000 over two years — and that no details have been provided on how it was spent.

In response, Dr. Brown said the project has seen 1,000 visitors come to Bermuda and added that he would answer questions when Parliament resumed in November. He added that the project was run in an “honest, business-like manner”.

But yesterday Mr. Furbert said: “Premier Ewart Brown does not need to wait until the reopening of Parliament in November to answer questions on the use of public funds in a faith-based tourism initiative. He can answer them now.

“Dr. Brown dismissed our questions on Bermuda’s faith-based tourism initiative as alarmist, and so we urge him to clear up any misconceptions.

“These are straightforward questions about the whereabouts of public and charitable funds. The people of Bermuda don’t need to wait another five months to hear the answers.”

He asked for clarification on what the money given to Mr. Curtis’ company was being used on and questioned why there were no formal accounting requirements in place.

He said: “We are concerned about a conflict with the Charities Act, which requires organisations raising money for benevolent causes to be registered as a charity and to provide annual accounting.

“We would like some clarity on just what constitutes administration in Mr. Curtis’ organisation. Right now, his sponsorship programme is seeking donations in blocks up to $400,000 with 20 percent of donations evidently going to administration. We would like to know whether any portion of these monies goes to Mr. Curtis who we understand draws a salary of $120,000 a year from the Government’s annual commitment.”

He added that the Opposition would like to see precise costs for the programme’s administration and if Mr. Curtis receives additional monies from administration.

Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley posed a series of questions on the issue through Parliament last month, but will have to wait until November for a response.

Last week, the Premier declined this newspaper’s invitation to respond to Mr. Dunkley’s questions. When we approached him again this week to ask how much Mr. Curtis is paid, he replied: “We have already commented on this story and we won’t comment any further in the press on fear we will give credence to these outrageous claims from a confused former Leader of the Opposition.”

Mr. Curtis has refused to speak on the subject.