Tourism Minister David Allen's new media consultant last night flatly denied he was doing political work for the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) in the run-up to the next election.

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) claimed Government had brought in Trinidadian Roy Boyke to work for the PLP at the taxpayers' expense under the guise of his role as a tourism consultant to Mr. Allen.

But in an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette last night, Mr. Boyke said he would not do any political work while engaged by Government because it would cause a conflict of interest.

Mr. Boyke, whose company RF Communications did campaign work for the PLP at the last election, said if the party asked him to do any future political work while he was contracted at the Ministry of Tourism he would resign the contract to avoid a conflict of interest.

Speaking from Trinidad, he added that if he did do any political work, it would not be funded by taxpayers.

And in a surprising twist to the controversy, Mr. Boyke said he was employed by previous UBP Governments and he said he turned down offers to do election work for the UBP in 1997 and as late as May this year.

He also dismissed as a "fabrication" the ZBM report last week about his hitherto unknown appointment which claimed he had been meeting senior PLP officials while he was in Bermuda working for the Tourism Department.

When asked if he had been doing political work for the PLP in the course of the current contract with the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Boyke replied: "Absolutely not.

"I don't work that way. If I was asked to do a political assignment for the PLP during the term of my contract, I would promptly ask to suspend it or retire it. That's how I operate."

Referring to the ZBM report, he said: "Hamilton is a small city and I would inevitably meet people on the streets, at restaurants and Global House (the Tourism Department headquarters), but this report that I've been having meetings with officials of the PLP, or with officials of the other party for that matter, is a complete fabrication.

"I have had a long relationship with the media and I work with the media all the time. I am always forthcoming with information and I understand the job and will try to assist. I have never, ever attempted to mislead journalists. I am a professional.

"What I do in Bermuda, I am absolutely circumspect. Bermudians has been gracious hosts and I've been a very circumspect guest in terms of where the boundaries should be drawn.

"If I am asked by the PLP to do political work, as I have done in the past, it will not be on the public purse."

Mr. Boyke, who has advised governments, political parties and tourist organisations throughout the Caribbean, said Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell's claim in the House of Assembly that he was not known as a tourism consultant was "disingenuous".

He said he had met Mr. Dodwell on the "tourism circuit" and the Shadow Minister knew he had worked with the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Minister of Tourism in the Bahamas.

"David Dodwell was rather disingenuous in his references to me and I was really disappointed, although I understand politics," he said.

"I have no animosity towards David. He is a very likeable and decent guy, even when he's giving David Allen hell. It's good opposition politics.

"I met David Dodwell on the tourism circuit. I was an advisor to the Minister of Tourism in the Bahamas in the early 1990's when we were turning around that country's tourism performance, and I represented the Bahamas at most tourism regional events.

"I was also a consultant to the Caribbean Hotel Association. David knows of my involvement in CHA."

Mr. Boyke also revealed details of approaches he said the UBP made to try to get him to do election work for them.

"I had been engaged in government matters for the former UBP government, although I must respect the confidentiality of that, before coming to Bermuda in 1998 (to work for the PLP).

"In 1997, I came to Bermuda at the invitation and at the expense of senior UBP people to discuss an engagement for the election that followed.

"I was approached by the UBP, I did not approach them. Nothing came out of that visit. The rest is history.

"As recently as May of this year, I was approached by a senior officer of the UBP, who said he was acting on behalf of the party leader, seeking to establish whether I could work with them, and I declined."

When asked if he thought he would be employed by the PLP at the next election, he said: "It is difficult to anticipate the workings of political minds. In such an event, I would not entertain any conflict of interest."

Mr. Boyke said he would not discuss details of his contract with the Ministry of Tourism because it was for the Ministry to make a statement.

Mr. Allen said last week, that Mr. Boyke's "relationship with the Ministry of Tourism is for on-Island communications, tourism awareness, and improving media relations".

Mr. Boyke said last night: "I will not discuss anything to do with the Ministry of Tourism. Any statement on my relationship with the Ministry of Tourism should properly come from the Ministry, not from me.

"I am sure the Ministry will issue a statement in due course. My relationship with the Ministry is a matter between myself as consultant and the Ministry as client.

"I do consultancy work all over for government departments and the private sector and it is confidential. I have no licence to discuss my clients' business except in the broadest terms. I am sure the Ministry will issue what it considers appropriate specifics."

Mr. Boyke's appointment was only revealed in the ZBM report last week and his job was said to have been revealed only to a handful of senior Tourism Department staff.

On Monday, The Royal Gazette requested Mr. Allen explain Mr. Boyke's role. The request was referred to Tourism Director Judith Hall Bean, who has not responded.