Health Minister Patrice Minors has come under fire from the Opposition for spending more than $1,700 of taxpayers' money to attend a prayer meeting.

Mrs. Minors attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February where President George W. Bush gave a ten minute keynote speech.

Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley questioned the purpose of attending such a meeting and said the $1,718.35 could have been better spent on health services in Bermuda.

US Presidents have attended the meeting every year since 1953 and according to the ChristianityToday website, the 3,000 guests are there by invitation only. Mrs. Minors said in a written response to a parliamentary question, she was in Washington for the National Prayer Breakfast between February 3 and February 7.

The event runs from January 25 to February 14, according to the Washington Hilton Hotel which hosts the event. Mr. Dunkley said the trip was a typical example of the Progressive Labour Party having no regard for the public purse.

"It jumped out at me. It is something that all politicians get invited to," said Mr. Dunkley.

"On one occasion John Barritt went to represent our party, but it was not paid for by the taxpayer. And I don't ever recall a UBP Government spending money on something like that.

"It is good for politicians being in these circles making contacts but whether you make any heavy inroads there is questionable. In circumstances like this when we should be watching how our dollars are spent, we are not being as frugal as we should be. It is part of the same trend of this Government which has a propensity to travel but no propensity to look at the type of travelling, and it is disappointing. Although we accept Ministers need to travel because it is important for them to make contacts, we have to draw the line somewhere.

"Bermuda is a very strongly religious community but you do have to draw the line somewhere, and what is the benefit of this event?

"For all I know, they hear an important speaker speak for a few minutes, have breakfast then go on their way. In the Ministry of Health I would rather see $1,700 spent in other ways.

"It is the same scenario as the PLP and the Labour Party conference in England. Why should the taxpayer pay for the PLP to attend the Labour Party conference?"

Mrs. Minors could not be reached for comment.