If civil servants are leaking information to the Opposition or the media, they should leave the service, Tourism Minister Renee Webb said yesterday.

She was responding to stories in The Royal Gazette in the past two days on Bermuda Housing Corporation and Stonington Beach Hotel which relied on leaked official documents.

Ms Webb said she knew that not all civil servants voted for the Progressive Labour Party, but they had an obligation under the Civil Service code of conduct and Official Secrets Act to support the government of the day in their professional capacities.

She said Bermuda College President Dr. Michael Orenduff should not have spoken to The Royal Gazette because there were other internal channels for expressing his concern about the contract given to businessman John Jefferis to manage Stonington Beach Hotel.

"People have political leanings. I don't suppose everyone working on the government payroll supports the government. That would be naive," said Ms Webb yesterday.

"If there is an opportunity to try to get the team in batting, they will look at ways to try to dismiss the batters. Now we are batting, they are clearly looking for an opportunity to bowl the Government out."

There was nothing the Government could do to stop people leaking to The Royal Gazette which was "sneaking around like spies trying to see what they can get for the next day".

"If you leak confidential information to a newspaper you are not being dedicated to the job or upholding the Civil Service code of conduct and the Official Secrets Act."

People giving information to the Opposition were doing that, Ms Webb said.

"Someone leaking information should consider leaving (if they fail to uphold) the government of the day. If the Government changes on Friday, which will not be the case, these same people should be just as loyal to this same Government.

"If you have difficulty doing that (being loyal to the government of the day) you should not be doing it.

"There is nothing wrong with Dr. Orenduff saying he had a problem with the contract, but there are ways to do it. ... There was no need to go outside to the Press, it's not necessary."