At least two of the three men publicly branded "fools" by Tourism Minister Renee Webb seemed fairly stoical when asked about their reaction.

Former Premier Sir John Swan and Bermuda Hotel Association president Norman Mastalir were both denounced in Friday's House of Assembly for being critical when interviewed for a paid Financial Times (FT) supplement about the Island's tourism industry. Ms Webb had said: “There was an opportunity for us to show what is positive about Bermuda and you don't take an adversarial approach when you are on the world stage.

“These three people spoke about their personal agendas and for that they did a disservice to Bermuda and for all of us that paid for that advertising. “The three of them were fools when they should have taken the opportunity to promote Bermuda.”

But Sir John told The Royal Gazette said he was quite happy to excuse her on the comment.

“I know Ms Webb and I know how she expresses herself sometimes without intending to in any way be vindictive. I am inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. I don't think I put a negative spin on Bermuda.”

He said his comments were merely trying to put forward what could be done to increase tourism.

In the article he plugs his comments for a pristine Hamilton Harbour and an improvement in the tourism product. “I never said the Government was doing wrong or the country was messing up,” Sir John said. Mr. Mastalir said in the FT article the Island was in danger of losing critical mass from loss of hotel beds.

He told The Royal Gazette he had spoken to Ms Webb privately and pointed out he had never spoken directly to the reporter who wrote the article.

He had merely been quoted at a Bermuda Alliance for Tourism meeting which the reporter had got access to.

“These things happen, it's water under the bridge as far as I am concerned.”

Tourism Action Now founder Tony Brannon was also one of the trio denounced but he did not reply to an email on the subject.