Expats will not be excluded from free rides on ferries and buses, Government finally confirmed yesterday.

Following days of confusion over who will benefit from the Progressive Labour Party's high-profile General Election pledge, Finance Minister Paula Cox issued a statement saying there were no plans to leave out any residents.

The office of Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown had repeatedly declined the opportunity to quash fears that free public transport would only be for Bermudians. Ms Cox had said in her Budget statement last Friday that "free bus and ferry fares for Bermudians" would be introduced on a phased basis.

Explaining her choice of words, she said in yesterday's statement: "While it is not contemplated that those who are resident in Bermuda will be excluded from free public transport, as a matter of public policy, the primary emphasis of the National Budget Statement is to highlight the benefits for Bermudians.

"Bermudians are paramount, and the National Budget Statement underscores the benefits that will be afforded them.

"The policy framework for the roll-out of free transport is still under review by the Ministry of Tourism and Transport and I anticipate that the Ministry will announce the details of this policy in due course."

The Royal Gazette has this week been asking for such a clarification from the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones without success.

We pointed out that some people may have jumped to conclusions that, on Friday, Ms Cox was implying expats would be ineligible for free transport.

Association of Bermuda International Companies chairman David Ezekiel was one such person, issuing a statement that excluding expats would be "entirely inappropriate".

However, despite repeated requests we received no response from Mr. Jones other than: "The planning to deliver free transport is a work in progress."