whether she was on official business, and if so what it was.

The mystery arose when the Premier's launch of a year-long literacy initiative was made via video tape instead of in person.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox stood in when Ms Smith left the island in September to attend the funeral of former Bahamas leader Lynden Pindling.

Last night Mr. Cox refused to say where she had gone but said she had gone on holiday.

But Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans, who will take over as acting Premier today, said she thought the Premier was on official business.

Dame Lois, who made the trip to the Bahamas with Ms Smith said she didn't know where she was.

She added: "I wish I could do that -- just drop right out of sight.'' Dame Lois said Ms Smith left the Bahamas on Wednesday night, the same night Dame Lois and other members of their party had returned to Bermuda.

Asked why the Government Information Services didn't know where the Premier was Dame Lois said: "How could they not know?'' But then she added: "I don't think they ever know. I don't think anyone tells them where they are going.'' But she said she thought the Premier's Chief of Staff was with her so it would be official business.

Premier's aide Zina Thomas said she knew where Ms Smith was but would not be revealing the location to the media.

And asked whether the Premier was on Government business, Ms. Thomas said: "It's not something I care to share with the media. All questions have to go through Valerie Pethen (of Government Information Services).'' However Mrs. Pethen was not able to tell The Royal Gazette where the Premier was.

However Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said: "She's in Dublin.'' Asked if she was on official Government business, Mr. Gurney said: "As far as I know she is.'' Asked to say what the business was Mr. Gurney said further information would have to come from the Cabinet Office, where Ms Thomas works.

Mr. Gurney said: "It's not my place to say.

"The Premier's office asked the British Embassy in Dublin to make arrangements for various phone calls which we were happy to do.'' Premier's travels When The Royal Gazette pointed out that both the Governor's office and Dame Lois thought the Premier was on official business Mr. Cox said: "Very often when people go abroad something crops up, but she's on vacation.'' Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon said the situation was peculiar. She said: "When any Minister goes on Government business that information is public information -- they represent the people of Bermuda.

"If you look at the British Foreign Office they have a website which has a diary showing what the Ministers are doing.

"If she's on personal business then it doesn't hurt for her assistant to says it's personal leave. There should be no mystery about what the Premier of a Country is doing.'' And Ms Gordon mocked the Premier for presenting yesterday's National Literacy Initiative on a video tape recorded a week earlier.

"If it was so important that it was done to coincide with the UNESCO International Literacy Day the Education Minister should have launched it.'' "Surely no-one's ego is that large that something so significant would be reduced to that of a video tape.''