Premier Ewart Brown has "run away from the ferry controversy" and shoved Junior Minister Marc Bean into the spotlight, said Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley.

According to the UBP senator, "it is pathetic" that Transport Minister Dr. Brown has not spoken up about the failing fleet and left Senator Bean to "take the heat".

Ferry workers downed tools last Thursday in a dispute allegedly over poorly maintained vessels.

A week later Sen. Bean admitted that some older ferries such as Resolute and Serenity were no longer providing the public with "quality service".

In order to ensure quality, safety and reliability of the fleet, he said Government would begin the process of replacing the two original fast ferries.

Government purchased Resolute and Serenity from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in 2002.

Company president Peter Duclos told The Royal Gazette the ferries should have a lifespan of 20 years or more if properly maintained.

Dr. Brown has declined to comment.

Sen. Dunkley said: "It is pathetic that the Premier, who has been Transport Minister since 1998, has run away from the ferry controversy and, instead, shoved Junior Minister Bean into the spotlight to take the heat.

"This is nothing short of political cowardice and speaks to a fault that lies at the heart of this Government's poor performance — the failure to take responsibility for the consequences of actions taken or not taken.

"In this case, the Premier built his 'can-do' reputation on the purchase, delivery and launching of the fast ferries and for him to now run from trouble says all one needs to know about the man as a politician. I can see him breathing a sigh of relief as he boards a plane to the Commonwealth Games, thinking he's got away with another one."

Dr. Brown is currently in New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. While there, he signed a tax information exchange agreement with India on Bermuda's behalf.

Sen. Dunkley said the Premier failed to ensure local capabilities matched the maintenance and operational requirements of the fast ferries.

He said this could be due to Government's failure to order enough ferries for a workable maintenance rota or due to its "'pop and sizzle' trumping reliability".

"But we don't know for sure since the Premier and his Junior Minister have not provided the public with a clear explanation — perhaps because giving one would confirm their negligence."

Sen. Dunkley criticised Sen. Bean for his "slippery avoidance of responsibility".

He said: "The Minister was uncertain about the Government's service standards; devious in saying 'the timing is right' for an internal review and deceptive in questioning why the public would accept riding on a 20-year-old ferry when they might not on a 20-year-old plane — when the Government operates 25-year-old ferries.

"The statement reflects another fault shared by most PLP ministers — the failure to understand their elected responsibilities. It is not enough to be satisfied with merely occupying the job of government minister. Being in government is not about self-satisfaction. You actually have to work at it.

"You have to make sure goals are set, standards are maintained and objectives achieved. This Government has too many ministers who don't get this fundamental point, and the failures that have scarred this Government's performance are the result. That the Minister and his junior allowed a crisis to develop on their 'watch' says simply that serving the public is not really at the forefront of their thinking. They are not paying attention," Sen. Dunkley alleged.

According to him, Sen. Bean's acknowledgement the department was looking to replace the original fast ferries after less than ten years "is the official admission that it has failed to protect the public investment in these multimillion dollar vessels".

"Eight years for vessels that the manufacturer says should get 20-plus years of operational life. What a mess. What waste and indifference. It's just one more example of the Government not protecting the public investment, and in these tough times this type of performance is more than ever not acceptable."

The Royal Gazette invited both the Premier and Junior Minister to comment. Mr. Bean said: "No need to comment. I stand by my statement."