MP Wayne Furbert yesterday said sponsors spend thousands of dollars apiece to attend United Bermuda Party functions — and told Opposition leader Kim Swan to keep his nose out of Progressive Labour Party business.

Mr. Swan had accused Premier Ewart Brown of showing disconnect with the people by throwing a glitzy Farewell Gala including a $500 per head dinner, golf tournament and brunch cruise.

But Mr. Furbert — a one-time UBP leader who joined the PLP in March — said former UBP leaders also held fund-raisers when they stepped down.

"I was totally amazed after reading his article," the backbencher told The Royal Gazette yesterday. "I was in a position to know many things about the UBP and every Premier that I was aware of, when they left, was always trying to put the party in a position to have cash in their account for any future election.

"I was stunned at the comments coming after the Premier was doing his best efforts raising money for the PLP; $500 is a drop in the bucket compared to functions where I have attended at the UBP, where they paid $5,000 and up for sponsoring.

"The UBP through their spokesman Kim Swan should be ashamed of themselves. If you think the UBP is not raising money I'm Alice in Wonderland. They are raising money like the PLP is. It makes me wonder if they want to get back to the older days when they raised money through bake sales."

Mr. Furbert would not share details of how much was raised at the UBP's events, but he said: "They know that I know."

Some say the $500 ticket price put off some PLP members, but Mr. Furbert argued: "They have professionals that can afford to pay $500 for a function. Sometimes people make sacrifices when they believe in something."

Dr. Brown's Americanised style was said to be one reason behind the absences of several PLP MPs at Saturday's event.

Mr. Furbert said: "Part of the make-up of the Premier is his style. A person with a style like that will have a function like that. It was a good event. Everyone who was there enjoyed it."

Mr. Swan responded yesterday: "I am living in the here and now where the people are suffering, the Salvation Army has to fight Government for funding and a Labour Government shows favourites rather than fairness.

"Are we in a recession? The majority of people in Bermuda are suffering whilst the PLP Government are in their face continuing to party and promote lavish Hollywood lifestyle of glitz.

"What are we celebrating? Our Country and its people are reeling economically and socially, and the majority of the problems that Bermuda face are self-induced by failed PLP policies and inaction: fiscal indiscipline; billion dollar debt; untendered contracts; Bermudians out of work; polarisation; and the need for whistle-blower legislation and anti-corruption legislation is more needed than ever before.

"As long as Bermuda continues to travel down the path of the cocktail and hospitality circuit, our people will not receive the leadership by example that points them towards retooling with home grown values.

"Bermuda needs austerity but its Government leaders just don't get it."