The PLP is continuing to pressure Premier Craig Cannonier on ‘jetgate’, urging him to open up about his relationship with developer Nathan Landow.

Mr Cannonier, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell and Attorney General Mark Pettingill were flown to the US by Mr Landow on a private jet last year, but the three have maintained they did nothing wrong in accepting the flight.

Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert said yesterday the Premier’s version of events differed from that of Mr Crockwell, alleging that the Premier had misled the public about the controversial flight.

“The Premier was not upfront with the people of Bermuda about the junket taken by he and his colleagues in violation of the Ministerial Code of Conduct,” Mr Furbert said. “Were it not for this story being leaked by an OBA insider, the public might never have known that this dubious action was taken by key members of the OBA government.

“The Premier’s claims that his business manager was simply, ‘bumming a lift,’ have now been contradicted by the Premier’s own Tourism Minister who claimed last week on Magic 102.7’s The Sherri Simmons Show that the Premier’s business manager not only attended the secret meetings with the developer but also made presentations at the meetings.

“This chain of events paints a very disturbing picture of a Premier, who prior to the December 2012 election, preached transparency, openness and accountability, yet now seems more focused on cover-ups and potentially making back room deals than in being honest with the people of Bermuda.”

He called on the Premier to provide all details about the trip so as to be accountable for his and his Minister’s actions.

His statement was echoed by Shadow Minister for Workforce Development Rolfe Commissiong, who said: “Premier Cannonier during his last photo op continued to shortchange the Bermudian people by refusing to answer legitimate questions surrounding his relationship with Nathan Landow.”

Mr Commissiong also said Mr Cannonier had in the same statement attempted to take credit for an initiative to provide training opportunities in India which began under the previous administration.

“This bilateral relationship with India had its genesis under the PLP Government and was the direct outgrowth of an initiative spearheaded by former Premier, Dr Ewart Brown,” Mr Commissiong said.

“This relationship directly led to significant opportunities for Bermudian students to avail themselves of high level training and certification in the technical fields and in film making. That initiative, along with the Cisco Certification programme at the Bermuda College which was also implemented by the PLP, places us on the cutting edge of high level training and certification opportunities for our young people.

“The Premier needs to stop taking credit for work he didn’t do and be honest with Bermudians about the OBA’s deplorable track record and his relationship with Nathan Landow.”