Minister Crockwell’s NY Trip Cost $2,497.02
Another listing has been added to the webpage detailing the travel costs for Government Ministers, this time showing a $2,497.02 cost for Minister of Tourism Development & Transport Shawn Crockwell’s trip to New York in September.
The trip took place from Tuesday, September 23, 2014 – Thursday, September 25, 2014, and the website said, “The Minister of Tourism Development and Transport joined the Premier and the CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority to attend the launch of Lili Bermuda’s new perfume, based on the recovered perfume found on the Mary Celestia shipwreck off Bermuda, where over 130 persons attended, including a large representation of media.
Screenshot from the webpage this morning showing the three listings which total $7198.14
“The Minister also joined the Premier and CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority to attend a news media breakfast where there were a number of International Media organizations to discuss Bermuda and to promote our Tourism industry. The meetings were facilitated by the Bermuda Tourism Authority,” the website said.
The cost for air travel was listed at $1,097.85, ground transportation $0, accommodation $1,255.03, meals $31.64, while miscellaneous expenses were listed at $112.50.
This $2,497.02 listing is the third listing to be added to the webpage, following after a $1472.97 cost for trip to New York and Washington by Minister of Health, Seniors & Environment Jeanne Atherden in October, and $3,228.15 in expenses for Premier Michael Dunkley’s trip to New York in September.
funnie this figure is on par with my personal spending….why all the hoopla over this? why wasn’t this a concern years ago when travel expenses were averaging 5 figures?
I’m sure this is just a foot in.. let’s give it a few more years
Sure – when was the last time you went to NYC and spent ZERO on ground transportation.
You really believe he spent NOTHING on ground transportation. Did he walk from the airport?
No knuckle head, he rode with someone else who expensed transportation. Simple accounting. But keep trying to find something negative about the OBA being transparent. Some people will never be happy.
And guys are on de STOPLIST for a SPLIFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF.
Thats not too bad is it?
Not really, but why aren’t the amounts for Dodwell and Hanbury listed. I think its really strange he spend nothing on ground transport, and I suspect that maybe the Tourism Authority paid for it which means we don’t know how much of MY money was spent on this trip.
A great first step – but they need to release all of the info, not just parts of it.
Seems reasonable for a last minute NYC trip.
Those who have travelled to New York lately will recognize these expenses as reasonable. The website postings will keep those civil servants and politicians who might not be reasonable, in check.
Why did it take so long to tally up & post such a small figure?????
Why did it take so long to tally up & post such a small figure?????
Can’t win!
Do you do your expense report the minute you land? I know I don’t and I’m not trying to run a country.
Shut up prisoner
So you agree it’s a small figure.
The question is how much of a return on this figure did we get quantified in dollars & cents by paying for his contribution by way of his presence? I mean what is it that he bought to the table that made his presence necessary in the first place to even justify him being there? Did his presence yield a higher profit return for us or is it just cash paid out for him to be there for the point of being there?
Regardless of what they,(the critics) may say I believe the One Bermuda Alliance are being open on the spending of our monies. Wish we would’ve heard the same from the previous Govt.
Aahh de TBA .
Ive paid more for a BA ticket…
That actually is really good
Really, $1000 for a ticket. Can we switch please because I don’t get how in any way this is “GOOD”.
Don’t see a problem here.
the previous lot would have spent alot more of your lolly dolly!
The silence is deafening
By the way, we hear so many complaining about what the O.B.A. are spending on traveling yet, we hear nothing about the wasted monies being been spent on criminals of all types of crimes…Someone has their priorities a$$-up-wards
Transparency,something we did not have for 14 yrs!
Full disclosure. Commendable.
Larry – Full disclosure?
$0 on ground transportation? Did he walk or did he teleport around.
Its not full disclosure.
@politriks – trifling.
I think he teleported to the hotel. Do you feel better now??
Maybe the hotel he stayed at was within walking distance of where the meetings were held. Think about it for a moment.Why would he not include ground transportation in the bill?
Likely he shared rides with others going to the same destination. Unheard of under the PLP, I know.
The airlines look at all you fools and say here come the suckers, Bermudians are so damn gullible it is not even funny, travel at this rate is far to much and we don’t do our homework well, try and book most of the flights from the Caribbean to the U.S and you would see the big difference in fares,but since we are talking Bermuda, why does the damn fares have to be so darn high for a two to three hour plane ride. you can fly from the U.S to most eastern countries for this amount of money and that is 10 to 14 hour flights.
If you are travelling to the States from Bermuda there is no cheaper route to go then through Toronto, the fare difference is simple $346 lat minute compared to the amount that is paid here, the only thing I would agree with is the cost of hotels in New York is ridiculous but that to is where you do you last minute bargains, Expedia and bookit.com, for a minister who is in the travel business he would know this, as well as the fact that Sundays are the lowest days to purchase on line, along with Wednesdays.
Transport in New York very simple for the average traveler, jump the train right at the airport $7.50 you are in the city in no time, avoid all the New York traffic jams,cabs are flat rate along with private limousines $70 and & $95 respectively, so I think the O.B.A need to do all their checks and balances before spending like drunken sailors, similar to other’s when they were in power
no one can really seriously object about this figure surely!!! HOWEVER on the basis of proper transparency the simple question of how much did it cost the government to send the Premier, a couple of ministers and a bunch of civil servants to NY for these events remains unanswered – I agree this is a good first step but the real question remains.
Duane – how much longer is it to fly from here to Toronto and onto New York? That is a lot of extra hours to not be working.
The limo from JFK into Manhattan. $60 per trip. So, 4 in a car is the same as sitting on a subway, right?
I just spent the last weekend there and it cost me considerably more than these guys paid. Very well done I say, a truly honourable and transparent process.
The problem with trying to make it transparent is, of course, that you are putting yourself up to be shot at, usually by people who will find fault in everything.
Why can’t any of you see that this is a non-issue; something that makes absolutely zero amount of sense in the grand scheme of things pertaining to government or the running of the country? Seriously, all of you arguing over ground transportation, or the fact that, yes, he may have spent more money than you would, is IRRELEVANT. Would you not spend the money, if you had it to spend? Seriously. Answer that honestly, before you go and bash the OBA for something so trivial. Some of you will never be pleased with anything and it’s pathetic to read time and time again.
Why can’t any of you see that this is a non-issue; something that makes absolutely zero amount of sense in the grand scheme of things pertaining to government or the running of the country? Seriously, all of you arguing over ground transportation, or the fact that, yes, he may have spent more money than you would, is IRRELEVANT. Would you not spend the money, if you had it to spend? Seriously. Answer that honestly, before you go and bash the OBA for something so trivial. a lot of you will never be pleased with anything and it’s pathetic to read time and time again.
Did Minister Crockwell take bodyguards with him?
How hard would it be to tally all expenses for the new york nine (at least) including flights,food,transportation, accomodation, event sponsering, gifts, extras, etc..as one entire expense report…or is that too much to ask for?
I mean every one of these individuals are raking in six figure salaries out of government coffers, not to mention their support staff. Is this really the best they could do collectively?
Ministers, senators, ceos, senior executives, personal secretaries, assistants, an entire accounting department, and who knows how many other support staff produced this?
Why on earth are these ministers entering their own expenditure details?
Something don’t smell right with this.