New York Cup Announcement Trip: $5711.01
According to the latest listing on the Government’s travel webpage, the trip by Premier Michael Dunkley and his Public Affairs Officer to New York for the America’s Cup announcement cost $5711.01.
Minister of Education and Economic Development Dr Grant Gibbons also attended the event, and his costs were listed separately as $628.90, bringing the combined cost of the trip to $6339.91.
Updated chart showing the total listings since the webpage went live in October 2014:
The trip duration was listed as from Monday, December 01 – Tuesday, December 02, 2014, and the webpage listing said: “Premier Dunkley was invited by the America’s Cup Event Authority to New York to witness and participate in the announcement of the venue selected to host the 2017 America’s Cup. Bermuda and San Diego were the two finalists.
“Accompanying the Premier were Dr. the Hon. Grant Gibbons, Minister of Education and Economic Development, the Government lead for Bermuda’s bid to host the event, and Nea Talbot, the Premier’s Public Affairs Officer. Ms. Talbot’s expenses are included with those of the Premier, while Dr. Gibbons’ expenses will be posted under his own report.
“The Air Travel represents economy travel for the Premier and Ms. Talbot. The Ground Transportation represents all travel in New York City associated with the event.”
Expenses
- Air Travel: $3783.70
- Ground Transportation: $360.19
- Accommodation: $1567.12
- Meals: $
- Miscellaneous: $
- Total Cost: $5711.01
On December 2nd, the America’s Cup Event Authority [ACEA] held a press conference in New York City where they revealed that Bermuda was selected to be home of America’s Cup in 2017.
Special legislation was introduced to facilitate the event, with Government saying the event is predicted to bring approximately $250 million in additional on-island spending.
One hour video of the ACEA press conference in New York:
Why such a large gap between the two?
I believe Dr. Gibbons travelled alone and has a home in New York so he did not require a hotel. Also some of the numbers include technical officers that travel with the Ministers as required.
You are correct! Pays for his own transportation as well!
It is such a relief being able to read such reports and eliminating any “?” marks. Thanks once again One Bermuda Alliance.
Now, as for our former Govt. (the Progressive Labour Party)”Justice too long delayed is Justice denied”.
That is two expensive airline tickets and if I read the article right, there is no mention of his bag carrier. Things that make you go hmmmm.
Less than the cost of a single night at the Burj al Arab hotel and we get a great return on our investment.
What did we get after for a $7,000 night at the Burj al Arab?
Two economy tickets for $3783 is expensive.
I think overall though they are doing a good job of keeping costs down and letting the public know about them.
Why would they travel economy while on national business. Be sensible.
Ride
“The Air Travel represents economy travel for the Premier and Ms. Talbot. The Ground Transportation represents all travel in New York City associated with the event.”
It is what the press release states they did.
… And Bermuda will spend $6000 every day leading up to the AC . What’s new ?
Oh shut up. The PLP had neither the wit, inteligence or ability to even consider bringing the AC to Bermuda never mind actually pull it off. But, hey, lets give 11 million to our cricket team.
Let’s repeat that again , “11 million to our cricket team ”
Eleven MILLION dollars.
Well known high achievers
Indeed eleven million dollars was set aside to fund BERMUDAS NATIONAL CRICKET TEAM over a period of ten years . However because of the unquestionably poor performance on the INTERNATIONAL STAGE most of the funding REMAINED IN THE GOVERNMENT COFFERS .
Even with this knowledge I expect nothing less from the mendacious OBA crowd than to continue on with the cacophony of their imaginary truths .
You sure about that? Let’s see the accounting, because the PLP were so good at that…..
Deflect and deny is what you are here for, the funding remained in the coffers? BWAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA.
Deflect and deny, deflect and deny,
WE ARE NOT FALLING FOR YOUR SH@T.
Stop kidding yourself , the AC sought out and secured the most gullible jurisdiction hungry enough to host it outside of the continental US . I bet they save a ton on taxes on your backside .
Why do you think Bermuda is hungry for investment?
And you could only dream of such achievements occurring. Sour? Let it go and embrace Bermuda’s greatest opportunity in decades.
What’s new?
Quite a few jobs I imagine.
i jus hope that the unemployed are gearing themselves up to standards when the jobs do start popping up…dont sit back n wait for you to be offered a job..lots of guys dont know how to work…hence while some humans work the sub-humans are stealing from them.
What now is a two term OBA government.
I seem to recall that DrEBs travel costs, which the totals were published because an Opposition member asked, came out at something like $1800 PER DAY/365 days a year whether he was actually traveling or not.
He almost always seemed to be off the Island, jetting here & there with no visible return to the people of Bermuda for the funds spent.
What a difference! Dunkley has been on 2 trips in almost 4 months.
That’s better than the $438,000 per day we spend on debt.
PLP never published their records on travel to the public. We all know Dr. Brown travel a lot.
In the end of it all “We have to spend money in order to make money”
America’s Cup will bring people to island. Going forward the island would have put itself back on the map, with all the wonderful publicity we will get.
I am happy something is being done about tourism.
I am a young person and wouldn’t want weed to be legal in order to attract tourist….just saying PLP. Bermuda shouldn’t be known for that.
Maybe we should have spent $60m building an ugly apartment complex that no one wants to live in. Or $23.5m tarting up a golf course. Or $24m building a swimming pool.
“The Air Travel represents economy travel for the Premier and Ms. Talbot… Air Travel: $3783.70″
To New York from Bermuda? How is this even possible? Sure; a huge congratulations for securing this event, but we are still a struggling economy. Government ministers do not have to spend big bucks (or in this case ridiculous bucks) just because they can…
The air tickets were purchased close to the time of departure, due to late notice of Bermuda’s successful bid. Check for yourself with the airlines. Both AA and Delta were charging astronomical rates for RT and one-way economy tickets around that time. There were few seats left on those flights, and they charge higher than normal fares because they can.
I tried to fly Delta to Boston with 2 weeks notice once, would have cost me over $1,100. The only time you get decent rates is if you book in advance or they are having a ticket sale. Also, rates tend to go up higher in November and December as it is a travel season.
Not nitpicking because I think the AC is a huge win for Bermuda, but nearly $6,000 for a one-day trip to NY for two people is tearing it.
That’s nearly $800/nt pp and $1800 each on airline tickets.
Seems very steep, even for last minute travel.
“Not nitpicking”!?
Any fifth grader can yell that was a lie.
Perhaps if the Government and the opposition would put forward s bipartisan bill to discover just where that $800+ MILLION of missing funds went, then some won’t be nitpicking over attempts to drove a Bermuda oriented economic revival. History proved that the former admin failed to produce any growth since 2009.
So we blame the OBA for that or the airlines that charge these ridiculous rates?
And have you ever tried booking a hotel in Manhattan for under $400.00/nt before taxes…..? Virtually impossible
Maybe you suggesting that they stay out at Motel 6 out on Long Island.
Be for Real.
I would expect that even the PLP would have done the same and I would expect no less.
Wow,the OBA spend peanuts on travel compared to the former govt.
“Not nitpicking”!?
Any fifth grader can yell that was a lie.
Perhaps if the Government and the opposition would put forward s bipartisan bill to discover just where that $800+ MILLION of missing funds went, then some won’t be nitpicking over attempts to drove a Bermuda oriented economic revival. History proved that the former admin failed to produce any growth since 2009.