Premier Ewart Brown and two travelling companions spent $4,700 of taxpayers' money attending a classic sporting festival last November.

Dr. Brown's press secretary Glenn Jones yesterday would not say how Bermuda benefited from the outing to the State Farm Bayou Classic and Battle of the Bands at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans.

The Premier is thought to have made no mention of his trip at the time and, unlike many of his ventures out on the public purse, did not report back with a Ministerial statement on his return.

But the visit was revealed in answers to parliamentary questions from Opposition Leader Kim Swan, in which Dr. Brown detailed how he spent $320,000 of taxpayers' cash on overseas trips in 2008/09.

And a State Farm Bayou Classic press release from last year lists the Premier as a dignitary for the event.

Also named as a dignitary is US President Barack Obama's senior political strategist Art Collins, a prominent black lobbyist who runs Public Private Partnership Inc., the firm hired by Government to improve Bermuda's relationship with Mr. Obama.

The UK Times newspaper has previously reported that Public Private Partnership Inc. came up with the idea to resettle four Guantánamo Bay detainees in Bermuda, although the Premier has refused to comment on that suggestion.

Responding to Mr. Swan's parliamentary questions, Dr. Brown said he spent $2,053 on airfare and a further $450 per diem (extras) on the Bayou Classic on November 28 to 30, 2008.

M. Thomas and R. Glasford, who went with him, spent $1,366 and $1,345 on airfare respectively, bringing the total bill to $4,764. Mr. Jones would not say who those people were.

The event's website states: "The State Farm Bayou Classic is more than just a football game; with its colourful and glorified history, the State Farm Bayou Classic is a unique family fellowship that exists within a football game.

"The State Farm Bayou Classic has become the greatest and most distinguishable sporting event in all of Black America."

Performers at the fan fest included rapper Common, Jazmine Sullivan, Joe, Bobby Valentino and Manny Fresh. Others in attendance were actress Kim Fields, TV personality Terence J., American Idol LaKisha Jones and Dallas Cowboys star Jason Hatcher.

Responding yesterday, Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley said: "On first blush, and with the Premier giving no background information, I have to say it's a total waste of taxpayers' dollars.

"It's always a great football game. I'm a sports fan; I love sports myself. But I'm still searching to see what connection there could be for Bermuda that could possibly have a positive impact for us.

"The Premier's Tourism Department needs to provide an explanation. For the life of me, I can't see a connection, other than it's a great football match. I don't think it's fair to use the taxpayers' money to further your own lifestyle.

"Often when the Premier goes away he looks to come back and give a Ministerial statement about his visit. But we haven't heard anything about this one."

Mr. Jones has repeatedly refused over the past few weeks to respond to questions about Dr. Brown's spending bill.

The figures show Dr. Brown and his team spent $53,000 on ground transport alone during the fiscal year, with the Premier getting about in what is thought to be luxurious SUVs. Mr. Jones would not confirm how the Premier travels.

Dr. Brown and his entourage also spent more than $20,000 on a nine-day trip to Florida and Turks and Caicos, about one month after the Premier announced plans to reduce Cabinet Ministers' travel costs.

And a few months after pledging he would be travelling coach class for trips that are three hours or less, Dr. Brown spent nearly $2,000 on a plane ticket to New York, with his Junior Minister's flight costing $850; and Dr. Brown's airfare for a trip to Georgia was $1,848.