The Premier's right-hand man Senator David Burch has repeated his claims about poor media coverage of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail conference - despite the weight of evidence to the contrary.

Over the week The Royal Gazette wrote seven articles about the three-day conference, including two front page articles, one of which was the lead story.

Our coverage totalled well over 170 column inches and more than 4,000 words while there were other related articles written before and after the event which finished on Tuesday at the Southampton Princess.

But Sen. Burch said that wasn't good enough. He said of the media's efforts: "Some did better than others. The Royal Gazette did better than the others I admit that.

"But I think for a major conference the level of coverage was inadequate."

Yesterday, Sen. Burch admitted he hadn't read all of The Royal Gazette's stories about the event attended by academics, tourism professionals and Government from a number of countries.

But it didn't stop him from having a go at the Press.

He said: "As an example one night it was the tenth story on VSB, bumped down by a swarm of flying bees in Barr's Bay park.

"I don't think it got significant coverage."

When a reporter listed the amount of coverage The Royal Gazette had given the event at the Southampton Princess Sen. Burch responded: "I have a right to a different view."

He said his comments attacking media coverage had been given greater prominence on the front page than the conference itself. When a reporter said that this was not the case, and that on Tuesday a conference story had lead the front page news Sen. Burch said: "I have my position and I don't wish to spend my time convincing you otherwise."

The electronic media also defended their positions.

ZBM news director Jim McKey said his team had run 8 minutes, 17 seconds worth of material over the three days of the conference.

He said: "That's a considerable chunk of time when the news averages 13 to 14 minutes a night.

"It disturbs me when comments like that come from a senior politician and government leader. I have no idea why he is going after the media. We have made a decision we will challenge any sort of misdirected comments about the media."

And VSB news director Chris Lodge said he was surprised by the Colonel's comment.

He said his channel had given coverage to the event days before it had even began, starting with a long interview with organiser Koshea Scott on the Shirley Dill talk show and other items running throughout the conference and beyond. He said twice the tapes of the conference provided by another company had not arrived in time for the evening news but he said TV coverage still amounted to about eight minutes while radio coverage far exceed that.

Mr. Lodge said the media was not picking a fight but was capable of defending itself.

He said: "Obviously the public knows for itself just how The Royal Gazette and VSB and the other media covered it and they can judge for themselves."

He said The Royal Gazette had provided excellent coverage with front page stories and stories inside. He added: "We covered it just like any major event in Bermuda."