A Premier's report on an overseas trip to a major international economic forum was another "social calendar'', Opposition leader Pamela Gordon said yesterday.

And Ms Gordon -- who also attended the World Economic Forum in Switzerland -- said: "This would have been a prime opportunity for the Premier to articulate her vision where she wants to take Bermuda.

"It's unfortunate the Premier doesn't think it's important enough even to inform the House of Assembly of the significant issues that would assist us in our forward direction.'' Ms Gordon was speaking after Premier Jennifer Smith read a page-and-half statement covering the trip to Switzerland and visits to the UK and US.

Ms Smith listed meetings she had attended -- including keynote speeches to the international gathering by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and American president Bill Clinton -- but did not elaborate.

But she did say that she had met Foreign Office junior Minister Baroness Patricia Scotland in London and asked her to visit Bermuda.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox , who also went to the Davos venue for the meeting, spoke on issues like a crackdown on offshore jurisdictions, pension provision with an ageing population and the importance of education for the future of Bermuda in an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette .

And Ms Gordon delivered an analysis of Mr. Blair's speech -- pointing out that increasing protectionism in Bermuda ran contrary to the no-barriers approach to business backed by the UK Prime Minister.

Ms Smith yesterday declined to be interviewed by waiting reporters after her statement.

Ms Gordon -- who has criticised similar statements by the Premier in the past -- said: "I'm very disappointed that yet again we have had another social calendar as opposed to giving us some issues of substance.'' Ms Gordon added -- in addition to the UK and US leaders -- the new King of Jordan, King Abdullah, also made a major speech.

She said: "All of them had substantive contributions to make about the way the world is going -- but we heard nothing of that.'' And Ms Gordon, who has copies of the speeches by all three men, offered copies to interested parties.

She said: "I do that because I think the direction they are moving in is significant, even for a small country like Bermuda.

"We are having to look at fitting into this global economy -- there are some meaty things the Premier could have spelled out.

"She could have made a major statement -- instead, every time the Premier goes away, we hear literally nothing more than a list of who she saw, who she dined with and what receptions she hosted. That's it.

"These are things we don't really need to know -- we need to know, when the Premier is representing our country, that she learned something of significance.'' Back to business: Premier Jennifer Smith seen here arriving at the House of Assembly yesterday. She read a page-and-half statement covering the trip to Switzerland and visits to the UK and US.