Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell last night spoke with disappointment over the Premier's replacement for the late David Allen.

Mr. Dodwell said that while he had nothing against the new Tourism Minister Renee Webb, he felt Premier Jennifer Smith had failed to grasp the opportunity to make real changes that would enhance the industry.

He questioned the ability of one minister to operate both the Telecommunications Ministry and now Tourism, and said Government should have taken the chance to set up a tourism authority.

"I want to congratulate Renee," said Mr. Dodwell.

"This is not about her. It is very early and she needs to settle into the position. This is about the Smith Government. The Premier has missed real opportunity to set about fixing tourism.

"She is responsible for the decision, and why would she not have gone for a completely fresh face from the backbench."

Mr. Dodwell said there were people on Government's backbench who should have been given the opportunity to take on more responsibility.

And he said the job needed somebody who appealed to the public and was given a great deal of respect, and who had a lot of experience in the community - such as Dale Butler.

The Shadow Minister said in choosing somebody like him the Premier would have demonstrated that she wanted to make a real difference to improve the tourism trade.

"I personally believe that it's too important a ministry to double up with another ministry, especially given the four years of decline" said Mr. Dodwell.

"What we need is somebody who is a listener and a consensus-builder, and is no longer a master strategist. This has got to be somebody who stays on the Island to get Bermuda right and our product right. We are not going to market our way out of this situation."

And Mr. Dodwell said if ever there was ever a time to follow a different path and set up a tourism authority, it was now.

He said a tourism authority would still need a tourism minister, but he or she would not have the same responsibilities.

They would set the budget and facilitate where necessary, but tourism would be run by the authority.

"Any country or destination that is good or wants to be good in tourism is doing this, including Cayman, Barbados, every state in the US, and Canada, besides others" added Mr. Dodwell.

"They know that the right way to manage tourism is through this kind of entity."

Mr. Dodwell said the people of Bermuda needed to be given hope that the Smith Government would take on new ideas and make changes for the better, but he was concerned that would not happen.

And he said he feared that the premier had doubled up two ministries under one Minister in order to consolidate power in a smaller group, and questioned whether that would later lead to larger salaries.

He said: "Are the Ministers going to go full-time; is this about paying more to Ministers (in the long-term), and is this about consolidating power?

"I think that's what the public wants to know. Is the Premier going to tell the public?

"This is not about the who; it's about how it should be done. There is nothing personal to my comments."