Premier Ewart Brown this afternoon hit back at critics of his Parliamentary attendance saying his “primary focus is on addressing the needs and concerns of working Bermudians not with the misguided priorities of the Opposition”.

In today’s Royal Gazette, Kim Swan leader of the Opposition, criticised the Premier, who flew this week to watch the World Cup in South Africa, saying: "We're not surprised the Premier has flown off to South Africa to enjoy the World Cup final games. This is part of a travel habit that has seen him spend more time off the Island than any of his predecessors, by a country mile.

"That the Premier will miss this week's second last meeting of Parliament, which has a long list of business to get through, is completely beside the point. The Country's business is not his priority — he is."

Some Government backbenchers also told The Royal Gazette they had concerns about the Premier's attendance rate in the House and one PLP MP criticised Dr. Brown for leaving the Lower Chamber during a discussion on the Mincy Report on young black Bermudian males, after saying during his opening address that it was "by far the most important debate of this young century".

However in a statement this afternoon Dr. Brown said: “My administration has introduced a record number of bills in the House. That is what is important. The Bermudian people are more concerned with results than they are with personal attendance statistics. The fact that the Opposition leader has a near-perfect attendance is clear evidence that it takes more than just being there."

The statement said the Premier monitors Parliamentary proceedings by radio when not in the chamber and “can usually be found conducting meetings with Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and community stakeholders in his office at the House of Assembly”.

* Full story in tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.