revealed interesting information for taxpayers.

We have learned that some Government Ministers and civil servants have run up nearly $143,000 in credit card charges this year alone. And we don't know if such expenses are part of the $158,000-plus which was notched up on overseas travel in the first six months of the current financial year. However, we do know Government has already exceeded the annual Cabinet Office travel budget by nearly $20,000.

Topping the list of high flyers were Premier Jennifer Smith, her Chief of Staff David Burch, and Tourism Minister David Allen.

This information came to light through questions from the Opposition, particularly those tabled by Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons who has questioned if such "excessive'' travelling and spending was necessary.

Government has argued that such travel and expenses are necessary, particularly since as a new Government it needs to maintain and establish overseas relationships on issues pertinent to the Island's future. While this is understandable, it is another reason given which should cause concern.

At least two Government Ministers have stated that Government was simply following travel and credit card usage policies set by the former United Bermuda Party Government.

But based on that track record, this is not good for taxpayers. In January 1996, the last time this newspaper was able to obtain statistics on Government travel, the UBP Government's travel tab was well over $1 million a year. And while we were not able to obtain half the information we have learned about the Progressive Labour Party Government's travelling expenses, we were told that for the fiscal year 1994/95 the then Finance Minister, David Saul, rang up more than $16,000 in travel expenses in six months and then Tourism Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge spent $25,033 on travel during the one-year period. His Ministry alone accounted for $843,072 of the $1.1 million spent by Government that year on travel. In fact, Mr. Woolridge spent $5,189 on a return flight to Germany in January 1995 to promote the new Condor air service to Bermuda which no longer exists.

Dr. Gibbons, who at the time was Finance Minister, defended the number of overseas trips, pointing out that Government was a large organisation with some 1,500 civil servants, many of whom flew business or first class. So the PLP Government is correct in stating that they are simply following policies set up by the old Government.

But it must realise that two wrongs never make it right. And the onus is on the current Government to act in the interest of taxpayers. It is said that birds of a feather flock together. But we advise the PLP Government to break away like the eagle and set higher standards.