Christmas cards sent by the Premier to voters across Bermuda are being paid for out of the taxpayers' pocket it emerged yesterday.

The greetings featuring a colour picture of Ewart Brown and his wife Wanda Henton Brown have been blasted as wasteful by the Opposition United Bermuda Party.

Some households have received several cards addressed to individuals rather than the whole family, sparking further concern about the extravagance.

It's thought the mailing exercise would have cost more than $20,000.

It contrasts with other individuals and organisations who have e-mailed Christmas greetings this year – including Government's own Department of Communications and Information.

And it comes after Government announced across-the-board budget cuts of 10.5 percent in each department in light of the recession.

Questions to the Premier's spokesman Glenn Jones, about why more economical methods of getting out a Christmas message were not answered last night.

However a UBP spokesman said: "We appreciate the tradition of Christmas card giving because it helps people stay in touch in an all too busy world.

"But this week's Christmas card from the Premier to registered voters is not really about that.

"We see it as an expensive taxpayer-funded exercise in political imaging and one more sign that Government does not understand the meaning and importance of economic leadership."

The spokesman said at a time when Government should be using all opportunities to publicly demonstrate prudent and responsible financial management, it continues to spend without regard for economic realities.

"Politics trumps all.

"We would have preferred to see the $20,000 donated to a charity that could use the money to bring cheer and support to the needy, the jobless, the infirm or to provide Christmas groceries to families in need.

"Now that would be leadership and taxpayer money better spent."

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