Premier Ewart Brown took two bodyguards with him to an American football "bowl" match at taxpayers' expense.

The Premier refuses to offer any explanation why the men — who it's understood were not armed — accompanied him to the Bayou Classic between Louisiana's Southern University and Grambling State University on the Bermuda public purse.

Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley suspects Dr. Brown was trying to look important in front of semi-famous television personalities, rappers and sportsmen who also attended the event at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans last November.

Unarmed bodyguards were at the Premier's side at a host of events overseas during 2008/09, according to information released in Parliamentary responses.

"He's trying to look good in front of people, but politicians aren't going to these events. They're musicians and actors. Maybe the Premier's in the wrong career," said Sen. Dunkley yesterday.

Dr. Brown's press secretary Glenn Jones is continuing to stonewall questions about how the Premier racked up a $320,000 spending bill on overseas trips in the fiscal year, despite pledging to cut back during the economic crisis.

The Royal Gazette reported last week how Dr. Brown and two companions spent $4,700 going to the Bayou Classic.

Dr. Brown made no mention of it at the time of his visit and did not report back with a public statement on his return, unlike many of his ventures out on taxpayers' expense.

Sen. Dunkley says he cannot see how the Bayou Classic has any positive impact for Bermuda.

Mr. Jones would not say who the Premier's companions were, but a number of sources have told this newspaper they are Dr. Brown's bodyguards.

As well as the Bayou Classic, taxpayers paid to send bodyguards with the Premier to an Oprah Winfrey event in New York; Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, DC; Caricom in New York; two events in Turks in Caicos; US President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony; New York Mets promotion.

It is understood the Premier's bodyguards are not armed when they travel overseas because of difficulties of taking weapons on planes, and getting permission to carry them abroad. "Taking his bodyguards makes no sense to me," said Sen. Dunkley yesterday. "It proves that the Premier has lost touch with reality, and has no accountability."

The Premier's use of bodyguards in Bermuda has long been a bone of contention with his critics. His two predecessors Alex Scott and Dame Jennifer Smith did not have bodyguards.

Sen. Dunkley said he was asked by the Police if he wanted 24-hour protection as Opposition Leader after Dr. Brown claimed he received a bullet in the post in the run-up to the 2007 General Election. "I said 'no' because I didn't think it was necessary," said Sen. Dunkley.

He said Bermuda has a huge problem with violence and a shortage of trained people on the streets — and after the latest shootings in Court Street, an ambulance beat the Police to the scene.

"The Premier has taken people out of the service by having his own bodyguards," he added.

Bare details of the Premier's spending were revealed in answers to Parliamentary Questions from Opposition Leader Kim Swan last month. Since then, Mr. Jones has repeatedly ignored questions.

The figures show Dr. Brown and his team spent $53,000 on ground transport alone during the fiscal year, with the Premier getting about in what is thought to be luxurious SUVs. Mr. Jones will not confirm how the Premier travels.

Dr. Brown and his entourage also spent more than $20,000 on a nine-day trip to Florida and Turks and Caicos, about one month after the Premier announced plans to reduce Cabinet Ministers' travel cost.

And a few months after pledging he would be travelling coach class for trips that are three hours or less, Dr. Brown spent nearly $2,000 on a plane ticket to New York, with his Junior Minister's flight costing $850.

Similarly, Dr. Brown's airfare for a trip to Georgia was $1,848. Mr. Jones will not say whether the Premier stuck to his coach class promise.

The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign is calling for answers to questions which are in the public interest, such as public spending.

Sen. Dunkley said yesterday: "If you can't give an answer, it leaves people to believe you must have something to hide. You have to assume there's a cover-up. Their answer is always quickly coming when they want to get some information out there."