By Stephen Breen
http://www.royalgazette.com
Nassau, Bahamas — There has been no attempt to keep the Tourism Ministry’s new media consultant Roy Boyke under wraps, Tourism Minister David Allen said yesterday.
Mr. Boyke’s appointment has sparked a political row, with the opposition UBP claiming he has been brought in to boost the chances of the PLP winning the next election.
Mr. Boyke, a Trinidadian who worked for the PLP at the last election, has denied the charges and said he would not do any political work during his one-year consultancy contract at Tourism because it would create a conflict of interest.
He said if he was asked to work for the PLP at the forthcoming election, he would resign the contract.
The denials have not satisfied Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell who claims Mr. Boyke’s real purpose is make Tourism and the Government look good.
Mr. Boyke began work as media advisor to Mr. Allen on March 1, but the matter caused a stir last week as the appointment had not been made public.
Mr. Allen said he had taken Mr. Boyke to press conferences and to meetings of the public-private sector Bermuda Alliance for Tourism (BAT).
“Roy Boyke was at a number of press conferences when you (the media) were there and at BAT meetings. There has been no attempt to keep him under wraps,” said Mr. Allen.
He said Mr. Dodwell was “fully aware” Mr. Boyke was on the Island because he knew him and had seen him on the street.
