In his Flashpoint column this week, Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith writes searchingly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa - where he visited last week. And while the details of any trip to a far flung place makes for a good read, the real news is not where the Minister went, but with whom.
Today Smith confirmed to 7NEWS that he traveled there on a private jet with Lord Michael Ashcroft and British Shadow Minister for International Affairs, Andrew Mitchell. But it wasn't official business. Smith says, "it was a private invitation to join some parliamentarians to see what's happening in another part of the world on international issues."
According to our sources, Smith's political junket has not placed him in good stead with the PUP party leadership. In this regard it's of slight note that this week, the Prime Minister removed the Government Press Office from Smith's portfolio.
Lord Ashcroft is the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK, which is the British opposition. He is also a Belizean citizen and his personal fortune is put at over a US$1 billion. In Belizean politics his formidable wealth and broad influence have placed him as a sort of political kingmaker.
