The government's budgeted expenditure for travel and subsistence in the 2022/2023 fiscal year has increased from $14.8 million to $18.8 million.

The increases, which include totals for both domestic and international travel and subsistence, total $3,963,532.

The numbers are part of the government's revised figures in its 2022/2023 Supplementary Budget of Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.

Prime Minister Philip Davis tabled the report, along with the Mid-Year Budget Performance, in the House of Assembly yesterday.

There are increases in several ministries and departments.

The largest increase is in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) which saw an increase from $625,424 to $2.6 million.

The House of Assembly's travel and subsistence budget increased from $148,850 to $164,350.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw an increase from $109,200 to $259,200.

The Department of Immigration also saw an increase from $1.9 million to $2.1 million.

There were also increases in the Department of Education, up by $420,000, and the Department of Housing, up by $65,000.

Much of the funds were reallocated from other budget line items.

According to the Mid-Year Budget Performance, between July and December 2022, the government spent $8.1 million on travel and subsistence compared to the $4.7 million spent during the same period in 2021.

The government spent $9.6 million on travel and subsistence in 2018/2019; $12.7 million in 2019/2020; $9.5 million in 2020/2021; and $10.6 million in 2021/2022.

Davis has been criticized for his frequent travels since assuming office in September 2021.

In 2021, Davis had to fend off criticism that his trip with a large delegation to Expo 2020 in Dubai was a waste of taxpayer money.

The prime minister has led delegations — often large ones — to several events in 2022, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda; the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Suriname; the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California; and a trip last December to Cuba.

In January, he traveled to Argentina to attend the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States (CELAC).

Davis' trip to Bermuda last October, with a delegation of government officials and members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), drew controversy.

According to the prime minister, the delegation included former Prime Minister Perry Christie, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, OPM Director of Communications Latrae Rahming; PLP Secretary General Barbara Cartwright; PLP member Telia Saunders; Minister of Transport and Housing JoBeth Coleby-Davis; OPM Minister of State Myles LaRoda; Parliamentary Secretary Leon Lundy; PLP Senators Barry Griffin and Quintin Lightbourne; OPM Policy Advisor Kevin Simmons; OPM Permanent Secretary Creswell Sturrup and their aides.

While Rahming said the PLP paid for the trip, it was later revealed that the government paid for it and was reimbursed by the PLP.

The opposition has called on the prime minister to limit his travel and focus on issues at home including high inflation and rising crime.

Davis has said that his travels are "bearing fruit".

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