The governor had come under review and severe criticism for being absent during a violent snowstorm that hit Vermont earlier in the week. In a press conference to reveal his whereabouts, the governor said he spent six days in Dominica and has made the trip without his bodyguards, the secret.
When the governor was first reported missing, his aides initially told the press that they did not know where he went. Then they said they do not know, but the information is not disclosed for privacy reasons.
Upon His critics said that the refusal to say where he was vacationing expressed doubts about leadership and the Governor really throws his lot with the people of Vermont.
The governor said he was encouraged to travel in secret, without any security by former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter during a training program for new governors last November. According Shumlin "I followed his advice, we thought it was better than the tiny island of Dominica was not aware that I was the Governor -.. They did not, I met many of my friends, they called me Peter was great to be an ordinary citizen again for a few days.Therefore we do not disclose where I was....