Video: Minister Explains Hiring Of Consultant
In yesterday’s [May 23] session of the House of Assembly, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell was questioned by the Opposition over the hiring of consultant Ronald Sutherland.
During a 16-minute Question & Answer period, the Minister was questioned when Mr. Sutherland was hired, whether he met with Nathan Landow, his compensation and more.
Mr Sutherland’s name first came up last year, when the Minister spoke [PDF] about the Bermuda Hotel Development and Investment Summit held in the summer of 2013, with a “Ron Sutherland: President, Hemisphere Group” listed as one of the Summit participants.
Audio excerpt of the Question & Answer period:
In explaining after the Question period, Minister Crockwell said, “First of all, Mr Sutherland was engaged by the Tourism Authority. And as we know once the Tourism Authority Act was passed that dissolved the former Tourism Board.
“And then we had an in effect an interim Tourism Authority until has we announced the Authority was going to be coming online officially, which was April 1st of this year.
“It was recommended that the Tourism Authority have an investment division that would assist the Government in attracting foreign investment particularly to develop a tourism infrastructure in Bermuda.
“It was recommended to me that through this RFP process that we change the normal document that we give out to potential investors, and make it into a marketing document….which is what other jurisdictions do. So we are not only saying that this is the site and these are the various specs…you actually market the country.
“And to do that it was recommended that we get some professional advice from an individual in that field. And that gentleman was Mr. Ronald Sutherland. He was retained by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and he was basically providing what we call a concierge service to those individuals who put in application.
“And that is what you want, you want to have someone that is dealing with them on a day to day basis, making sure that their questions are answered, and their needs are met. And you want to also have a buffer between the Government and those individuals that are dealing directly with the investors.”
Minister Crockwell explaining the process:
The Minister added, “So, that is why we didn’t reveal his compensation because the BTA has a policy that they don’t disclose the confidential particulars of their employees. And that applies to Mr. Sutherland as well.
When asked to clarify the dates — as per Opposition questions earlier — the Minister told Bernews, “The actual Tourism Authority Bill was debated on the 27th of September, and passed in the early morning hours of the 28th. It received its assent from the Governor on the 7th of October, and Mr. Sutherland was hired by the Tourism Authority in mid-December of last year.
Also on the topic of tourism yesterday, was the announcement that the Government has entered in an “exclusive negotiation period” with the Venezuela-based Desarrollos Hotelco Group to develop the old Club Med property.
The proposed development includes a 238 room hotel, the renovation of the St. George’s golf course, 16 hotel residences, 24 golf villas, 16 estate residences, a spa , fitness center, meeting rooms, ballroom, swimming pools, a casino and more.
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What you need to do…is hire a comedian to respond to the likes or Mark Bean….some one mearly to shed light on his,(in my humble opinion),on his rediculous nature.
Hire a comedian? Does anyone take him seriously anymore? I held out hope that as a younger member of the PLP he might have some fresh ideas and that the opposition might add something to this country and help improve on what the OBA is doing. Instead he has brought nothing of substance to the table!
In 15 months I cant think of one positive idea has brought forward that would help Bermuda or improve this country. All he has done is complain, and has taken the meaning of the word opposition to a whole new level. Can anyone think of one POSITIVE thing that he has done?
I hope Alex Scott comes out of retirement or his son steps up. Or perhaps Jennifer Smith or Paula Cox might take another go at it now that the Dr and Burch are out of the picture and not intimidating the core members with integrity and direction.
Bean must refocus and show that he can lead a country upward or he must go. His focus is personal and he is like an angry bull with blinders on.
All Marc Bean does is shout how badly others do things, he has no ideas, and no class.
I trust Dunkley.
I hope no one is throwing their money away in Marc Beans betting shop!!!!!! Open your eyes people!!!!!!!!
Marc is nothing more than Ewarts puppet. Another bitter, destructive politician with no real concern for the masses only self promotion
OMG shut the heck up and let the ruling party get on with the business of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This explanation raises more questions than it answers.
Answers everything
…and they’re off!
I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth HELL NO SMDH
Crockwell neither oba or plp/BIU supporters trust you. Premier this man how we say in business “is a risk”
I support him! I am an X-PLP supporter. I voted to “make it happen”. I had no idea what was going to happen! At one time I split my two votes between UBP and PLP. In the last election I voted OBA and while I am not 100% happy with the OBA or their actions of late, I have seen nothing positive come out of Bean and Co to make me even consider a change.
I don’t have an issue with you not trusting him, that is your prerogative. However, I question you trust in the PLP/BIU. If you are a member of the BIU, do you know where your money is? You are talking about a business that was over 10 years behind in their legal and moral obligations by filing their audited financial reports. Do you know where your money is and how it is doing?
You trust the PLP, a group that the AG fund was using the public purse to pay their personal bills? A group that is responsible for “loosing” $800 million?
Then again, lots of people trusted Maddoff too?
Well I’ll be damn, split your votes, looking for a draw. Hmm. Useless.Stay home next time.
I thank you “Comebye Ahh” for speaking the truth…Many refuse to accept the truth and subsequently they’re the major cause of why we(Bermudians) are facing the problems we are presently facing
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning”- Jiddu Krishnamurti
this guy stood up in the house yesterday and refused to answer questions that concerned the tax payers money if the TA is being paid for with the peoples money than the people need to know what every one in the TA is being paid
the speaker should demand that the question are answered or he may have to go too
It’s time WE the People KNOW what these people earn,
we KNOW what MP’s and indeed The Premier earns,
there is NO need to HIDE whatever these people are earning.,
OR ANYONE else.
Hell, the Governor’s salary is on the the record as well.
I guess it was cool for Mr,Bean when the PLP spent how much on consultants!I think sonetimes he should think of why we meaning Bermuda is in the position its in.Because of how much HIS govt spent in over runs, consultants etc and theres probably so much more we the public dont know about.
Go to Butterfeild and Vallis and buy a box of straws so you have something to graple for… Yours sounding desperate graasping for straws that arent there……..
Marc…next time you are in the house. Ask for a comparison on the following.
Travel Expenses.
Consultants.
Unaccounted for monies? (lost / stolen)
Amount of times Bda Housing Corporation was used to sell members property?
Amount of times the public purse was used for PERSONAL spending.
I will add to the list later. I don’t want to ruin your May 24.
Look damnit, you people are hiring consultants while your taking money from Gov. workers by way of a furlough day.
What do you mean YOU people??? By the way, before you complain about gov workers being forced to take a furlough day ask yourself why?
The reason is not debatable and simple. It is because while economists predicted a recession the former PLP government just like the US, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Portugal and a few others continue to spend, spend , spend like there was no end. At last the US had an excuse as it was involved in another expensive war. Where did our money go?
Was it spent on a new airport, bridge, causeway, road works – NO! In those 14 years one school was built that went horribly wrong and $40+ million over budget after the contract was given to a friends and family company with NO construction history. That’s why you have a furlough day.
In those same 14 years I can think of two other projects where millions were wasted. The Grand Atlantic and our Police Station. That’s another reason why government workers have to now have a furlough day.
Or, think back to the very FIRST thing the PLP did! They declared a holiday because the won the election. Do you remember what that alone cost us? I believe that total ws $4 million.
Or maybe if someone in the PLP could tell us where $800 million went?
So before you complain about why this is happening, there are many more reasons why if you just think about it.
Here we go again!
Another thing under the rug!
Stop it! Just keep it clean and do the work…WE want the OBA to be successful because we all win when the government of the day wins. They need to be careful and protect us as they protect themselves….
Win ! This isn’t a friggin game !! At what cost do you want the OBA to win this game ? At the expense of you being completely ignorant on the renumeration of public servants ! If this is the case then you deserve a public flogging !
If the OBA are successful, then there is more money for the government for payroll. If government is successful, then we are all successful. We already learned that the PLP could not ensure that the government coffers were adequately readied during our last successful period, so now we must support the OBA government to make Bermuda successful again and be vigilant that if they aren’t as frivolous as the PLP and that the coffers can be readied for the next time.
So yes we must hope the OBA wins, so that we can all win, because it isn’t a game we can afford to lose and every week I have more and more doubts that the PLP are on the same team as Bermuda.
The TA is a private entity, they have been GIVEN money to start their own business. That’s why Govt don’t/won’t make the payroll public. They don’t have to. The OBA are selling Bda out without any explanation. It’s sad, but its all part of politricks….
When/if the BTA ever get in a position where they are not dependent on taxpayer funding, the details of their compensation can be kept private, if they wish.
However, they are totally dependent on our money and it is simply wrong for Crockwell to refuse to make the information public.
What happened to transparency? PATI anyone?
Happy 24th.
A strong opposition means a strong government! To bad the PLoP didnt have one for the last 7 years of there reign of financial terror!
So far the opposition has been stronger then the oba/ubp. You boys on front street just lost the Commander and Chief (Premier) lol or did you set the man up to fail. I think you people set the man up for the real leader to take his place. Hey now you have the UBP back so SMILE. Craig will look back and think they just use me to win votes. Well it will not work next time.
You lot are the ones that have / are playing former Premier Craig Cannonier for a fool / as a “puppet” and are attempting to lure him into “your camp” but he’s no-ones fool to be persuaded by the Progressive Labour Party members or supporters.
As George Washington once stated, “It’s better to be alone than in bad company” Or, as someone else said, “politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often”
Raymond take your blinders off
no-ones fool to be persuaded by the Progressive Labour Party??? Ummm first of all, no one wants Craig, he adds nothing to any party.
CC is gone because of the publics outcry…not because they set him up or used him…damned if they do n damned if they don’t… hurry up plp take control once again before i’m too old to throw stones n open up cans of worms …hahaha
signed: Dooms Day Prepper.
Just curious, whose got the money, um the $350.000? Is Craig still trying to sue?
If Tourism Authority is fully or partly funded by taxpayer’s money, the Tourism Authority has a duty to lay out the facts about compensation of each of their consultants, employees, directors, et al.
The public has a legitimate right to know.
No way can anyone say that Tourism Authority has a policy of not disclosing compensation or how how each $ is spent. Public money has a right to be audited by government auditors and results disclosed.
the next time the minister is asked that question in the house if he refuses to answer he should be removed from the house
the speaker needs to do his job oh I forgot he is being used too
The information is confidencial NOT secret. get the difference. If they were to reveal the information, Marc and Sherrie would be whipped up the hysteria on that too. See? right now no matter what the OBA does their damned if they do, damned if they don’t because of all this political ignorance that’s happened. We will ALL be losers if this continues. Can you see that?
This is a matter of principle, and what Sherrie, Marc or the dog catcher say is immaterial.
By the way, Marc promised to make this information public should the PLP win the next election!
What is Chris Furbert total salary as well as everyone at the BIU? how is this different?
Tourism Authority is a separate and distinct entity. I have said this from the get go. It would appear they are in business for themselves. Where is Mr. Dodwell by the way? Jobs for the boys (and girls). This group was formed on the basis of efficiency and effectiveness. They are morally and duty bound to fully inform taxpayers of how they are using their tax dollars. It would appear that even the Minister has bought into their philosophies,. Why so many employees and now we are going the consultant route. Mr.Crockwell after your last debacle, why are you justifying this nonsense. Incidentally, do you still have your consultant, Mr Butterfield? And if so . His job is?????
PLP Family! Enough is enough! Beam is an embarrassment and must go! I may have issues with the OBA and Cannonier had to go BUT Bean is a liability…even with his own members! Desilva, Brown or Lister are the best choices! I listened to him on Friday and was embarrassed !
Love you MARC . Continue to hold these rascals feet to the fire . In doing so Bermuda moves forward . If they don’t know by now , line and length is your strategy and if they dare play you short , than the middle stump will cartwheel . Cannonier , bowled ,middle stump out for 17 . Mark Pettingill , bowled by Bean , caught off stump by Burt also out for 17 ! Crockwell and Fayhe now up to bat . Crockwell facing the ball , a new ball , and Crockwell is looking very shaky and unsure about his stand … And Bean starts his run up ….. And releases the ball “…”.
Good commentary….i see you have a talent to fall back on when you become unemployed, but not all good bowlers are good batsman…we’ll see what happens when its his time to face the ball…
I’ll become unemployed only when there is no one left in Bermuda to feed ! Your eating guarantees my employment , and I thank you profusely .
Good thing for Marc ,the OBA team doesn’t have any accomplished bowlers and the fielding is sloppy . He is in a very good position to exploit the shallow performance of any team the OBA fields . A sad but unfortunate truth .