Opposition Queries Details Of Tourism Authority

January 3, 2013

“It is concerning that the One Bermuda Alliance is moving forward with their Tourism Authority without ensuring that the public is fully aware of what their proposed Tourism Authority will embody,” the Opposition PLP has said.

On Wednesday [Jan 2] Minister of Tourism & Transport Shawn Crockwell said local hotelier and former MP David Dodwell has been appointed Chairman Designate of the Tourism Authority.

The creation of a Tourism Authority was a promise made by the One Bermuda Alliance during the election campaign, and Minister Crockwell said the Government aspires to have it established within the next six months.

The PLP statement asked Minister Crockwell what will happen to the existing Tourism Board, how will the current Department of Tourism Staff be involved in the OBA’s Tourism Authority, who will the Chairman and the Tourism Authority report to, and how will it maintain its independence when the Chairman is responsible to the Minister.

The full statement from the PLP is below:

The Progressive Labour Party would like to reiterate that under our Government, a Tourism Board was established that has Authority to make decisions and implement strategy related to improving and marketing Bermuda as a tourism destination. The manner in which our current Board operates is consistent with that of other Authorities around the world.

It is concerning that the One Bermuda Alliance is moving forward with their Tourism Authority without ensuring that the public is fully aware of what their proposed Tourism Authority will embody.

We ask the following questions of the Minister of Tourism & Transport, the Hon. Shawn Crockwell JP MP–

  • (1) What will happen to the existing Tourism Board?
  • (2) How will the current Department of Tourism Staff be involved in the OBA’s Tourism Authority?
  • (3) If not to the Minister of Tourism, who will the Chairman and the Tourism Authority report to?
  • (4) As the Tourism Authority has yet to be approved by the Legislature, how will it maintain it’s independence when the Chairman is responsible to the Minister?

It appears that the OBA Government may have put the cart before the horse in this instance. In the interest of transparency, we hope that the Minister of Tourism will clarify these points and their plan to the people of Bermuda.”

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Comments (55)

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  1. pebblebeach says:

    Now be a good Opposition and kindly sit and wait for the answers as in some cases we the public are still waiting for answers to questions ask of you during your rule.

    • rocks says:

      Just bash the PLP that’s the new solution and a great one.

      • Victor says:

        Not really, just follow the money from Global Hue.

  2. Sandgrownan says:

    I just love the PLP calling for transparency.

    • Really? says:

      Agreed. What a joke!

    • Bermudian says:

      @sandgrownan,

      Isn’t transparency what you have been asking for? Is that not what you expect of the new Gov? Just some food for thought, many of our top hotel executives were on the Tourism Board already, so I am curious to see how much different they can be.

      • Argosy says:

        If you cannot grasp the difference between a Board and an Authority, I suggest, Bermudian with respect, that you should look it up before commenting.

        The Tourism Board was/is a joke. Don’t forget, one of its past Chairman, appointed by the then Minister (EFB,) was one Mr. Andre Curtis.

        Go figure!!

        • LaVerne Furbert says:

          Argosy, if you don’t want anyone to bring up Shawwn Crockwell’s chequered pas, I would suggest you leave Andre Curtis out of your argument.

          • PLP Does Not Want Or Need You: says:

            @Laverne
            What about Rolf Commissiong’s chequered pass,you were the one who helped put him in the house; hmmmmm as you stated if it was’nt for You he would not have gotten in: Self praise no recommendation:
            (Maybe your hoping he will share his salary with you)

            We are hoping someone in the PLP put a GAG order on you we have had enough of you, You have done us enough harm:

            THE DEFENDER HAS BEEN PUT TO REST: #ugh

            Back Off we are moving forward.

            People in glass houses should not throw stones:

            Confidential Blog:hmmmmmmmmmCongrats: Rolf Commissiong

          • Pastor Syl Hayward says:

            @ LaVerne: Andre Curtis’ “chequered past” would not be the issue with having him on a Tourism Board. It would be directly related to his actions, or should I say his inaction with regard to Faith-Based Tourism, which cost us a considerable sum with minimal return. In other words, his performance indicated he had little or no expertise in the area of tourism promotion and therefore had no place being on a Tourism Board.

          • Um jus sayin.... says:

            This is the funniest Ministry appointment yet…can Mr. Crockwell actually fly to the US and Canada direct? Hmmmmmm many young men and women still on the stop list!

          • Webster says:

            Lavern, shawn paid for his mistake and became a better man. unlike Andre Curtis who under the guise of religion ripped the people of bermuda off, and who hired him as their campaign manager ?
            Rolf has never apologised for his robbery charges !!!! and to this day all he does is play the race card.

            • Unjust Realities!!!! says:

              Who was Rolf suppose to apologize to???? Shawn Crockwell didn’t apologize to anyone but his family . . .at the end of the day he was in a position of trust working in supreme court . . .did they evr find the drugs of the street value of the drug sale????? Did Mr. Crockwell ever tell us the public what he did with the drugs, who he sold them to or for???? How many lives were affected by that $600,000 worth of drugs.

              Don’t sit here and talk that Sugar Honey Ice Tea about he bacame a better man . . .a real man a honest man would have told what he did with the drugs!!!!

              Guess what . . . Rolf served his time as did Andre Curtis . . .let’s not talk about checkered past of people only when it suits our agenda!!!!

              • Mad Dawg says:

                Rolfe could have apologized to the people he terrorised in the bank that day. He never did. He feels no remorse, I suppose.

          • Victor says:

            Mrs Furbert, Chequered past? Surely you mean powdered past? Seriously though, I do think the fact that Mr. Crockwell apologised should count for something – unlike say Mr. Rolfe Commissiong who never did – but in my view neither is fit to serve and just goes to show how bad things can happen when good people say nothing.

        • Bermudian says:

          @Argosy,

          I know the difference mate, and I will comment when I want.

          If you would like to enlighten us, please go ahead. I do know that (Board or Authority) both would still answer to the Minister.

          To my point (which you clearly missed), is that Mr. Dodwell has been sitting on the Tourism Board, along with other hoteliers. What I want to know is how will these same men make the industry better, that’s all.

          But since your so smart, please explain your understanding of the difference.

          P.S. I will grant you the fact that I don’t know how that men (Mr.Curtis) was given that position, but I can make the same argument about others in positions of power.

          • Romo says:

            The main difference will be that tourism industry leaders will make up the majority rather than the Boards format which was as follows:

            Chairman – Appointed by the Minister responsible for Tourism
            5 Members – Appointed by the Bermuda Hotel Association
            8 Members – Appointed by the Minister responsible for Tourism
            Executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce
            President of the Bermuda Industrial Union
            Ex Officio Officers: Director of Tourism, Director of Global Operations, Airport General
            Manager and the Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Hotel Association.

            The obvious goal of the Tourism Authority is to put more authority and therefore responsibility in the hands of those who actually understand the business and what does and does not work…. something that was clearly missing in the balance of the Tourism Board.

            Shawn Crockwell said the following upon the appointment of the Tourism Board Members back in March of 2012:

            “While the new board includes five representatives from the BHA, nine others are appointed directly by the Minister, meaning its work will still be tied to political oversight that has so completely failed the business needs of Bermuda Tourism and all the job opportunities that that entails.

            The PLP like to say an Authority will lead to job losses in the civil service. But this is absolutely not true. We will still need a Tourism Ministry to regulate the industry – cruise ship and hotel licensing, property inspections, etc. And you can have executives working within the system, just like the current government has with their Director of Global Operations.”

        • Amazed says:

          The difference is we will have to pay people huge salaries with no guarantees-whereas the majority of the Board were volunteers paid a token stipend!

  3. swing voter says:

    That’s right earn that salary! I’m impressed although these questions should be submitted by the shadow minister as palimentary questions to be addressed when parliment is in session ;-)

  4. Bermyman says:

    Yes, The plan is to improve Bermuda’s tourism product and not lie to the people about hotel deals that were never going to happen in the first place.

  5. SoMuchMore says:

    The PLP are being so silly… like really – they screwed up so much and now that they are not the leaders it looks like they want to attack the OBA for everything that they are doing.

    We need to take a look at the PLP’s spending and I bet a lot of people would be taken hmmm. I bet at that point they’ll be real quiet.

  6. Really? says:

    Pot calling the Kettle black comes to mind…

  7. jt says:

    What is likely more disappointing for the PLP (stunning, perhaps) is to see such immediate action on campaign promises.

  8. Cow Polly says:

    I’m still waiting for the Platnium period that Dr Brown promised us many years ago, so I can wait a couple of more weeks / months to hear the Tourism Authority’s new plan – at least they’ll have one.

    • LaVerne Furbert says:

      Cow Polly,

      Maybe you should do some research and find out what David Dodwell, former Minister of Tourism of the UBP, promised us many years ago. After all he is now the man in charge of Bermuda’s tourism product, not Dr. Brown. Dr. Brown is happily retired.

      • Webster says:

        Lavern, is doc brown happily retired ? how is practice in bda going ?

        • Victor says:

          Dr. Brown will never be a happy person – and the more he acquires, the less happy he becomes, like some paranoid tin pot, banana republic dictator (which is of course exactly what he aspires to be).

      • jt says:

        ‘verney – mourning period is over I see – good for you sweetheart.

      • fanciy face says:

        Let OBA do there job and leave UBP out of the equation. That’s why you all lost the race. Yout all have skeletons in your closets so stop the nonsense. Time to grow up cause you growing old and worn out.

      • de ja vodoo says:

        Laverne. The plp plan for tourism didn’t work. We have gone from 14,500 bed nights to 3,500 bed nights. Belco production of electric power is down 30%. Cycle livery’s and shops are closing down. Where are the Tourists?

  9. Triangle Drifter says:

    I know that the OBA is going to be held to a much higher standard than the PLP & results will be expected, especially by PLP fans, much quicker but some things will take a bit of time.

    DOT staff who have a useful purpose to serve have no fear of losing their job. Those who are there putting in time taking up space are not so secure. They might want to dust off their resumes. The chop in the civil service has to come. Every department.

  10. street wise says:

    Why is it going to take the OBA 6 months to set up the so-called Tourism Authority?… what are they going to be doing in the meantime? Six months!? Should be more like six weeks….

  11. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    this post doesn’t warrant a response let it fall on deaf ears.

  12. welldone says:

    That’s right PLP! Keep Crockwell and Cannonier on their toes! They professed to have all the answers during the campaign. Or did they? Haha Cannonier didn’t have to say a darn thing for the last 3 weeks and still won. What a sad state.

    • Ok says:

      He only won because blacks like me didn’t vote for PLP. Dam I didn’t even vote ubp/Bda/OBA/ ABC lol, I’ll help vote them out in 4 years if they F things up with the promise land they told us about.

    • Back to Life, Back to Reality says:

      And the PLP LOST because the SPOKE TO MUCH before THINKING!

    • Back to Life, Back to Reality says:

      By the way a SAD STATE is what Bermuda was while in the care of the PLP. Not one ministry was better off than they were 14 years ago. We may not get better – but at least we have hope and WE CAN NOT GET ANY WORSE!

  13. Rockfish #1and#2 says:

    Funny how these people who stood by when the previous government ran amok with no accountability and left us with a huge debt, are now clamouring for immediate results from the present one.

    A few Civil Servants and former Ministers should be subjected to polygraph testing.

  14. Eyes wide open. says:

    So, who is is getting the “freinds and family” rate now.

    I guess that there is no conflict with Mr. Dodwell being the operator of a major resort in Bermuda!!!! Right. I am sure that ALL the interests of the REEFS will be protected. And as for keeping politics out of tourism (Minister Crockwell); what would you call appointing a fomer UBP minister to this post. Please spare me the drama!! I guess it would be too much to expect the Tourism Minister to actually LEAD a Bermuda tourism authourity.

    I am looking and waiting for the change? SMDH

    • de ja vodoo says:

      Eyes wide open. Let’s put someone in charge of tourism who knows how the tourism infastructure works. .

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      And your problem exactly is what??? If the Reefs does well other properties do well. If they all do well there is more employment for everyone, not only the hotel staff but right through the Island.

      EWO, what is it that is so hard for you to understand?

      Be thankful that folks like Mr Dodwell are willing to give up their valuable time for the benefit of all in Bermuda.

      What have you done?

  15. Nuffin but de Truth! says:

    NO ONE has to answer to the plp.

  16. Xman says:

    I wonder if the PLP knows that it’s now the opposition and what ideas that they had concerning tourism
    will be removed,reinvented,or perfected by the OBA .
    The OBA is the Govt. of the day – get it PLP ! – but than again after 14 years of doing what you liked -I guess it’s hard to accept that another political party is going to paint over all your worthless ideas.

  17. god1st says:

    Laverne flip flop Furbert aka EX senator.Why don’t you come clean and state clearly why you were removed and don’t lie.

  18. god1st says:

    PLP had people like C.F. on the tourism board lol

  19. Bermudian says:

    We don’t care what the PLP think about tourism, they made a mess now the OBA are trying to make it right. May have to borrow a few dollars from the Dr.

  20. Pilot001 says:

    PLP are down but they are not out! bring on the 2000 Jobs!

  21. Hi says:

    Past Presents us with future. “money is what you wanted, (as a whole). Money you took as a whole, (more yearly salary). Money spent as a whole, (too much words to type, and so on and so on). Real bermudians have elected real bermudians. “oh, and don’t forget the OBA (real bermudians) have said they welcome the opposition to join them. “point blank, ask yourself these two questions….’what was spent on tourism?, and what sum did tourism bring in?’. Don’t forget to add those big salaries when answering the first question.” One more question, “who told the people to keep spending?”

  22. Th eformer Minister of Tourism bragged about the hight returns in tourists in 2008 and promptly out sourced Bda. to people who had no idea about Bermuda and who had never marketed a tourism destination. (Remember he brought them here for us to teach them about the product? ) They lasted all of six months and we have never had the 2008 success which we had before he made the Bermudians redundant. I wish the new body success.