BTA Investment Program Deadline On Friday
Due to the disruption caused by Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo, the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s Tourism Experience Investment program deadline was extended until tomorrow [Oct 24].
A spokesperson said, “All entrepreneurs! The Bermuda Tourism Authority’s Tourism Experience Investment program deadline has been extended to this Friday October, 24, 2014. If you have a tourism experience idea that requires investment and or marketing assistance please apply via this link.”
These bta jokers are something else.
This is off their web page;
“…ensure that funds are bieng used appropriately”
“For these purposes funds will not be awarded for standard operating costs such as rent, utilities, payroll, etc..”
Although the bta executives enjoy a beautiful penthouse office with a view that is paid for by government in addition to the 27mil that they recieved for their first year of operation, the utilities…I’m not sure who pays this but I hope it is not being paid by more gov.funds. And all the salries, etc…bieng enjoyed by the bta staff is 100% covered by the 27mil.grant, the first of at least four annual grants slated to be recievied in the setting up of this private enterprise ie the bta.
It goes on to say;
“Staff travel expenses (including gas, mileage, airfare, transportation, etc..)”
All of these things are also paid for in full by the gov. grant given to the bta. As I type, at least one bta senior exec. is in england enjoying the flight, ground tansportation, accomodation, and food, etc..(at the bare minimum) all paid for by the grant recieved by gov.
Anyone else find it funny that what is considered inappropriate use of funds for everyone else is just ” business as usual ” for the bta?
And here’s the kicker;
“If the experience is profitable the bta reserves the right to require repayment of a percentage of the total amount, up to 100%.”
Unfortunately, government did not require these stringent guidelines on how the money given to the bta was to be spent. Now they have created this secrecy clause and refuse to conform to pati as it concerns their use of said funds. I strongly suggest that the bta are held to these same standards that they are requiring of others, in particular the repayment of the 100mil plus that they are slated to recieve over a four year period, if successful.
Equal rights and justice for all.
If this is the model for privitization, forget about it.