‘Outstanding Payments Owed To Local Vendors’
[Updated] Following the World Tens Rugby Series that took place in October and November 2020, there are “outstanding payments owed to local vendors” and the BTA confirmed they are “withholding post-event sponsorship payments until we are confident local vendors will be made whole.”
The event, which took place at the National Sports Centre, involved a number of international teams from South Africa, Singapore, London and the United States.
Hazel Clark, the Bermuda Tourism Authority Director of Sports Business Development said, “We have been made aware of outstanding payments owed to local vendors by the organizing body.
“These vendor contracts are private arrangements between businesses and the World Tens organization—the Bermuda Tourism Authority is not a party to them. Nonetheless, we are actively advocating for a fair and speedy resolution.
“The organizers indicate they are working to resolve these outstanding debts in Bermuda and there has been progress, but based on our dialogue with stakeholders, the progress has not been good enough. The BTA is withholding post-event sponsorship payments until we are confident local vendors will be made whole.”
The BTA also confirmed that “75% of the BTA’s sponsorship amount will not be released until the organizer meets its performance milestones.”
Bernews asked the World Ten organisers for comment and will update as able.
Update March 12th: A WTS spokesperson said, “It is not our modus operandi to discuss private matters in detail. We are in constant communication with the vendors and are making payment to them regularly to ensure that they are paid back in full for all services rendered.
“It is important to note that there is still significant money owed to us from partners on the island which are still outstanding, in addition to promises of services and support that were never fully rendered, costing the WTS considerable extra expense.”
“the BTA confirmed they are “withholding post-event sponsorship payments until we are confident local vendors will be made whole.“”
If that means the BTA will not release funds until local vendors are paid, the BTA may be creating the very problem it identifies. In order to pay the vendors, the organiser needs promised funds. But the BTA says the promised funds will not be released until the local vendors are paid.
Around and around and around we go.
It’s probably the only leverage there is?
Errr – why doesn’t the BTA just come up with an agreement to pay the local vendors directly using the sponsorship funds. And do that behind closed doors and not make a media circus out of it?