Dwayne Robinson On BTA Culture Review
“It was disappointing, but not surprising to read the findings in the newly released Culture Review of the Bermuda Tourism Authority,” Shadow Tourism Minister Dwayne Robinson said.
Mr. Robinson said, “How can our flagship Tourism organization, lack a Human Resources and Administration Manager of all positions?
“This alone contributes to many of the stated grievances in this report. The BTA is plagued by personnel issues and is lacking a fully resourced Human resources department.
“Friction between teams, favoritism, gossip, lack of direction, and poorly defined roles are all tackled by a strong HR department. The people need to know why the Human Resources role has remained vacant for so long. Is it due to inaction or division, lack of direction amongst the BTA executive and the Minister of Tourism?
“There is a call in the report for more transparency and accountability from ‘leaders’. It would be easy to place the blame on the shoulders of the CEO and Chairman alone, however there is a board appointed, in conjunction with the Minister of Tourism, who should be holding them accountable for the day-to-day operations of the BTA.
“Did the CEO and Chairman reach out for Ministerial support and were denied? Who does the board truly answer to if appointed by the Minister?
“The Progressive Labour Party has not been historically supportive of the BTA. Between then-Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva saying ‘I’m going to lift the hood up, and I’m going to tear the car apart’ in reference to the BTA, and its budget being cut under current Tourism Minister Owen Darrell, is the PLP working to fix the BTA or starve it out in order to fold it back under full Ministerial control?
“I look forward to hearing the PLP re-affirm its commitment to tourism and the autonomy of the BTA. The OBA continues to support an Independent Bermuda Tourism Authority.
“This includes the immediate removal of PLP MP Kim Swan from the BTA board and to enshrine in Legislation that no appointed or elected politician serve on the board or as Chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Along with committing to supporting the BTA in looking for alternative funding models, where they can partially or fully fund themselves.
“The report also shows that the staff of the BTA believe in its mission and want to see the organization succeed. Therefore, I hope that the Bermuda Tourism Authority will see the recommendations of the report enacted and receives all the necessary support from the Minister in building a healthy and productive work environment.”
The full BTA Culture Assessment Report follows below [PDF here]:
The BTA seem to be plagued by BAD operational managers. Those who were responsible for Operations should be gone. Erin Wright is the COO of the BTA and as the Chief Operating Officer these matters fall under her. Note ensuring the BTA has proper HR support is insane. She needs to be fired ASAP!
Have you considered that the BTA must do what the Minister says?
From what I have seen, the BTA is doing a very good job given the constraints placed on it.
Absolutely untrue. The BTA does not have to do what the minister says. And the issues that have been flagged within the BTA have nothing to do with the elected government. They have to do with the culture within the organization, separate and distinct from the Minister. In fact, it is the Minister who commissioned this report to get to the bottom of things for once and all.
Actually , the Brits from the southern part of Britannia are always inventing stuff ,they can never do any wrong.
Does any body know why they stoped then from fox hunting ?
The PLP is ruining tourism. Support the remaining employees. Fire the current Minister.
Interesting take on things.
This current minister is one of the more active, engaged, and energetic ministers we have had in this role. I don’t believe he, in any way, is responsible for any “ruination” of tourism. I believe that under his watch, and after getting to the crux of the BTA matters, the next few years will see progress and growth.
HE IS THE CAUSE OF BTA MATTERS (Too much political interference by inept Ministers like himself)
B.T.A.
Not untill we get accountability anf transparency firmly established in place through out the entire government in place, no body is in a position without that as part of a senior job description is going to fire any body . unless the are caught with their hands in the piggy bank.
Alternately, all that person has to do over small matters is go to the respective union.
H.R. job is to hire the right person in the first place , however senior manager are i beleive are appointer and not suported by unions .
You buy an orange that tastes like a lemon then what ?
That person is not exactly standing out side of the door , also that person could be some other companies left overs.
Did Government hand the BTA a shoe string for a budget .
The responsibility of the BTA is masive as it relate to this islands entire economy, even a visiting business man is a tourist if he visits the beach . before, during, and after .
We do no get some thing for nothing these days.
Polatitions are not hired, they are elected,there is a difference !
MP Robinson and the OBA cannot have it both ways. They know that the elected government is not responsible for the structure of the BTA. Whether they should have an HR manager or Administration manager, or whatever the titles should/could be, is not an issue for the Minister nor the government. The Board yes, perhaps.
“the elected government is not responsible for the structure of the BTA”
Who do you say is responsible for the structure of and appointments to the BTA if not the Government?
If the government should not be in the shipping business (which I never said), why should the government be in the tourism business?
Lol. The recently departed BTA Chairman was a PLP MP. Lol.
Do you even think before you type?
Readers seemed to have forgotten that BTA outsources most of its work to third parties. Why would such a small organization require a Human Resources and Administration Manager when that can be easily outsourced?
Take all the business politics out of it to ask these questions.
WHAT DO WE GET FOR OUR MONEY.
or
DO WE GE ANY THING FOR OUR MONEY.
or can we get
FROM AN ORGANISATION THAT CAN NOT EARN ITS KEEP .
Do they know what their bottom line realy is?
May be the they were created to be the escape goat.
Is that is why rich people have servants because they do not want to do the hard work them selves.
DEPENDANCY. the whole world is dependent on one another every country is good at something
untill it all breaks down. Bermuda is a dependant nation an will always be . other thay thai it makes a good military base for those nuke submarines .
Got a question
Are our foreign owned hotels using Bermuda for their own gain?
Money does no grow on trees here we have to go and get or attract it .
it is a business that is to be beleived is owned by the Government during good and hard times.
Locals don’t want it too many bright lights ant prying eyes .
Bernudiana beach should be our own long stay hotel ,dont need a car parking lot, just two swiming pools one is for children and some palm trees then sell it later as a going concern . !
CULTURE
Bermuda lost its culture some 40 years ago if it ever had any in the first place and at the advent of you name it. When ……………………………. !
When people stoped going to the movies
People wen crazy on bikes
Bermuda became alcoholic
Bermuda became addicted to smoking
When Cable programing went south
When people got the internet
when covid 19 call for social distancing