Advertising agency GlobalHue has landed a $28 million renewed contract with the Ministry of Tourism and Transport for the next two years.

GlobalHue's relationship with Government has been questioned in recent weeks after Auditor General Larry Dennis reported taxpayers spent $1.8 million in overpayments to the American company in 2008.

Mr. Dennis stated the agency had used a media buyer, Cornerstone Media, whose commissions had run as high as 181 percent, which is way above the industry norm.

American title BENT Industries then highlighted GlobalHue's "weird Bermuda ad expenditures" including a decision to focus spending on a gospel music TV channel and a minority interest channel.

GlobalHue responded by suggesting criticism of expenditures was driven by racism.

The renewal of the contract was announced in the Official Gazette yesterday, with GlobalHue required to carry out advertising, production, media planning and buying, consumer research, strategic planning and direct mail for the Department of Tourism.

The contract, awarded on a 'sole source' as opposed to being put out to tender, runs from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2011. It is valued at $14,110,000 per year and was confirmed on Tuesday, April 28.

It was one of 15 contracts awarded by Government in April that were published in the Official Gazette.

Others from the Tourism Ministry include $422,000 to Destinations Srl to develop programmes for the Italian market for the next two years.

The Chamber of Commerce picks up a $134,000 per year deal to operate two visitor information centres in Hamilton for the next three years; while Total Marine Management gets $185,000 per year to run three visitor information centres in Dockyard for the next two years.

I-Sys Corporation will be paid $473,000 to install a security system at L.F. Wade International Airport; Fantasea Bermuda gets $105,000 to run the Pop and Sizzle Ambassador Programme this summer;

Rooster Creative renews a $94,000 per year deal for UK Tourism public relations until 2011; and Bonnier Corporation gets $186,000 to manage and promote the Bermuda Triple Crown.

Meanwhile, Bermuda National Trust gets $80,000 for cultural and historical tours for visitors; Total Marketing and Communications $92,000 to carry out data processing for Tourism's exit survey; and Research.bm $78,000 to conduct 2,000 random interviews with air visitors leaving the Island.

The Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing handed out a $987,000 contract to Trinity DNA Solutions to establish and maintain a Bermuda criminal DNA database and a Bermudian general population database.

MB Electrical Technology Installation and Repairs picked up a $253,000 deal from the same Ministry to provide generators to the Bermuda Police Service and the Department of Corrections.

Squire, Saunders and Dempsey L.L.P. gets $221,000 to draft legislation to implement Telecommunications regulatory reform policies for the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce.

Kenneth Tucker and Sons gets $99,500 to install and paint 45 metal security doors and frames at Westgate and remove the existing metal doors and frames.