Government notices published under the Public Access to Information Act listed more than $1.2 million in consultancy contracts.

According to one of the notices, $544,905 was paid to Castalia Ltd by the Department of Energy for “policy and legislative consultation” for consultancy work between December 15 last year and November 30 this year.

Castalia’s website states that the company assisted the Government create the new National Electricity Sector Policy, which was introduced in June.

“To develop the policy, the Castalia team set up a high-level electricity sector generation model, and participated in several rounds of public consultations and workshops to gather feedback on policy proposals,” the website stated.

“The Castalia team also drafted the policy, in close co-ordination with the department and the ministry.

“Castalia’s advisory now transitions to helping draft the new electricity sector legislation that will give legal effect to the policies articulated in the policy. Castalia will also help the ministry and the electricity regulator develop a licensing regime for generation.”

The notices in The Royal Gazette were published by the Department of Energy, the Attorney-General’s chambers and the Department of E-Commerce.

They revealed that the Attorney-General’s chambers hired three consultants for a combined total of more than $400,000. Notices stated that Phillip Perinchief was hired to consult for the AG between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015 for $171,893, while Maurice Cottle was contracted for the same amount for consultation between August 23, 2014, and August 23, 2015. Richard Ambrosio was paid $92,096 for consultation between September 2, 2014 and September 3 this year.

The Department of E-Commerce, meanwhile, hired two consultants to help with a “Data Privacy and Protection Act”. Notices stated that Nancy Volesky received $178,105 for consulting between January 1 and December 31, 2015, while Graham Wood was contracted between April 1 and December 31, 2015, for $50,000.

Draft legislation called the Personal Information Protection Act, which sets out how organisations, businesses and the Bermuda Government may use personal information, was released for the purpose of public consultation this summer.

Grant Gibbons, the Minister of Economic Development, said the legislation is intended to complement Pati legislation.