The Civil Service investigation into complaints by Tourism Department staff about Tourism Minister Renee Webb should not take much longer, according to Cabinet Secretary John Drinkwater.

He has appointed Assistant Cabinet Secretary Khamisi Tokunbo to look into the litany of complaints against Ms Webb, including that she is rude to staff, bullying, unpredictable, careless with the truth, and demands they stand when she enters the room.

Ms Webb has been angered by the complaints and said she in turn has demanded they be investigated because she regards most of them as unwarranted personal attacks.

She has vehemently denied asking staff to stand when she comes in and believes part of the resentment comes from staff who are reluctant to accept modernisation and changes that are needed in the department.

The Bermuda Public Service Union, which made the complaints on behalf of Tourism staff last month, said employees were in a state of fear and alleged Ms Webb feels she is beyond reproach and answerable to no one.

Mr. Drinkwater told The Royal Gazette yesterday he had asked Mr. Tokunbo, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, to do a thorough job to get to the bottom of the complaints.

"I have told him (Mr. Tokunbo) that I want it to be thorough so I didn't want to constrain him by giving him a deadline, but I don't think it will be a lot longer," said Mr. Drinkwater.