Government splashed out $380,000 on compensation packages with this summer's closure of St. George's Golf Course.

The Ministry of Tourism and Transport yesterday revealed each employee was given redundancy payment depending on the length of their service, with one person taking home $71,000.

In total, 13 staff lost their jobs, with nine of them picking up more than $20,000 each. Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown has previously said the employees will be placed in other Government positions.

Responding to Parliamentary questions from Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley, the Ministry also said $14 million renovations to the Port Royal Golf Course are on time and on budget, with grassing and the driving range expected to be completed by September 30.

The Ministry said that weather permitting there is no reason to believe that the reopening of Port Royal will not take place in January 2009 as initially planned. In June, United Bermuda Party Leader Kim Swan criticised the timing of the sudden closure of the St. George's course, saying it should have been delayed until Port Royal was reopened.

Dr. Brown argued the course was a "perennial money loser" and unlike Ocean View had failed to pick up many extra golfers when Port Royal shut. He said St. George's members would be able to use the facilities at Ocean View.