Former Department of Tourism staff are challenging Premier Ewart Brown to disclose the details of the contract which ousted them from the North American Tourism Office.

They say they would like to see how much money Government has saved with the controversial move to appoint America-based Sales Focus in place of long-serving Bermudians in the overseas office.

Between ten and 12 people lost their jobs through the outsourcing, with many remaining frustrated today at their replacements' alleged lack of Bermuda knowledge.

The Americans are said to have had to fly to the Island twice, at taxpayers' expense, to find out about the place they're selling as a tourist destination. Staff add that Sales Focus are using the same sales model that had always been used, leaving them questioning what has been gained by the move.

One former member of staff, who was made redundant but has been in constant touch with those still working, told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "Sales Focus has brought nothing new to the table for Bermuda Tourism. Can that contract be made public? If Sales Focus is getting over $1 million there's no savings annually.

"They hired Sales Focus to save money."

The Premier's press secretary Glenn Jones and the Department of Tourism did not respond to a request for a comment on this point.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Public Services Union yesterday confirmed there were no local redundancies during the last financial year.

Budget figures last week revealed the number of employees in the Department of Tourism had dropped from 78 to 51, with a spokeswoman saying this reduction represented the restructuring of the overseas office.

BPSU boss Ed Ball explained this represented ten to 12 jobs being lost overseas, and the removal of some posts which were already vacant.

Yesterday, Tourism refused to clarify this point, with Mr. Jones saying it was "overly ambitious" to expect the people with the answers to share them with this newspaper in the period of an afternoon.

When fierce criticism of the outsourcing erupted last summer, Mr. Jones prompted accusations of spin by claiming: "There are 25 posts currently filled overseas. That number will be reduced to 17 posts."

Yesterday, he failed to respond when asked whether he stood by that claim.