Four former employees of the Bermuda Tourism Authority received more than $600,000 in total as part of settlement packages or separation agreements in a three-year period, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The figure was provided in response to an internal review of a public access to information request.

William Griffith, the acting chairman of the BTA’s board of directors, wrote last week: “The total sum of BTA payments to former employees pursuant to settlement packages or separation agreements between January 1, 2022 and January 8, 2025 was $603,400.

“The number of settlement packages or separation agreements entered into between the BTA and such former employees during that period was four.”

The Gazette’s Pati request also sought a breakdown to show each individual payment, as well as at what level was the employee who received the payment.

Mr Griffith wrote in his response: “We will not provide the individual values of the payments or link such values to individual roles.

“Provision of such information would reveal confidential information, personal information, commercial information and/or sensitive information in relation to the operations of public authorities.”

The Pati request was submitted on January 8 and the BTA’s information officer said in February that the organisation was “undertaking internal consultation regarding whether access to the requested information is in the public interest”.

He added then that a substantive response would be provided by April 2.

On April 4, the information officer told the Gazette: “To the extent such agreements exist, they would be subject to confidentiality provisions, which would prohibit the disclosure of their terms and/or existence.

“Further, such agreements would also contain personal information, the BTA’s commercial information and sensitive information in relation to the BTA’s operations.

“Under the Public Access to Information Act 2010, records are exempt from disclosure where they contain information received in confidence, personal information, commercial information and/or sensitive information in relation to the operations of public authorities.”

The Gazette asked the BTA for an internal review of the decision on the basis of public interest.

Mr Griffith’s response was provided last Friday.

The BTA earlier confirmed that 30 staff left the organisation in little more than 2½ years, including 23 employees who resigned or left through mutual separation between June 1, 2022 and January 8 this year.

Former BTA chairman Wayne Caines quit his post in February.

A review of the workplace environment, which was released to the public in March, found that “mistrust”, “domineering” and “siloed” were words consistently used when interviewees described the culture at the BTA.

More than half of the character traits used to describe the workplace culture were positive, the review report showed, and it was also noted that the negative traits used carried low to medium “severities of risk”.

The BTA board later announced the commencement of “an extensive human resources audit and cultural reset initiative, marking the next phase in its commitment to fostering a strong, transparent and inclusive workplace culture”.

An HR consultancy firm was engaged to carry out a thorough assessment.

The BTA board confirmed in March that two executive members of staff were on administrative leave.

While it did not name the two, they were understood to be Tracy Berkeley, the chief executive, and Tashae Thompson, the vice-president of experiences.

In April, a source told the Gazette that not all staff at the quango felt “bullied” and “siloed”, and some were dismayed at the suspension of Ms Berkeley, who was in charge of the tourism authority since June 2022.

The person, who had knowledge of the situation and asked not to be identified, also spoke highly of Ms Thompson, whom they described as “passionate, always fighting for people, always fighting for staff”.

In the latest Budget, the BTA’s grant from the Government was cut from an original estimate last year of $16.54 million — revised to $16.04 million — to $15.5 million in 2025-26.

The quango was asked this week whether the tourism authority or its board wished to comment on the payout figure, as well as for an update on other HR matters.

Mr Griffith said yesterday: “The board remains committed to ensuring that the organisation continues to move in the right direction.

“I can confirm that the internal processes previously outlined are ongoing.

“While we will not comment on individual personnel matters, we are confident that our approach to addressing organisational culture is sound and will help mitigate future issues.”

Owen Darrell, the tourism minister, was also asked for comment and whether he could share any updated information from the BTA.

He said yesterday: “As minister, I respect the due process under way and await the conclusion of the steps outlined by the board, in keeping with the Bermuda Tourism Authority Act.”

Dwayne Robinson, the shadow tourism minister, said the payout total was “concerning as settlement payouts or separation payments are usually entitled for employees leaving a company unwillingly”.

The One Bermuda Alliance MP added: “This puts a price tag on the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s potential employee disputes for the taxpayers of Bermuda.

“I will not speculate too much, as individual cases and reasons are not displayed.

“However, I am hoping to see that the recommendations from the BTA’s culture review are implemented, as the OBA wants to see a successful BTA.

“The minister must ensure that Bermudians are getting their money’s worth from the $15 million government grant given to the BTA in this fiscal year while supporting the BTA as best he can to ensure $603,400 is spent on rebuilding our tourism product and not employee separation packages going forward.”

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