Sam Strangeways

Bermuda

Investigations Editor at The Royal Gazette

Current affairs, investigations, all things Bermuda Tips to sstrangeways -at- https://t.co/INpcxfKqR8

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Articles

Civil servants 'shielding' ministers, claims OBA

1 week ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

Opposition leader Jarion Richardson accused the Progressive Labour Party government yesterday of using civil servants to "shield" elected officials. Mr Richardson claimed it was "unconstitutional" for a public affairs officer at the Department of Communications to have publicly defended the renewal by David Burt, the Premier, of a parliamentary motion concerning the Commission of Inquiry into Historical Land Losses.
BDA's legal fees for Pati request involving Premier

2 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

A government agency hired lawyers to handle a single public access to information request that involved its communications with the Premier about a private investment firm - at a cost to taxpayers of more than $165,000. The outlay on legal fees was disclosed by Major Marc Telemaque, the Cabinet Secretary.
BTA chief is victim of 'unfortunate witch-hunt'

3 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

Not all staff at the Bermuda Tourism Authority feel "bullied" and "siloed" and some are dismayed at the suspension of chief executive Tracy Berkeley, a source insisted yesterday. The person, who has knowledge of the situation and asked not to be identified, spoke to The Royal Gazette after the quango's board told staff at a meeting on Monday that Ms Berkeley had been placed on administrative leave, along with a fellow executive, understood to be Tashae Thompson.
Embattled BTA chief executive stood down after culture review

3 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

The under-fire chief executive of the Bermuda Tourism Authority is on administrative leave and an interim appointment to the role has been made. A statement from the BTA board confirmed yesterday that two executive members of staff were on administrative leave. It did not name the two, but The Royal Gazette understands that one is Tracy Berkeley, who was said by a source to have cleared her desk on Friday.
CEO of BTA on leave after review

3 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

The Bermuda Tourism Authority is seeking a vice-president of human resources after an exodus of staff and a dire review of its workplace culture. A lengthy advert for the "leadership team position" appears in today's edition of TheRoyal Gazette, with a closing date of next Monday for applications. The advert doesn't provide salary details.
US firm hired to do media relations for home affairs

3 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

The Ministry of Home Affairs hired an American firm to deal with media queries and gave a 12-month contract to a retired senior civil servant to help draft and oversee new legislation. The two separate agreements were listed in a notice posted in the Official Gazette last week.
Island Trading - The Bermudian Magazine

4 weeks ago | thebermudian.com | Sam Strangeways

Laura Farge-Lowe remembers being pushed around the warehouse of Island Trading in a trolley by Sam DeSilva, who began working at her mother’s store when he was a teenager and she was a child. Farge-Lowe now owns and runs the Reid Street store, and Mr DeSilva is Island Trading’s longest-serving employee, with nearly three decades of service.
Still no sign of crime statistics for 2023 and 2024

4 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

Crime statistics for 2023 are still not available from the Bermuda Police Service, some 15 months after that year ended. The Royal Gazette asked the BPS in November - a day after the service released their 2021 figures - to disclose the numbers for 2022, 2023 and 2024 under public access to information. An information officer refused the request because the records did not exist. He wrote that the BPS were "progressing the records".
Police did not 'vet' footage for BBC TV show

4 weeks ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

The Bermuda Police Service have admitted they were not allowed to "vet" footage included in a new British TV show about fighting crime on the island, despite claims they made to the contrary last year. Their mistaken remarks about Policing in Paradise, a 15-part series produced by Spun Gold Studios that began airing on Monday, were exposed by a blogger who made a complaint to the BBC about the programme potentially breaching its editorial standards.
Washington lobbyists remain on $20,000 a month from public purse

1 month ago | royalgazette.com | Sam Strangeways

An American lobbying firm led by a former Democratic strategist is the highest-paid Cabinet Office contractor, according to a newly released record. TheGroup receives $20,000 a month, or $240,000 a year, from Bermuda taxpayers on a "month-to-month" contract for political consulting and lobbying services for the Government in the US Congress and "other relevant" organisations.