Taxpayers' money has been spent on gambling tournaments at the Playboy Mansion for the past three years, according to letters and emails seen by the Bermuda Sun.
Premier Ewart Brown personally ordered thousands of dollars be diverted to the events, proceeds from which went to a charity run by Dr. Brown's son. In a further twist, the letters reveal that public money was also spent on a separate event as a favour to a friend of Dr. Brown's wife.
Two weeks ago it was revealed the Department of Tourism provided one of the top prizes at a celebrity poker tournament in Los Angeles. Despite being one of the top sponsors, Bermuda tourism's "Feel the Love" branding and other publicity was not displayed at the event. Dr. Brown attended the party and rubbed shoulders with actors, professional gamblers and glamour girls. Fresh details are contained in letters and emails that passed between organizers of the events, Dr. Brown and a senior member of staff at the Department of Tourism's New York office.
Contradiction
The exchanges contradict many of the official statements put out by government since the controversy broke. In particular, the government has maintained that the decision to sponsor Playboy parties and other events in America was made by management in New York, based on their potential benefit to Bermuda tourism. The emails and letters prove that Dr. Brown was personally picking projects on which to spend public funds. In none of the exchanges does he enquire as to advertising or promotional opportunities for Bermuda tourism before agreeing to donate gifts.
The letters show that Bermuda sponsored Playboy parties in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in benefit of the Urban Health Institute - a charity set up by Dr. Kevin Brown, the eldest of Premier Brown's four sons. Yvette McNally, special events director at the Urban Health Institute, wrote to Dr. Brown on March 22, 2006, and said: "This letter is to confirm that the Bermuda Department of Tourism will donate a trip to Bermuda, which will include roundtrip airfare for two on Jet Blue and accommodations at the Mandarin Elbow Beach Resort for four days and three nights."
The next day, Premier Brown sent an email to a senior member of staff at the New York tourism office, saying: "This event, which [name withheld] knows about, will be attended by a 'hot' crowd in L.A. I promised them a 3-night stay and roundtrip air for two." A similar letter from Ms McNally arrived on Dr. Brown's desk on April 1, 2007, this time requesting two vacation packages, each for two people staying four days and five nights. A few days later Dr. Brown wrote to the same member of staff in New York with the message: "Please arrange two pckgs as requested and communicate with this lady. Thanks." A few hours later a message came back from New York saying: "Consider it done."
In the wake of the Playboy controversy, government revealed that the Department of Tourism had supplied prizes for many American companies, not just those with links to Dr. Brown's family.
One of the organizations named was the National Urban Technology Center, a non-profit group that works to put technology in the hands of disadvantaged people.
In August 2006, the organisation's founder, Pat Bransford, emailed Dr. Brown to say: "Dear Ewart. I am a friend of Wanda's [Dr. Brown's wife] dating back almost 15 years." Ms Bransford goes on to outline the work of her organization, and then continues: "The purpose of this note is to make a special request - a donation of a vacation package to Bermuda for our silent auction."
The email goes on to invite Mr. and Mrs. Brown to a plush reception and dinner at a top hotel in Washington D.C. Ms Bransford then reminds Dr. Brown: "We met briefly at the Links [golf] event in 2005 and at the reception for [names withheld] last year at the Vineyard."
Within a few hours, Dr. Brown had emailed back to say: "Hi Pat: Of course we can assist! You will hear from [name withheld] of our NY office on this very soon. PS. Wanda sends her hello."
Nowhere in these exchanges does Dr. Brown enquire how the link up will benefit Bermuda or Bermudians.
The Premier's press secretary Glenn Jones has previously estimated that each donation to an American organisation has cost around $1,500 to $1,800.
He has stated that some of the cost of each vacation package was met by hotel partners in Bermuda. However, the emails and letters suggest that the public purse was meeting all costs.
The Opposition has previously questioned Dr. Brown, via Mr. Jones, about the Playboy controversy. They asked how Bermuda Tourism chooses which projects to support in America and what criteria are used. Mr. Jones said that charities typically submit a request to the New York office, where management accept or decline based on likely advantage to Bermuda tourism.
Premier's response
Mr. Jones said yesterday: "All overseas requests for financial support or sponsorship, including those that come via the Premier, are examined by the New York Tourism Office. If the request is approved the organization receives assistance. Because the Premier is recognizable with the Bermuda Tourism product, he receives direct requests almost daily. Those requests, like all others, are screened."
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008
Comment by:
Ben
When you get beneath all the personal jibes and attacks, surely what is at issue here is the apparent circumvention of any formal process in favour of nepotism. That's what is at issue and that's what people have a problem accepting.
Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Comment by:
Brian
Come on people.
Bermuda voted for this. Dr. Brown is surrounded by controversy and will always be surrounded by controversy. It is his nature and we have had plenty of time to watch it happen. the people of Bermuda have voted for controversy so thats what they (we)shall get.
There are a lot of good people in the PLP but its ashame that they have let controversy rule the day.
Posted: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Comment by:
Newyorker
Black Pearl and others seem to either be living in some kind of parallel universe, or they have just simply spent so much time digging into their positions, that they will defend and spin any kind of behaviour by Brown. Where are the stats to back up these claims of a thriving tourist industry? Just saying it's doing great doesn't mean a thing. The Dept of Tourism has a very basic business agenda, and that's to spend its budget in order to generate a greater amount of revenue as a result of more tourist arrivals. It is clear that this isn't happening. The Dept of Tourism is all but redundant, as hotels pretty much take care of marketing Bermuda with their own advertising and promotions, with the greatest selling point being repeat customers and recommedations made to friends. The current Dept appears to be nothing more than a slush fund for pet projects and a lovely first class, all expenses method of taking the entourage on junkets.
Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008
Comment by:
Pro PLP, not pro Brown
Part of being in a democracy is having the right to criticize our leaders. George Bush gets his share of criticism as does Gordon Brown in the UK.
Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008
Comment by:
Sara
All of this is getting a bit ridiculous. To much dwelling of the past is poisoning our future, and both parties are guilty. The opposition needs to meet more in the middle and except they are not in power, they are the opposition. On the other hand, the PLP should not allow one person to run the whole show to decide what is important and what is not for Bermuda. Tourism is important, but not all consuming for making Bermuda better. Unfortunately, despite efforts, tourism will suffer do to the increase in flight costs, flight cuts to Bermuda, and lack of expendable income no matter how many new hotels are built here. No amount of advertising is going to change this, so we should be wary of how much money is going into this industry. I say let's be more concerned on helping the Bermudians that are suffering because they can not make ends meet with the increased cost of living. This is the problem of the future for Bermudian families.
Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008
Comment by:
Black Pearl
I agree with you Be "For real!
As you know and agree Premier Brown has done an excellent job in raising the standards, and status of Bermuda. There will always be some jealous people (haters) in the community that do not like Dr. Brown and would go above and beyond to try to discredit his integrity. We have all seen the improvements in Bermuda since he has been Premier, and also tourism has improved as well, tremendously,and the list goes on and on, so the truth of the matter speaks for its self.
Instead of pushing all the negativity, people need to read his accomplishments to see and know what he has done, instead of jumping on everything he does. Before Premiere Brown came along, no body was doing anything to improve Bermuda as a vacation destination. He has implemented programs to enhance students thinking to be better and motivated them to strive to the highest degree and level, and the list goes on and on.
He has done a lot in a short span of time, more than I can say for anyone else who has been in his position.
I say, Keep doing what your doing Dr. Brown. Continue to do an excellent Job!
Posted: Sunday, June 15, 2008
Comment by:
scott
The sad thing going on today in bermuda is that Brown's supporters dont care what he does. No matter what he does "wrong"... his supporters simply feel that he should not be questioned, and that anyone who does question him is doing it based on race. Its a sad brainwashing spin he's put on many Bermudians and its so sad to watch it happen and not be able to do anything about it.
Posted: Saturday, June 14, 2008
Comment by:
Young Observer
The PREMIER MUST GO!!!!
Bermuda is and has always been a conservative country. This current Premier is damaging the country and most black Bermudians do not see it. All I hear is that the UBP did it. That is so absurd. Because one man does wrong doesn’t mean the next man come and knowingly does wrong. I voted for the PLP thinking that they would help the struggling Bermudian. WAKE UP BERMUDA!!! This Premier does not care about you!!! All he cares about is his friends and making their pockets heavier with the mighty dollar. When he is finished he is going to fly back to America. Cant you see, he is setting himself up and not you. The Trash truck workers, Postman, fireman, Prison officers, teachers and so on have had to pull teeth to get a raise. And what does this Premier do, He quickly, when asked puts money into the mouths of strangers from another land and forgets about his own people. WAKE UP BERMUDA!!! Here’s something for you to think about. A consultant that Government is hiring is stated to be making around $233 per hour. I wonder how many hours a day this consultant works? Let say for arguments sake he works 8 hours a day 5 days a week. So he would be paid $1,864.00 per day. $9,320 per week, $37,280 per month, now get this, $447,360 per year. And you are telling me that nothing is wrong with that? Come on WAKE UP BERMUDA!!!
Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008
Comment by:
Calling For the Right View
I am deeply troubled by the fact that the local media and the opposition has spent the past few weeks focusing on a minor contribution by the BDOT to an event in Los Angeles and has remained completely silent on the awesome events presented by the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha during the 24th of May weekend which were also supported by Bermuda Tourism.
I am very concerned that the positive stories that uplift our community continue to be overshadowed by invectives by individuals who claim to have a genuine interest in the betterment of our community. How can these individuals seek to stem the flood of physical violence in our community while continuing to perpetuate systemic violence by their very words and actions??
These very persons need to understand that when we continue to publicly denigrate our leaders and refuse to uplift positive models of progress and survival, that we are subliminally engrafting a template in the minds of our youth that dictates a lack of respect for authority and a belief that that our people cannot amount to anything.
This is a dangerous game that must stop!! There are too many lives at stake and the future of our island depends on our ability to put our differences aside and join together to tell the wonderful stories of our people.
A few weeks ago the daily highlighted one such story on the front page, but there are hundreds and even thousands of similar stories in our community. There are countless strong black men and women who have endured dire circumstances and survived and instilled strong moral values in their children and lived to see them all succeed.
The holiday weekend, the strong, college-educated, black men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in the Bermuda community along with their US counterparts made a strong statement in our community that went unnoticed by the media and the members of the opposition. There was outreach to our youth in the “”Go to High School, Go to College” presentations, community social events and then the Annual Beautillion which highlighted seven young men who are committed to doing something positive with their lives. I have searched for weeks for a hint of any of this in the media, but have found nothing...
I find it strange. Don’t You????
Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008
Comment by:
Bob
Be For Real, are you kidding? Bermuda tourism is in a spiral downwards. Just look what concessions and tax rebates we have had to agree to for the cruise ships. Hamilton and, especially, St. George's will be dead without any cruise ships.
Overall tourism figures are down this year.
I believe a lot of women are outraged by the Government's sponsorship of events at the Playboy Mansion?
Be For Real, you need to read Rev. Maria Seaman's column in 6 June Bermuda Sun to get a flavor on how woman feel about these things. Many of us Bermudians do not agree with this kind of sponsorship. Kudos to Rev. Seaman on an excellent article about the moral decline in our Bermudian society.
