DCI director to head government's Washington DC office

TUESDAY, JUNE 7: Press secretary to the Premier Beverle Lottimore has been seconded to head the Bermuda Government office in Washington, DC, the Cabinet Office has announced.

Ms Lottimore has been the director of the Department of Communication and Information (DCI) for the past eight years. She will now undertake the responsibility of managing and developing the DC office for three years, beginning July 2011.

Ms Lottimore was press secretary to former Premier Alexander Scott for four years and is press secretary to Premier Paula Cox, a post she has held since the Premier’s election in November 2010.

As director of DCI, Ms Lottimore works under the policy direction of and is accountable to the Cabinet Secretary for the conduct of the affairs and the management of the business of the Department of Communication and Information.

Ms Lottimore’s current responsibilities include the development, implementation and coordination of Government-wide communications including public and media relations.

In her new temporary post, Ms Lottimore’s reporting structure will remain unchanged. Under the guidance of the Premier, Secretary to the Cabinet and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Government anticipates that the Washington office will continue in its current role and will be expanded.

Ms Lottimore said the expansion means establishing a greater synergy between the overseas Government offices that represent the interests of Bermuda to ensure they are always on the same page with the policy makers in Bermuda.

A press release stated the Washington, DC, office provides a physical presence that offers easy access to Members of Congress and their staff who wish clarification on Bermuda’s positions on legislation and its impact.

It also enables Bermuda’s issues and interests to be addressed on a daily basis. Additionally, the office provides ancillary functions such as access to information on tourism and international business and appropriate support to Bermudian students within the Washington Metropolitan area.

The Washington DC office is located at Suite #350, 325 7th St NW, in Washington, DC.