Updated: June 6, 2024 8:36 AM
Bermuda Gambling Commission (Photo: Akil Simmons)
The three senior executives in charge of the Bermuda Gambling Commission earn a combined salary of about $50,000 a month. Royal Gazette can be revealed.
The quasi-government body released precise salary details for its chief executive officer, general counsel and finance and human resources directors in response to a freedom of information request made by the newspaper in March 2023.
Chief Executive Officer Charmaine Smith is paid $18,750 a month, or $225,000 a year, according to disclosures.
Dwight Furbert, director of finance and human resources, makes $15,417 a month ($185,004 a year), and Marvin Hanna, director of general counsel, makes $13,563 a month ($162,756 a year).
The position of Director of Regulatory Affairs no longer exists.
Smith's salary makes him one of the highest paid civil servants in the country, with the most senior civil servant earning slightly more at $233,854 a year.
According to the most recent figures available, her compensation is equivalent to the $203,897 a year made by the Commissioner of Police, more than $300,000 a year by the CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority and more than $500,000 a year by the CEO of the Bermuda Hospital Authority.
The Commissioner of Police oversees around 473 officers, but the Gambling Commission was recently streamlined to have fewer than 10 staff.
It was established in 2015 and has since spent more than $16 million in public funds while the gambling industry has disappeared, not a single casino has opened and there is little left to regulate beyond Crown and Anchor and cruise ship gambling licenses.
of The Gazette Pati's request sought salary information for all senior officials within the commission – the commissioner, the chief executive officer and anyone else who serves in an administrative role or maintains accounting or other records under the chief executive officer's authority.
According to a response filed last May, chairwoman Cheryl Ann Mapp was paid $1,833 for each attendance at the regulator's monthly meetings.
Vice-chair Judith Holveen received $1,500, while committee members Jonathan Smith, Daniel Rees and Rene Webb received $1,250 per meeting.
For the executive positions, the committee released only salary bands of $50,000 and $25,000, rather than exact salary figures, a decision later supported by Mapp.
Smith's salary range was listed as $175,000 to $225,000.
of The Gazette Mapp's decision has been appealed to Independent Information Commissioner Gitanjali Gutierrez, who previously ordered BHB to disclose executive remuneration information in the $10,000 pay band, and her review of the Gaming Commission's response is still ongoing.
On May 17, BGC released the specific salary figures for its three senior executives. Last week, it also disclosed its expenditure figures, revealing that it spent $1.74 million in 2020, $1.69 million in 2021 and $2.5 million in 2022.
Bermuda Gambling Commission Fees
The Bermuda Gambling Commission has spent more than $16 million in taxpayer money since it was established less than 10 years ago.
Prime Minister and Chancellor David Burt announced the spending breakdown in March this year, $9.7 million The expenditure was made from the government's amortisation fund to repay the loans taken by the committee.
He said: “In 2015-16, under the previous administration, the Bermuda Gambling Commission received a grant of $1.4 million; the following year $2.5 million.
“In April 2017, the previous government appointed the Gambling Commission $1.6 million Interest-free loan.
“In July 2018, the government increased the loan amount by another 10%. $500,000It has increased to $2.1 million.”
He added: “In January 2019, the Government signed a $1.2 million guarantee to support the Bermuda Gambling Commission's overdraft facility. The overdraft amount has increased over time, reaching $9.8 million in December 2022.”
“In the first quarter of 2023, Butterfield Bank decided not to renew the credit facility, and the impact of the banking crisis in the interim meant that the committee was unable to refinance.
“The government repaid the Gaming Commission’s outstanding balance in June 2023 as the commission had no funds available. [of $9.7 million] Subject to warranty terms.”
In addition to the amounts detailed by Mr. Burt; $800,000 Grants provided in the 2024-25 budget, total $16.5 million.
The Royal Gazette It had requested the committee under the Freedom of Information Act records of any communications between the Minister of Finance or departments regarding the increase in government guarantees and repayment of loans, but the committee said no such records existed.
Premier and Minister for Finance David Burt revealed during his budget announcement in March that $9.7 million had been withdrawn from the government's write-off fund to repay the Bermuda Gaming Commission's outstanding credit facilities to local banks that had been guaranteed by the government.
He later told Parliament that the Government would give the bank a grant of $800,000 in 2024-25 because Butterfield Bank had given up on lending to the regulated organisation.
Burt said the committee had been “streamlined” as work continued to secure banking services for Bermuda's casinos.
of The Gazette Patty's request also called for the commission's annual reports, including financial statements, but only one report covering the 19-month period from September 1, 2015 to March 31, 2017, was submitted to Parliament.
On September 29 last year, the annual reports for 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the audited financial statements for 2018 and 2019 were tabled in Parliament.
The ICO is reviewing the Commission's responses regarding the annual reports and considering whether the redactions of meeting minutes disclosed under the Patty Act were justified.
° Please see related media for BGC's May 17, 2024 Pati disclosure and its annual report and financial statements submitted to Parliament last September.
