Tourism consultant Ronald Sutherland’s company Hemisphere Group was paid $305,652 between December 18, 2012, and May 31 of this year.

The news came during a fiery exchange in the House of Assembly as Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell also divulged that $920,000 had been paid out by the Progressive Labour Party to a different consultant from March 2008 to March 2010.

PLP MPs demanded to know why the minister was allowed to refer back to the previous administration, while Speaker Randy Horton ruled in support of Mr Crockwell’s assertion that it was necessary to provide context.

Hemisphere Group gave vital support for the St George’s hotel project, Mr Crockwell said.

Mr Sutherland, a United States businessman who functioned as an intermediary for finding a developer, has previously been described as a “key player” in the long-awaited deal.

Consultants JD Lewis group were not paid during the same time period — while the Bermuda Tourism Authority paid out $92,202 to the advertising firm Cosmic Limited.

Opposition Leader Marc Bean told the House that both Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy and former One Bermuda Alliance Senator Toni Daniels were both “heavily involved” in Cosmic.

The details came in response to parliamentary questions from the PLP MP Zane DeSilva.