The Bermuda Tourism Authority board has said a draft report examining the working environment at the organisation is confidential.

Findings from an independent culture review were received but no response was given by the BTA on whether the report will eventually be made public.

A spokeswoman for the board told The Royal Gazette last week: “The board of directors for the Bermuda Tourism Authority has today received a confidential draft report of the independent culture review.

“They will review the findings and discuss the recommendations of the independent assessment.”

Owen Darrell, the tourism minister, said on Tuesday that he is to meet with the board and once the meeting has taken place, the public would be notified.

Asked about the report at an unrelated event, to which the media were invited, Mr Darrell said: “It is inappropriate for me to speak on that, and what will be released and what will not be released if I have not first met with the board.”

He added: “A meeting has been scheduled, after I meet with the board, you will have a report.”

The minister said that after the meeting, talks will take place about what information is released, and when.

Mr Darrell wrote to the BTA on December 20, giving its board, including former government MP Wayne Caines, its chairman, a deadline of January 13 to comply with a set of instructions.

These included the delivery of a report into “allegations of serious workplace issues”.

It is understood that Mr Darrell permitted an extension of the deadline to January 17 when the report was due to be delivered to the BTA.

He also requested a written report of the expenditure for settlement packages or separation agreements to former employees over the past three years to December 31, 2024.

The board was additionally instructed to provide a breakdown of all payments made to outside counsel for legal and administrative services, and any other consultancy firms or agencies that provided services to the BTA over the past two years, including descriptions of the services and reason for engagement.

The e-mail was addressed to the chairman as well as Joseph Best, the deputy chairman, and fellow board members Jennifer Phillips, Kim Swan, who was a government MP, Ronald Simmons and Shiona Turini.

Mr Darrell wrote: “Failure to comply with these instructions will result in the revocation of your board appointment.

“The seriousness of this matter warrants the harsh tone of this correspondence.”

He said the ministry had received numerous complaints regarding workplace bullying, harassment and unprofessional interactions with management at the BTA.

Mr Darrell wrote that failure to address the matter had led to more employees leaving the organisation.

The minister’s e-mail came after the resignation of Hazel Clark, who was the BTA’s director of global business development and partnerships.