Consultants hired by the Ministry of Home Affairs have assisted on matters ranging from climate and conservation to helping to steer new legislation and amendments, a spokeswoman said.

Details were given on the tasks overseen by Rozy Azhar, a former permanent secretary, along with the work done by the US company Diplomatic Enterprises LLC on “a short-term, specific engagement”.

The information was provided in response to questions fromThe Royal Gazette after the agreements were listed last week in the Official Gazette.

A spokeswoman for the home affairs ministry said: “As a long-serving public officer, Rozy Azhar had key institutional knowledge of the ministry and her role was to assist in the progression of various pieces of legislation and completing amendments to bring other Acts into full operation, among other projects.”

Ms Azhar was hired from April of last year until the end of this month.

The spokeswoman explained that she supported and advised the acting permanent secretary and the minister on the issuing of a climate study and the drafting of a Marine Development Act relating to the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme — including the implementation of plans for the management of the island’s seas.

Ms Azhar gave advice on legislation to secure the building of a Google subsidiary’s landing station on the island — a deal that was agreed this February — as well as a “regulatory sandbox” for Seabased Ltd, a company exploring the island’s potential for tapping into wave energy for renewable power.

The spokeswoman added that Ms Azhar gave additional input on the drawing up of legislation related to the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda on fuel, electricity, communication, broadcast and community solar projects.

Her work included helping with an overhaul of the Dogs Act 2009; the Care and Protection of Animals Act 1975; and bringing the Dogs Act into “full operation”.

Ms Azhar’s total remuneration up to this week amounted to $81,000.

The Official Gazettenotice said that the contract value was $86.15 an hour, up to a maximum of $14,000 per month.

Diplomatic Enterprises LLC, a management consulting firm, is to complete its work for the Government in the middle of next month.

The company was taken on in November 2024 — in accordance with the Office of Project Management and Procurement’s code of practice, the home affairs ministry spokeswoman said.

She noted that it was “not unusual for [the] Government to partner with vendors whether overseas or locally for specific purposes, expertise and global perspectives”.

Diplomatic Enterprises assisted home affairs, in tandem with the Department of Communications, on “projects such as climate change, the blue economy and marine conservation”, the spokeswoman said.

She added: “Their strategic collaboration helped ensure that any outreach or research for initiatives with global impact were conducted effectively and efficiently.

“These partnerships assist [the] Government in accessing innovative solutions, trends and best practices that may not be available locally, ultimately benefiting the broader community.”

The Official Gazette notice said that the value for that contract was $85,000 in total, comprising a $10,000 retainer and $75,000 to be “paid in accordance with deliverables”.

Both contracts began under former minister Walter Roban, who retired from politics and was succeeded as Minister of Home Affairs by newly elected MP Alexa Lightbourne after the General Election in February.

The Gazette had asked why an external company was hired in addition to government MP Jamahl Simmons, who had a 12-month contract until February this year for $7,765 a month to provide communications support to David Burt, the Premier, and the Department of Communications.

A spokeswoman for the Cabinet Office said: “The reference to MP Simmons in this context is misleading.

“The parameters of Mr Simmons’s partnership is under the remit of the Cabinet Office and is for specific projects and activities, some of which are in collaboration with the Department of Communications.”