Tourism Minister David Allen could be facing a staff revolt after his alleged interference and indifference in the running of the department.

It is understood there is a general consensus amongst staff that his "hands-on'' approach is preventing them doing their jobs properly and that experienced employees are often being undermined by his actions.

Staff are aware that one option open to them would be calling in the Bermuda Public Services Association, if their pleas for the Minister to back off are ignored.

As well as concerns over interference, they are also reported to be concerned that he appears to disregard their opinions.

And tourism industry sources said the discontent has spread to tourism employees at overseas offices, as well as in Bermuda.

Staff are concerned that Mr. Allen has crossed the line between civil servants and ministers, ignoring protocol and issuing direct orders to staff under the control of director of tourism Richard Calderon.

Morale has been undermined by his "micro-managing'' of the department, instead of setting broad policy guidelines and leaving civil servants to carry them out.

And, more seriously, his actions are believed to have wasted time and money by reversing work already done by employees.

"Every time someone makes a decision, where they have that knowledge and authority to make that decision, he (David Allen) wants to come in and change it to his liking,'' the source said.

"I think this is a general feeling. There are people who take orders, who don't question and just do it. There are other people who have some professional dignity, who are quite frustrated.

"Ministers never get involved with the day to day workings of departments, that is a director's domain.

"The Minister should have confidence in people to do their jobs. There are some good people in there, people with a good record of service, skills and experience.'' A second tourism industry source said there was a general feeling, more in the Bermuda office, that the Minister was "overstepping the mark''.

He said Mr. Allen would order an idea to be carried through, without considering all the other factors -- not least budget, saying "this is what I want to happen, make it happen and he won't hearing anything other''.

And another tourism insider said he wasn't surprised at what he was hearing about the Minister, and he warned that interference, particularly in financial matters, could land the director of tourism in trouble, since it is the head of department who is responsible for any overspending.

"The director of tourism is the accounting officer under the Constitution. If something goes wrong, a financial oversight for example, it is not the minister's job, he doesn't get burnt,'' he said.

"It is no secret that the relationship between the staff and the Minister has started to be very strained.'' But he added that it was common for any new Government, particularly one that has not governed before, to have a desire to understand how everything works -- to get to know the "nuts and bolts'' of the department.

Their comments were echoed by Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell, who said he should simply leave staff to get on with their jobs.

"He should have confidence in his staff, they deserve to be given the opportunity to get on with their work. They can't speak up, there is a fear factor.'' A faxed question on the situation was faxed to Mr. Allen last Thursday, but has not been answered.

David Allen: A hand's on kind of guy