At least nine employees in the North American Tourism Office were made redundant yesterday.

Staff last night told The Royal Gazette 11 were told to clear their desks immediately after a succession of face-to-face meetings with Tourism bosses.

A statement on the Progressive Labour Party's website said nine people were let go, but Government did not respond when asked to clarify the situation.

Those staff will now begin the search for new jobs, homes and schools for their children on the Island."There was a lot of tears, a lot of crying. Nobody celebrated even those who have kept jobs," one staff member told this newspaper.The PLP statement said 14 people have been offered jobs within the restructured overseas office. They will work in tandem with Americans employed by USfirm Sales Focus as part of Premier Ewart Brown's controversial shake-up.Yesterday's announcement comes about three months after Dr. Brown announced the cost-cutting move.Permanent Secretary Cherie Whitter has said Dr. Brown had been planning the move for months but decided not to tell staff thus breaking Government's contractual agreement with BermudaPublic Services Union.Mrs.Whitter, her assistant Judith Hall Bean and Director Billy Griffiths visited the office yesterday to reveal the news to staff."Everyone had ten or 15 minutes one on one. There was tears, anger, fear," said the staff member, who was one of the redundancies."There was surprise. They let some of the best people go. There was shock about two of them because they were so very talented."I was very surprised about my own news. I will be seeking employment, like everyone else, in a job market that's not good."They made a promise to find us jobs. But nothing they said in the past you take as concrete or trustworthy. There's very few things they deliver on."They are putting the staff in touch with someone at the Housing Corporation. But what housing do they have for those people with no income?"The employee also pointed out that all the ousted workers are black, and that they will be replaced by an all-white Sales Focus team.Redundancy packages are: three weeks salary per year up to a maximum of eight years' service; $5,000 shipping; airfare for employee and child/children; monthly salary through November; pension benefits.Yesterday, The Royal Gazette e-mailed Dr.Brown's Press Secretary Glenn Jones and the Tourism Ministry's press officer to ask for a statement on the subject. We received no reply.