Entertainer Tony Brannon has been axed from the Tourism Board, it emerged today.He received a letter from Tourism Minister Patrice Minors which said: “Your passion for the Bermuda Tourism product has not gone unnoticed, however after much reflection it has been determined that your participation as a Tourism Board member has not been as constructive as I had envisaged.“I therefore wish to advise that with immediate effect your services to the Tourism Board will no longer be required for the remainder of the year. I thank you for your contributions of over the past several months and I wish you much success in your future endeavours.”In an email to the Premier and Tourism Minister, which was copied to The Royal Gazette, Mr Brannon, says: “I said from the outset that 30 years of political mismanagement of Bermuda tourism created the disaster that befell this country. A Tourism Authority is essential to the future success of Bermuda Tourism. Politics have strangled Bermuda Tourism and continues to do so.“The people of Bermuda expected a plan, and so far not one line of a plan has been written. This is not the progress that is required to revive Bermuda Tourism.“I hope and pray that Bermuda will one day see greatness again in tourism. Being “fired” for giving great ideas is indeed crazy. The people of Bermuda need to know the truth.“It is obvious that many of the ideas discussed at the Tourism retreatare not palpable to the powers that be. When the rest of the world has passed Bermuda by, I think that to cherry pick the great ideas put forward is indeed a great disservice to Bermuda, its people, and our future tourists, not to mention the fact that hoteliers, restaurants and shops are fighting to survive.“I have a degree from Cornell University in Hotel Administration. I ran the 40 Thieves for 12 years. I have worked in the entertainment industry for 35 years. I know what we lost, and I know why. I also know what it will take to return Bermuda to greatness.“The Minister said on day one of the new Tourism Board last January that “she knew little about tourism” and so she was going to rely on this board to come up with a plan. I guess I know too much and I have been in the game too long and know the real deal and am a “progressive thinker” in matters tourism that I was indeed ‘Too Hot to handle'.“There are many good folks that work on the front lines of Bermuda Tourism - keep up the good work, I will continue to do what I can for Bermuda Tourism even though some do not get it !“Once again politics has reared its ugly head; in the business world we would long have done the right thing to FIX Bermuda Tourism.”This afternoon, the Department of Tourism released a statement which said: "The Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDOT) can confirm that Mr Tony Brannon will no longer serve on the Tourism Board for the remainder of 2011."The BDOT took this opportunity to publicly thank Mr Brannon for his passion and service over the last several months. The public can be assured that the work of the Board will not be adversely affected by Mr Brannon’s departure and it is anticipated that the vacant Tourism Board post will be filled in due course. As this is an internal matter, the BDOT has declined further comment regarding the issue at this time.”It is not known if Mr Brannon will be replaced.