Tourism Authority Chair-designate David Dodwell has reassured the Opposition Progressive Labour Party that recruitment for staff positions at the Authority will be done by the book.And he called on Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert to help keep politics out of tourism.Mr Dodwell was responding to queries raised by Mr Furbert about the transition to the Authority and the recruitment of its CEO.“Of course we will be following the correct procedures in our recruitment process for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the imminent Bermuda Tourism Authority,” he said.“Of course any and all positions for the Authority will be advertised locally.“Of course immigration laws, procedures and policies for advertising the post of CEO and all posts of the Authority, for that matter, will be followed.“Of course Bermudians will be given the opportunity to apply for any and all positions within the Authority. “He added: “I wish to emphasise that we are searching for the very best individual we can find for the critical position of CEO and thus our search will, literally, be global.“All other questions concerning the structure and functions of the Authority will be addressed when the Bill is debated, as we believe this is the appropriate way to proceed.”Mr Dodwell confirmed that there was a tendering process to select the recruitment agency and payment will be “in line with international standards”.“The cost for this initiative is being funded by the Bermuda Tourism Board and not the Consolidated Fund of Government,” he said.“We have been very clear on the creation of the Executive Steering Committee and the Project Management Office. The ESC was created by the Minister and myself and the PMO was subsequently created by the ESC.“I am disappointed by Mr Furbert’s suggestions that our process has been anything other than open and transparent. We are doing everything we can to provide information as it becomes relevant.”Mr Dodwell added that Mr Furbert had called for politics to be taken out of tourism when he was Opposition United Bermuda Party leader and later as Tourism Minister with the PLP.“We ask him now to support this nationally important initiative and allow us to get this historic and essential opportunity for tourism underway. We have tried it the other way for decades and have not been successful. Now, as agreed by all, including the current Opposition, we need something new and that will be the Bermuda Tourism Authority.”Mr Dodwell announced last week that the TA’s Executive Steering Committee had hired Korn Ferry, an executive search firm, to identify a “shortlist” of candidates for the new board. The firm will also review and appoint the first chief executive officer.Responding to the news, Mr Furbert asked for Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell to detail the tendering process used to select the firm, the cost of contracting the firm, and if the steering committee was created by the Ministry of Tourism or the current board.He also asked if the post of CEO of the Authority has been advertised overseas prior to “qualified, capable Bermudians being given the opportunity to apply”.