A half-million-dollar cut to the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s budget last month equated to a win for sport on the island, MPs heard yesterday in the House of Assembly.

Kim Swan, the Junior Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, highlighted the boost to summer camps from the transfer, which he said would also finance the National Sports Centre going off the grid on its own solar power.

The BTA received a total grant of $16.5 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, Mr Swan announced in March.

Mr Swan, who joined the BTA board in 2020, said its chief executive, Tracy Berkeley, was informed of the reduction during a meeting on May 17, along with Wayne Caines, the BTA chairman. A letter was sent on May 20.

Questioned by Opposition MPs, Mr Swan said no events suffered from the transfer and the BTA had stated that it was “fully capable of making the necessary adjustments” to operations.

Craig Cannonier, the Opposition Whip, opened questioning and asked for the reason for the reduction.

Mr Swan cited the boost in numbers to summer day camps, announced on May 22, with 850 new places bringing enrolment from the 490 registered last year to 985 this year.

He told the House that Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, had “highlighted the urgency of enhancing social programmes” in February, when he announced $500,000 extra for summer camps.

Mr Swan also noted increased funding for national sports governing bodies to “continue supporting a wide range of athletes, including triathletes, swimmers, footballers and Special Olympians”, which he called a “significant investment in the future of Bermuda sports”.

Mr Swan, who said in March that the NSC renewable energy project was nearing completion after a delay in sourcing parts for its micro-grid system, told MPs extra funding was “essential” for a job hit by supply chain issues.

He added that the installation of the micro-grid had begun last week.

MPs heard: “Once the necessary legislative updates are implemented, the National Sports Centre will be self-sufficient in its energy and independent of external sources.”

The Royal Gazettereported in January that the solar project had fallen more than two years behind schedule.

Its final cost rose by 11 per cent, or roughly $350,000, which was attributed to a rise in cost for materials.

Susan Jackson of the One Bermuda Alliance asked for the BTA board’s position on “the unplanned reduction”, but Mr Swan said he could not divulge information in the House.

Scott Pearman of the OBA asked for the “legal basis” for the Government changing a budget after its approval by Parliament.

David Burt, the Premier, said the transfer accorded with the Appropriation Act and financial instructions. He added: “Grants are not authorised by Parliament. Budgets are authorised by Parliament.”