The tourism industry is in turbid waters tonight as the high profile Director Of Tourism, Seleni Matus abruptly resigned this afternoon, and demitted office immediately.
According to reports, Matus tendered her resignation to the board of directors at 1:00, had a meeting with her staff this afternoon around 3:00 to notify them of her departure, and by 4:00 pm she had packed up and left.
It is sudden - and for the industry sort of like falling off the edge of a cliff as Matus had taken a bold, new and effective direction since she was hired in February of 2010 to resuscitate a flagging industry.
And while the sudden departure has shocked many - the truth is that Matus and her CEO Lindsey Garbutt have been at odds for months - as sources tell us, Garbutt was on a power play to strengthen his ministry by moving programmes and budgeting from the BTB - meaning that this, like everything else, is about money and who gets to decide how and where it is spent.
Seems that Garbutt - the political appointment - has won this battle, but the question of a loss for this vital industry is another matter - which will play out over the coming months.
In the meantime, the BTB Board has to scramble to find a replacement for Matus - presumably one that is equally high powered.
But with political undercurrents swelling as election season draws near, and the BTB kitty so precious to behold, it will be interesting to see what direction the board takes.
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