Vexed Bermoothes

The ratings agency Standard & Poors has reduced Bermuda’s rating from “positive” to “stable.” Although generally complimentary of Bermuda and Paula Cox’s financial stewardship, S&P has picked up on what it calls “increasing-but-still-minor concerns regarding social polarisation, the business environment and transparency of Government.” They also note that the cost of the ambitious freebies in [...]

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It was inevitable that the election would be positioned as a mandate for Dr. Brown, despite the message that the PLP hammered in the closing weeks of the campaign that voters needed to support the party even if they disagreed with the current leadership. And indeed, chief propagandist Laverne Furbert is hard at work in [...]

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The Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is conducting an inquiry into the Overseas Territories, including Bermuda. The subject is security and good governance of the Overseas Territories. Standards of governance in the Overseas Territories The role of Governors and other office-holders appointed by or on the recommendation of the [...]

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In his interview with the BBC yesterday morning, Dr. Brown indicated that the allegation of corruption at the BHC “will disappear, it will evaporate, now that the election is over.” Then, yesterday afternoon, he transferred responsibility for the judiciary and public prosecutions to his control at the Cabinet office. So, indeed, he’s probably correct. Rather [...]

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A Bermuda company called AG Research has made an analysis of 2007 Voting Trends (PDF, 1.4 meg) that’s doing the rounds – great guerrilla marketing. It features maps by constituency that show: Change in the numbers of registered voters Change in voter turnout Change in party of elected MPs Change in candidate Voter affiliation Margin [...]

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Number one PLP booster Thaao Dill is to join the Senate. No room at the inn for Patrice and Zane. Gone are Neletha Butterfield, Dennis Lister, Michael Scott, and Wayne and Phil Perincheif. The appointment of Thaao Dill to Senate is particularly tricky. Under changes made in the Political Broadcasting Amendment Directions 2003, Thaao will [...]

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Dr. Brown appeared on BBC’s Caribbean Service this morning in an interview with the BBC’s Neil Nunes. The feed may be found here. It requires the Real player. Following is my unofficial (but reliable) transcript.  Read it and form your own opinions. NN:Bermuda’s Premier Ewart Brown has called for a period of healing following a [...]

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The most amazing thing about this election is that everyone – both the PLP and the UBP – seems surprised by the outcome. It really does appear that policy and performance take second fiddle to party affiliation. This election has left a large part of the community (48% to be exact) wondering where they fit [...]

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It looks like after the great political bloodbath of 2007, the proportions stay exactly the same. PLP has 22 seats, the UBP 14. Even the popular vote remained virtually the same. Personality trumps policy in Bermuda.

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XL Insurance has bought the naming rights to the Hartford arena, which will now be called the XL Center. Just in time for the Hannah Montana concert this week. A spokesperson reportedly said, “We felt we had to do something original because all the good stuff in the Bermuda Government had already been bought off.” [...]

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