Bermuda should just get over it and pass whistleblower legislation. You see, the political forces have offended and abused the civil service so much in recent years that the public sector bounces between CYA secrecy and leaking like rusty bucket. I assume that’s how these titillating stories end up in the press … like the [...]
Entries from May 23rd, 2008
Sunshine Week (with a chance of showers)
May 22nd, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Media, Transparency
The PLP’s attacks on the Royal Gazette have now attracted the attention of the organisers of Sunshine Week, the international event celebrating “freedom of information” laws that is supported by the American Society of Newpaper Editors. It was after the Royal Gazette’s participation in Sunshine Week that Government removed its subscriptions, advertising, and sponsorship from [...]
Tags:
Sleeping Policemen
May 21st, 2008 · Comments Off · Transport
This is just one of the many signs that Bermuda does not take traffic enforcement seriously. Following a collision with a car that allegedly ran a red light more than a month ago, a rider had his leg amputated. Mr. Planes is disappointed with the police response to the accident. The driver of the car [...]
Tags:
Lesson to Learn
May 21st, 2008 · Comments Off · Media
In a case similar to the PLP’s treatment of the Royal Gazette, Guyana’s Stabroek News was subjected to attacks from their own Government. All very familiar stuff. Stabroek News Editor Anand Persaud describes the battle, and how advertising was restored after 17 months of intense international criticism of the Guyanese Government, as well as pressure [...]
Tags:
Drama Queens
May 20th, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
Whew, at last, a week without some sort of Bermuda crisis bought on by bad management. Oh, never mind.
Tags:
Taxpayer Incentive
May 19th, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
Bermuda has the dubious honour of having one of the few governments ever in history to double its expenditures in less than ten years. That’s a remarkable achievement. In most countries, this orgiastic excess would result in a stinging electoral defeat for the incumbent. The offending politicians would probably never get elected again, as voters [...]
Tags:
Same Old
May 16th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Transport
The driving “points” system is intended to some teeth to traffic enforcement. But the Bermuda Sun has revealed that the system is not particularly effective as systems have not been created to track the demerits. And today, the Sun reveals that the Courts are not following the demerit tables anyway. The idea of points systems [...]
Tags:
Media Diversity
May 15th, 2008 · Comments Off · Media
Of course we have diverse news media in Bermuda: each radio station chooses different sentences from the Royal Gazette to read on air.
Tags:
Election Reform
May 14th, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics, Transparency
The media reports that recommendations to update the Parliamentary Election Act have been forwarded to Cabinet and Government House. Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott would not say what had been recommended but described it as “a pretty comprehensive package of suggestions”. Asked if the Opposition would get the report Mr. Scott said he would “most likely” [...]
Tags:
Re-Invent
May 13th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
A line in the Association of Caribbean Media Workers annual report sticks in my mind: Pressures are linked to … the fact that the country is small and people have little room to re-invent themselves. Ain’t that the truth. This is a major self-limitation in Bermuda as well. Smallness is not just geography; it’s mindset. [...]
Tags: