In his review of the BHC files in 2004, the acting DPP Kulandra Ratneser said that some of the individuals in the investigation escaped prosecution only because Bermuda’s corruption laws were antiquated and weak.
Referring to Mr. Ratneser’s comments during the hearing today, Lord Justice Hoffman of the Privy Council said: “He’s quoted as saying it’s unethical but not criminal. If that’s so, surely the public has a right to know if their politicians behaved unethically?”
It is worth noting that the Bermuda Government has spent untold sums of money and energy to cover up the ethical breaches … and not one penny to update the criminal code to prevent future issues of corruption.
That is a terrible failure of governance. Bermuda must follow the lead of the Cayman Islands (that hurts doesn’t it) and implement anti-corruption legislation.
Recently the Bermuda Government seems to like cut’n'pasting other countries’ laws, so here are some more good Anti-Corruption examples for them to copy:
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1 Transparency // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:50 am
[...] Actions speak louder than words. [...]