So, our Parliamentarians are making their rare appearance at work today. Here’s the RG’s stunning summary of the day’s events:
A bill amending penalties for traffic offences is also expected to be tabled along with several other bits of legislation.
My experience of Bermuda is that a lot of important stuff happens in those “other bits of legislation“. Of course it’s very hard for taxpayers to know what’s going on - Parliament fails step number one of accountability and transparency:
- There is no website that lays out schedules, the agenda, or draft legislation in advance so that members of the public may comment to their parliamentarians.
- There are no bipartisan committees that process legislation before it hits the floor of the House.
- There is no TV coverage despite Government’s massive investment in CITV.
- There are no Hansard minutes.
This is not right. Bermuda’s Parliament is run like it’s a secretive masonic lodge for the politicians, rather than the place they work to represent the people.
