Six years after it was first announced by then-Premier Alex Scott, the Bermuda Government has published its draft freedom of information access (FOIA) law for public consultation. A successful public access to information law (PATI) would represent a significant step ahead in Bermuda’s development, so I encourage all Bermudians to read through it and to [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Accountability'
Public Access to Information
October 15th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Transparency
Tags:FOIA·freedom of information access·PATI·public access to information
Deterrent Value
October 6th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability
Bermuda has a long-earned reputation for relatively clean government. However, public concerns about good governance have grown in recent years. In the courts recently: A man accused of offering a $10,000 bribe to a policeman is given a two year suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine. (Let’s hope the honest cop was promoted.) A civil [...]
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Peek a PATI
July 9th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Transparency
The Premier announced yesterday that PATI legislation will be one of the first topics on the parliamentary schedule in November. That’s nice. Bermuda has been waiting for the promised freedom of information bill for a long time. The whole process behind Government’s efforts have been pretty stretched out and secretive – which goes against the [...]
Speaker Impartiality
June 16th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
The UBP has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Premier. Under the Bermuda Consitution, this would remove the Premier from office, leaving the Governor to appoint a new Premier who has majority support in the House of Assembly. The motion would not remove the PLP from Government. A vote of all UBP MPs, [...]
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This too shall pass
June 14th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
Premier Dr. Ewart Brown’s response to the furore over his violating the terms of the Bermuda Constitution is: “This too shall pass.” That sums up his philosophy. So far, he’s been able to count on Bermudians forgiving or forgetting every one of his transgressions without any consequence. By creating diversions, or going on the offensive, [...]
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Commission
June 4th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
Following allegations of corruption in Bermuda’s law enforcement by several PLP backbenchers, the Governor announced that he has passed on details to the local authorities and does not feel that a Commission of Inquiry is needed at this time. That’s interesting … and will make some breathe a sigh of relief … because a commission [...]
Tags:corruption
Berkeley Fallout Continues
May 14th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
The Premier has just announced that Government will not pursue collection of the $6.8 million bond owed to it by a subsidiary of the BIU related to the troubled Berkeley Institute redevelopment. As normal, he’s spinning the number. The sum actually due to Government was in excess of $15 million when interest was counted. Plus, [...]
Tags:BIU·Contracting
Corrective Action
May 12th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics
The Premier has taken a vocal stand in support of the discredited Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands, which is soon to be replaced by an interim government while the extensive allegations of corruption and official misconduct are investigated. Many have asked why he is taking this stance, and how Bermuda stands to benefit [...]
Tags:Turks & Caicos
PATI at Work
May 11th, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability
There’s a massive scandal in the UK where MPs have been found to “work the system” for extra payouts from the Government. It is deeply embarrassing to both parties, and will inevitably lead to reform in this area. It may interest you to know that the alleged sleaze was uncovered using requests under the UK [...]
Improve on the Milestones of Yesterday
May 1st, 2009 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics, Reform
Sure, I read The Worker’s Voice, if only to hear the PLP loyalists express their opinions in more than the short outbursts allowed by talk radio and internet blog. Sometimes though, I have to shake my head in wonder. The latest issue has an apologist view of the governance issues in our current Government, saying [...]
Tags:Anti-corruption