The clubby isolation of Bermuda’s legislature drives me crazy. We hear lots of references about “the people’s business” but the institution does not operate in a way that allows the people to understand what’s going on, or to participate in it.
And let’s face it, the current PLP is not in a mood to drive reform for the sake of accountability and transparency. If anything, they are manipulating Bermuda’s antiquated processes to shut down debate and increase the obscurity of the legislature.
The UBP talked up the subject of Parliamentary reform before the last election and in a submission to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office but it’s been largely words. Besides sending Louise Jackson out from time to time to chew on someone’s butt, the UBP have done little to show sustained vigour as an agent of reform and change in Bermuda.
Some of these things would take little effort. Presumably the UBP get advance copies of the parliamentary agendas, minutes, and draft legislation that are not available to the public. Why don’t they post them on their website, if Government will not? Why not resume parliamentary commentary such as Barritt’s column to fill in the gaps in the media’s woeful coverage?
We need sustained and well articulated platforms for reform. If the UBP cannot hammer them consistently, not just at election time, they are a weak Opposition. The issue seems to be that the UBP are afraid to push ideas that the PLP might implement and take credit for, thus sustaining the PLP. But the problem is, that by keeping their powder dry, the UBP is allowing valid concerns about the management of our country to be positioned as mere election tactics.
Ewart Brown is driving change in Bermuda at an incredible speed. Short term, to many this feels like success. But every boom has a bust, all chickens come home to roost, and all accounts come due … and whichever political grouping can prove itself as fair and equitable reformers will gain popular support across Bermuda’s sclerotic party lines.
Will this be the UBP, a branch of the PLP, or someone else who transcends the fights of our grandfathers?
