Vexed Bermoothes

Government House made a statement yesterday about those “funny” cheques related to the new Courthouse that caused one of those vast wingnut conspiracies that seem to surround the current administration.  It is indeed the most curious official statement I have heard in a long time:

Images purporting to show two valid cheques, apparently made out to Dr E Brown and D Burgess but which were in fact fake images and most probably created with malicious intent, were well publicised in early 2009.

The fake images of cheques may still be subject to further investigation, but no longer in Bermuda.

A very thorough investigation in Bermuda was conducted by the Bermuda Police Service. An appraisal of the results by the Director of Public Prosecutions concluded that there was not evidence of criminality which could be charged to court here in Bermuda.

The further investigation which may take place would be in a different jurisdiction, in other words overseas.

So, what de hell does that mean? Those appear to be very carefully chosen words.

Competing for oddity value is the response that was released shortly later by the Cabinet Office:

Government House released a news statement today about the images of two cheques which were purported to be validly made out to the Premier and Minister Burgess. In the Government House statement, it was reported that the Bermuda Police Service conducted an investigation and determined that the cheques were fakes. Bermuda’s Director of Public Prosecutions concluded that no charges of criminality could be laid in Bermuda.

It has been determined that the fraudulent cheques were produced in Canada.

In response, the Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, and Minister Derrick Burgess issued the following statement: “Sadly, this malicious act will not be prosecuted in Bermuda. This does not mean that the Premier and the Minister will not seek redress within the appropriate court system in Canada.”

One gets the feeling that there is a game of cat and mouse being played here.  The duelling press releases pose a lot more questions than they provide answers.

I, for one, hope that a further investigation is completed – and the results made public.  As in the “bullets in the mail” incident, one side of Bermuda’s partisan divide sees criminal conspiracy while the other sees “victimhood” political manipulation.

Was this an attempt to smear the politicians, or an attempt to ensnare the Auditor or media, or part of the fight between the contractors on the project?  And is it that easy to introduce false information into Government’s official records?

In the midst of the bizarre constant circus that degrades Bermuda politics, we taxpayers deserve some clarity.  The murk just drags us all down.