Vexed Bermoothes

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 servant accused of accepting nearly $4,000 in bribes is given a two year conditional discharge and turns over the payments she received.  (She resigned her job.  No word if the bribers will be prosecuted).

Is this a sufficient deterrent?

You see, normal crimes break the law.  Crimes of corruption break the fair application of the law, and that’s far worse.

Government has a responsibility to provide impartial services;  bribes distort that.  Allegations of bribery and wrongdoing in the public service must be investigated, made public, and prosecuted aggressively.