Vexed Bermoothes

As the heat is poured onto “offshore tax havens,” Bermuda can differentiate itself by improving our “good governance” in the public sector.  It’s hard to throw stones at a well run and transparent government – even if you don’t like their tax policy.  So far this year, the Bermuda legislative agenda has been adrift … consisting mainly of routine updating of business laws and some sweetheart legislation.  And a whole lot of race baiting.

There is no real legislative agenda.

The PLP platforms have always been full of talk about reform – but actual delivery has been light.  Here are just a few areas that are begging for “good governance” reform in Bermuda:

• No Public Access to Information law combined with a tradition of Government furtiveness.
• Poor communication with the public on legislative activity, parliamentary activities, and rulemaking.  We need Hansard!  Open committees!
• Haphazard execution of public consultation.
• Lots of statutory committees – but little public awareness of their rules or what they actually do.
• Overuse of ministerial overrides of established procedure.
• Weak oversight of government contracting.
• Weak controls on conflicts of interests by politicians and civil service, including register of interests, code of conduct, etc.
• Weak campaign finance obligations.
• Weak anti-corruption provisions in legislation.
• Need to expand audits from simply confirming compliance to address effectiveness of Government spending.