“Premier Needs To Make Statement”
OBA Leader Craig Cannonier said that Premier Paula Cox needs to make a statement to fully address the recent planning matters, as “the pattern of behaviour revealed by these three individuals calls into question not just personal motivations but also the system.”
The PLP issued a statement in response saying, “As much as the OBA would like to continue beating this dead horse, the facts are; the former Environment Minister Roban has resigned, the current Environment Minister Bean is reviewing the decisions in question.”
After coming under public scrutiny for his decision to allow two planning appeals by fellow Cabinet Ministers Zane DeSilva and Wayne Furbert, Walter Roban resigned late last week citing the “heightened public criticism of my decisions as Minister of the Environment Planning and Infrastructure Strategy in two particular matters.”
Former Minister of Community Development Michael Weeks has been appointed the new Minister of Public Works, with Ministers Patrice Minors and Michael Scott splitting the responsibilities of his old portfolio.
The appeals were declared void because Mr Roban had already left that portfolio before his Parliamentary colleagues had been notified, and the new Environment Minister Marc Bean will be reviewing the appeals and making a decision on whether they will stand.
In a statement issued last night [Nov.20] Leader of the Opposition Craig Cannonier said, “We believe the Premier needs to make a full and complete statement on the Planning scandal that surfaced last week.
“It has so far resulted in the resignation of one Minister, but clearly involved two other ministers whose private interests benefited by decisions made by the resigned Minister, who did so with full authority as a Minister of the Government.
“We appreciate the new Environment Minister’s intention to review those decisions, but this does not alter the facts of the controversy as they are known.
“The pattern of behaviour revealed by these three individuals calls into question not just personal motivations but also the system.
Mr Cannonier continued on to say, ”We cannot have Government Ministers working the system for private gain, regardless of their rights as private citizens. A line must be drawn and maintained if we are to uphold the integrity of the system.
“Government ministers must be, and be seen to be about the people’s business. That has not been the case in this matter and is deserving of a full and complete explanation by the Premier.
“The Premier has tried to make much of new standards of behaviour for her Government, saying in the Throne Speech that there would be “zero tolerance” for behaviour and practice that do not accord with the highest standards of good governance.”
“The working of the system in this instance clearly did not accord with the highest standards of good governance. Yet ex-Minister Roban said no one had asked him to resign, adding that the Premier “reluctantly” accepted it.
“On the basis of the Minister’s remarks, it appears that no one is policing the system or enforcing the “highest standards” of governance.
“The Bermuda public needs to know where the Premier stands in all of this, and so we urge her to come forward and take the opportunity to conclusively re-set the dials on what she means by good governance, at least for the benefit of her colleagues. She has spoken about it before but clearly her colleagues were not listening.
Mr Cannonier said, ”If the Premier decides to speak on this matter, there are questions that still require answering. They are:
- Is the Premier satisfied that only Mr. Roban is at fault?
- Did Ministers DeSilva and Furbert know about the decisions made by Mr. Roban? Objectors were informed, so it follows that the Ministers were informed.
- Did ex-Minister Roban communicate with Ministers DeSilva or Furbert about their Planning applications prior to or after his decisions on the applications were made?
- Did Ministers DeSilva and Furbert ever mention their Planning appeals to Environment Minister Roban?”
In response to Mr Cannonier’s statement the PLP said, “It is not surprising to hear the Opposition Leader on Monday parroting questions that Michael Fahy posed on Friday.
“As much as the OBA would like to continue beating this dead horse, the facts are; the former Environment Minister Roban has resigned, the current Environment Minister Bean is reviewing the decisions in question.
“The PLP is focused on the future. We will continue to promote the solutions outlined in the Throne Speech, which has been well received across all segments of the community. No matter how many distractions the OBA may present, we remain steadfast in our commitment to shape a better tomorrow for our people.
“The PLP Government is working hard to build one another together, we invite the OBA to join us and the people of Bermuda in a constructive discussion about our country’s future.”
Premier Cox is currently in London to attend this week’s annual Overseas Territory Consultative Council meeting.
Grasping at straws…
Mr. Craig Cannonier are you aware that the UBP/OBA is using you to get black votes? That’s all their doing bro. Stop being a fool bro. After the next election they will kick you out. They are not going to win cause in the end it’s still the UBP. You guys should have stock with your own party and stop merging with these suckers.
When you started the new party I was like cool now were doing something. Then you go and merge with the UBP, I was like what the hell!
The comments from OBA definitely remind me of the oft said… beating a horse to death! This political horse is definitely dead and the OBA would be well advised to allow the burial to take place! Perhaps more energy should be focussed on what has thus far been a neutered response to the Throne Speech.
Under the circumstances and based on publicly available information, I am surprised that the allegations and comments in the media gave rise to the Minister’s decision to resign. When we consider the role of a Minister as a representative of the people, I do not think the nature of the allegations warranted a resignation. As far as I am aware, there is no evidence or indication of any self dealing or personal benefit to the Minister and there is no allegation of criminal wrong doing.
On the flip side, Minister Roban’s resignation speaks to his personal integrity and level of respect and support for the PLP and the people of Bermuda.
His actions demonstate that the mere hint of alleged corruption and the negative implications for the PLP are sufficient for him to sacrifice his Ministerial role and duties. His actions also prove the error of the OBA position that Ministers are all too anxious to retain the ‘prveleges of office.’ By all accounts, Minister Roban has been a capable and committed Minister of the government and has always performed his duties as a Minister at a very high level.
Kudos to Minister Roban for demonstrating such a high level of integrity. I look forward to his return.
I want to see the plans
KUDOS TO Minister Roban, his actions do speak of man that has great great Integrity. This is a dead-horse that Cannioner is parroting like a parrot, which lacks full command of the English language. It also does not reflect his Throne Speech idea of moving towards a collaborative approach. Maybe it was only a theory and not something that he really wants to exercise in practice. Cannioner stop allowing those UBPs boys to pull your strings.
Integrity? Are you joking me? He was clearly asked to resign in an effort to squash the backlash. This has nothing to do with his ‘repsect for the party’. A man of integrity shuns the very appearance of evil and never for a moment would have even thought of overturning these decisions for his ‘friends’ on his final day EVEN IF THERE WAS NO NEGATIVE INTENT because the implications (when they came to light, would be negative). If the decisions genuinely warranted overturning, a man of integrity would have let the next guy deal with it in order for the decision to appear ABOVE REPROACH! Moreover, if the other Ministers had ANY integrity, they would not have not have accepted such a decision under those circumstances.
Let me ask you this. When someone offers to sell you a genuine 14k gold necklace on the street for $50, one has to assume these are stolen goods. Now a man of integrity would not buy this suspected stolen good, but the man who buys it is just as guilty as the one who stole it! So where are the repercussions for these other two Ministers in this same circumstance where their actions (of acceptance and silence after the fact) makes them equally unethical?
Of course this will simply go down in history as yet again another “unethical but not illegal” action of corrupt and self-serving government officials. Let us not fool ourselves that this act by Minister Roban was demonstrating a high level of integrity as this would be an insult to other members of society who actually DO have high integrity.
Roban resigned because he got found out. Not out of any sense of ethics. If he had any sense of what is and isn’t ethical, he would not have done favors for two other cabinet ministers in one day.
As for the other two, they are equally involved in it. Cannonier has asked there logical questions, but it’s obvious the other two must have known the favors were coming.
This lot can’t tell the difference between right and wrong. They think self-dealing is a right for political elites. It’s their turn at the trough.
Roban is a man of great Intergrity. Minister has the rights to hear and review an appeal. Most departments have an appeal process in place. It is the Minister who usually is person that makes the final decision. What is it that you do not understand or like?
The application was approved “In Principal”. Which is often the first phase of an application process, it does not always require complete details. However, the next stage will require complete details for the application. If the application is approved, there will be regulations and rigid requirements that any applicant will have to follow. This is common practice for any application at the Department of Planning. It was common practice during UBP/OBA time in government when they also approved their friends, ministers’ applications for building or development of a business. (Where was your voice?) This is the official governing rules and regulations. They are not made up, been in place for years.
A Minister can approved an application ‘in Principal’. This is done on a regular basis. The Minister also has the power to approval or reverse an appeal decision. There is no law that says a Minister must follow the advice of a Civil Servant. The Civil Servant is there to serve at the wishes of the Minister, and to provide detail information. The Minister has the final say, he can either accept the information to consider during his deliberations or reject it. Here is a case in which the Minister decided to approve the application in Principal. The process was followed, and frankly I do not see were any corruption or unethical behaviors took place. This process was ‘Open” it was not closed. It was known to the public, as the Department of planning has a listing of all approved applications in principal or otherwise. The planning board also is informed of the Minister’s decision. What’s new here???
This same application is now in the hands of Minister Bean, will he also be corrupt if he does not made the decision that OBA/UBP/BEST would like for him to make? I do not think the outcome will be any different from the opposition if Mr. Bean does not deny the application. So get over it, or recommend that different process be put into place for all political officials, as that would be a more collaborative approach that Mr. Cannioner talks about in the Throne Speech. Or is it just a theory?
Stop beating a dead-horse…..he is not coming back to life………….
I personally think Roban beat the Premier to it, he new it was coming so at the eleventh hour the Resignation letter goes public. Put that one in your integrity basket.
This is hardly “beating a horse to death” as the new Minister STILL has to decide on these appeals.
I think ex-Minister Roban should have resigned along with Ministers DeSilva and Furbert!
So let me getthi straight.
Some people constantly claim that the opposition should not be voted into power because of such shenanigans were common place and use this mantra as some sortof justification for not supporting such a Party.
So the constant harping on such issues which occurred well over a decade ago are, and anow all of a sudden are seen as legit and legal in your eyes, is not considred “beating a dead horse?”
But when the Opposition critiques an event, that you apparently abhor so much when the other team was in power, that is only made public less than two weeks ago it is now considered “beating a dead horse?”
Guess it all depends on who is doing the beating I guess huh?
Mr. Cannonier should do the same thing others have done and look critically at the information provided by the government and the minnisters involved thus far. Once he has done that he will be able to answer his own questions.
As I see it, the OBA know that they will not win at the polls at the next election so the party is trying to win by stealt and deceit. But that is normal for the UBP/OBA. The UBP won its first election by stealth and deceit, the OBA was formed by stealth and deceit and Craig Cannonier was made leader by stealth and deceit.
It wouldn’t surprise me if before the end of the week they’ll ask the Premier to resign.
Look who is talking about stealth and deceit.This fired senator works for the role model of stealth and deceit.Where’s all the workers money Le verrnnnn?
The money is in the CO- OP.
Roban made judgements on his last day of his portfolio that benefited two PLP ministers. The voting public are not blind or stupid. Spin it how you want to, but we want answers, we want accountability. The PLP have treated us like an ignorant child and spent our future whiost smiling and waving.
Who was it that said ‘We had to deceive you’?
short memories …… “we had to deceive you….”
“we had to deceive you….”
‘we had to deceive you’ – Mmmm! No stealth or deceit there eh?!!!! Answer that one Ms. Furbert. It would appear that the PLP are experts at ‘stealth and deceit’!!!
I agree with you mate but take that “HNIC” comment back, its NOT needed!! Why go there?!?
Who made that comment?
Obviously the original comment has been removed. I’m sure I’m not the only one who saw it.
As far as other “in principle” approvals that were granted, I would suggest that you take a walk up to the Planning Department and check the records.
Typical respose…since you have been fired Laverne you seem to have a lot of extra time to be posting here, why don’t you take a walk up there since your so informed and so keen on proving his innocence.
Only two weeks ago you bloggers were complaining that as a Senator I shouldn’t be blogging. But you all are used to having it both ways.
I’m not surprised that the following statement from the Government has been ignored by Cannonier, Fahy, and the majority of bloggers here. If you want to see the statement in its entirety, I can post it, but in the meantime read the following:
“In responding to several critical media reports concerning the in-principle approval of an application from the Zanzara Trust, the Government moved to clarify several matters for the public.
It should be noted from the outset that the application has been granted in-principle approval only. This means that the applicant (Zanzara Trust) must provide further information to the Development Applications Board (DAB) and agree and adhere to the stringent conditions attached to the approval before final approval can even be considered.
Therefore ANY development at this proposed site cannot and will not occur until final approval has been obtained.
The former Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy the Hon. Walter H. Roban, JP, MP was satisfied at the time of his decision that he had sufficient information to grant in-principle approval, subject to various conditions.
Well please explain LaVerne what others if any “in-principle” approvals were given that day other than the two “honorable” ministers?
What does “HNIC” stand for?
Ask Rolfe he’s used it before.
@ Laverne Furbert
Seeing as we’re back to the HNIC comment does that make Jonathan Smith the PLP’s House Honkey? By Burch’s reasoning he must be.
So to rephrase Burch’s ignorant comment: Any white person in the PLP is just a House Honkey. Or a Crazy Cracker.
Head Negro In Charge…
The “N” does not mean Negro! It is nastier than that.
Who cares?…should never have been used in the first place…to repeat, that is not my Bermudian vernacular, language or culture.
” A vote for the UBP is vote back to the plantation” no stealth and deceit there I presume?
Roban aka Bud. He was found out, that’s why he resigned. I doubt he can spell integrity.
Although, I do agree, another “nails on the chalkboard” statement from Miss Verbosity herself, aka The Cog, would drive me insane.
”We cannot have Government Ministers working the system for private gain, regardless of their rights as private citizens. A line must be drawn and maintained if we are to uphold the integrity of the system.
As private citizens they had a right to appeal and as a minister he had in his remit to give approval. If you want to change that then take that power away, however it still stands no laws were broken. OBA you seem to be a desperate housewife with this one.
As least some people have sense.
Planning appeals are upheld all the time.
I can’t even beleive the OBA are STILL talking about this when there is so much more important things to be talking about.
…”no laws were broken”…?
Maybe, maybe not. We don’t know the facts, do we.
But in the meantime that’s a pathetic measure of ethical standards. “Hey Bud, whatever you do, make sure no-one catches you breaking the law”.
Please save the smoke and mirrors for another day! OBA if you want to win an election stop being so reactionary to every thing. Learn from your other half of the party who in 2003 & 2007 lost big time because they called for Royal Commisions left right and center. This situation is not the talk on the streets, Roban resigned because of his poor judgement! Stop sulking because he took the chance from you to make any kind of capitalization!
This is a dead horse already? This just happened last week !!! Not only that but as a member of the public, I would love to hear the Premiers thoughts on the matter. The Opposition leader should not have had an opportunity to call the Premier out to speak on it. She should have been all over it. THAT would be TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY. Instead, what we get is more hiding behind anonymous public statements.
I am often amazed at how quick people are prepared to forgive the present Governments misgivings. Even, you deserve better than this and I believe that the Premier would agree.
If the government were your child, would you accept this behavior?
Very dead horse. The dude resigned. Are we going to talk about this for the rest of the election? We have serious issues and we’re still talking about this.
c’mon now, this is just politics. Roban was dumb, but he resigned and took responsibility, time to move on.
C’mon now “On to the next one”…
We wouldn’t want to downplay this and just sweep it under the rug, would we?
Only one of three involved resigned… What about the other two?
“The UBP did it” is VERY dead horse too, but you don’t see anyone letting up on that do you?
@ On to the next one- That is the classic “swwep it all under the rug” response that I have been hearing. I would like some accountability please. Not kjust with Roban but all who were involved and I would like to see the Premier driving that process. That is leadership.
Nothing has been sorted at the moment. Nothing at all. They threw you a little bone and you are satisfied. Not me.
Craig Cannonier is proving to be a dismal failure as opposition leader.
The fact that he’s repeating stuff his former chairman stated proves he’s clueless.
Who is running the show over there at OBA HQ? So many people saying so many things makes you dizzy!
In my opninion, our ‘system’ is the root cause of the problem.
No laws were broken as the ‘system’ allows this to happen. The ‘system’ gives Gvt. ministers such absolute power.
I do not see any efforts from either party to change a ‘system’ that allows Gvt minister to achieve personal gains.
We can point fingers at the PLP in this case. However, the UBP benefited from this ‘system’ and I find it hard to believe a OBA would choose not to benefit from this ‘system’ even if they are legally allowed to do so.
It’s the ‘system’ that needs to be changed. The UBP benefited, and did not change it. The PLP are reaping the benefits, and not changing it. And I believe the OBA will do the same.
Laverne if everything was on the up and up why did he resign? Looks very suspsicious to many. I think we all know that MP’s are given the chance to resign first instead of being removed. Let’s be for real here pls!! Everyone’s not stupid…
Oh just figured it out – why Roban resigned (I say removed)
His behavior was unethical but not illegal !
Who made an “HNIC” comment???
If nothing illegal occurred, then may I suggest you all shut up about the alleged cronyism and back room deals, such as these, that yuo claim took place unhindered during the UBP’s reign.
If it was not illegal then the 40 Thieves you all complain about utilizing such practices are just as innocent and falsely accused as Mr. Roban apparently is.
Can’t have it both ways. No matter how much you lot try to state that this incident was somehow different and above board.
This is obvious electioneering on the part of the OBA and Mr Cannonier. They have yet to take substantive positions on the important issues. Their Throne speech reply did not hit the homerun they intended and now they are trying to hammer this home as they think it gives them some leverage. At the end of the day, people are still trying to figure out where the OBA stands on the major issues and until they can take a position, they will not be given any credibility. They have announced 3 candidates of 36 and while the government announces candidates regularly they don’t seem to have their ducks in a row in that regard either. Premier Cox could call an election at any time. Their facebook page said they asre announcing most of their slate by end of month. Well that gives them 8 days to announce 33 candidates – highly unlikely I would think.
@ Ms. Furbert – If you don’t know, you are not missing anything. That acronym has no place in Bermuda’s vernacular. It is not our language, nor our culture.
Mr. Cannonier cant see that he is being used as the face for this Party and when they are done with him he will be kicked to the curb like Kim Swan. Once you get this party the votes they want the old guard will rear its face and become the Premier.
He is much like a puppet on stage with the people in the back operating him like a robot.
Just because the guy resigned, doesn’t mean the matter should be dropped.
It is like saying that the Government can do what ever they like, no questions asked (or answered) as long as someone resigned (from Cabinet).
If he truely resigned, there would be a need for a bi-election….
Ok you are reaching and know little about anything here! Get a life!!!
“Build one another together” what a crock of BS. All politicians are for themselves, they have to be or else they want be politicians. They are all playing games and we the public are the pawns. Let’s get this election on and get these idiots out ASAP…
Aight and put 40% new faces and 60% old UBP faces in??? Ok I’m for change!! Lmaorlac!!!
Working hard to build one another together what a crock of BS. Roban was asked to resign. When are people like Leverne Furbert gonna learn that you can’t fool all the people all the time. Politicians are in it for their own gain. They have to be or else they want be politicians. We the public are pawns in the game they (politicians) are playing. Nough said..
The Department of Planning is broken. The system has been broken for decades. The exercise if ministerial discretion is permitted in this system, even for citizens who happen to be Ministers. The logical extension of these posts is that elected officials must put their lives on hold until they get out of politics because if they have the misfortune to need the legal, permissible support of a colleague they will be called corrupt. Well that’s just ridiculous but that’s essentially what’s being said. Bermuda is so small that it is almost impossible to find someone unconnected to someone else in some way. With all the conditions attached to the approval in principle granted to the trust, its a wonder Desilva didn’t ask Roban “wtf”?! But that seems to have been lost in this discussion. In any event, it sure is a dead horse but the story’s getting CPR because if the candidates announced today by the OBA are any guide, these kinds of Government own-goals are their only hope.
In the end no black person should support the OBA/UBP if they have white folks on there that still think it’s 1950.
If the OBA supporters keep this talk up your just going to hand the election over too the ruling party.
Keep this type of chatter up and after the election you all will be scratching your heads saying how did we loss again.
I would have expected Bernews to explain that they removed the comment regarding “HNIC” But maybe I imagined that I read it. I must start copying and pasting comments before they’re removed.
The Premier of Bermuda is busy carrying out the work of the people. If she spent time commenting on every petty matter that the OBA decides to distract the people with then no work would get done. Simple