City Asks For Investigation Of Democracy Trust

March 27, 2013

The City of Hamilton Council passed a resolution asking for the Ombudsman, Auditor General, Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers to “conduct an exhaustive investigation in to the Democracy Trust,” Hamilton Mayor Graeme Outerbridge said this evening [Mar 27].

Mayor Outerbridge said, “During a meeting held on March 25, by the City of Hamilton Council, a resolution was passed asking for the Office of the Ombudsman, the Auditor General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers to conduct an exhaustive investigation on the legality, the intent, the purpose, the duration of the effect and ownership of, the persons and entities, corporate and otherwise involved in the setting up and management of the Democracy Trust. Communication has been sent to these respective offices stating the Council’s concerns and asking for a full investigation.”

Last week Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, said she is launching a Systemic Investigation into the Corporation of Hamilton on her own motion in the public interest. A statement from the Ombudsman said, “Allegations brought to her office include lack of transparency, inadequate governance and lack of public consultation.”

In response, Deputy Hamilton Mayor Donal Smith urged the Ombudsman to investigate the two recent administrations. Mr Smith said, “Of particular interest to her in the inquiry of the last administration should be the existence of a trust by the name of the Democratic Trust and all land assets which, amongst other matters, held taxpayer funds for the questionable purposes of defending itself legally against the previous government initiative to amend the Municipalities Act, 1923. The past Mayor should be extremely helpful in this regard in the interests of transparency and clarification.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (17)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Family Man says:

    Jeez guys, that might be hard to do if you’re so busy with “a city to administer” that you don’t have time to answer their questions and you refer all questions to your lawyers.

    Or have you flip flopped and you’re now willing to provide your full cooperation and answer all questions?

  2. Mad Dawg says:

    I see the lawyers they hired last week have started coming up with the smokescreen.

  3. Sandman says:

    These councillors just don’t get it. They are not the government. They are not supposed to play political games. They have a very specific mandate: properly running the city of Hamilton. The more they mess around with these games, the greater will be the clamour to get rid of them.

    Councillors: get the hell on with doing your job

  4. sandgrownan says:

    Deflection from the Nightmayor.

  5. Kim Smith says:

    No need to worry… Ms. Brock is a very thorough and intuitive. You can be sure of the quality of her investigation.

  6. Bermuda Boy says:

    Will someone please tell me why we have a Corporation of Hamilton / St. George. Both Hamilton and St. George are the size of a large farm in other parts of the world, instead of having a “without portfolio minister” give them these little places to manage.

  7. Truth is killin' me... says:

    One word for all you lawyers…DEFLECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. Raymond Ray says:

    @ Mad Dawg: I also concur…All this B/S is quite clear, that a blind man could see that, the “New Boys in Town” are attempting to erect a smoke-screen and divert the attention off of themselves…

  9. Y-Gurl says:

    Surely the Corporation doesnt beleive that this kind of deflection and spin wont be seen through by all, the investigation was labled as comprehensive and should be just that looking at all aspects and dealings of the CofH and get to the bottom of the deals made by them and for them

  10. swing voter says:

    total embarassment….Donal I can expect bs from. I expected a hell of a lot more from Outerbridge than this. you guys have fully lost my confidence now

  11. Argosy says:

    This bunch were put in place by the PLP solely to grease the wheels of the grab train.

    They are neither capable of nor interested in running the City of Hamilton.

    The under-the-table dealings will be uncovered by the O’man’s investigation. This is what they are now panicking about and why they are erecting smoke screens. This has you-know-who’s finger prints all over it…next thing, the Mayor’s office will receive a bullet in the mail!

    Ms. Brock’s going to be asking a whole lot of “plantation” questions!!

  12. d.o. says:

    Ombudsman go ahead with their request AFTER you carry out your initial plan. An obvious smoke screen by the current admin. Perhaps they should take care of some more pressing issues like the condition of the streets in the ENTIRE city etc.

  13. Former Union Member says:

    It is a shame there isn’t the process to recall these ‘elected’ officials who appear to be totally incapable of doing the job they were so desparate to get. Pay them? Not on your life. Respect them? You must be joking. Very soon businesses will start voting with their feet and will refuse to pay any Hamilton taxes.

  14. street wise says:

    Don’t look here… look over there! How childish can you get?

  15. Crazy Lady says:

    This is the new bermuda for you…. Hmmm smh

  16. Yellowfin says:

    With this Mayor and his ace boys left without the gravytrain grabbing PLP ANYTHING will be said !! As one can see by the request of Mayor. Unbelievable !! Do Bermuda a favor and all of you step down !

  17. nomoremoney says:

    OK….It’s Time to tender the Cement Silos in Dockyard…..actually they just give it back to Jim, dont you think?