MP Walton Brown On Election Law Compliance
Progressive Labour Party MP Walton Brown has initiated discussions with the Speaker of the House to identify a process to ensure that MPs are “fully compliant with our election laws.”
Mr Brown said, “The recent electoral challenges in our sister Overseas Territory, Turks and Caicos, which were based on non-disclosure of candidates’ interest in government contracts, are instructive for Bermuda.
“What remains important today is the extent to which Bermuda’s constitution requires similar disclosure by candidates and, more importantly, that our elections fully comply with our electoral laws.
“My concern is that we take our election laws seriously and be seen to be doing as much. This is critical so that we remain a strong democracy and have integrity in our electoral process,” continued Mr Brown.
“To this end, I have initiated discussions with the Speaker of the House of Assembly to identify a process by which we can ensure without question that Members of Parliament are fully compliant with our election laws.
“I am hopeful we will have some movement on this soon as Parliament is the best vehicle for making this determination. Alternatively, given our current constitutional status, there is the option of appealing to the Governor for the establishment of a framework for assessing these issues.”
What a novel idea! How original! Too bad some bright spark didn’t have this kind of thought ONCE in the last 12 years or so. Or maybe they did and were stonewalled at every turn.
SMH
In any other country he would be made to resign. No integrity, no credibility, just PLP. This is crazy, why do we elect these idiots?
It’s a start, whoever brought the idea. How are you going to insure compliance when everything is hidden under layers of trusts? While we’re at it, how about election observers next time?
Reminds me of Alex Scott. When he was in power he thought that anti-corruption legislation could “taint the island’s reputation”. But in January, less than 30 days after the election, he was suddenly “concerned about corruption”, and suggested a “meaningful strengthening of governance measures”.
In the last election the PLP dismissed the idea of observers out of hand. Suddenly walton Brown thinks it’s “critical”. Of course…now it’s critical…
The T&C issue wasn’t the election process; it was corruption, and stealing from the public purse. Personally I’d love to see a thorough examination of corruption allegations here, and legislation to make sure it never happens again.
I’m quite sure that is not on the Attorney General’s agenda.
Instead his priority seems to be focused on a ‘take note’ motion about how we’d all like to sit around and get stoned.
You sure you want an investigation or should we just skip to “conviction by blog”? Because “a thorough examination” and “legislation to make sure it never happens again” don’t go together; unless of course you’ve decided already on the outcome of the “thorough examination”.
well done on avoiding the issue. an expert.
“Check your electronic instruments here “,
sign before entering the voting booth..lol
I welcome Walton Brown’s call for the full disclosure of election candidates’ interests. Surely, he must also support the full disclosure of interests by members of the House of Assembly and Senate.
_The Committee on Register of Members’ Interests_
The Standing Orders for the House of Assembly (see http://goo.gl/0CUi6 ) already indicate:
“The Committee on Register of Members’ Interests shall be a Joint Select Committee with five Members appointed by the Speaker (who may also discharge and replace them) to sit with Members of the Senate for a total of seven Members inclusive of the Chair, appointed for the duration of the life of Parliament.
There shall be a Register of Members’ Interest, to provide information of any pecuniary interest or other material benefit which a Member of Parliament may receive which may be thought to affect his or her conduct or influence his or her actions, speeches or votes, and the Clerk of the Legislature shall act as the Registrar.”
While there are no Standing Orders for the Senate, senators also register their interests. The forms are online for MPs (see http://goo.gl/k4R68 ) and senators (see http://goo.gl/gEWUT ).
The Clerk of the Legislature keeps the forms from previous years on file. However, without full and accurate disclosure by members, the Register is mere paperwork.
_Mr. Brown’s Paperwork_
I was surprised to discover that after incorporating Vista Mar Ltd. in November 2007 (see http://goo.gl/lF6qK ), Mr. Brown decided not to disclose his ownership of the company to the Committee on Register of Members’ Interests in his January 2008 submission (see http://goo.gl/ZGwuU ).
Despite remaining a director in 2010 (see http://goo.gl/cC28O ), Mr Brown’s submission from the same year (see http://goo.gl/nxClZ ), makes no mention of the company.
David Burt, on the other hand, disclosed an interest in Vista Mar Limited (see http://goo.gl/3haXn ) when he joined the Senate in 2010.
_Questions_
Mr Brown was the Junior Minister of Education in 2008 when the Coco Reef Resort received a Special Development Order (see http://goo.gl/IPd6H) and generous tax concessions (http://goo.gl/luQrV). In 2009, he took up the chairmanship of the Bermuda College Board and signed the lease addendum which granted the Coco Reef Resort a 125-year lease (see http://goo.gl/Uy3QD ).
In August 2008, Sam Strangeways reported that John Jefferis, the owner of Coco Reef, was a director of Vista Mar Ltd.
Would legislators (and the public) have asked harder questions about Coco Reef if Mr Brown’s Vista Mar Ltd. connections had been easier to establish?
Bermuda’s small size makes conflicts of interest unavoidable. Politicians must disclose and manage these conflicts.
Mr Brown writes, “I have initiated discussions with the Speaker of the House of Assembly to identify a process by which we can ensure without question that Members of Parliament are fully compliant with our election laws.”
I applaud his efforts.
Andrew Simons
LOL. Good post.
Cute. Does you serach engine accept any OBA names or does it have an automatic filter? Cause I got some names and conflicts too even in the first 100 days. That’s a glass house your colleagues are living in. Be careful. You wouldn’t be the first Simons to get eaten alive by the machinery of the OBA/UBP.
If you had names and conflicts you’d state them.
I think it is cute that you don’t care about the gifting of taxpayer land to foreign businessmen. Real cute and predictable. You’re a PLPian, not a Bermudian. Now rant on zealot.
And if you have such evidence of any Government MP and/or Senator that has not disclosed such interests, please feel free to post that information as Mr. Simons did above. It is pretty simple.
If I accused the BPS of police brutality and chose to be represented by Mark Daniels, who represents the government?
So Hmmmmm, back to the subject. Does Walton Brown have to comply with this or not?
I notice he’s disappeared. Cat got his tongue?
I never agree with hmmmmm but in all fairness I just highlighted what he was saying whether he knew it or not. Despite the damage the plp caused and aside from the good start I believe the oba has made we must hold our government accountable, if not we are the “die harts” (had to sorry lol) they try and label us as. Like I’ve said before, this isn’t the EPL. It does US no good to choose sides. I said I would spoil my ballot if I didn’t see a certain initiative being made prior to Dec 17th, but I did vote oba because I knew our country couldn’t stand any more of the “leadership” we had. I put my home first and I will continue to do so no matter who governs us. I don’t trust people, I definitely dont trust politicians, so if they do have conflicts of interest then it’s in our best interest for them to sort it out.
Typical PLP…..
Like Alex Scott, Mr Brown appears to be trying to shut the barn door after the horse has bolted.
Hey hmmmm….you are so intelligent. ….not .
I can only assume that Brown just find out about compliance and disclosure laws, strange that he wasn’t aware or mentioned it in his previous position. good idea and it would need to be applied to all.
Very well said Andrew Simons in 4.49 pm entry above.
Walton Brown is the master at finding soap boxes to make PR plays on matters that sound intellectual but mean little. This is nothing more than another back door attempt at justifying Independence by exploiting possible ambiguities in our Constitution and attempting to ambush the Governor (and Britain) if the opportunity arises.
Typical OBA lynch mob. Yawn!!
Oh Mr. Simons: you never fail with relevant and well researched information. What an asset to our political landscape!
I still have very strong feelings about the party who still touts a “Bermuda for Bermudians” and “what about our children and grandchildren” rhetoric but gave away prime South Shore property to John Jefferis for 125 years and tried to give away part of St. George to Bazarian for 200+ years. For how many generations of children and grandchildren will those parts of Bermuda be unavailable for free access?
Mr. Simons, your research has been very revealing. It is unbelievable to know that WB is a shareholder. The fact that he never disclosed this information is frightening, especially since he was the Chairman of the Board at Bermuda College and during that tenure signed away the property with a 125 year lease. I used to hold WB in somewhat of high esteem. His behaviour borders on fraud!
Please say this isn’t true WB! I supported you, hoping you would usher in a new kind of leadership in the PLP.
Can you please respond these allegations? You owe it to us your supporters.
Walton Brown suggest WHAT – he only going to put himself in trouble, along with many others ..who like to deceit people and give away thier means and property…a full investigatyion needs to happen to all those in power for the last 12 years…..we would have to build a political prison cause they will fill it……