PLP Calls On Pettingill To “Hand In Resignation”
The PLP has called on Attorney General Mark Pettingill to “hand in his resignation and allow the country to move forward from his shameful time in that post.”
The Opposition was speaking after the Government paid out $700,000 to settle a claim by architects Carruthers Shaw and Partner [CS&P] who sued the Government after being taken off the Dame Lois Browne-Evans building.
During a question & answer session in the House of Assembly, Mr. Pettingill said that the settlement was made as the costs could reach over $2 million if it went to trial, while the Opposition said the settlement should have been substantially smaller.
A PLP spokesperson said,”The Attorney General has to date, displayed a complete and total lack of competence in the handling of his Ministry.
“Today, the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party calls on Mark Pettingill to hand in his resignation and allow the country to move forward from his shameful time in that post.
“The AG’s performance at Question Period on Friday is reflective of his incompetence filled tenure as the OBA’s legal advisor. When it comes to the CS&P settlement, the AG failed to answer questions, failed to take accountability for his questionable decision and failed to admit that he simply gave away hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars without a fight.
“By the AG’s evasive answers, it can be concluded that this incompetent and costly decision was made without considering the advice given to the previous Minister by technical experts, Woodbourne Associates, EnTech Limited and Spectrum Consulting.
“By the AG’s refusal to answer questions it can be determined that his Cabinet colleagues were also not properly consulted, before giving away hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’s dollars.
“Attorney General Mark Pettingill’s performance has been woefully inadequate and Bermuda can ill afford to continue to pay for his mistakes. He should do the right thing and resign immediately,” said he PLP spokesperson.
Last month Opposition Leader Marc Bean called on Premier Craig Cannonier to fire Mr. Pettingill.
I call on you PLP to stop ya noise.
Funny how the PLP want to give advice on overspending now? Where were you calls for resignations after the overspending at Berkeley or the TCD project, or the cruise ship wharf, or the Dame Lois Building itself. In fact we just saw that in tough economic times that decided to spend $250K on a statue of Dame Lois. While it may have been a nice gesture, in these tough times, was it really a good idea to spend that money on a statue, especially the building itself was already named in her honour.
Those who live in igloos would avoid playing with fire.
Don’t forget the Airport, National Stadium, incinerator.
The high school overruns,…
They have to make noise they are the opposition that’s what they get paid for if they don’t say anything the Govt would not be TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE (like that makes a difference) when the TEA PARTYERS didn’t agree with Dr Brown they marched (first time in my life i’ve seen white people march for a cause in Bermuda) so now the shoe is on the other foot you cant take it. Sounds like Oligarchy hypocrisy to me.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not just white people marched. Take the shades off.
It was majority white the blacks that where there where sorrugates!!! LMAO
How is it every topic alway’s some one mentions the colour of ones skin.Stop it and stick to the issues,we are in Debt a fact….it did not happen overnight fact….we will not get out of debt overnight fact….it happened on the PLP watch fact…..I could continue but it help us get out of this mess,instead lets all work together.
So is U.S , Europe, South America, Africa ,anyone I left out that’s not in DEBT . LMAO
Take your blinds off kathy, thats what is wrong with country. White minority does not like that the black majority can over rule them with the stroke of a pen. Whats even sadder, theblack majority doesn’t realize it yet.
Famouss lay down already bro…there’s no tea partyers in bermy so give it a rest already.
Ahh Chris,
This matter that he settled was another PLP government mess. He did not create the mess. He helped resolve it so that we can move on. Do you think anyone here is loving the idea that 700K was paid out? Of course not. But you want us to march when he helped to resolve a matter that has already cost us money! A matter that has no guaranteed outcome and could cost us millions in payments and legal costs!
I think this is the REAL story as written by VOTe for me….REAL CAREFULLY OBA followers….. FACTS….
Vote for Me says:
July 22, 2013 at 7:01 am
The problem with this post is that it focusses on the PLP call for MP Pettingill to resign.
The focus should be on the facts.
In summary, PLP took advice from CD&P to sue the architects for the new Dame Browne Evans Court building because of poor design and several errors. Once the OBA became government, Pettingill unilaterally ignored the advice from CD&P and decided to settle the case for $700,000. Pettingill has also admitted that he got some advice from several unnamed lawyers, that worked for unnamed law firms but the advice was free. If you think my summary is incorrect, get a copy of the July 19 House of Assembly proceedings.
More details – Based on public information, on July 12, Pettingill stated that the government had settled with architects CS&P for $700k to avoid potential total costs of litigation and payment in excess of $2m. He also stated that he made the settlement because he thought the government case was week and likely to fail.
On July 19, several PLP MPs asked questions in the House of Assembly which were mostly answered in an evasive manner by Pettingill. In summary however, Pettingill admitted that PLP had taken legal advice on the matter from CD&P (one of Bermuda’s biggest law firms and not a known public supporter of PLP) and based on their advice decided that there was an arguable case to be made.
Based on further answers from Pettingill, he did not provide full information to the Cabinet when he advised them to confirm his decision to settle for $700m instead of ursuing the original case that had been started by the PLP government. Thus the PLP are questioning Pettingill’s legal competence and ultimately his integrity.
Of particular concern is that Pettingill refused to identify who he got legal advice from except to say that they were not associated with any legal firms and that the advice was free.
To make matters worse, Speaker Horton did not allow any ‘debate’ on the Motion to Adjourn later in the day when we would have gotten more information, which has been the customary practice for an extended period in Bermuda.
Many questions are raised by this scenario but the most fundamental in my opinion is how can we have the scenario where a decision is made to spend $700,000 dollars of taxpayer money on the basis of advice received from unnamed lawyers that are not associated with any legal firms! To make matters worse, the original decision to sue the architects in the first instance was based on the advice of one of Bermuda’s leading law firms!!
Thanks Vote for me for outlining the key points in this regard. It sure does indicate that the current AG is indeed incompetent.
This is just tooo good LOL. The PLP has called on a resignation about a million times since theybecame the opposition. On top of this, they have called for an apology about a million times too. So pathetic. Sooo pathetic. They weren’t a strong government, and they’re an even weaker opposition. If that’s even possible!
Just think what a much better position Bermuda would be in today if the PLP handed in their resignation a few years ago.
Brilliant!
Plp is dumb as a box of rocks!
Lol. I’m gonna pee myself. Lol
Since they lost the election, the PLP has done nothing but whine. This is another case of sour grapes.
Learn what the job of an OPPOSITION is first then speak.
theres a difference between being a “good” opposition and being a “pain-in-the-a**” opposition. methinks the PLP is being the latter.
They are a pain in the a** because they’re making Obeah TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE. LMAO
I agree with this sentiment…..the 14 years I read so many people banging on about are a result govermental malfeasance AND a VERY POOR opposition.
Lets start with constructive criticism! There is nothing constructive about their statement.
PLP continue to do the work of the people regardless of the insecure people within the oba/ubp.
Can you ask them to put up the $700,000, rather than us taxpayers, as they are the ones who worked to create this mess.
Dumby plp put the oba in this situation of having to pay out. Nothing to do with the oba, oba got stuck with having to deal with it!
how they doing work for the people? and what “people” are you referring to Laverne?
Godlast – give it up….
If the plp really wanted the country to move forward then they should disband!
I guess you want to go back to the 40′s 50′s and 60′s when we people who darker than blue had no rights and the blue eyed devils did what they want long live the plp the oba is not going to be in power much longer
sounds like you want to turn to time where the blue eyed devils have no rights, and people who are darker than blue do what they want?
how about fairness for all? why live in the past?
Plp is not going any where, trust me !!
I call on ALL the plp to QUIT,SHUT UP and GO AWAY!
So the PLP think the settlement should have been smaller, does this mean they are admitting that they should have never taken the case to court to begin with? Are they admitting that they wasted our monies to take it to court? Are the admitting they had no case to begin with? Perhaps the settlement would could have been smaller if they (CS&P) didn’t have to take it to court, and the previous PLP administration had settled earlier rather than try an cover up their blunder with another pointless level battle, much like the ‘unethical but not illegal’ BHC scandal.
I guess they would prefer that we spent $500K in court costs and only paid out $600K than to settle for $700K.
Hold up – confused who’s bill was he settling? Oh that’s right one generated by the PLP
I am extremly proud of my good friend MP I know you have the strength to deal with anything that comes your way stay strong my friend.
don’t you have a bar to to clean up,if anyone needs advice is you
keep it real your an a@@ at least Mr Olson has a good business sense and looks for whats best for Bermuda and not just himself.
Good business sence yes, good common sence NO! With the trash he allows in his bar, and the very same trash thats destroying the young man of Bermuda. Tell you what go to his club and wear a nice gold chain around you’re neck and have a few drinks. Then wait for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 hint (P.S)
Lmao, so right, he doesn’t care about bermuda, just his over flowing cash register.
Really whay a personal attack??
What!?!?!?!?!
The PLP administration creates the environment were a $700,000 payout of our tax-payer dollars is required and then they have the audacity to attempt to pin the donkey’s tail on the administration that has to clean up the mess?
I say to the PLP on this particular issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHcajx4zEk0&t=13s
Ride
LOL !!
PLP creates a problem and then gets mad because somebody decided to clean it up?
Not that I am any great Pettingill fan (he is the weak link), but this PLP rubbish is an outrage – especially in view of the former AG Kim Wilson having corrupted her former secretary to leak information on her new boss Pettingill. I call on Kim Wilson to apologise and resign.
So how the hell do you think the oba got it’s dirt on the plp from insiders a s s
To which pile of dirt are you referring?
What a bunch of JOKERS!
So much noise for the AG to resign…HE must be doing even a better job than we thought ! Keep kicking it Pettingill, they are clearly running scared!
Mark pettingill is the islands thug and gang lawyer, he has no credibility in my view. Lol a sad man, making thousands off of gotten money.
Are you kidding ! If Pettingill is the weak link the Country is screwed….the guys has an i.q ( and BALLS) bigger that the whole PLP Parliamentary Group! Marc Bean should be ashamed letting his Zombies attack the AG!!! JOKER!
No, I’m not kidding – the guy is a loose cannon, just look at his remarks about churches and religion a few weeks back. Politically speaking, talk about shooting your own side in the foot, rather than being out there try to make converts…
What the PLP fail to realize is that they were not voted back in as the ruling Government because of their incompetence. Bloody bunch of idiots
What a bunch of JOKERS!
So much noise for the AG to resign…HE must be doing even a better job than we thought ! Keep kicking it Pettingill, they are clearly running scared!
Mr Pettingill’s ability in Law far exceeds anyone on the PLP’s side and his judgment can certainly can be trusted based on his abilities.
I wonder what the “greatest legal mind of our times” who ran Finance (to the ground), Madam Paula Cox thinks??
Ability in Law dosent make you credible Bernie Maddoff was brilliant. LMAO
Mazumbo is a semi-literate moron.
Those criticized by the PLP consider the source…absolute failure as a Government and now failing to a greater degree as an opposition….whining and asking for everyones resignation does not an opposition make particularly when trying to right all of the wrongs of the last 14 years…..
The problem with this post is that it focusses on the PLP call for MP Pettingill to resign.
The focus should be on the facts.
In summary, PLP took advice from CD&P to sue the architects for the new Dame Browne Evans Court building because of poor design and several errors. Once the OBA became government, Pettingill unilaterally ignored the advice from CD&P and decided to settle the case for $700,000. Pettingill has also admitted that he got some advice from several unnamed lawyers, that worked for unnamed law firms but the advice was free. If you think my summary is incorrect, get a copy of the July 19 House of Assembly proceedings.
More details – Based on public information, on July 12, Pettingill stated that the government had settled with architects CS&P for $700k to avoid potential total costs of litigation and payment in excess of $2m. He also stated that he made the settlement because he thought the government case was week and likely to fail.
On July 19, several PLP MPs asked questions in the House of Assembly which were mostly answered in an evasive manner by Pettingill. In summary however, Pettingill admitted that PLP had taken legal advice on the matter from CD&P (one of Bermuda’s biggest law firms and not a known public supporter of PLP) and based on their advice decided that there was an arguable case to be made.
Based on further answers from Pettingill, he did not provide full information to the Cabinet when he advised them to confirm his decision to settle for $700m instead of ursuing the original case that had been started by the PLP government. Thus the PLP are questioning Pettingill’s legal competence and ultimately his integrity.
Of particular concern is that Pettingill refused to identify who he got legal advice from except to say that they were not associated with any legal firms and that the advice was free.
To make matters worse, Speaker Horton did not allow any ‘debate’ on the Motion to Adjourn later in the day when we would have gotten more information, which has been the customary practice for an extended period in Bermuda.
Many questions are raised by this scenario but the most fundamental in my opinion is how can we have the scenario where a decision is made to spend $700,000 dollars of taxpayer money on the basis of advice received from unnamed lawyers that are not associated with any legal firms! To make matters worse, the original decision to sue the architects in the first instance was based on the advice of one of Bermuda’s leading law firms!!
typing too fast …
‘to confirm his decision to settle for $700m instead of ursuing the original case’
- should be
‘to confirm his decision to settle for $700K instead of pursuing the original case
So glad to see someone to actually take time to gather the facts on the topic of the day, rather then just spouting off childish rants merely out of a blind following of any particular party.
Party politics causes people to have a blind following of their party of choice even when the party in question have been shown to of done wrong.(This is true for BOTH sides).
Thanks for VOte for me, so brilliant and clear as to the real facts regarding this case. OBAupb AG is incompetent, and there is no other way to put it.
A lawfirm gets paid too….
It is in a lawfirms interest to keep working on a case.
So many civil lawsuits are dragged on and on and cost the plaintiff and defendent hundreds of thousands and millions.
I don’t know the details of the case or whether the countersuit was simply a stalling tactic. I don’t know the motives of the lawfirms involved either.
If We had continued to persue this case, it sounds like we were likely to lose and our counterclaims were weak (from what I read here), therefore we could have lost and paid more by dragging it out, plus all the legal fees. The settlement means its over and no more fees incurred or potential losses.
700K in this case is a tiny amount, considering the losses we were likely to have suffered.
@ Hey
Your post is part of wht needs to be clarified. According to the exchanges in teh House of Assembly on Friday, there was a tentative agreement to settle for $200,000 under the PLP. Therefore there are more questions to be answered about Pettingill’s comments that he settled at $700,000 becuase he thought a full trial would cost up to $2m. Whether you support OBA or PLP does not matter at this time.
We simply need more information about what happened and was the amount $200,000, $700,000 or $2,000,000. Either way, we are talking about a lot of money.
The PLP should be thanking Pettingill. Not only has he saved the taxpayer a significant amount of money but tb settling this he avoided a messy trial that would have seen all of the insider dealings with the former government exposed to the public.
@THANK YOU…..ARE you sleeping…go back and read what Vote for Me outline in regards to the case. Mr Pettingill in fact paid more than he should have to the company which means we the tax payers paid out more…WAKE UP>..this AG is the worst one we have ever had in Bermuda, he is incompetent and one would have to question where did he earn his law degree? TOO many errors on important governmental matters…. Poor performance from the OBA AG.
Keep probing Mark…We can’t wait to see what comes crawling out from beneath that “rock”
More self centered behavior from Mark P. He needs to slow down and let the public see all these PLP files on the new Court Bldg. before he rushes in and makes rash, hurried decisions. He missed a massive opportunity to expose the PLP. He’s dumb as a sack potatoes.
he, like a good bunch of other bermudians clinging to this rock, to move forward with, doing what we can with what we have. MP clearly isnt concerned about what went down with that court building, and would rather move forward on to bettering the country for us all, the same way we should ALL be thinking right now!!
where the hell is Lavern and betty trump. Keep it up Mr P your obviously digging in the right hole, someones shoes must be getting very tight.
If this decision is so bad, where is Kim Wilson’s outrage? She has been oddly quiet on the subject. Marc Bean better watch out
@ Thank you and Raymond Ray
Your posts are not logical. Do you really think Pettingill intentionally did PLP a favour by settling with CS&P? If there was so much ‘dirt to be exposed’ the public can be sure he would have done so.
As I noted in my earlier post, we really need to better understand the facts about the settlement. It appears that Pettingill has ignored previous legal advice in favour of his personal opinion and that of ‘unnamed legal advisors’ that provided legal advice free of charge.
I am sure this is not the last we will hear of this matter.
Vote for me – you might want to ask yourself who a couple of Pettingill’s high profile clients are.
@ Thank you
I think the AG post is one of the few Cabinet posts that can not be handled on a part time basis. The other is the Premier. Therefore Pettingill should not have ANY clients.
If I have missed you point, please clarify.
Does the term “conflict of interest” apply? Look at Pettingill’s client list (at least the high profile ones we know about) and ask yourself which ones might get caught up in any serious investigation.
The AG post is not going to be forever. He’ll be back in private practice in a few years. I’m sure Mark will be looking forward to a relaxing trip to Martha’s Vineyard to catch up with old friends.
How do you feel about the use of a blind trust to facilitate the construction of the court building that used tax payers funds to construct?
Do you believe that this is an acceptable practice in a democratic nation?
I am far more intersted in knowing who the exact beneficiaries behind the trust were then some lawsuit?
Are you interested in that as well? If not, why not?
@ Sad
I would also be interested to know the ultimate beneficiaries of the blind trust.
One interesting aspect of Bermuda politics is where we choose to focus. As an example, who are the owners of the commercial buildings that were rented to government for the past 10 to 25 years? If we think about it, some government departments have been in the same commercial building for very long periods.
My favourite was the Bermuda Housing Corporation. Despite all the hoopla about the Corporation it remained in a Gibbons Company building for the entire time of the PLP government.
What do those instances have to do with setting up a blind trust for a capital project paid by for taxpayers?
You were easily able to find the information that you attempted to distract from the other poster’s original query. So thus it was not hidden, unlike the beneficiaries of a blind trust. And if the arrangements were so corrupt then why didn’t the previous administration move the Government offices and/or the BHC?
Now, back on topic. Do you know of any other countries (not banana republics) that it is common practice for a tax payer funded capital project to use a blind trust? Actually, do you know of any other deomcratic country in which there are beneficiaries attached to a publicly funded capital project?
@ Double Standards
I am not alleging corruption. I answered the first post. Yes, I would be interested in knowing the beneficiaries of the blind trust.
My other comments were intended to draw a parallel. For the other buildings, it is not common knowledge who owns each building that has been rented to governemt for say the past 10 to 20 years. If you checked, you might be surprised to find out how many are actually owned by trusts without obvious beneficiaries.
A public listing of which buildings are leased to government and who the beneficial owners are might prove quite interesting.
Lest I be accused of distraction – yes, I would like to know the beneficiaries of the trust that built the building (and all other trusts that own commercial buildings rented to government).
What?
The court building is a building built by taxpayer funds for the public’s use.
It is not a private investment or property holding constructed by private funds. There should be no form of trust and any form of beneficiaries behind the project. Period.
How can you not reconcile the two (unless you are being wilfully ignorant)?
So I ask again do you think in a democratic island/nation/state that there should be beneficiaries that stand to profit off of taxper funds for such a capital project? The only beneficiaries should be the public themselves. Not special people, who do not invest a dime of their own money, but expect to profit off of public projects.
I am alleging corruption via the use of the blind trust, just to be clear.
I will try to be more clear. I think neither scenario is acceptable.
1. A building is built by an unknown trust.
2. A building is bought by by a trust and subsequently leased to government for an extended period of say 10 years.
I am not being wilfully ignorant and understand your perspective. I am hopeful of extending the discussion and for you to see how there are parallels to each situation. The second scenario is definitely more pervasisve than you may realise.
“shameful” – now there is a word the PLP should know something about.
Surprising that there were no calls for the resignation of former MP Patrice Minors when she retained her full time job at a local bank with full pay and benefits while also appointed as Minister of Economy Trade etc etc a full time Ministry I might add.
Can we call for her to pay back some of that cash? if I remember at one stage she was also in charge of Tourism and during her tenure never got a tourism plan off the ground
Lets be fair people
@ Former Ministers
I am not sure about the relevance of your comments. There are at least 5 OBA Ministers that are part time!!
Yes, but they aren’t paid full time salaries.
My nine year old asked ” is the OBA better than the PLP?”
I was dumbfounded,”why do you ask?”
She said”because Bermuda is not right,there are unhappy people.”
I said ” we must try to make Bermuda happy,the plp tried and could not do it,now the OBA will try!”
She then said “I hope the OBA can do it”
THe OBA can not do it, look at the lack of plans and solutions from the OBA. More so the incompetent actions of the AG and Ministers of the OBA, I think we have not gotten a better government, but rather one that is lacking any way to move Bermuda forward. Poor actions of this government is far too bad.
Can’t the Accountant General tell us who the ultimate beneficiaries of the blind trust were/are? The Bermuda taxpayer deserves to know. Who can contact her?
Who are the beneficiaries of The Blind Trusts involved in the big govt contracts.That is the question that we need answered.Cmon Minister Pettingill,tell us we deserve to find out the truth on where our hard earned money has gone.
There is a helluva mess down at the new wing at the hospital – how can one bring in a building plan from Canada and transform it to Bermuda’s building code…. MORE MONEY OBA to dish out…. send Engineers down there to check out this phoopa and how many people were blinded by the Words “New Hospital”… exactly and the blinds are still down…
Thankfully, the ‘helluva mess’ will be a costly error for the developers but not have any cost impact for the BHB since the fianl cost to the BHB has already been set.
Don’t act like I don’t know what you have been up to for the last few weeks. Right now I’m mad as HELL.
@ vote for me
Thank you very much these facts you have stated cannot be denied, the truth is known.