PLP: Transparency With Political Party Financing

June 5, 2017

[Updated] “It’s time for the blatant hypocrisy of the OBA to end,” PLP spokesperson for Government Reform and Opposition Whip MP Lovitta Foggo said, adding that the PLP has committed to “bringing transparency to political party financing upon taking office.”

Ms Foggo said. “Last week the country witnessed Premier Michael Dunkley’s inability to take a strong position on a fundamental issue of good governance.

“We know why Premier Dunkley can’t commit to the wholesale reform of the Parliamentary Register of Interests and campaign finance reform. Sitting alongside him in his Minority Government are two OBA colleagues, Deputy Premier Bob Richards and Jefferson Sousa MP, who failed to fully disclose their financial interests in advance of the 2012 election.”

On that aspect, Minister Richards said, “As I am concerned this statement is based on the premise that if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it is true.” The Minister said that he is on the record about his former interests in a company, and he divested his “interest in that company before the last election.”

Ms Foggo continued, “As much as Premier Dunkley wants to rewrite history in the election season, he can’t. To the people of Bermuda, actions speak louder than words, and the reality is that the Premier has had nearly five years to address the Register of Interests and Campaign Finance reform and all the other promises made by the OBA in 2012 that they failed to keep.

“Only now, on the eve of a No Confidence Vote and eve of an election, does the Premier make vague overtures to do something – but can’t say what. It has long been clear to the people that he will never bring real and meaningful campaign finance reform forward.

“The hypocrisy is clear to see. We all remember how the OBA’s 2012 election campaign was funded by foreign casino operators to the tune of $350,000.00 – the Jetgate scandal. The OBA relies on substantial contributions from wealthy interests overseas and Bermuda to fill their election war chest.

“Why would they change that? The OBA has proven they don’t like questions about where their campaign money comes from. Initially, the OBA flat-out denied the financial contributions occurred and when the Jetgate scandal was exposed, the OBA promised to make the final investigative report public. When the OBA Chairman resigned in apparent disgust, OBA Leader Dunkley made sure the investigative report was never made public.

“Opposition Leader David Burt and the PLP are on record supporting campaign finance reform. The next PLP government will introduce legislation to regulate political campaign finances to ensure a level playing field and reduce the risk of corruption at a political level.

“We believe that the best policy ideas should win — not the political party with the biggest war chest. We see the introduction of campaign finance laws as a long overdue safeguard for our democracy.

“We will introduce Integrity in Public Office legislation to modernise our laws surrounding the buying of votes, voter fraud, conflicts of interest and other aspects of our electoral and political process subject to abuse by those who would seek to use wealth, influence or intimidation to obtain political or economic power.

“The PLP will also ensure that changes are made to the Register of Interests to facilitate more disclosure of the financial interests of MP’s and Senators.

“On Good Governance, the PLP will go even further. We will implement that SAGE Commission recommendation, rejected by the OBA, to establish three permanent oversight committees to oversee the work of Parliament. Democracy is meant to represent the people, and the people’s representatives should have the ability to provide the oversight that leads to better outcomes.

“It’s time for the blatant hypocrisy of the OBA to end. But that will only come through true change. A change in leadership to start to set our country on the right path, the PLP has committed to bringing transparency to political party financing upon taking office and won’t waver in our commitment to do so.

“The people of Bermuda deserve to know that their elected leaders are working for them, not working to benefit themselves at the people’s expense.”

Update 10.11pm: In response, OBA Chairperson Senator Lynne Woolridge said, “Since its formation the One Bermuda Alliance has made ensuring good governance a guiding principle in its approach to governance.

“And where the PLP talk about good governance, the OBA has acted – making PATI a reality, getting audit approvals in all its financial statements and transparency measures from drug testing to online reporting of ministers’ travel expenses.

“Anyone considering today’s pre-election statement on campaign finance reform should consider a few information points that come to mind: The PLP Government’s last five Financial Statements could not be endorsed by the Auditor General; its leadership engaged in pay-to-play and its administration of government contracts remains the subject of Police investigation.

“The party has never apologized or explained its ethical lapses or its financial ‘dealings’ during its years in power. So one has to ask, what’s new?

“In the meantime, the OBA reversed the PLP recession and got the Island on a path of recovery that is expanding opportunity and paycheques in hotel developments, returning cruise ships, growing visitor numbers, America’s Cup – making a real difference in the lives of Bermudians.”

Update June 6, 11.09am: A PLP spokespersons said, “While Bermudian jobs continue to be lost and jobs held by non-Bermudians continue to grow, the OBA continues to duck responsibility, duck accountability and run away from their own record.

“It is clear that the OBA has been living the good life for far too long as they remain oblivious to the suffering of their fellow countrymen.

“Their record on good governance includes a Premier resigning in disgrace in a corruption scandal.

“Their record on jobs includes job losses for Bermudians while Non-Bermudians continue to gain employment

“Their record on education includes moldy schools, under supported teachers and under supported students

“Election day is coming and the OBA needs to stop ducking, stop hiding and stop deflecting. Bermuda can do better and will do better, with a PLP government that understands the challenges facing Bermudians and with the will to put Bermudians first.”

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Comments (32)

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  1. Blind Sheep says:

    This has to be a joke

    • Vamos says:

      The PLP should not go there! Not a fan of either party but at least one can balance a cheque book!

    • Black Soil says:

      The PLP cannot wait to get their hands on the public purse. If they do WATCH OUT!! Millions will go unaccounted for, not to mention the “duplicate payment program” going into full gear. In high school I used to bring extra gym shorts to school just in case I got cained. Well Bermuda, don’t throw out your used shorts because the PLP might be bringing on a good whoop’n.

  2. FUI says:

    to Ms L Foggo and your entire political party.Please read and re read the very last line about what the PEOPLE OF BERMUDA deserve to know and relate that to your parties atrocious reign of friends of family overspending and disappearing cash

  3. Average Bermudian says:

    To tell the truth

    We never received it under the UBP and neither the oba

  4. Sandgrownan says:

    What a f******** joke

  5. Hey there says:

    Is it April 1st already?
    This is the funniest thing I have read all day!

  6. Build a Better Bermuda says:

    A complete red herring, the PLP’s whole campaign financing platform is devoid of any effort to prevent the ability for the PLP to use their political action surrogates like the PC or BIU to fund raise and finance campaign efforts on their behalf. The statement lapses the facts that the OBA has provided more oversight and transparency into government financial matters and administration than any other administration before.

  7. No way Jose says:

    Ms Foggo,

    I understand why you bring up “Jetgate” but why is it that the PLP continue to do so without any reference or mention about how Dr. Brown hopped about the Private Jet belonging to Globalhue? THEN, he awarded TWO successive Tourism contracts to them. The second time he did so without any RFP so nobody else was even given the opportunitry to bid on it? It was even covered by Major news networks like CBS. See link below.
    So when you speak of being transparent you are looking thru one a one way mirror?

    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/globalhues-weird-bermuda-ad-expenditures/

  8. John says:

    PLP STANDING STILL FOR BERMUDIANS never going forward always going back ,antiequality and super unprogressive ……..nothing to see here

  9. Peter says:

    No one should trust this lady she is one of the shameful 21 who voted against equality for all Bermudians …..smh nothing changed in that Dept

  10. Pooh Bear says:

    $800M?
    ….$800M?
    …….$800M?

    Has anyone seen $800million of taxpayers money?

    Anyone?

  11. Mother Theresa says:

    Foggo! Go away!

  12. Kevin says:

    I must say they like to make noise but the sounds they are making have no substance and it shows how hollow they really are. This whole campaign is all about gaining power and once in This will hapen
    The Suit against Lahey Clinic will be dropped
    All of the continued investigation of the PLP ministers – Desilva – Burgess that were highlighted by the commission will cease…..Bermuda get with it the PLP must get back in they have to stop these at all costs …its there own very future that is at stake when all of the truth is known

  13. aceboy says:

    She speaks of blatant hypocrisy and then launches into the most hypocritical nonsense I have read.

  14. Navin Johnson says:

    who paid off the mortgage on Alaska Hall?

  15. Ms Foggo seems to have forgotten that the PLP campaigns of the late 90′s into the next decade were funded by well known expatriate businessmen and, frankly, her party’s record on transparency causes her cries to resonate with hypocrisy and display selective amnesia or perhaps she is a stranger to the truth. As Bob Richards said – say something often enough ad the lie becomes fact.

  16. sid says:

    If either party were serious about transparency, they would voluntarily disclose the amount and sources of their donations before the election.

    I bet they won’t.

  17. Bumbling bear says:

    The PLP has not commented on the 5 million dollar worth of duplicate payments.
    Where is the extra money?
    Who got it?
    I ask lovita forgo for her opinion on this

  18. Trump supporter says:

    “The people of Bermuda deserve to know that their elected leaders are working for them, not working to benefit themselves at the people’s expense.”

    REALLY!!!!!!!

  19. Rocky5 says:

    So PLP can get their OWN fingers back in the cookie jar!! And PLP NEVER say how they will deal with the massive Government Debt they created!!

  20. Hmmm says:

    So tell us where ALL of the PLP’s financing comes from (and where the missing cash is)

  21. quarter says:

    I can tell you, as a civil servant, that the financial oversight of capital projects has improved 100% since the OBA came to power. If anything, fewer projects have been done due to the amount of time it takes to get financial approval for those projects. In addition, the LACK OF INTERFERENCE AND MICRO MANAGEMENT FROM POLITICIANS has allowed the professionals to get on with doing their work.

    If Bermuda went back to how it was, well, that is a frightening scenario.

  22. puzzled says:

    Propaganda.

  23. free gas says:

    WOW!! What some nerve!

  24. Long bay trading says:

    OMG !!!! The accusations of hypocrisy coming from the PLP! Really? The PLP has given that word entirely new meaning.

    How certain members of the PLP sleep at night is beyond me. It is certainly NOT the sleep of the righteous.

    Self righteous maybe but certainly not the righteous.

  25. Joe Bloggs says:

    “The hypocrisy is clear to see.”

    Yes, it is.

  26. Nana says:

    Just what Bermuda needs the PLP to get back in. There goes all that has been accomplished by the OBA. Pockets will be filled again.

  27. Up D hill says:

    What utter nonsense from a clueless person. Foggo cannot seriously believe the crap she is saying

  28. 2025 plan says:

    Can you divulge more on your 2025 plan? Probably not after a statement like that..

  29. aceboy says:

    The sad thing is that she is a teacher. I can only imagine the garbage she puts into young kid’s minds.