One Hour Video: St George’s Town Hall Meeting

February 18, 2019

The Corporation of St George’s is holding a Town Hall meeting this evening [Feb 18] to discuss the “future of the Town as proposed in the Municipalities Reform 2019 Consultation Document,” and you can tune in and watch live below.

The meeting follows after Government announced public consultation regarding the future of Bermuda’s municipalities providing two options, to either change the Corporations of Hamilton and St George’s into quangos or dissolve them entirely.

The two options presented by the Government were:

    1. “Change both corporations to Quangos, leaving each organisation intact as a corporate body but increasing the Government’s oversight over key initiatives.”
    2. “Dissolving the corporations, repealing the Municipalities Act and integrating the corporations’ various functions into the Government’s administrative structure.

Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 1 hour replay is below

St George’s Mayor Quinell Francis previously said, “The Corporation of St George is saddened and disappointed the Bermuda Government has produced a consultation document with very limited consultation, and the offer of the abolishment of the Town’s 400 years of heritage that the Corporation has cared for. The offer by the Bermuda Government means the Town gets absorbed into Government — directly or becomes a Quango.

“St. George is a close-knit community, and the recent elections demonstrated that the people of St. George exercised their right to a vote. Residents and Businesses currently have a voice through the electoral process, and with the recommended proposals there will be no more elections as the Government will appoint a Board. The Town has operated independent of the Government for over 200 years.

“The Bermuda Government’s statement that the Corporation’s role is only infrastructure is false. We have always managed the economic, social and cultural affairs of the Town on behalf of the residents and businesses.

“Moreover, the operating funds the Town needs are under Bermuda Government control — wharfage, grants for the World Heritage Site and cruise ships. The team at the Corporation have worked with all these challenges, and I publicly appreciate all their hard work.

The Mayor closes, “We are passionate about our Town, the heritage, and the future. Our Town residents and businesses are the Corporation of St George. If St George’s heritage, economy and people are important to you, we ask you to attend this special meeting.”

This past weekend the Ministry of Home Affairs reminded the public that they “are still engaged in public consultation and that no final decision has been made regarding the options presented.”

The Government previously said the Consultation period for this will run from February 12 until February 22.

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Comments (32)

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  1. WSP says:

    I guess Roban got scared and thought the natives would put him in the stocks for the night and throw rotten vegetables at him.

    • St.George's Passport and Immigration Control says:

      Don’t forget we also have a Whipping Post

    • Black Soil says:

      The St George’s mayor, along with her friends in the municipality helped to get the PLP elected. She and her friends can now reap what they helped to sow. Hey Madam Mayor…are you feeling used right now??????

    • Black Soil says:

      The PLP want to control all of Bermuda. The PLP will therefore DESTROY all of Bermuda.

      • Ringmaster says:

        The St Georges PLP MPs will not speak out against the plan. If they did they would be unemployed. They know they have to support the Government. Has anyone asked what any one of them have done to better St Georges since being elected? Maybe the better plan is to abolish MPs in St George and Hamilton altogether and have people with local interests, such as the Mayor and Councillors, in charge.

  2. wahoo says:

    Sounds like they don’t want your “help” plp…..so f@#$ off.

    • St.George's Passport and Immigration Control says:

      Well said!

    • Ignorant Minion says:

      The Corporations of St Georges and Hamilton should take over the running of the government.

      MR. ROBAN , NAME ONE DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OR OFFICE THAT YOU CAN USE AS A SHINNING EXAMPLE OR HOW THINGS SHOULD BE RUN. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE REASONS THAT THE CORPORATIOPON HAVE MONEY IS BECAUSE THEY MANAGAE THEIR MONEY AND RESOURCES AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOU SHOULD.

      LEARN FROM THEM

      • sandgrownan says:

        LOL, that’s true. Both corporations do a better job than any government department. They should do a reverse takeover! LOL

  3. St.George's Passport and Immigration Control says:

    the plp are looking for more money to pillage for Friends n Family.
    They are not interested in the Olde Towne as they have already shown.

  4. Kevin says:

    One would have expected the 2 voted in mps for st.georges would have a statement but sure there was a gag order in place …surely they have an opinion or is party line the only option…come on Kim you said you were all in for St. Georges what happened was it only politics

    • St.George's Passport and Immigration Control says:

      you get what you voted for,Nothing!

    • Ignorant Minion says:

      I too am surprised that Kim was a no show! I am no fan of what the PLP has become since the DB era but he was one of the few that I felt really cared for his community, and his country! He is an honorable man that I thought would stand up for what is right despite what the partys stance on any subject was! If this isn’t an important enough reason for him to come out, educate and be educated, I wonder what will?

      I’m still in his corner and will give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I’m guessing that he was off island, ill or had a previous engagement that would prevent him from attending.

  5. Watcher says:

    Kim Swan has sold out St. George’s and has fully drunk the PLP kool aid. Disgraceful behavior from a so called man of the people. Money and influence over, people and what’s right.

  6. opinon says:

    Wedco, Hamilton & St. George’s should come under GOVERNMENT Too much favoritism in the east

    • Chauncey says:

      Yes. Too many tourists in Dockard. Get rid of the big ships from Dockyard and send them to St George’s. Only way to do that is widen Towne Cut. Easy, plenty of money around.

  7. Joe Bloggs says:

    Will this change mean corporation rates will be abolished or will we still have to pay that tax to government even though we get no say in who runs the corporation?

  8. Double S says:

    Sorry St. Georgians, but the power hungry PLP are in the process of consolidating power and crushing any form of perceived opposition and/or threats. The 2012 election defeat took them by surprise and they wi not allow that to happen again so all independent organizations must be dissolved and turned green. It’s what all dictatorial governments do when their power comes under threat. Sorry, but most of you voted for this mess of a government despite their massive damage they inflicted on the Olde Town and thus any further damage caused by this power hungry government is your doing.

  9. Realist says:

    This Mayor is a strong PLP supporter who will tow the line, not fight for St. George’s. She needs to be transparent, step aside and allow the St. Georgians freely fight for their town. You got what you voted for Bermuda. An immature, dishonest and reckless government. No different than before, no surprises there.

  10. Legalize Tweed says:

    Where’s the People’s Campaign?

  11. trump supporter says:

    Well done st, georgians. These guys are clueless and there rein is slowly coming to an end.
    The pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes to get voted in and they couldn’t tell us 3 yes just 3 things they have done to benefit all, not the select few .

  12. Triangle Drifter says:

    Silence from the despicable politicians who are supposed to represent the best interests of the people of St Georges. “We don’t care what you think” comes to mind. They answer to a higher power than the voters. 25-11. This is your own fault. Don’t be fooled again.

  13. Watcher says:

    Normally you can’t get Rene Ming to shut up but she refused to pass comment on the plans for the town. Another party over people, money over relationships puppet!

    • Let's talk truth says:

      Let’s be honest that meeting was not about the viability of the St George’s Corporation, it was an opportunity for the OBA community to moan about the PLP. I listened to hear any solutions from the floor, nothing at all! Several speakers on the government debt, the government and the PLP can’t do anything. If you don’t like the government plan then provide other options because the truth is the Corporation hasn’t done anything to help itself, they have no financial plan and no vision for the Towne. The Corporation only takes care of the immediate Towne the Government does everywhere else! Personally, I am glad that the area MPs didn’t speak because that crowd didn’t care to hear or listen anything except bash the PLP. I welcome hearing more from the Government, ST GEORGE’S NEEDS CHANGE!

  14. Mark says:

    25-11 equals Fourth world Status and clowns like Onion Juice keeping the Pee-L-Pee afloat.

    • Delete says:

      25 – 11
      And OBA under Dunkley and Cannonier will never get the OBA back in until they both admit to the JetGate matter!

      • question says:

        “Jetgate” did not cost anyone in Bermuda one penny. That is why no one cares about it. It is irrelevant. It is a sideshow.

        Ewart had rides of private jets gifted from foreign consultants who in turn ended up with huge Bermuda Government contracts. That’s all good with you I guess, for some reason.

      • Mark says:

        That’s the best you can dig up? How about the payment to Doc.

  15. Bermydude says:

    The Gov has plan up there sleeves for both Corporations.

    St. George’s:
    The Hamilton docks are going to be moved to St. Georges, so if Corporation of St. George’s has its full powers, the Gov doesn’t get the revenue from it or someone is going to run the docks.

    Hamilton:

    Is the something, Front Street is going to be developed, more cruise ship in Hamilton means more revenue!!

    THAT SIMPLE!!

    • Mark says:

      What’s simple are the mindless lemmings like OJ following the Pee-El-Pee to our collective doom.

  16. Barbara Nahoumi says:

    Cruise ships arrive in Bermuda on Sundays, and very little is open for those Passengers to visit.

    Yes, we can and do go to the beaches, but we would like to have more stores and attractions open, and the St. George ferry running on Sunday as well.