OBA’s UK White Paper Submission
[Updated] The One Bermuda Alliance has released their submission for the 2012 White Paper that will set out the UK Government’s approach to the Overseas Territories.
“The UK Government is drawing up a plan – a White Paper – to improve its working relationship with its Overseas Territories,” said Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier.
“The work will focus on the shared constitutional responsibilities for the people of these territories, Bermuda included. Specifically, the UK wants to produce a new framework that would make it possible for existing responsibilities to be carried out more effectively – all in the spirit of furthering the security and good governance of the Territories.”
The OBA’s submission said fixed term elections could be used to “prevent politicians from cynically manipulating general elections when it is advantageous to them,” and allow voters to know with certainty when they are next expected to go to the polls.
There should also be established a Code of Conduct in respect of election campaigns which governs the behaviour of national parties, candidates, their volunteers and agents, and any third parties seeking any influence in the electoral process.
Consideration should be given to the appointment of a politically independent Speaker of the House of Assembly, and also to televising proceedings in the legislature so the public can hold their elected representatives more easily to account.
“The content of debates is made more accessible, and quality of debate improves under the watchful eye of the Bermudian public,” said the OBA.
Speaking on “allegations of corrupt behaviour” that has “plagued public officials in recent years,” the OBA said, “If the people are to regain their confidence in governing institutions, and if Bermuda is to maintain its sterling reputation as a place to do business, any and all corruption must be rooted out.”
“Never again should Bermudians be told by prosecutors that public officials have engaged in ‘unethical but not illegal’ behaviour. Concerns especially have arisen recently relating to the transparency and fairness of the allocation of Government contracts, the hiring of consultants, and the placement of government leases.”
The OBA suggested that our legislation should be updated and serious consideration should be given to extending to Bermuda the UN Convention Against Corruption.
“By extending the UN Convention Against Corruption to Bermuda, the UK will be assisting Bermudians to combat the scourge of corruption and corrupt practices as legislation giving effect to the Convention must follow.”
The submission also suggested that a register of Ministerial expenses should be maintained and made publicly available for scrutiny, and all Ministers should be barred from accepting any gifts at or above a certain financial value.
“Bermuda’s declining economic position, particularly with respect to the ballooning national debt, is because of poor financial planning and Government overspending,” said the OBA.
“It is our submission that poor financial management on the part of the present administration is one of the biggest challenges facing Bermuda today. This should especially be a concern to the UK as it is always conscious of reducing any contingent liability arising from its Overseas Territories.”
Bermuda’s offshore financial industry plays a similar role to the economic well-being of Bermuda. The One Bermuda Alliance asked that the UK, in a similarly robust manner, seek to protect the offshore financial industries of the Overseas Territories.
Speaking on crime and citing the Rebecca Middleton case, the submission recommended a relaxation of the rule against double jeopardy.
The OBA questioned military conscription saying, “We must ask if the model currently in place is serving us well. To that end, the One Bermuda Alliance feels that the time is right to examine whether male-only conscription can be justified in the 21st century and to explore alternative avenues by which young Bermudians can serve their community.”
The full 37-page document is below, click ‘Fullscreen’ for greater clarity:
Update: The PLP said, “On a day that the leaders of International companies are praising the PLP Government, and after news that 53 new insurance companies were incorporated in Bermuda in 2011, only an out of touch opposition could release a document that says “an exodus of international business has taken hold” in Bermuda.
Statements such as these compound the credibility problem that the OBA is facing, that the facts do not match their talk. Comments like these in a formal submission should cause the Bermudian people to question if the OBA really has Bermuda’s best interests at heart.”
Seeeing the deadline for submissions was Dec 31, I wonder when the OBA actually finished and submitted this document. Likely after the deadeline which means it won’t be read.
Good to see them take a position on something finally(sarcasm).
OBA asked and received a deadline extension since PLP was giving them so much crap to work on it was better than fiction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the sound of this “Integrity Commission and an Ethics Commissioner.” I just hope that it also applies to the OBA’s supported Predatory Capitalist System that we have evolved into into..from the office to the playground, that dog eat dog society, money over the rights of humans. No care for your fellowman. The systemic practice of not hiring or renting to Bermudian, for the almighty dollar..this must stop, if we are going to have a sustainable future.
Put Bermuda First should not only be a slogan but seen to be, being done…
The only “allegations of corrupt behaviour” have come from the OBA/UBP and their supporters.
On the contrary, The Premier herself referred to such unethical behaviour as the reason to implement new laws. You really need to keep up with Bermuda’s Premier.
Laverne the funny thing about this is the UBP/OBA was doing that same behaviour for how many years. Now they want to cry wolf. What a bunch of hypocrites. LMFAO
laugh my F@$# a$$ off. They need 10% or 15% of the black vote to win. What does that tell us? Why did they disband the UBP?
ANSWERS 1-5
1 TO GET THE BLACK VOTE.
2 TO GET THE BLACK VOTE.
3 TO GET THE BLACK VOTE.
4 TO GET THE BLACK VOTE.
5 TO GET THE BLACK VOTE.
Good Morning Ms. Furbert,
Did you find anything in the submission that you could support? Is there anything in this submission that would enhance Bermuda as a whole or is the work of some talented, thoughtful Bermudians simply dismissed?
Thanks
Good Morning Mr. Francis,
I haven’t had time to read the whole report, however, as I said before, I do have a problem with the reference to “allegations of corrupt behaviour”.
As I said, the only allegations have come from the OBA/UBP and their supporters.
By the way, the submission by the PLP Government was also “the work of some talented, thoughtful Bermudians”.
To the first commentor who referenced the submissions being a day late, I suppose I’m prepared to give the OBA the benefit of the doubt since they’ve written a document that was 4x as long as the government’s but without access to an army of civil servants and consultants at their beck and call.
I wonder if this submission was submitted before the December 31st deadline? If it wasn’t, then this is ‘politrics’ at its best! If it was however, this is fantastic and it is nice to see the OBA finally making a solid stance on what it is that they are actually about.
The submission demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of our system of government. It superimposes the worst of Europe and the gridlock we see in the US on our already creaking red tape society. In this little rock of 65,000 souls these proposals will have us sink under the weight of the red tape. The last thing we need is more committees, more independent offices of anything and more registers etc. At what stage will someone actually govern this country?! With all of this 360 degree oversight we’ll spend the whole time investigating each other; and just where are all these independent people you speak of? This really is not the way to go.Add to that the embarassing submission of things that really are for the local government….televising of debates? What does that have to do with the British. All the legislative changes you propose are matters for the local Government so this must be an advance copy of your Platform. This submission is so amateurish it makes the Government’s waffle look good. At least they asked for things the British can provide.Things that jump out of this submission:
1. Your core/base/old UBP still haven’t gotten over “one man, one vote, each vote of equal value”
2. Your MPs are frustrated at having to listen to ministerial statements every week, especially ones that correct your mistruths.
3. The system of Board appointments you created is sticking in your craw as it gets stuck to you.
4. Why are you so interested in the BMA’s salaries and not the package of the Auditor General?
5. Just because you don’t understand the shipwreck industry proposal doesn’t make it a bad idea.
6. Neither you or the Government have given any thought to diversifying the economy. Between you, its a race to the Holy Grail of transparency.
Didn’t intend to start the day on a negative but sheesh guys….you’re my Government in waiting ?! Scary.
LMAO!!!! WOW, who blew the wind up your arse!! I’m actually inclined to agree with you!
In fairness to the OBA, they at least acknowledge the cost and possibility of modification of their proposals:
Para 54:
“Some of the proposals which follow have the potential to be costly. One of the key aims of the proposed conference on good governance would be to assist Bermuda and the Overseas Territories to identify areas of duplication so that these and other good governance initiatives could be modified to avoid any unnecessary increases in costs.”
But I happen to agree with the OBA’s stance on the shipwreck industry. It’s not a question of not understanding – it’s generally a bad idea. Pillaging our maritime heritage for a few wealthy treasure hunters doesn’t scream ‘economic diversification’. How much of the derived revenue will end up in Bermudians’ pockets? Short term profits at the expense of long term benefit.
Also, everyone trots out ‘economic diversification’ as some magical cure-all for Bermuda’s problems. Countries develop comparative advantages quite organically and no amount of tinkering will change that overnight.
Finally, quite a bit of the paper does concentrate on stuff the Brits can accommodate us on, though granted, some does seem of a purely local nature. But then again, I would imagine the Bermudian public is as much a target audience for this paper as the Brits, what with an election around the corner.
Amateurish, this is not. Though maybe we have different views of what the word means.
Here’s a thought, what if the shipwreck industry is based upon using Bermuda as the elected jurisdiction for “finds” so that all that happens is the treasure hunters choose to bring their business here…the courts, hotels, transport, legal fees etc. Never mind taxing those finds so that we can get some free money. Nothing to do with whatever’s in our waters…..more better ?
Hmmmmmm says: “using Bermuda as the elected jurisdiction for “finds” so that all that happens is the treasure hunters choose to bring their business here…” How do you propose to get this “Ship Wreck Industry” people here? Col. Burch has already sent them packing! Never mind all the BMA/Immigration red tape, donations to the PLP, forced to use Correia Construction barge, friends & family plan hotels (Coco Reef), taxis, lawyers only, etc.. You really can’t for real…..
Can you cite where the Premier referred to “such unethical behaviour”?
Not off hand but the former Premier said “We had to deceive you”, so I would start with that and work my way forward to present.
The former Premier never said “We had to deceive you”. Maybe you can cite where he said that, but I don’t think you will ever find those words. That is incorrect oral history, like so much of Bermuda’s “oral history”.
Shawn Crockwell is a confused……
Oral history?
The gazette says that the oba received a time extension. Given their report is three times as long and seems to have more meat on the bones don’t begrudge them for that! Former senator furbert – you should read the whole report I think before commenting otherwise you are doing exactly what you accuse others of – not getting the whole picture. You really are a joke. You are on this all the time. Guess you are not earning your union salary or maybe blog writing is part of what you are supposed to be doing? As for the unethical behaviour – I think the premier has acknowledged the problem by saying in her throne speech that mistakes were made. She talks about doing things differently (which she could have done as MofF before becoming premier. You need to listen to yourself Former senator.
You can’t really be serious. You think this is original material? This is all rehashed stuff from UBP Platforms and budgt speeches past. Nothing is new, very little has to do with the UK. It reads like a campaign manifesto as opposed to answering the 5 questions asked.
Jim Bean,
I really don’t think it’s any concern of yours as to whether or not I’m earning my union salary or what I do to earn my salary.
I don’t if Premier Cox would accuse any former premier (UBP or PLP) of unethical behaviour. You are correct, mistakes have been made, in fact from the beginning of time mistakes have been made. The PLP is not the only political party that has made mistakes and won’t be the last.
Remember, former Premier Dr. Brown, introduced the Internal Audit Act, which set up a new Internal Audit Department to provide an overview of the managing and cost of all Government activities to ensure there’s no wrongdoing. Are you suggesting that by doing so, he was accusing former Premier Alex Scott of wrongdoing?
As far as the OBA’s submission, I’ve almost finished reading it and I can tell you that I am not impressed thus far. What did stick out thus far was the bit about proportional representation. The UBP tried that at the Warwick Camp Constitutional Conference and (Dame) Lois Brown-Evan put paid to that idea.
True, all of a sudden dem bies are ready for Proportional Representation, this stuff would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.
They complained when we switced to one man one vote, didn’t want the change, now they want to go to PR so we end up loosing constituency MPs… This is, in and of itself really funny… Oh yeah, missed the part about PR in the senate, so that gov legislation can continually be blocked and we can have US style gridlock. These jokers are out to flippin lunch!