Webcast Replay: ‘Your Right to Know’ Forum
Tune in and watch live as The Centre for Justice hosts a public forum at the St Paul’s Centennial Hall this evening [Mar.14] entitled ‘Your Right to Know’.
The topics for discussion will include the Public Access to Information Act [PATI], the Ombudsman Act, the Good Governance Act and the Audit Act.
The panel of speakers include Heather Brooke [one of the journalists whose freedom of information requests exposed the MPs expenses scandal in the UK], Kevin Comeau, Saul Froomkin QC, Larry Mussenden, Peter Martin, and Nicola Williams.
Update 8.50pm: The forum is over, and the 2.5 hour webcast replay is below, use the bottom bar to ‘fast forward.’
Update Mar.16: Premier Paula Cox responded to statements about allegations of corruption and shortcomings in the Good Governance Act by panelist Kevin Comeau. Details here.
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Thanks Bernews that was fantastic coverage, Kevin Comeau sure hit that nail with the hammmer,he knows what went down with Brown.
Kudos to the organisers of the forum since it provided excellent information for the general public.
Unfortunately in some instances we mix accusation and opinions with fact. The assertion that ‘there has been corruption in Bermuda for the past 10 years’ fits in that category. Mr. Mussenden was excellent in specifying the role of the Auditor General in our Constitution as a reporting function. Such a responsibility is intended (for good reason) to be separate from the investigative role of our Police Department.
I note that Mr. Froomkin was equally more specific about the potential for libel when accusations are made that are not factual or can not be proven.
My hope is that in our zeal for ‘exhaling’ that we do not continue this folly of wild accusations without factual substantiation.
Time, time. Give it time. When there is the will within Government (won’t happen under the PLP) the investigations will begin & hopefully there will be some change of residences to Westgate.
Great Tringle Drifter, time heels all wounds and wounds all heels.
Mr Comeau’s response to a question from the audience as to his basis for believing there is political corruption in Bermuda – please note Vote for Me, he carefully explains the circumstantial evidence. Wild accusations? I don’t see any:
Numerous Government capital projects over the last ten years (e.g., Berkeley Institute, Port Royal Golf Course, Heritage Wharf, the new Courthouse, TCD) have collectively resulted in cost overruns of hundreds of millions of dollars. Generally, only two things can cause large cost overruns: managerial incompetence and financial corruption.
When you consider that the cost overruns on some of these projects exceeded 100% of the initial cost estimates and that Government had at its disposal civil servants with collectively more than a hundred years of architectural, engineering and construction expertise, it is hard to conclude that only incompetence was at play. Someone at the highest level of Government may have been doing something unscrupulous, either at the front end or through kickbacks and undisclosed interests. Individually and collectively, these and other large Government contracts simply don’t pass the smell test.
Not only were tendering rules violated and the recommendations of civil servants ignored in the granting of some of these and other large Government contracts, but inordinately large change orders were frequently made, a well known way to slip much larger profits to connected contractors. When you add to this the multiple damning reports of two Auditors-General, we are left with strong circumstantial evidence suggesting massive political corruption.
Right on the money! Well said ‘Praise’. Speaking of money, follow the trail…..its there to be found. A big money trail with finger prints and foot prints!
You’re right, but Mr. Comeau actually concentrated his presentation on the difficulty in following the money trail. The powers of the Auditor General are limited and will, unfortunately, remain limited.
It is just a real shame and sad that all of this PATI and “your Right To Know” forums weren’t around under the UBP government. There were NO watchdogs then and if they were they got eliminated.Seems as if they got away scott free with all of the Bullshyt they did. And yes they did alot of dirt that got all swept under the rug. It is very suspicious to me now that when a black government is in power they have all of these checks and balances and watchdogs placed on them.
Right to know legislation is in effect in many governments (“black governments” and otherwise). The government itself brought these checks and balances, which do not go nearly far enough in getting Bermuda up to speed on freedom of information with most democratic governments. PATI legislation with real teeth would allow the exposure of any UBP mismanagement that might have existed inside a date of 30 or so years. You should want this if you really think the UBP was guilty of corruption.
The reality,
Who asked for these checks and balances etc. to be placed on this Government?
This has nothing to do with race, it has to do with an unmitigated disaster that calls itself the PLP over the past 8 years. I don’t give a damn whether the people in power are green, black blue white or orange, if tye mess up, they need to be kicked out. It’s our money and our future is at stake.
@ The Reality – it has ABSOLUTLY NOTHING to do with the PLP government being a black government. When are you guys going to get this??!!!! It could be a govt. lead by Daffy Duck!! It is not about colour. It IS about character. No more, no less.
During its decades as opposition the PLP bleated constantly about the horrible mess the UBP was creating. They carried on & on about alledged corruption.
The PLP have had over 13 years to investigate UBP corruption. Nothing. Not a peep. Not a scrap of evidence. Nothing would please the PLP more than to drag some UBP names into court.
Were the UBP 100% honest. I would not believe that for a second. The difference is that the UBP, if they were corrupt, were not greedy. The UBP did not bury the Island under a mountain of debt & not have a clue of how to pay bills.
Thanks Bernews for streaming this talk live. I was able to watch the last 1.5 hours from my desk.
Set aside past and present accusations of corruption and focus on the key messages of the talks:
1. Freedom of information acts allow journalists to uncover government wrongdoing. It costs money to provide information, but fees shouldn’t be used to restrict access. Note that Bermuda Public Access To Information (PATI) initiative still hasn’t come to fruition.
2. Auditors General are absolutely critical for rooting out corruption and waste. The threat of “being audited” deters all kinds of foolishness.
3. Throughout the world, the laws granting power to an independent auditor have changed over time. When Larry Mussenden specifies the role of the Auditor General as a reporting function he is taking an old-fashioned view. These days we expect auditors to be able to dig.
4. While it is true that the police can investigate corruption, a simple example shows the need for another independent body. If a mid-level police officer, with ten years of experience and a mortgage, suspects corruption in the Ministry of National Security, what are the chances that she will proceed with an investigation?
5. As a lay-person, it never occurred to me that the auditor didn’t have the power to follow the money. Kevin Comeau pointed out that the new Good Government Act 2011 (http://www.bermudalaws.bm/Laws/Consolidated%20Laws/Good%20Governance%20Act%202011.pdf
Gave the power to dig (as defined below)
“Notwithstanding any other Act or any privilege under the law of evidence, the Director may obtain any documents or information relating to procurement and capital projects from a public officer, and no such documents or information may be withheld from the Director on any grounds.“
to the director of the newly created Office of Project Management and Procurement, the director of Internal Audit but not to the Auditor General.
The first two people report to the Premier or Minister of Finance and aren’t independent. The independent external audit function (provided by the Auditor General) should have the same powers.
In exchange for power and a blue car, politicians give up a certain amount of privacy. Not only are they expected to be honest, but they should never even give the impression that they are anything but honest.
When discussing access to information or the powers of the auditor, don’t focus on the political implications of one side or another being caught. Politicians and civil servants work for us and spend our money so we have a legitimate right to find out what they are up to.
Well said.
I haven’t seen anything, but I would like to know what Ms. Brooke and Ms. Williams thought about the debate and what it revealed.
same ole same ols, comeau angry ex pat, froomkin angry ex pat, the speaker angry ex pat, white ex pats claiming corruption.. zzzzzzzzzz
@Real Talk,
If the Auditor General had been empowered by legislation 15 years ago, Chris Furbert could have agitated for a proper investigation of the Global House purchase.
I agree that this is “same ole same ols” and “zzzzzzzzzz”. White folks allege stuff, black folks allege stuff, but nothing is proven one way or another because neither journalists or the independent Auditor General can dig for the juicy information that people gossip about.
This poisons civil discourse and makes the public even more cynical about politics in general.
We already pay the Auditor General to look out for how are money is spent. We might as well let her do the job properly.
People ALWAYS try and act like race doesn’t have anything to do with anything and i wish it really was like that in reality but its NOT. Even in 2012 the color of ones skin is vital!
Thats your issue not mine. Speak for yourself only please. You do not speak for me.
Vital to what? Here is a hypothetical situation. Suppose I am a racist (I am not) and I tell you that someone is robbing you blind. If your only reply is to say that I am a racist, and we are both correct, you are the one who stands to lose by being right. People are not necessarily hating on you by calling out the Government, some are actually trying to help you. Ask yourself in reality, why people try to hide their actions. It is taught by experience that people generally try to hide what is wrong and not what is right. Here is a quote to contemplate–”Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark, or the man afraid of the light?”
@ It only hurts when i breathe……….says: Well i know what color u are!
I’m sorry, the quote above should have been attributed to Maurice Freehill.
Reality: Vital to what is the color of your skin? I have said this numerous times, I just want a government to follow the rules, thats it. I am so so sick of hearing about what happened before I was born as an excuse for what our presnt government has done to us in today’s world. All I and my family have worked for has been wiped out. Not I agree, totally the fault of government, some beyond their control.
Back in the day as they say, we didn’t have homeless or hungry people. Our island was safe and peaceful, our roads clean and beautifully maintained. Now we look a shambles, have hundreds if not thousands of hungry and disengaged children and young adults. Our seniors cannot pay for electricity and food and medicine? Get over yourself and this race blame. We have huge unemployment rates, and no hope of any better next year under this government. So you who support this govermnet can blame the white man if that helps you sleep at night but it doesnt help me or the folks struggling. Go feed some homeless and see if it changes how you see things. We are all the same under that skin you know, we all love and hurt and care. Try to look at it without framing it in racial tones you may find you can get a clear view of reality and how most of us black white and polka dots want to have our Bermuda look like.
@Lady. I agree completely with your post. I am ready to give up and accept that there is no hope for this Island I love so dearly. People on both sides cannot see beyond race to the idea that they need to work together for the common good. I am running out of hope for a reasonable solution. I fear we are all going down together out of blind allegiances based on skin color. How truly sad for all the citizens of Bermuda who will be judged as fools by future generations. I surrender.