You quite reasonably hope that “one day the microphones will belong to the best and brightest”.

Mr Comeau is certainly one of the “best and brightest”. During a 30 year career including as the CEO of a multinational business, I’ve worked with some of the best lawyers in the world, in several countries and continents. Mr Comeau stands out amongst the most intelligent and honest lawyers I’ve worked with.

You also hope that the people who speak into these microphones “will have the authority, competence and qualifications to do so.” As a hugely experienced and exceptional lawyer, Mr Comeau unequivocally has the qualifications to interpret the law, as he has done in this instance. He’s far more than just competent: in my experience, he consistently displayed quite exceptional problem solving skills in many areas of the law and also business

Which leaves authority. I don’t think you’re questioning his right to talk, which is guaranteed by the principle of freedom of speech. The real issue is why he has such elevated credibility. The answer: because he has won it.

Mr Comeau has deeply impressed many people by voluntarily applying his legal skills and intellect to research and untangle the laws as they apply to the numerous social and legal challenges facing Bermuda. Most recently he has summarised the legal position regarding good governance in a concise and understandable way. This also has shown great courage because it has predictably led to vitriol such as yours.

Regardless, we get it and I won’t persuade you. You don’t like the messenger. Yet only the message really matters. Nobody with legal training has, so far, persuasively refuted a single aspect of Mr Comeau’s legal analysis. If he is correct in his interpretation of the law, what is Bermuda willing to do about it?

Mr Comeau, thank you for your guts and selflessness in saying what so many Bermudians have been whispering for several years. May your bravery allow the pus of this festering issue to be drawn and a healing process to begin.

Another thing the Commission of Inquiry won’t do is explain why the Auditor General has not been given full powers to do her job efficiently and effectively. Why does the Governor have to wait for her to ask or complain before he can request the government to rectify the situation, when it is clear that she cannot do her job properly the way things stand.

Premier Cox must, without further delay, give the Auditor General the necessary and full legal powers to follow the Bermudian people’s money.

Another thing the Commission of Inquiry won’t do is explain why the Auditor General has not been given full powers to do her job efficiently and effectively. Why does the Governor have to wait for her to ask or complain before he can request the government to rectify the situation, when it is clear that she cannot do her job properly the way things stand.

In case anyone has forgot, the main message Mr. Comeau delivered is about the disparity in investigative powers among the agencies that could get to the bottom of incidents where corruption is suspected. While the Auditor General is the ONLY truly INDEPENDENT office among those agencies, the Auditor General’s office was denied the powers to doggedly follow the money trail. But at the same time, those powers were given to two other agencies, both of which lack the Auditor General’s independence.

It’s like pumping up the tires on the bikes that are locked while leaving the unlocked bike’s tires flat. None of the bikes can go, even though a lot of pumping up was done.

Let’s keep our attention on the message.

In case anyone has forgot, the main message Mr. Comeau delivered is about the disparity in investigative powers among the agencies that could get to the bottom of incidents where corruption is suspected. While the Auditor General is the ONLY truly INDEPENDENT office among those agencies, the Auditor General’s office was denied the powers to doggedly follow the money trail. But at the same time, those powers were given to two other agencies, both of which lack the Auditor General’s independence.

It’s like pumping up the tires on the bikes that are locked while leaving the unlocked bike’s tires flat. None of the bikes can go, even though a lot of pumping up was done.

Let’s keep our attention on the message.

You question why Mr Comeau would retire here “after only living here for ten years”. First, he has lived here since 1989. That’s a bit more than 10 years. Second, maybe he likes it here. Third, you might want to recheck the latest PLP stance on wealthy nonBermudian residency.

All your “questioning how he got a permanent residency certificate” arises out of your erroneous statement about how long he has lived here.

If “something smells fishy” to you LaVerne, you might want to look closer to home about where the rancid smell comes from.

I could see you having a problem with Dr. Brown if he retired at 41….

Establishing a Tourism Authority is tantamount to privatising the Ministry of Tourism which will necessarily mean laying off civil servants who may not get replacement jobs during these challenging times. Patricia Gordon Pamplin, OBA spokesperson for Tourism, made the OBA’s commitment to a Tourism Authority clear in her candidate launch speech. She noted that we would find the right people with the right skills to administer Bermuda’s Tourism plan. Quite a slap in the face to the hard working men and women in the Tourism Department!

In his Budget Reply, Bob Richards never addressed the issue of how an OBA Government would fund this new Tourism Authority, but this is consistent with other proposals trial ballooned by the OBA.

Premier Paula Cox noted, “The Reply to the Budget was the OBA’s opportunity to present a detailed and constructive agenda. Instead of providing solutions, they once again offered vague ideas without being transparent about how they’re going to be funded or implemented.”

The Premier continued, “The OBA can’t have it both ways. They can’t say that they are going to privatise much of the Ministry of Tourism and abolish the post of Minister of Tourism in one breath and then, in the next, say that they are going to protect all civil service jobs. They either protect jobs or establish the Authority. No matter how you slice it, the OBA is misleading you.”

Minister Wayne Furbert added, “The OBA pledged to cede power to the Governor who would appoint the Tourism Authority. It’s clear that the opposition has no confidence in the hard-working men and women in the Department of Tourism.”

Rather than stating what they would do differently, the OBA is repeating initiatives already underway by the PLP Government such as a reduction in consultants and instituting a hiring freeze. The Bermudian public deserves specifics: what would the OBA cut? And whose jobs are on the chopping block?

The is the classic case of close the barn door, the horse is gone.

http://www.bermuda.org.uk/the_scandal.htm

You have claimed that the 1968 election brought freedom of speech into being (or words to that effect). But the personal hounding you and your cohorts are visiting on Mr. Comeau, and others, are not much different than the dampers on free speech of earlier years.

Freedom of speech includes the freedom for someone else’s speech to be different than yours. If you want to be a good example for the next generation, focus on the content of the speech and quit trying to poison the character of the speaker.

And how did you become one of the rich landed class LaVerne? While working for a modest union salary? We’re interested how you came by all your money and real estate while pretending to be workibg class.

By the way, are those union accounts up tp date ?

By the way, for you and all the other lame brains out there, i know plenty of people who got their PRC’s for no payment at all.

The $120,000 charge you’re talking about, LaVerne, was instituted recently by Cox to try to stem the flood of business leaving the island as a result of Term Limits. Another failed PLP scheme. Yoou would know all this if you weren’t so busy spewing nonsense on internet sites.

In defending this pathetic Government, you have been reduced to leveling personal attacks against someone who is asking legitimate questions. I wish you could truly see yourself and the position that you are in. We must not defend wrong doing (real or perceived), using personal attacks to hush up dissidents.

Maturity demands that we confront problems head on, addressing tough issues with moral courage and not to find arbitrary fault with someone because they asked a legitimate question …and then never address the question in earnest.

I maintain, the PLP is a shadow of its former self and have undeniably lost their way.