Moniz: Rules Won’t Matter Without Enforcement
Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz said their main concern with the Good Governance legislation that will be debated in the House of Assembly today [June 15] is that “You can have all the rules and regulations you want, but if you do not follow them, if you do not have the will to enforce them, then they won’t matter.”
Premier Paula Cox previously tabled the second phase of the Good Governance legislation in the House of Assembly. The Bill makes provision for Ministers to be appointed to hear an application or appeal on behalf of another Minister who has a conflict of interest and to extend whistle blower protection.
The Bill also seeks to increase the period within which offences can be prosecuted, and to create an offence of collusion whereby parties seek to improperly exert influence in order to obtain a contract.
Mr Moniz continued on to say, “This has been a serious and ongoing problem within this Government as the Auditor General indicated two months ago when she warned that public officials would continue abusing public funds until they are held to account.
“The problem is real, as the Premier herself alluded two months ago when she introduced the first of her pre-election good governance measures saying the new rules would ensure “abuses will be a thing of the past.”
“For good governance reform to work, you need real commitment and belief. The programme put forward by the PLP Government has been half-hearted and late, with little real follow-through – where is Freedom of Information?
“The OBA will support the legislation only because it is a step in the right direction. But what Bermuda really needs is a leap in the right direction,” concluded Mr Moniz.
Still waiting for the legislation for Auditor General to be given full and appropriate powers to do her job thoroughly and effectively. This should have been given priority to dispel the cloud that hangs over this government, and by extension, Bermuda. The government slaps at those who criticise publicly claiming the criticism presents Bermuda in a bad light but does nothing to actually create an environment where the criticisms cannot hold water.
OBA are JOKERS – they did not RESPECT their own constitution, how the HECK can they Pamplin, Gibbons especially DUNK-lie, respect the Bermuda constitution?
nd you are a joker, just like your name. What he says is correct, after all they let that guy steal thousands more after he stole the first time. Burrows, I think. Seems like there’s a lack of plain common sense within the PLP.
Unfair of me to say they do nothing, but the little that is done is weak and ineffectual.
some deaf ears, not all!
some deaf ears, not all.
Pastor Syl, take a break. Your bias is so obvious you have lost all credibility.
This government has done much in the form of good governance and the current premier is a champion of fair trade and accountability.
Moniz just has to speak up because he is trying to maintain relevance. We should remember that he is one of the old UBP guard who did very little to increase transparency etc in government. So his comments,now in 2012, come on deaf ears.
Agreed @hmm
This is simple election rhetoric.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Simple election rhetoric? Apparently you don’t know. The whole legistlation is election rhetoric and how can you sit there and still back them when the Premier openly admits major issues? “Abuses will be a thing of the past”? You have to be blind, deaf, dumb and stupid to still back these lot.
I am disappointed in you YBM. Your commentary is usually rooted in reality. What Trevor Moniz speaks is the truth. Is it not? The hallmark of the PLP is to sidestep what is being said and attack who is saying it …as evidenced by Hmm’s comments. I honestly didn’t expect to see you jumping on that train as well.
@Truth (Original):
This is silly season, thus you must excuse the general agreements. I ask you to read my latter comment to “street wise” which should clear up any confusion you may have of my previous remarks.
However, I will indicate that there is truth in your assertion that the PLP do “side-step the message and shoot the messenger”. Additionally, I will include the method of the OBA is one of “everything you do is wrong, we will do it better even if we have no idea of what we are going to do.”
I can live with disappointment – - we can’t get everything we want – - My parents and Santa Claus taught me that.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
I agree with you in that the oppositions job is to highlight the Govts inefficiencies and errors. That said, I firmly believe that criticism is better recieved when it is constructive and balanced with acknowledgements of things that were done well. I think Govt as whole is missing this piece and it to too adversarial. The OBA would do well to give credit where it is due and criticism when it is warranted.
Totally agree with your assessment of the whole system.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
“everything you do is wrong, we will do it better even if we have no idea of what we are going to do.”
Sound a whole lot like Dr. Brown’s 2007 election ploy.
LOL
Here is another paid PLP/BIU Party blogger (or the same person under a different name) attempting to polish a turd. If anyone is irrelevant, it’s you.
Cox as a “champion of fair trade and accountability.” Pul-eese.
@Street wise
I agree with hmm with on the following:
1. Pastor Syl is biased.
2. Shadow Minister Moinz is trying to remain relevant.
3. The UBP did not care a lick about transparency.
On those points, I agree. Your insisting that he/she is “polishing a turd” is truly classy (insert sarcastic look) as you have made your A-lliance very clear. C’est la vie.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Ok laverne so she biased because she has an opinion different from yours. Moniz doesn’t need to stay relevant, matter of fact he could retire now and even your Premiers stupidy could’nt broke him. Just in case you hadn’t realized the ubp was almost 15 years ago, the time is now. C’est la vie to our island because I know the majority thinks like you.
@Come Correct:
First, I believe you need to really look at my post on this article. I value all opinions – even those who do not sync with my beliefs or thoughts.
Secondly, are you suggesting that I am Laverne Furbert? I am a bit confused as my post normally make logical sense, unlike Ms. Furbert – who in my opinion – is full of it most of the time. I am not, nor will I ever be, a PLP Puppet or sheep, as some on this blog like to describe PLP supporters.
And thirdly, majority of the island do not think like me – and thus, that is why the OBA will not win the general election. I have stated previously via this medium that in order for the OBA to be successful at the polls they needed to engage the young, black swing voters. This is the group who are tired of the PLP, unsure of the UBP and looking for change. The OBA lost footing with this group when they continued the “old UBP” type of electioning – they wanted plans, not talk about how bad the PLP were. (THEY KNOW THE PLP ARE BAD – They wanted a viable alternative). When the BDA flip-flopped and joined the turn-coats of the UBP to form the OBA, they lost some street cred.
So this is not a stance that we arrived to this week – - this stems from months of carefully watching, reviewing, and listening to what the opposition was doing (or not doing in some cases).
The PLP have failed in most cases (agreed) – but that is the nature of the beast. Power corrupts, remember?
But just as a reminder, the OBA needs to win the election – not the PLP. The OBA has not done enough to gain the needed young, black vote (in my opinion) but time will reveal all things.
Sorry for the length of this post – I try to be specific in my thoughts but sometimes we can ramble.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Now that’s the young black mind I’m used to reading. No I’m not saying you are laverne, just a little poke of fun. I agree fully with the above though.
The Great PLP Boogieman
Don’t you think that the few UBP members in the OBA have learned some things since they were defeated 14 years ago? Give us all a break, the One Bermuda Alliance in no way resembles the old UBP. That’s political B.S.
In any case, I would rather have the old UBP in power right now. If they were, the People the PLP claims it serves would be much better off! We’d all be much better off! Our national debt-load would be small & manageable. IB would have stayed. Tourism would be up (like it is in the rest of the Caribbean). Stuff like that.
I guess the PLP has to create a boogieman with silly anti-UBP rhetoric because there is really nothing positive to say about the PLP.
Let’s face it, the PLP have been a disaster. When the PLP earnestly believe they can compensate for their lack of skill by doubling their efforts just before they call an election, there’s no end to what they can’t do.
We desperately need a change!
@Street Wise:
It is unclear how you can state that the “One Bermuda Alliance in no way resembles the old UBP. That’s political B.S.”
*Fact = the OBA has listed 27 candidates to date – 18 of those candidates are either former UBP members of Parliament or former UBP party members.
As to your opinions regarding the PLP – please feel free to express. I have never denied anyone the right to say what they believe to be true – I may challenge a thought or two – but express away is my mantra.
Dialogue (meaningful and productive, that is) is always a good thing. It produces thought and the catalyst for change.
But I caution you with this – - you stated “I guess the PLP has to create a boogieman with silly anti-UBP rhetoric because there is really nothing positive to say about the PLP.”
Be careful you don’t become what it is you seek to defame – - (read your post again with this in mind). Sounds a bit like silly anti-PLP rhetoric because there is really nothing positive to say about the OBA.
See the logic in that ill-logical comparsion?
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
You say “there is really nothing positive to say about the OBA.” Well the OBA haven’t been the Government yet. Yet.
The OBA have not released their entire platform yet. Why give away their ideas?
So we really won’t be able to judge the OBA until they become the Government. And I believe they should be given a chance.
Maybe they will get that chance… as the PLP seems to be doing everything in its power to ‘throw the election’ to make the OBA clean up their mess. Because they certainly don’t know how to do it.
Oh come now. Turds you can flush away and be done with. We’re stuck with this government.
and neither does the PLP, care about transparency, that is.
what lies you spew!!
Still waiting for those concrete silos to be relocated!!
Yes, I admit to bias. I am biased – toward transparency, honesty, and credibility (even if you think I have lost mine). I voted PLP because I thought they would bring a needed change from the UBP of the day. The change in too many instances was for the worse. I cannot say that there have been no positives, but some of the negatives are so glaring… I am still struggling to understand why, in the interest of Good Governance and Transparency, the Auditor General has not been given full power to do her job – the one our tax dollars pay her to do. Why has this not yet been corrected. Is it biased to speak about what is lacking?
What has bothered me most about this government that I elected is that the answer to every legitimate criticism has not been, “sorry, we made an error. Let’s try that again”, which would have been fine. Mistakes are how we all learn and grow. NO-one expects perfection,least of all me. However, the mark of maturity is to be able to acknowledge and take responsibility for one’s mistakes.
Instead, the response has invariably been, “the UBP did it too” which is frustrating, saddening, and kinda scary for me as a voter. If I, and by extension, the people of Bermuda, wanted more of what the UBP did, we would have voted them back in.
Please note I have made no comment on what Mr. Moniz said, only on what was not said, a point which remains an issue for more than just me. Just because the Auditor General is not the present focus of the news, doesn’t mean we have forgotten that she STILL cannot do her job properly.
Pastor Syl,
Did you even read what Premier Cox said today? She said that the WRONG answer is that “They did it too” and that this government is about doing it correctly. And that this new legislation represents correcting the perception of things done wrong not only under PLP but under previous administrations going back decades and centuries.
the PLP government is the government that has actually strengthened the role of the Auditor General, created the role of the Ombudsman and widened the department of Internal Audit. If the PLP government was scared of transparency why would they do this?
Let’s be clear, just becuase the PLP govt has accomplished these initiatives it doesnt mean they have to agree with every statement put out by the Aud Gen or Ombudsman, but the PLP govt does respect these officers and the people that do them.
SO Pastor Syl Yes you are biased, which is why your posts get little attention anymore.
@ hmmm: Actually, no, I didn’t read what the Premier had said before I read this article. I don’t usually read what she says because most of it seems to be voluble but without real substance (lot of words, no meat – resulting in half measures, which availeth nothing). You can call me biased, but my bias, if that is what it is, is based on actual behaviours or the lack thereof, not prejudices.
The Auditor General’s role may have been strengthened but, to my knowledge (and I am NOT infallible), the position still hasn’t been given the power to “follow the money to the end,” which any business person knows is what an audit is supposed to do. Until that happens, I will be wondering why and what is being hidden. If nothing is being hidden, then do whatever it takes to ensure the Auditor General has the power to do her job properly.
“Let’s be clear, just becuase the PLP govt has accomplished these initiatives it doesnt mean they have to agree with every statement put out by the Aud Gen or Ombudsman, but the PLP govt does respect these officers and the people that do them.”
It isn’t for anyone, PLP, UBP, OBA, or anyone else, to agree or disagree with the findings of the Auditor General, when that position is equipped to operate appropriately. An audit makes certain that the accounting is accurate,that all the monies are accounted for, and everything has been done according to certain basic principles. Anything that is missing or fudged or shady is traced from its source to its eventual payout. This is what any auditor does. Every company goes through this yearly. It is designed to keep people honest. When the auditor is blocked from tracing financial transactions, this automatically raises a red flag in any business. This is elementary accounting.
I still struggle to understand why a piecemeal accounting of OUR, the people’s, money is acceptable to you and so many others.
Moniz and the OBA are so transparent. I think the Bermudian people will see through them.
First they say the Govt needs to do x y and z. Then when Govt does things, it is never enough.
What will the OBA do???
It is time to put up or shut up. Come with your plans or go home. This whole ‘keeping our cards close to our chest’ is getting old. If the OBA have solutions they need to say them. If not then they need to stop being overly critical of everything the government is doing.
I also wonder why Moniz is being so outspoken of late. There have been periods where he has been quiet as a mouse. Now he is making comments left right and center. Makes me wonder if he wants a little of the Dunkley, Cannonier, Richards limelight. Everyone keeps talking bout leadership of the PLP – I say watch for some challenges over on the OBA side!
“… they (oBA) need to stop being overly critical of everything the government is doing.”
That’s their job. They are the “Opposition.” And are doing exactly the same as the PLP did when they were the Opposition. Get that turd polished up cuz the PLP are gonna be the Opposition again real soon!
They can criticize but until or unless they can articulate a vision and how to get there then they will get no further traction.
The OBA is all style no substance. Right now, they look attractive because they are an alternative but until people delve deep into their policies (if they ever take a stance on an issue) then we will know their true support base.
Oh ok buddy so what was the plp’s vision almost 15 years ago? A vote for the ubp is a vote back to the plantation? Not sure if you noticed this but we’re on the plantation as we speak, its just illegal to not pay us now, its called financial slavery and it doesn’t discriminate between color. Yes black Bermudians had an unfair disadvantage in the past, no objection there, its part of our history, but the time is now. Ask yourself this question, no one else needs to know the answer and a lie is just lying to yourself, but are you in any way better off now than 15 years ago? Our standard of living is plumeting with no end in sight. For the first time in my life I fear losing my job due to circumstances beyond my control that actually could have been avoided. Some people out there vote plp for the simple fact they think they will help them because they look like them. Funny thing is these days you hear people sit back and complain because they can’t make a decent wage and its someone elses fault, when at the same time I see black men educating themselves and gaining well paid positions in good companies, buying houses, so who’s fault is it really? You can’t help those who won’t help themselves. In the last 14 years the public education system has gone into the toilet, you could learn more by sitting in your yard and banging 2 rocks together so good luck with our childrens education, you know, our future. We need change and at the moment unfortunately all we have is the oba. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, vote for change, 6 months down the road you don’t like the change, then we as the people of this nation vote them the f@ck out, eventually someone will want to stay in power and will actually start to do the right thing for bermuda as a whole. This whole party allegience thing really boggles my mind, to be honest we would all probably be better off if we assumed every politician is corrupt. I work, pay my taxes and sure as hell don’t trust HUMANS with my money. I want to know what’s happening with my money every step of the way. One term I hate is “ruling party”, wake up Bermuda, we as the people are the ruling party, we are legion! Unless we are divided, which if you didn’t notice we are, by something as stupid as the color of our skin. Governments across the world are corrupt, so someone please tell me why we should trust anyone with MP in front of their name? There’s a saying “if you want to test a mans integrity, give him power”, I’m still waiting to see someone with integrity, have we all forgotten what that word means?
I second this…
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, vote for change, 6 months down the road you don’t like the change, then we as the people of this nation vote them the f@ck out, eventually someone will want to stay in power and will actually start to do the right thing for bermuda as a whole. This whole party allegience thing really boggles my mind, to be honest we would all probably be better off if we assumed every politician is corrupt. I work, pay my taxes and sure as hell don’t trust HUMANS with my money. I want to know what’s happening with my money every step of the way. One term I hate is “ruling party”, wake up Bermuda, we as the people are the ruling party, we are legion! Unless we are divided, which if you didn’t notice we are, by something as stupid as the color of our skin. Governments across the world are corrupt, so someone please tell me why we should trust anyone with MP in front of their name? There’s a saying “if you want to test a mans integrity, give him power”, I’m still waiting to see someone with integrity, have we all forgotten what that word means?
LOL
I agree with everyting that Mr. Moniz has said. This government has long been about hiding the truth. Having stated that, I have a question for Mr. Moniz as a lawyer. How well were the laws concerning fronting enforced?
I agree…and I disagree!
It is obvious that transparency and accountability have never been the stance of previous PLP governments, but (and don’t ask me why) I do believe that Premier Cox is sincere in her attempts to do the right thing. It’s a shame she is surrounded by people who may look like her, but don’t hink like her.
Actually she’s covering her ass because even she is unsure what the outcome of the next election will be. If the oba do get in, without this legislation in place they can take them to court and ream them for mismanagement of public funds. Remember he’s still behind the scenes pulling the strings and he is a very very intelligent man and its his a#s that needs the most covering. In a perfect world the UK would have been stepped in and brought him to his knees, but no, they sit back and watch.
Trevor Moniz can never be relevant.He’s not even relevant within the OBA. I’ve given up counting how many times he speaks in the House as the “Shadow Attorney General” only to be followed by Mark Pettingill and Crockwell on a completely different tac. But he said what he said so let’s deal with it. Funny thing is, its what’s not being said that’s most interesting…. remember the PATI debate and the clamour for retroactivity? Well I listened to Moniz today and not a single word about going back to the beginning of Cabinet style government in Bermuda. This is the OBA’s problem: the rules are only for the PLP and not for the party we mustn’t now mention.
Now why is that? Could it be that they’ll have to explain:
1. why all the GP cars used to come from HWP while Sir John Plowman was Minister of Transport and the owner of the company?
2.why all the Government’s supplies used to come from Purvis Ltd. while Sir John “Jack” Sharpe was the owner of the comapny?
3. Why all the GP cars eventually got (and get) serviced at Bda Motors owned by the Gibbons family?
4. why the list of Government office space landlords reads like a who’s who of the UBP/OBA?
5. why all the school uniforms had to come from Englsih Sports Shop.
See, when they did it, it was “good business” and we called them “shrewd businessmen”. This Government bought a few peugeots 12 years ago and all of a sudden corruption and collusion entered the lexicon. It seems that “they” embezzle and “we” steal.
Now, to the electioneering point. The purpose of an election campaign is two-fold. Firstly to remind people of your record or submit what you’ll do if you gain control, AND to remind folks of the reality of life under the other guys. So, pointing out these modern examples of UBP/OBA unfamiliarity with good governance is required to remind the electorate of the truth. Changing the name and logo is not enough to make your history off-limits.
To your questions one and two, please provide a list of all companies existing at the time that you think the government should have contracted with or leased from.
Question three: maybe the cars get serviced at Bermuda Motors because that’s the company the PLP government bought all those dark blue Toyotas from, starting in 1998.
Question four: last I knew, the government was trying to reduce the number of leased offices. But really, so what if many of Hamilton’s office buildings were/are owned by Bermudians who do not support this government? It is what it is, but it is changing–a good thing–and you know it.
Question five: any monopoly the ESS had on school uniforms must have been half a century ago. There has been plenty of competition for decades. How old are you anyway? Remember the history, but for the sake of Bermuda let go of the past and start working toward getting this island back on track, or no one will have enough money to buy school uniforms.
@Hmmmmm
As Bermuda has grown and prospered,like most of the countries in the world, we have have had to mature and implement rules and requlations to show our maturity. In the ’80s and early 90s you never heard of Compliance Officers or the BMA Rules and Regulations (for example)but now these type of people and laws are a requirement of any business/country.
Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct are now common place in any large organization. This is maturity and growth! By stating this type of information, I am trying to show that opposition to the PLP style of Government is consistent with the growth of Bermuda. Bermudians today are must more familiar with Ethics, Compliance, Regulations etc. than they were when the UBP were in power. What the UBP did may not have always been right, but with growth we now know that… and the PLP came to power to make a difference and CHANGE. In my opinion, nothing has changed, and it has even gotten worse. Bermudians are much more in tune with ethics etc. because of Bermuda’s growth, as mentioned above. The PLP is not scrutinized more than the UBP, it is just that we are smarter and we have evolved over the years!
Additioanlly, I believe Jack Sharpe was only a partial owner in Purvis Ltd. Back then where would you have purchased a car? Do You realize that HWP and Bda Motors employs many PLP supporters. I think David Hamshire owns the English Sports Shop?H
I pray that the Bermuda Government shows growth, as much as the Bermuda population has eveolved and grown!
Well if anyone was listening to the Sherri Simmons show today they would have heard Senator Jonathan Smith on at 11:30am and then Ras Mykkal at 1pm.
The difference in calibre of the two candidates was startling.
I will leave it at that.
Unfortunately in post-racial Bermuda (ha ha) we’re not allowed to observe what kind of candidates join the OBA/UBP. Were i to do so, some idiot will ask how old I am again; like what’s being said is from the 1800s.
Oh please. Jonathon Smith was the Police Commissioner. He is still a pri… though. He was a well educated man, on the other hand he is still a pri…
He’s init for himself plain and simple he was another ex ubper in fact he helped come up with the three strikes you out policy that M.Bean stated was designed to lock “us” (meaning blacks) up in 2007.Guess it’s ok now that he’s on the PLP’s team now. My,my what a change in attitude we’ve seen in the PLP recently as it continues to take a ubp style on crime seen with the I’ll call it the “no loitering in groups law” which if continued will expand to encompass the whole island making it an arrest able offense to gather publicly. Which is the party that wants to lock “us” all up again?
LOL
So I guess what Paula is saying is that MP’s currently don’t know what is wrong or right – it has to be explained in detail. So now, hopefully, Derek Burgess will understand that using the public purse to pay his legal bills is a NO NO!
PS: If MPs are that stupid then they probably should not be MPs!