Opposition Question Senator’s Job Appointment
Following the announcement that Senator Nalton Brangman has been appointed at Morgan’s Point, the Opposition said they are “shocked” that the Senator will retain his Junior Ministerial portfolio of Tourism & Transport, a role they said “has already, and will, in the future, put him in a position where direct conflicts between his private and public employment are sure to arise.”
Yesterday Morgans Point Ltd., which plans to develop a hotel property in the west end, said that Senator Brangman has been appointed as the Director of Infrastructure and Development.
The company cited Senator Brangman’s training in construction technology and related experience, saying that “due to the accelerated pace that the Morgan’s Point development is experiencing, the team is starting to expand to address the needs of the project.”
Morgans Point Ltd. added that, ““Upon receiving his appointment to Morgan’s Point and in the spirit of transparency, he has declared his interest in the Morgan’s Point project to the Premier, Cabinet and the OBA Government.”
Following the announcement, Opposition Leader Marc Bean said, “The announcement of OBA Senator Nalton Brangman as the Director of Infrastructure and Development for Morgan’s Point Limited brings more questions than answers.
In the interest of transparency it is essential that Senator Brangman answer the following questions:
- 1] How long has Senator Brangman been working for Morgans Point Limited?
- 2] What “specific activities” has Senator Brangman’s new role at Morgan’s Point “already precluded him from”?
“Senator Brangman should be free to pursue private sector employment, and we take no issue with Morgan’s Point Limited appointing him to a role they think he can fulfill. The Progressive Labour Party wholeheartedly supports the Morgan’s Point Project and will do what it can to ensure that it becomes a reality,” Mr. Bean continued.
“However, we are shocked that Premier Michael Dunkley has allowed Senator Brangman to retain his Junior Ministerial portfolio of Tourism & Transport; a role that has already, and will, in the future, put him in a position where direct conflicts between his private and public employment are sure to arise.
“Bermudians should have expected Premier Dunkley, after the last 20 months, to learn from the OBA’s mistakes and follow the ministerial code of conduct by reassigning Senator Brangman to a different portfolio.
“However it seems once again when it comes to good governance and transparency Premier Michael Dunkley and the OBA talk the talk but refuse to walk the walk,” concluded Mr. Bean.
We have asked the relevant entities for a response to the Opposition’s statement and will update as able.
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- Senator Brangman Resigns As Junior Minister | Bernews.com | August 24, 2014
Clearly a conflict of interest.
This OBA government is governing dangerously!
They are a do as I say, not as I do government!
Marc Bean is right on this one.
If Morgan’s point wants to hire the person who hired Heatley, that’s on them. But there is no way he should still be Junior Minister for Tourism! Even Steve Wonder could see that one!
OBA – Pay attention please – you are behaving worse than the PLP did!
Brangman didn’t hire Heatley, the (mostly PLP appointed) Public Servicr Commission did. Unlike previous Civil Service hires there was no political interference.
Not the point Onion.
Who hired/gave position to Nalton.
OBA behaving worse than the PLP did, now thats funny!
This OBA government is governing dangerously!
They are a do as I say, not as I do government!
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Unless, this is the easy way of Senator Brangman resigning as a Senator to free up a spot for one of Premier Dunkely’s own Senators.
What happen to Crockwell and Pettingilll?
The PLP question Mr.Brangman’s appointments whether in the public or private domain.
Wow,they really have an axe to grind . When there were appointments by the PLP with taxpayers monies that cost us dearly,Thomas and Beyonce to point out a couple, nobody said boo. What a tangled web we weave When we try to deceive.
There they go again, the PLP is out in the hay field grasping at straws.
Anything to make a noise & try to be relevant.
I’m not PLP – but you really see no issue with someone – who we are paying – who has already admitted he’s conflicted – continuing in a role where he’s conflicted?
PLP/OBA/UBP/NLP/GLP – WRONG IS WRONG.
Bermuda is a small place with very limited local talent. In a perfect world, no he would not get the job.
If he were Minister, yes, I would have a problem. If he had a record of corruption I would have a problem.
He is only a JUNIOR Minister. Not much of anyone really. So no, I don’t have a problem with his day job being related to the Government job. I’m thinking that the day job will be beneficial to performance in the Government job.
They’ve already recognised the potential for conflict and have said he will recuse himself where there might be a conflict. That’s more than the PLP ever did.
This is odd but just two things I want to know, if someone could tell me. How much control does a Junior Minister really have? And with all things tourism being done by the tourism board how much control does the minister and junior minister have?
If you read the release from Morgan’s Point (which i cut and pasted below) you can see that clearly they are doing something – why else would Nalton already have been conflicted. There is one thing that the Tourism Board is not in charge of – Gaming. If you have been conflicted ALREADY and you are taking on a role to put you in further conflct, doesn’t it just make sense to let someone else do the job?
———————
““His new role at Morgan’s Point has already precluded him from some specific activities and may also preclude him from other matters that may arise out of development of the Bermuda Tourism plan, which may be considered a conflict in his new role with Morgan’s Point Ltd,” the statement added.
Craig Christensen, President and C.E.O. of Morgan’s Point Ltd, said,“Nalton has been a huge advocate of the Morgan’s Point Development since his appointment as Senator, and has been very helpful in bridging the gap between the Developers and the Government.
A private compaso they recognise the issue and are already saying he will be recused where there is the possibility of a conflict.
I have read the article that is why I asked the two questions I did (you didn’t answer the first one and you skimmed, in my view,over the other). So my two questions still stand, How much control does a Junior Minister really have? And with all things tourism being done by the tourism board how much control does the minister and junior minister have?
Seriously.
Who fri@@in’ cares?
A competent Bermudian got hired for once, and works in two important positions where we need competent Bermudians. It’s particularly funny that if Morgan’s Point Ltd. had hired an expat it would not have even made the news, let alone summoned a predictably indignant response from the PLP.
After the last few administrations I welcome this kind of thing. This is nothing.
Get over yourselves.
When the P.L.P. were our Govt. nothing stopped Zane getting them big (and small) Govt. jobs in’it? Needless to mention others members. Oh how quickly some people seem take to forget
But but but…it was OK when the PLP did it because they were just getting even. Settling old scores so to speak.
PLP are NOT Govt. @ Raymond Ray, the OBA is. Do you want them to do the right thing or follow what PLP did?
Quote: “Dale Butler at MEF ,Paula Cox at ACE, Patrice Minors at the Bank of Butterfield all come to mind as Ministers in the Public sector,,,Ewart Brown worked”.
PLP having a good moan again. Nothing new as ever.
…I’d better get back on the hamster wheel – shift changing.
CN
To me it seems that this is a rather stupid move. It’s like some like some of the OBA like to step in it all the time.
The government of today needs to be above it all and most importantly look like they are.
I suppose the relevant question on this is what does he do as a Junior Minister really, so long as he abstains from any Ministerial business related to Morgan’s Point, is there really a conflict of interest. I might take a greater note, if was actually the Minister of Tourism and Transport, but as he hasn’t really done anything in the Ministry, it is his to screw up, then we can criticize. He will of course have to abstain from voting on anything that might involve Morgan’s Point, that comes through the Senate, so until then, this is really a flat issue. When it comes to Morgan’s Point, I’m with Larry the Cable Guy… “Get er done”
As I asked yesterday , who will be paying Nalton ? Will he be drawing a salary as a junior tourism minister as well as being paid for his work by the hotel developers ?
Something has to go ! Now !
However it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if The BTA will be footing his bill ! Because the BTA doesn’t really answer to the taxpayer , a multitude of sins could be covered without oversight .
Laverne was paid by the BIU while she was a Senator right?
What EXACTLY did Paula Cox do at her *job* at Ace?
No wailing about a conflict while she was Finance Minister.
Dale Butler at MEF ,Paula Cox at ACE, Patrice Minors at the Bank of Butterfield all come to mind as Ministers in the Public sector,,,Ewart Brown worked …Bermuda does not need Senators or half of the MP’s when we have such a gigantic civil service so I fail to see the relevance…
Hey aceboy & Navin Johnson, did you know that OBA are in now? Yeah, it’s the change we we’re suppose to have voted for. Little did we know, the more things change, the mire they stay the same.
Yes hurricane I am aware that thankfully the OBA are in charge now and may it remain so for a very long time. While the OBA has made mistakes they have the interest of Bermuda at heart rather than themselves. My guess is that we will listen to the PLP and their sycophants moan about anything and everything as their nests are no longer being feathered…
The PLP does not object to him having the job at Morgans Pt. They clearly stated that. They object that his Jr, Ministerial portfolio of TOURISM will create a conflict. What is so wrong with that objection which is perfectly reasonable? Nothing to do with Dale, Paula and Patrice’s past jobs which provided no conflict with their then Ministerial jobs.
A Minister of Finance worked in the insurance sector, and you see no connection.
Not very smart are you.
I’m shocked this guy could be appointed director of anything, his actual educational achievements (or lack thereof) is well documented as is his lack of actual experience in anything even remotely attached to modern engineering or construction principals is also public knowledge, I for one am very disappointed the OBA is appointing friends and family to run the quango’s another OBA disgrace for the record books
My sentiments exactly @Y-Gurl.
Well you’re both dumb then. He is being employed by a private company, not a quango. Nothing to do with the OBA or the government.
You both might find it useful to actually read the article.
ok ok before you cream all over yourself …i digress…i should have specified what my sentiments were…so to clarify things my sentiments were on her comment NOT her personal opinion.
What quango? Thought this article was about him getting a job with the private company that will be running the hotel at Morgan’s Point.
You are funny as hell Mr Ray you know this is wrong but because it’s the OBA you are full of excuses get your head out of the OBA a** and just think for yourself stop this defend by any means necessary lol hahahahaha SMDH
Um, I’m going to assume you hit the reply button by mistake cause, I’m no Ray and your post has nothing to do with mine.
He has quit…so now keep moving u’lot
vultures dont leave until they’ve picked the bones clean bo….lol
A Quango? you mean like Walter Lister running Wedco?