Video: Town Hall Meeting On Corporations
The Ministry of Home Affairs is holding a town hall meeting in Hamilton this evening [March 7] on Government’s plans to turn both the Corporation of Hamilton and St. George into quangos.
The Government has previously stated, “This Government believes that the City of Hamilton and the Town of St. George must be rejuvenated in order to attract more visitors and greater investment opportunities for our island and its people.
“Government’s vision for the City of Hamilton is a ‘smart city’ infrastructure with a thriving residential centre and entertainment hub with distinct districts. Meanwhile, our vision for the Town of St. George is one that includes a mega-yacht port and marina with enhanced infrastructure, amenities and activities.
“Unfortunately, neither Corporation has the financial means to make the necessary investment needed to make this vision a reality. Government believes that the two levels of Government [national and municipal] can no longer operate in economic or decision-making isolation, which is why we made municipal reform a priority.”
Earlier this week, Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling stated, “This Act essentially strips the rate-payer in the City of their voting right, including the residents.
“This Act will disenfranchise the rate-payers, giving them little to no say, no voice when it comes to City matters. It is entirely undemocratic. It is taxation without representation.
“‘With the appointment of five of the Members by the Minister as well as his authority to appoint the Selection Committee that appoints the remaining four Members, he essentially has complete control over who now governs the City.
“‘The Government also needs to stop using the word ‘quango’. It is entirely misleading. By definition a quango is funded by the Government. I didn’t see anything in the budget that allocates funds to the City of Hamilton.
You can watch the live video below, the 90-minute video of the first town hall on this matter held earlier this week in St George’s here, and all our coverage of the matter here.
Update: The live broadcast has ended, and the 70 minute replay is below
This vision of Government is now the responsibility of a Quango!
The . Corporation have been doing a fantastic job limited by lack of “grants” from the Government. The Corporations are basically overseen by the Minister now as approval has to be given to anything the Corporation undertakes. Government just need to provide a larger grant in order for major projects to be completed. As in St George’s first step is removing the. vote – next step will be removing assets…..
Burch needs to resign and go to a place where he can please himself he is the most arrogant degrading politician we have had and the plp allow him to spew his single mindset that if you don’t support the plp you are “entitled” ….love the bit we were voted in by 51% so suck it up ….Burch you may not have been a Math wiz but that also means that 49% didn’t want you and that number is rising
No one has the conjones to take on the BS from the PLP. No wonder Bermuda is getting shafted.
Well Col BURCH let us know the real reason why they want control.The PLP qant to rake control away from the oligarch.
Col Burch said quite a lot that is worthy of thought, I think, particularly about the issue of sewage treatment.
He is a bitter man. He did significant damage to Bermuda for which our children will be paying for generations. So, no.
If you think sewage is their main concern you are kidding yourself. The guy can’t even get trash picked up and he wants us to believe that crap?
SMOKE SCREEN
This has the great Doctor written all over it.
The waterfront development now seems to be the priority.
A major Marine contracting business has just been sold, Who is behind it…
Its the only way they will get money out of another mismanaged capitol project.
It was prevented with the Hospital and Airport.
READ BETWEEN THE LINES PEOPLE….
PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PAY THE BALLON PAYMENTS OF.
180 MILLION 2019
500 MILLION 2020
140 MILLION 2022
475 MILLION 2023
800 MILLION 2024
THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE CORPORATIONS TAKEOVERS !!!!
The baloon payment of $180m in 2019 is being paid using the Sinking Fund. That was how they “balanced” the budget.
The great Curtis has it all worked. Remember he balanced the budget this year!!!! We all know they have not a clue how to get this debt paid off. Carry on PLP people carry on your peeps are doing a whole of nothing. You get what you voted for.
Easy. Intentionally lose the election in 2021. Let the OBA Government face the music until 2026, then come back into power and blame the previous OBA Government for the financial mayhem.
Of course, remember, it’s not just about getting their hands on the cash. It’s about power, control. They see the Corp. of Ham as the last stand of the 40 Thieves or White Colonial Power or whatever the dog whistle du jour – it’s part of their makeup to be in control of everything.
It’s actually irrelevant that they are incompetent, fiscally irresponsible and couldn’t run a piss up in a brewery.
Roban’s slip up on the hydrants would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
Well that bye Gosling struck again catching them out on a big lie. Government doesn’t even know what they are responsible for! Wish he had spoken more on the other points.
How funny Roban didn’t even know the fire hydrants don’t fall under the COH’s responsibility and instead it falls to the gov’t to maintain!!! Hahahahaha!!!
It’s like having a battle of wits with a one armed man. Roban is such a muppet.
It is a foreshadow of how badly they will be run shortly
Direct Rule Now!
One man, no vote!
Walter your responses are of similar quality to your microphone.
But his microphone seemed to be cheap, crappy and full of some kind of insect droppings. Oh, now I see what you mean.
Nice shiny red fire hydrant 1
Bermuda Government(PLP) 0
And he wants to run fhe corporation,Roban is a joke.
All the docs puppets. Who else changes the channel or turns TV off when robain starts yaking
Well done voters, and the new owners of of the marine construction company.
I would like to see a list of the pros and cons from each side’s perspectives and for more effort to be made to working together for what’s really best for Bermuda, and to the reality of getting the back-able financing for all the changes that are being suggested. Oh, also that they speak to the concern of corruption in whatever arrangement is deemed best for Bermuda.
Making rude and facetious comments is unhelpful to efforts at taking Bermuda forward. Please consider how to make statements and to ask questions that might elicit the type of answer and information that would build our knowledge and perspective so that we can advance ourselves and our country.
How about no? Does that work for you?
The simple fact is, that the PLP are incompetent, driven by bitterness and greed, and are fiscally reckless.
The best way forward for Bermuda is to question endlessly everything they touch, do, or say. there is no trust. They deserve no respect and everything must be viewed with suspicion.
Never seen a post from you when the shoe is on the other foot, so sorry but don’t take your calls for such as being sincere.
Very hard to do when we all know whats going on here!! Take control for the sake of taking control. Nothing at work here but jealously and bitterness and while I`m at it a “MONEY GRAB” with school yard BULLY mentality!
These changes are to divert attention away from the mismanagement of central Government. 9 months of decline in retail sales. A vast majority against this change. No consultation as it has already been decided. How can Government financially assist the Corporations when they themselves have no money? In six months the PLP will almost certainly be raising more debt as tax receipts fall, unless they sell off to foreigners what little remains of Bermuda real estate not already sold. So much for Bermuda for Bermudians, what a pathetic bunch.
I thing the majority of people who support keeping municipalities separate form government control are missing the big picture! This is not about who can best manage, it’s about breaking-down the last bastion of white economic and financial power. The Government-of-the-day is determined to make this a reality!!
Explain how these are bastions of “white economic and financial power.” And I can assume you now support legislation that is aimed to harm certain demographics?
And how will the PLP take over end thus supposed “bastion of white economic and financial power?”
Do they plan on seizing assets (ie. land, buildings) from white people once complete?
Cement silos sound familiar?
No! I don’t support legislation aimed to harm. But if you follow the PLP’s aims, ever since their minority report on the 1966 Constitutional Conference, you can see clearly where they want to end up, independent and in control politically (which they are now)and financially eventually.
And I’m not a supporter of independence!!
I think Colonel Burch made important points regarding the sewage and also regarding why some people in Bermuda are against certain things.
Well you blindly agreeing with the PLP is no surprise, not even too sure why you need to post as each one is the same (ie yayy PLP).
How come you didn’t bother to comment on the 9 consecutive months of retail sales decline yesterday? Guess it would be difficult to say ‘yayyy PLP’ on hat article huh…
The 9 consecutive months is concerning, but I don’t believe that under the OBA there would be a different trend as there are more influencing factors other than who the government is.
Why would you be concerned? A PLP minister told us less than two weeks ago that the economy is doing well.
If you don’t believe that, and you think the PLP are all liars, welcome to the club.
Both Corporations receive grants from the Government. The Minister has the right to attend, speak at, but not vote at Corporation meetings. The argument seemed to be that if these corporate bodies become quangos than funding would be more readily available than the current grants (which are I believe discretionary). As the Minister already has oversight and control of funding, it would make more sense for the Minister and those on the Corporation to work together at those meetings in order to move things forward rather than disband the Corporations and replace the Mayor and Councillors, (and at what cost?? Are they going to be paid). Where in the budget was mention of funding quangos? As I said in an earlier comment, first remove the vote, then what comes next. Yes we are entitled – entitled as residents and business owners in St. George’s and Hamilton to vote for who we wish to represent us – and in this case it’s not the Government disbanding the Corporations, as indicted in their own survey.
Hamilton does not receive any grant from government. Look at their unqualified audited financials that are posted every year.
None of this matters. The PLP will get what they want unless the Supreme Court says otherwise.
See , that’s why Britain is great .
They took the same approach to Corporations years ago .
Nothing but window dressing. Well said lady
A panel of greed, ignorance , and entitlement . Thats right Burch ,anyone in that room thinks themselves entitled is you and your panel!! And drop the Col Burch dude, your not one! OK!!!!
People tried to stand up to the PLP the last time they formed the Government. Such people were driven from Bermuda. Under such circumstances, it is better to remain quiet.
“. Such people were driven from Bermuda.”
And those people are doing very well today.
bermuda has nothing but pink sand…..it’s not an asset that will carry you into the future.