Senate Votes Against Municipality Reform Bill

March 22, 2019

The Municipalities Reform Act 2019 has been stopped in the Senate, with the Bill failing to attain the votes needed to pass.

The Bill — which aimed to allow the Government to repeal elections in Hamilton and St. George and continue the corporations as quangos — had already passed in the House of Assembly, with MPs voting 22 – 7 in favour of advancing the Bill on March 13th.

The Senate has 11 members; five appointed by the Government, three by the Opposition, and three Independent Senators, so the Government always need the vote of at least one Independent or Opposition senator to pass legislation.

Senators had debated the Bill earlier this week, and a Government Senator said they would ‘rise and report progress’, which in effect, stalled the Bill. It was brought back before the Senate today, where it failed to pass, as the three Independents and Opposition Senators voted against the Bill.

While this vote means the plans cannot proceed at this time, the Government can bring the legislation back to the House in one year’s time.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said, “The result in the Senate represents a victory for the status quo, but while Municipality Reform has been delayed, it will not be denied.

“The Government is committed to Municipal Reform and is determined to see the vision for Hamilton and St. George’s become a reality.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (20)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Rotten Onion says:

    Dream on Roban,your plan to rid the city of colonisers has hit a snag. Hopefully the high court will put it to bed for good,

    • Black Soil says:

      A year from now we’ll have confirmation that the PLP is running us into the ground!!! What next??? Well, they now want to extract cash and revenue from Hamilton and St. Geo and run them into the ground too!!!!!!

      • Black Soil says:

        The PLP have to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. BS says:

    Can you put this in the good news section?

  3. 2 Bermudas says:

    Pee El Pee should be ashamed of themselves. There are a lot of things that need fixing in this country before the COH. Where are their priorities?!?! Education, transportation, waste collection, cost of living, EU blacklist, etc…!!! Fix those first and then start looking for something else to do!!

  4. Ringmaster says:

    Good news. The “vision” of the Government is no different to the marina and hotel plans that St George’s has been wanting for years, but been stalled by Government. As to Hamilton, all the Government has to offer are useless words such as “we will get people back into the vacant offices, make it vibrant” etc. Great, where are all these people coming from? Where are the detailed plan, costs and time lines? They don’t exist and it is a power play. Hopefully thanks to the 6 who voted against and the courts the people will continue to have a say in who runs the Corporations.

  5. kevin says:

    They will continue to push for this as they have only one goal and that is control …they cant manage anything but if they control it they feel powerful……this circus needs to go ..they must resign and lets get intelligent social conscious and forward thinking Bermudians voted in and take our country back so we can get back on track
    plp should resign they have proven they aren’t fit to be the government

  6. St.George's Passport and Immigration Control says:

    Don’t bother coming back Roban,you and your cohorts are not wanted in St.G.

  7. trump supporter says:

    I Guess theyll be marching soon.

  8. sandgrownan says:

    Yeah, GTF Roban…how will Curtis balancec the budget now

  9. Jt says:

    The three independent senators did a better job articulating on this than anyone in the PLP or the OBA.
    Congratulations to them for looking out for the citizens in the corporations while their MP’s sat as mute cogs.

    • Onion Juice says:

      Just trying to rid a system that was Trumped up by systematic generational economic club.

      • Jt says:

        I don’t think anyone is naive enough to believe that it’s “just” that.

      • Toodle-oo says:

        Did you know that there’s been two black mayors in very recent times ? Systematic what ? ?

        • Anbu says:

          Careful, that doesnt fit ojs narrative. You will be labelled a racist

      • question says:

        Funny how St George’s is being exempted isn’t it. How interesting.

    • Joe Bloggs says:

      What OJ says accords with what the Attorney General said. Look up to my previous post.

  10. Jarhru says:

    Put that in your pipes and smoke it lol

  11. Up D Hill says:

    Where are the voices of the PLP MP`s in ST.Georges, oh wait– they have been told to to be silent by Roban, Desilva and Burch!! PLP, you don`t fix what is NOT BROKEN!!!!! SMDH!!