Opposition Leader On Govt Response
The Opposition Leader Jarion Richardson issued the following statement in response to what he said was “the Government permitting a civil servant to publicly defend the timing and tabling of a parliamentary motion relating to historic land losses.”
Mr Richardson said, “When we allow civil servants to speak for politicians, we chip away at the very foundations of good governance. That’s not opinion. That’s Westminster.
“In a democracy, it is Ministers and Members of Parliament who defend political motions—because it is they who answer to the people. When a civil servant is put forward to justify a debate in the House, we cross the line from administrative support to political advocacy. That is not just inappropriate—it is unconstitutional.”
He continues: “This Government pledged to be transparent and people-centred. Its own 2025 platform promised to ‘strengthen accountability and uphold ethical standards across all public bodies.’
“Instead, it is outsourcing accountability while invoking bureaucratic voices to shield elected officials from answering publicly for their decisions.
“This is not a technical error. It’s a breach of the very principles it campaigned on—and it places our public servants in untenable positions: expected to speak on behalf of decisions they neither made nor can defend.”
Mr Richardson adds: “The One Bermuda Alliance holds that good governance requires clarity, transparency, and above all, responsibility. Civil servants must serve the government of the day, but they must never be made to defend its politics.
“Let the ministers defend their decisions. Let the politicians debate their motions. And let civil servants do the vital, non-political work of supporting this country. If the Government can’t make that distinction, then it isn’t fit to govern.”
We asked the government for a response and will update if able.
