Hashtag: #MunicipalityProposal2019
‘May Hold Ordinary Municipal Elections’ In May
“Given these circumstances, we believe the equitable course of action is to allow both of our municipal bodies to proceed with their elections providing for officeholders to serve for two years instead of the customary three years, pending the Privy Council’s ruling,” said Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch. A Government spokesperson... Read more of this article
Corporation To File Application To Privy Council
The Corporation of Hamilton has confirmed that they will file an application for the matter — the Municipal Reform Bill – to be heard in the Privy Council” in the UK. A spokesperson said, “The Council has met and determined that, under the guidance of our legal Counsel, we will file an application for the matter to be heard in... Read more of this article
Appeals Court Ruling On Municipal Reform Bill
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the Municipal Reform Bill “if enacted will not contravene section 9 of the Constitution” and has dismissed the appeal brought by the Corporation of Hamilton. The ruling said, “The Corporation of Hamilton contended before the Chief Justice that the decision of the Government of Bermuda to convert the... Read more of this article
City of Hamilton Election To Be Held On May 9th
[Updated] The Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling is holding a press conference this afternoon [March 27] regarding developments concerning municipal reform. We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below. Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 51-minute replay is below Update 5.41pm: A City spokesperson... Read more of this article
Senate Votes Against Municipality Reform Bill
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... Read more of this article
Municipalities Reform Act Stalls In Senate
[Updated] The Municipalities Reform Act 2019 was before the Senate yesterday and after a debate, a Government Senator said they would ‘rise and report progress’, which in effect, stalls the Bill, which aims to allow the Government to repeal elections in Hamilton and St. George, and continue the corporations as quangos. The Senate has 11... Read more of this article
“Stand-Alone Legislation For St. George’s”
Government will develop “stand-alone legislation for St. George’s”, Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban pledged saying that “MPs Renee Ming and Kim Swan made a solid case on behalf of the people they represent and serve, and we listened”. A spokesperson said, “Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban on Friday reconfirmed... Read more of this article
Audio: MPs Debate Municipalities Bill In House
The Municipalities Reform Act 2019 passed in the House of Assembly last night [March 13], paving the way for Government to repeal elections in the City of Hamilton and the Town of St. George, and continue the corporations as quangos. MPs voted 22 – 7 in favour of advancing the Bill, with the audio of the session indicating that PLP MPs present voted... Read more of this article
Municipalities Bill Passes In House Of Assembly
The Municipalities Reform Act 2019 passed in the House of Assembly last night, paving the way for Government to repeal elections in the City of Hamilton and the Town of St. George, and continue the corporations as quangos. MPs voted 22 – 7 in favour of advancing the Bill, with the audio of the session indicating that PLP MPs present voted in... Read more of this article
‘Will Lead To Taxation Without Representation’
“Government’s takeover of the municipalities will lead to taxation without representation as people’s democratic right to vote is stripped away,” according to Sylvan Richards, the Shadow Home Affairs Minister. His comments follow after the Government tabled a bill which “proposes to repeal of elections in the Corporations of Hamilton... Read more of this article
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... Read more of this article
Mayor: ‘Will Disenfranchise The Rate-Payers’
The Municipalities Reform Act ”essentially strips the rate-payer in the City of their voting right” which is “entirely undemocratic,” and the Government should stop using the word ‘quango’ as a “quango is funded by the Government.” This was from the Mayor of Hamilton in response to the Government tabling a Bill... Read more of this article
90 Minute Video: Town Hall On Corporations
The Ministry of Home Affairs is holding a town hall meeting this evening [March 5] on Government’s plans to “reform” the Corporations, and you can watch the full 90-minute video below. On Friday, the Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban tabled a Bill to “start the process of much needed reform of Bermuda’s municipalities” which... Read more of this article
Mayor Urges Constituents To Attend Meeting
The Mayor of St. George, Ms. Quinell Francis is encouraging all constituents of the Municipality of St. George to attend the public meeting being hosted by the Minister of Home Affairs on Tuesday [March 5] at 6.30pm at East End Primary School. A spokesperson said, “The Worshipful Mayor of St. George, Ms. Quinell Francis, JP. encourages all constituents... Read more of this article
‘Continue These Corporations As Quangos’
[Updated with PDF] Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban said he will table a Bill to “start the process of much needed reform of Bermuda’s municipalities” which “proposes to repeal of elections in the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George, and continue these corporations as quangos.” Speaking in the House of Assembly today... Read more of this article
OBA: Govt Faces ‘Hard Sell’ To Convince Public
The public consultation resulted in four in favor of turning the Corporations into quangos with 164 against, while four were in favor of Government subsuming the Corporations with 172 against, so the Government is “going to have a hard sell on its hands in order to convince the public.” This is from Shadow Home Affairs Minister Sylvan... Read more of this article
