Submission from Alan Gamble, Bermuda
GOVERNMENT OF
BERMUDA
I understand that a committee will be visiting
Bermuda for an audit of standards of governance here. The Progressive
Labour Party was recently returned to power for a third term which
to some would indicate a level of satisfaction with their performance.
This is a matter of opinion but what is a matter of fact is that
the people of Bermuda are not receiving information which they
are entitled to in many areas. There is no obligation (other than
a moral one) for Government to make information public and there
is a catalogue of secret reports and enquiries which remain hidden.
We can only guess at the level of debt in which
this Government has placed us and the treatment of the Auditor
General has been disgraceful. To throw a public servant out of
his office while he is off island and then arrest him for doing
his job must be unprecedented in any democracy. In my view it
is imperative that legislation is put in place immediately to
restrict the unchecked spending which is taking place, some of
which is clearly a use of public money to reward political activities.
This may not be "illegal" under current regulations
but it certainly should be made that way.
Recently the "Right to Know" campaign
was started and last year the Voters Rights Association was formed
but to date they have been ignored by the Government. It is time
that the party in power in Bermuda whatever it may be was made
accountable.
31 January 2008
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