Submission from Antony Siese FBCO, Bermuda
Thank you for considering submissions after
31 January 2008.
My concerns are surrounding the lack of transparency
in Government which can be exemplified in the following.
The present Government developed and promoted
a Sustainable Development programme for the Bermuda Islands last
year. Since this was promoted there have been at least three Special
Development Orders which means that the general public and the
Planning Department do not have any say in such developments.
Some of these are contrary to existing Planning regulations.
When Planning Regulations have been contravened
and permission not granted, we have a situation in Somerset in
the western part of the islands, where a PLP supporter, Mr Henry
Talbot carried out illegal construction work, excavated woodland,
destroying cliffs and longtail bird nesting areas, breached the
rules of building a dock and violating the "Queen's Bottom"
on the foreshore in 2004. After a lengthy inquiry, then Minister
of the Environment, Neletha Butterfield, issued an order to correct
these problems with a deadline of 18 October 2005 to repair the
damage caused. If this work was not carried out by that date,
enforcement action was threatened. It appears that no action has
been taken some two and a half years later taken against the perpetrator.
Laws are supposed to be observed by all and
not breached by "party members" because they are party
members. This non-observance of the law is resulting in the lawlessness
which is pervading our society down to the day to day driving
habits of the general population. When one observes the drivers
of GP license plate cars (cars owned by Government for Ministers
and people on Government business) breaking the law then it is
open season for all and sundry. Evidence of the bad driving on
this island can be seen with the number of damaged walls.
The Bermuda Cement Company, a privately owned
Company, was told they had to remove the two silos to another
part of the Dockyard and would be given a 21 year lease only.
The cost of doing so was running into the millions of dollars
and negotiations for the lease could not come to a successful
conclusion. Government also wanted the shareholding opened up
to the general public, which the company was prepared to do providing
they obtained a reasonable lease. As a result of their lease terminating,
the shareholders agreed to sell the company. Now, there are only
six shareholders in the company and we wait with baited breath
to see whether the Government will force them to remove the silos,
rebuild and what sort of lease they will be offered. The major
shareholder is a PLP supporter. Will they ensure that the shares
will be offered to the public as demanded of the original company?
It will be interesting to actually see what happens.
There is a major drug problem on the Island
and when there is little respect for the law then all of our problems
escalate. People know they will get away with it, so, "what
the hell"!
Unfortunately, the politicians do not respect
the voters so how can the voters show respect to the politicians?
Classic example of this is that over 50% of the registered voters
signed a petition requesting a referendum on Independence. This
has been totally ignored by the present administration. The last
vote in the 1990's showed 68% against Independence. The attitude
is "we know best so you take what we give you". I agree,
one cannot take every issue to the voting public, however, on
major issues the voting public should be able to offer an opinion
on the matter in question.
Contracts are being issued without being put
out to tender, and yes, these contracts are being issued to the
Party faithful. The new dock being built at Dockyard was not put
out to tender and not only that but work was started prior to
Planning Permission being given. This type of action does not
exactly give the voter confidence in the ruling party.
I realise Bermuda is governed by the Westminster
system of Government, which is not perfect, but a whole lot better
than the American system of Government or what one sees in many
other countries such as Zimbabwe. I just don't want to see the
Bermuda go into a dictator type system where voters are afraid
to express their views.
Money is being spent by the present administration
as though it is going out of style and without accountability.
The accounts are not being presented to the Accountant General
in a timely manner. When the Accountant General does do his job,
he is hounded, jailed, offices raided, moved from one office to
another without his permission and so it goes on. We do not have
accountability on the Berkeley Institute construction which went
over budget. How many other projects which we do not know about,
are also over budget? Without having an effective Accountant General,
who is not a political appointment, we will not have the necessary
information. The current Accountant General was a pain to the
United Bermuda Party when they were in control of Government,
but he was doing his job and he should be allowed to continue.
I hate to think what will happen when he retires and maybe legislation
passed so that it becomes a political appointment. I can see this
as a possibility under the current administration.
The education system needs a complete over haul
with more control being placed in the hands of the head teachers
and less interference from the Department of Education where there
are more Chiefs than Indians.
On the racial issues, the present administration
are telling companies that there needs to be a more population
ratio in the work force, ie 70% black and 30% white. I am a firm
believer in the fact that if you are qualified for the job then,
whether you are black or white, male or female, the job is yours.
Whilst they want this for the private sector, my question is,
does this also apply to Government? My estimation is that 90—95%
of the Government work force is black so we need to get more white
representation. Government cannot dictate ratios and not do the
same thing themselves.
It does reach the point of being ridiculous.
One lady complained that there were not enough women in Cabinet
and my argument was that there were not any white people in Cabinet
either. Where do we go from here? How many Protestants, Catholics,
Seventh Day Adventists etc are in Cabinet or any other company
or Government? There can never be a ratio projecting the country's
ethnicity. The best person for the job! The PLP won the election
so, naturally we have a larger percentage of black people in the
Cabinet, but that does not have to go all the way down to Government
employees.
This is just scratching the surface of the problems
in Bermuda but will have to suffice due to time constraints.
4 February 2008
| 
