Passing the buck
Confirming that the review of the administration of the public pension funds has not probed the still unresolved pay to play allegations against Deputy Premier Ewart Brown, Finance Minister Paula Cox said that it’s not the Finance Ministry’s responsibility to investigate the behaviour of a Government Minister. Which is odd, considering that early last week Premier Alex Scott told the Royal Gazette that it was.
So whose responsibility is it, then?
If it’s not “appropriate, desirable or wise” for Ms. Cox to comment on the alleged activities, who should we be hearing from?
Perhaps the reason for the Government's reluctance to investigate the alleged indiscretions is that, as Ms. Cox suggested, none of them are actually illegal under Bermuda law.
They may still be unethical, of course, but we all know there’s nothing wrong with that.
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"No, I don't want to look under that rock. There might be slime there. It might not be appropriate, desirable, or wise for you to see it."
It seems our government lacks even the most rudimentary checks and balances. Shame on Paula Cox, and shame for Bermuda.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 29.08.05 at 08:08
One might expect an overpromoted simpleton like Scott to fight shy of examining the murky dealings of the "ethically challenged charlatan" Mr Brown (prizes for who coined the phrase). One would expect more of Cox I would have thought.
Checks and balances are a direct consequence of transparency and accountability - just because a specific regulation is not compromised by some questionable behaviour it does not meant that the functionaries in question should not be held up to the light.
Posted by ruby tuesday on 29.08.05 at 09:22
What really concerned me was the suggestion that with independence the accountant general's office should have a term limit.
If he was doing his job satisfactorily why would a term limit be needed. An impartial authority is essential in that post for accountability etc.
Paula Cox has made some unusual statements lately that are quite confusing also.
That was a puzzle to me,and I thought that the laws were to be updated to differentiate between unlawful and illegal as some were out of date ?
Posted by Bill Cook on 29.08.05 at 09:40
"... the "ethically challenged charlatan" Mr Brown ..."
Surely ethically cleansed would be a far more apt description.
Posted by Desperado on 29.08.05 at 09:40
"What really concerned me was the suggestion that with independence the accountant general's office should have a term limit."
It was, in fact, the Auditor General's department. The PLP Independence manifesto not only recommends a term limit for the Auditor but also seems to suggest the position be downgraded from Crown Officer -- that is, answerable to the Governor (or Governor General in an Independent Bermuda) -- to civil servant. Civil servants are, of course, answerable to the Government of the day. The whole point of having an Auditor General is to have a politically independent office review the handling of public finances. I'm tempted to start packing now ...
Posted by Desperado on 29.08.05 at 09:44
If one was charitable, one might think that Cox does not like what is going on either, and is refusing to pick up Scotties dirty laundry!
Posted by Martin on 29.08.05 at 09:59
Unfortunately it comes as no surprise that Ms. Cox has chosen not to pursue the matter. She is a very capable finance minister who has historically shown a willingness to work with industry to resolve many issues concerning our economic livelihood. The minute she is asked to critically evaluate a member of her own party, however, she clams up and deflects any possible judgment faster than a Ewart Brown shakedown on payday.
Alex would never lift a finger to examine any potential wrong doing as he may very well by held accountable for having to make a hard decision regarding the future of a parliamentary colleague. He doesn’t have the moral compass or capacity to be a responsible leader as his style is more akin to the wavering and waffling path of a child’s spinning top. Alex is wound up so tight from years of oscillating that he’s more Tasmania Devil than competent leader. If he ever did start acting like a real “Man” and taking some responsibility for his party he well knows that it would almost certainly further open the Berkeley can of worms that is now his legacy. As he doesn’t have the testicular fortitude of a tadpole we can’t expect any changes anytime soon.
It's no surprise the PLP are in no rush to implement PATI legislation or that they chose to restrict the scope of powers granted to the Ombudsman for fear of being held accountable to the voters. They’ll happily reside in their self-incarcerated ivory tower as long as possible before being evicted by an increasingly disenfranchised electorate who are understandably disgusted with their selfish and self-dealing style of governance.
Posted by on 29.08.05 at 10:22
Whatever the reason, I am disappointed in her. The standards for true leadership call for strategy at times - this is politics and politics must be strategically played.
Integrity should not be the sacrifice for strategy, however.
Everyone who opens their eyes can see problems with what took place. If all we were to have were a factual recounting of the events - which should be possible seeing as though these payers of funds want to do business with us in future - we should be able to get a line by line chronology of events. When we can all look at the chronology, then it can be determined if it amounts to anything. It MUST be the Ministry of Finance's job to police issues surrounding the Pension Fund.
I am very sad that this is the course Bermuda is taking. I am beginning to look from pig to man and from man to pig and wonder if indeed there is a difference.
If she is, as Martin suggests, simply waiting for Scott to pick up his own mess and confront Dr. Brown, then I am still unhappy. As Minister of Finance, she has responsibilities to the whole country - if the Premier dares to interfere with the running of the MoF she should resign with a detailed letter as to why. That way we can all be empowered to mention to our Emperor that he is wearing no clothes.
Posted by jake on 29.08.05 at 10:30
The PLP are a pack of liars, thieves, and cheats. What's worse is they do it in plan sight. When a white person calls them on it they get called an racist, and if a black person calls them on it they get called a sell-out uncle tom.
VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE IN THE NEXT ELECTION BERMUDA.
Posted by on 29.08.05 at 10:49
Wow, only took nine posts for this to turn into a racial diatribe.
This is not a racial issue - it's crap governance. Don't play the game by diverting into racial red herrings. That dilutes the focus on real problems in our government - and undermines the will/ability to deal with real racial injustices when they occur.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 29.08.05 at 11:01
You are correct Tiger this is not a race issue. But its the PLP who make it so when a white draws attention to it.
Posted by Paint It Black on 29.08.05 at 11:09
"The PLP are a pack of liars, thieves, and cheats".
You said it perfectly.
Posted by Satisfaction on 29.08.05 at 11:10
""The PLP are a pack of liars, thieves, and cheats".
You said it perfectly."
Not really. There are a number of very capable people within the party who have integrity, to boot. The biggest problem that the PLP has and, by extension, that Bermuda has is the it seems to be the mediocrities that rise to the top in the PLP, not the cream. What a sad state of affairs.
Posted by loki on 29.08.05 at 11:18
Oops,
I should have said unethical and illegal not unlawful and illegal.
If laws are not in place that loophole is there to be exploited.
Paula Cox is always extremely careful when she speaks and seldom puts a foot wrong, so it is difficult to evaluate her when it comes to integrity etc.
I think she is trying to keep away from anything too controversial, I am not sure if she has that kind of tap dancing ability she is crossing the ice covered lake and some cracks are appearing.
Posted by Bill Cook on 29.08.05 at 11:27
You guys lose me everytime...
This is about lack of Government action over allegations of corruption by a Minister.
Now I am a liar, a thief and a cheat - because I am PLP?
I know it is hard, but stick to the plot. Hyperbole serves you little and alienates any potential support that can be garnered.
No one PLP has criticised anyone white on this site for crying shame on this issue. Your overly sensitive receptors are on overdrive.
It makes me smile how you can grab an argument out of potential agreement.
Posted by jake on 29.08.05 at 11:30
What is it with this blog?
Where in the first 9 postings was any mention of race? Mmmmm?
If we crticise because it's the PLP - it's race. If we criticise the UBP - it's race.
Give me a break! We are getting to the point where we cannot criticise bad government, people with "itchy" fingers near an open cash register, people who have no sense of what is moral or ethical etc.
Not good.
Posted by Martin on 29.08.05 at 11:48
Congrats everyone on bringing yet another blog down to race.
Posted by Shades of grey on 29.08.05 at 12:06
Well done Tiger, loki, Martin and Bill.
I am very glad to see that you guys picked up on this too.
We actually can keep this to a policy level and we should criticise, what is a clear problem for the perception of Bermuda, and the Pensions that will feed many of us in the future, or at the least, many of our fellow Bermudians.
Posted by jake on 29.08.05 at 12:34
Jake,
"It MUST be the Ministry of Finance's job to police issues surrounding the Pension Fund."
I agree fully. She may not have responsibility for the actions of a Minister but when it comes to issues surrounding the Pension Fund she needs to take full control.
She seems to be shirking her responsibility on this matter. And we wonder why so many people complain about the lack of accountability of the PLP Government.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 13:27
Maybe she does not want to spoil her holiday in the South Pacific by talking about pay to play...Lets face it Bermuda's up for sale...and its the PLP that are selling out!!Anyway she will bury you in the dictionary if you ask too many questions...the big words sound nice but usually mean nothing.
Posted by Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 29.08.05 at 13:29
Agreed, I think we all have clearly established that race, creed and religion have no place in politics. Politics needs to transcend all of these in order to function unbiased. To those of you who attempted to bring this down to race, shame on you.
Now back to the plot.....accountability. Why does the current government run from this whenever something comes up that someone needs to take ownership of? I know I would start to think twice of our current government leaders if once, just once, they owned up to a mistake and honestly attempted to repair it. If Paula Cox actually did take ownership of this, even though it got another minister if crap, I know I would thing "Now there's someone with integrity leading this country". If Alex Scott were half the leader he's supposed to be, he to would want to get at the heart of this matter and set it straight, even if it meant bringing one of his leutenants down.....it is for the best of the Island and her people after all. As a leader, what is more important that that?
Posted by Full Fullish on 29.08.05 at 13:47
Wolf,
"Lets face it Bermuda's up for sale...and its the PLP that are selling out!!"
I agree with you that Bermuda is up for sale but it was up for sale long before the PLP became the government.
Bermudians have allowed Bermuda to be put up for sale.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 13:48
Sorry for the typo's, got a cold and apparently it's coming out in my typing as well as speech.... "Ib got a code!"
Posted by Full Fullish on 29.08.05 at 13:50
Guilden
Please supply some examples regarding how "Bermudians have allowed Bermuda to be put up for sale...long before the PLP became the government"
Posted by on 29.08.05 at 14:57
I'd be glad to:
- Sale of the Bank of Bermuda to a foreign entity
- the creation of Bermuda Inc., which virtually ended tourism for the sake of international business. Doing this economically hindered the lesser educated because they were very heavily reliant on the tourism sector to earn a good living
- The continued design and sale of Bermuda real estate to foreigners
These are significant examples. Are they enough examples for you?
These did not occur under the PLP Government. Now how about you giving some examples of the sale of Bermuda under the PLP.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 15:09
"Bermudians have allowed Bermuda to be put up for sale."
Posted by: Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. | 29.08.05 13:48
I see nothing wrong with that statement at all. UBP, PLP, Black, White or in between. When the almighty dollar came calling we all put a "for sale" sign up. Just because some members of the PLP have used their current status to feather their beds doesn't mean it wasn't going on before nor will it stop if they are elected out of power.
As mentioned earlier by (blank), where's the Ombudsman? If I were the Ombudsman, I'd be seriously thinking about handing in my resignation in a show of protest. I can't for the life of me understand how someone in Paula's position would be so blatant as to say she had no intention of even reviewing the situation. Unless of course she missed the last lunch date with Alex and didn't know it was her job.
Posted by SmokingGun on 29.08.05 at 15:21
Guilden,
Bank of Bermuda was sold to HSBC under the PLP.
The sale of Bermuda, however, can relate to industries where we have maintained that capital is not available locally to create them: hotels, telephone companies (most, but not all), most quite a few building contracts.
If we are talking about a mentality, then that is for a different day when I have FAR more time.
Posted by jake on 29.08.05 at 15:22
- The sale of the Bank of Bermuda to HSBC was approved by the PLP;
- The UBP did not end tourism and international business did not end tourism. Teeth sucking Bermudians who decided it was "beneath them" to work in the service sector compounded by an unreliable labour infrastructure ended tourism.
- Regarding real estate sales, do you have evidence of this? More homes are owned by Bermudians now than ever before.
I think you've been down south too long to really see the impact of the PLP.
Posted by on 29.08.05 at 15:26
"Bermudians have allowed Bermuda to be put up for sale." ie:
Year 1: "Bermuda does not need any fast food chains. They will destroy the integrity of our beautiful country" or something like that by Premier John Swan.
Year 2: "Hello David, I just wanted to say thanks for letting me bring in my Mc Donald's chain." Or something like that by the former Premier John Swan.
Posted by SmokingGun on 29.08.05 at 15:34
The process of selling Bermuda out to foreigners started with the UBP and the PLP are doing a fine job of continuing the process.
Posted by Onion on 29.08.05 at 16:12
To all you people who try to be so PC, and walk the line and do your damned best to not offend anybody, give me a break. Everything political on this island has alot to go with race. I'm not saying be a racist, but the facts are facts, and you should wake up, especially you expats, who who are the main offenders. No one is going to boot you out of the island for actually voicing an opion on a blog.
Posted by on 29.08.05 at 16:26
"I agree with you that Bermuda is up for sale but it was up for sale long before the PLP became the government.
Bermudians have allowed Bermuda to be put up for sale."
Posted by: Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. | 29.08.05 13:48
You really have drunk the kool-aid.
You must have pulled out your PLP handbook for this response.
PLP Rule 5: When caught in a lie or wrongdoing, first blame the previous government and say "they did it worse." Secondly, change the subject to something completely different. "He may have sold his office, but that Bermudian sold his property to one of them evil foreigners."
Posted by Expat on 29.08.05 at 16:27
Jake,
The actual sale of the Bank of Bermuda may have occurred under the PLP Government. However, unless I am mistaken, the trading of BOB shares on NASDAQ was approved under the UBP Government.
(blank),
The selling of Bermuda does not necessarily have to be volume driven. Just look at the reaction to the government policy to prevent the sale Bermudian owned property to foreigners.
You say more homes are owned by Bermudians than ever before, point taken, but more homes are also owned by foreigners than ever before. Under the Immigration Act foreigners can only own 2,000 acres, that number now sits at 1,900 acres.
The fact is Bermudians, whether PLP, UBP, black or white are prepared to sell to the highest bidder to fully maximise their return.
You may be correct that the teeth sucking Bermudians may have had an impact on tourism but I disagree with you that Bermuda Inc. had no impact. Under Bermuda Inc. (a concept promoted very heavily by David Saul) the focus of the UBP switched from tourism to international business.
The switch of focus to international business went hand in hand with the rapid decline in tourist numbers.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 16:29
Expat,
Is there a point to your post?
I never said the PLP was not guilty, my point was the trend of selling Bermuda was started prior to the PLP becoming the government.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 16:31
No name,
We have long moved beyond the realm where we can blame our decline in tourism on "teeth sucking" Bermudians. The fact is, if you go to a hotel or retaurant your biggest complaint wil be the fact the your waiter probably doesn't even speak English.
Bermuda has become a boring, polluted, concrete, corporate jungle. It is losing it's soul, its charm, its cultural identity adn ultimately its standard of living. The law of diminishing returns applies in Bermuda as well. There are only so many crops you can get from one piece of land before it becomes barren. This place is being sucked dry and it can only go down from here - unless we act now to put some controls in place.
Posted by Onion on 29.08.05 at 16:40
Yeah Expat, elaborate, what's your point?
Posted by Onion on 29.08.05 at 16:46
Guilden,
My post was removed re BOB sale as I too used that to support the BDA for sale idea.
It would have meant little which government was in power.
The fact that it was Mr Cox that was the finance minister that approved the Nasdaq deal is pretty irrelevent it would have been similarily approved by the UBP.
This set up the bank s takeover.
Things change when 1.2 billion dollars are involved.
Posted by Bill Cook on 29.08.05 at 16:50
Bill,
My point exactly.
The mind set of the average Bermudian with assets is that they do not care what's best for the country, they only care about how much they can put in their pockets.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 16:55
Guilden,
HSBC cleverly found a loophole to avoid paying taxes on all that real estate they automatically aquired once they bought the shares of the bank.
I was a shareholder who voted against the sale for the very reasons you have illustrated.
Posted by Bill Cook on 29.08.05 at 17:01
(blank)
"VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE IN THE NEXT ELECTION BERMUDA."
Just out of curiosity, are you doing anything to make this happen or are you simply spouting off?
I do hope you are not one of those "complain amongst your friends/peer because you are to afraid to speak up for yourself and your beliefs"
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 17:03
Hmmm how much for this site? Oh ya its already owned by a Limey...Too much commerce and not enough thinking...Maybe thats why Bermuda can't produce any good writers.If we want to preserve anything of Bermuda we must get away from this idea of relating all life to money and material gain. Guilden I know about the past...I'm talking about right here and right NOW...^..^
Posted by Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 29.08.05 at 17:07
"Bermuda has become a boring, polluted, concrete, corporate jungle. It is losing it's soul, its charm, its cultural identity adn ultimately its standard of living. The law of diminishing returns applies in Bermuda as well. There are only so many crops you can get from one piece of land before it becomes barren. This place is being sucked dry and it can only go down from here - unless we act now to put some controls in place."
Posted by: Onion | 29.08.05 16:40
Absolutely correct. And it starts at the top, no matter which party you may belong to. Which is why I find it a little interesting that when someone (Guilden in this case) makes a point that in reality is the truth, he is chastised as if he is making it a defense of the PLP. Yes some do come across as being over-defensive of the PLP but in this case he made it quite clear that he considers it a "Bermudian" issue and that some people in the PLP are just as much at fault. I currently don't have a great deal of respect for the PLP given some of their failures but I also lost a lot of respect for the UBP with some of their "lack of integrity" issues as well. If we are going to move forward we have to listen (or read as the case may be) to what people are actually saying and not what we want to hear.
Regarding this thread, if Paula Cox is a lame duck who feels she cannot investigate any possible improprieties by her fellow ministers then she should show leadership and integrity by finding someone who can or she should tender her resignation.
Posted by SmokingGun on 29.08.05 at 17:08
I think we should all leave Bermuda for a a couple of weeks to have a think tank about Bermuda's future. Let's go down to Nassau. Guilden will get us all a good rate at the Atlantis on Paradise Island and we can have our daily seminars out by the pool with that big bleddy slide. Lunch times will be spent devouring crack conch. Hook it up Guilden.
Who's in?
Posted by Onion on 29.08.05 at 17:20
Now you're talking Onion. Nassau, let's go, Guilden, we're coming like it or not!
Posted by sandgrownan on 29.08.05 at 17:23
Onion,
You set the dates and organise it on your end and I will do my part on this end.
With regard to the slide would you prefer it to remain enclosed or should we open it up so you can pat the sharks as you slide by?
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 17:26
Zzzznnn? *Snort* *Blink* Did someone say Atlantis?
Posted by Adjustah on 29.08.05 at 17:27
SmokingGun,
Thank you for understanding my point. I guess some people only see what they want to see.
I may be one who supports the PLP but contrary to what many may assume, I do not do so blindly.
Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.08.05 at 17:31
I'm in for the trip---don't mind swimming with the sharks as used to the more dangerous land sharks walking around Bermuda...The Question---"Can we save Bermuda." This is not a question regarding religion.
Posted by Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 29.08.05 at 17:40
I am not in agreement on this line of reasoning. The shareholders got what there respective holdings were worth. In that, they were able to monetize an investment and now have funds to invest in other local ventures should they choose.
The sale of the bank was monumental in that it ushered in more cash rich multimillionaires than ever before.
This was not lost on the myriad money managers who sucked a lot of that up, as did the local real estate market.
You would be surprised, , however, how many people just put the money in their bank accounts with little or no interest!
Posted by jake on 29.08.05 at 17:41
I, for one, find it heartwarming to see that through dialog and empathy, most on readers of this site have come together, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or occupation, and crossed petty party lines, to conclude that the entire government stinks! (...and we all need a vacation.)
Posted by Longtime Lurker on 29.08.05 at 17:45