July 28, 2014

Dear Sir,

Parliament is now in recess and we are officially in the “Silly Season” period in politics. Simply put, this is the period when the various media search for news stories, particularly those that might be headline material and can inflame the minds and emotions of some in our community. Of course, the Opposition and their supporters will do everything in their power to monopolise the airwaves and print media to achieve their objective of bringing the Government down.

I can state with confidence that this is their objective, because the leader of the PLP actually stated a few months ago in Parliament that Bermuda, led by the OBA Government, will never see a new hotel built.

Combine this with the Opposition leader’s recent demand that the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office should dissolve our Parliament and call for new elections, one can only conclude that the Opposition’s sole intent is to regain power at all costs and to conduct their affairs in a manner to achieve that objective.

It really is a sad time in our history when the Opposition doesn’t come to the table with new policies and initiatives that will ‘right the good ship called Bermuda’, particularly when the damage to our economy that has caused so much social “fallout” within the community occurred during the PLP’s time in office.

Instead, they try to deflect any signs of progress that the OBA Government is making and chase ghosts in an attempt to inflame the hearts of their supporters, create ill-will within elements of our community and make threats to de-stabilise the Island and thereby hinder any chance of recovery. By chasing ghosts, I refer to the following issues which appear front and centre in the Opposition’s rants.

The recent enquiry attempted by the Opposition re the Tucker’s Town land grab appears to have gone quiet and one can only surmise that revelations since then has laid these ghosts to rest. You will recall that Canadian Professor Duncan McDowall had an article in the news highlighting his research into this subject noting that there was legal due process to establish compensation for those who were displaced, a commission to broker differences between buyers and sellers, as well as an arbitration option where a jury of their peers could adjudicate the right price.

There was also an article written by former Premier David Saul who related the story of an interview with legislator Arnott Jackson and his elder relative who was most thankful to be compensated and moved from their land back then, as well as offered work when the resort development of Tucker’s Town took hold.

All in all the economic benefit to the Island was far reaching across the community back then, and the increase in tourism that led to future development across the Island likewise created job opportunities and a better life for many. So the ‘ghost stories’ that persons in these areas were treated unfairly are just that – stories, and the Opposition, who you will remember, were in Government for 14 years and could have carried out an enquiry on their own watch, are left to lick their wounds and work on other “silly season” stories to achieve their objectives.

The second issue concerns the offering of status to specific PRC holders and this issue, in my opinion, is a red herring. These PRC people make contributions to our economy, have been a part of our community for donkey’s years, support our charities, pay their taxes and don’t occupy our prisons or cause a drain on our social services. It bugs me to no end when pressure groups like the People’s Campaign and CURB blurt out that offering these PRC candidates status, and hence voting rights, will skew voting patterns in Bermuda.

How does these groups know how anyone votes? They don’t, but what they will do is spew vitriol and sow hate and suspicion between groups of citizens in the community.

How is this tactic productive? Years ago, if this same mentality existed within the powers-that-be back then, Bermuda would not have reaped the social progress and other benefits from stalwarts like Dr Gordon, Lois Brown-Evans, Sir E T Richards, the Lister tribe etc. It really does boggle the mind how the Opposition and their supporters, including the unions, make up their own “stories”, such as job competition with PRC holders, and inflate the numbers of PRC persons who could gain status, to foster anger and pit sectors within the community against one another.

Years ago the predecessors of the Opposition fought for the voting rights of peoples who paid taxes but had no representation.

But today the same Opposition and their supporters appear to be doing the exact opposite. They should be ashamed.

Personally, I would welcome new voters onto the electoral roll, because they will bring new thinking and new solutions to those seeking their votes, which can only mean a better Bermuda for all of us. In my opinion, we should let the people affected by the present legislation apply for status should they choose to do so. Establishing a new immigration policy for the other PRC holders and long term residents can be achieved later via a select committee of the Parliament, but in the meantime, don’t deny the present batch of PRC holders their right to obtain status. Put this ghost to rest please!

Finally, there is the ghost of “Jetgate” and specifically the $350K donation made to the OBA election campaign.

I don’t know why some in our community are confused that the OBA Party Chairman did not know about this donation. He is not the Campaign Chairman and frankly has no business prying into the election campaign funding.

It is no surprise to me that the OBA Chairman has resigned, because he brought so much negative attention to the Party delving into a topic that is no one’s business but the Campaign Chairman. At no time in Bermuda’s history has any political party made public who their donors are and how the funds have been paid out, and nor is there any law requiring them to do so. Having been involved in fund raising for political parties, I know for a fact that many donors will NOT make a donation to a named political party for fear of their donation being identified. Election Campaigns will have their own accounts to receive donation funding which could be earmarked for many specific uses, such as signage, TV sponsorship, print media, and even consultant expenses, and by their very nature are private matters for the political entity involved.

This is very normal, and those making noise in the media about some nefarious intent re this $350K are yet again trying to sow seeds of discontent and embarrass the Government.

As there is no campaign funding legislation in Bermuda we are left to merely speculate and chase the ghosts that can be raised on this subject, which the Opposition and their supporters are taking to the extreme.

They should get over it, and instead focus on initiating some real Campaign Finance Reform for Bermuda, and in this regard, I have a suggestion that I hope will gain traction.

It is my view that Political Parties should NOT be allowed to accept donations from any person or entity, period. Small cash gathering events like parochial bingos and party events like dinners or conventions will be allowed, but each Party’s accounts should be treated like charities and be audited and reported yearly to Parliament. The bulk of party funding which will run the daily affairs of the organisation and provide election campaign funds should come directly from the Consolidated Fund and I would recommend that $1.5 million be set aside each year to support this initiative.

The allocation of this amount will be based on the popular vote at the election for each party. So if a party received 52% of the vote, they get 52% of the $1.5 million each year until the next election. Third parties that try to form must reach a certain minimum popular vote percentage and have at least 1 representative in Parliament to qualify for funding. That minimum popular vote could be 15 or 20%. Whilst some may baulk at my suggestion, I take the view that $1.5 million, which is 0.15% of Bermuda’s total expenditure budget for 2014, is a small price to pay to ensure our Legislature is clean and free from corruption, influence peddling, pay to play tactics or other nasty under the table nonsense that could occur.

For $1.5 million per year, 100% of our community has the peace of mind that our political party system is incorruptible, and persons outside of Bermuda who do business with us know the same. This sets the highest standard ever, and there could be a joint select committee of the House or an Independent Committee who could review the amounts every few years to ensure the political parties have the appropriate funding to operate. Let’s put this ghost to rest and birth a new policy with regards to political party funding that will make Bermuda an example to the world of how to operate a corrupt free legislature. Perhaps the Opposition will take this up as a private bill and get some co-sponsors from the Government benches. Now that would be a treat for Bermuda and a positive initiative that the entire community would appreciate. What a change also from the divisiveness being preached lately.

ALLAN D MARSHALL JP

St George’s