Brown downplays critical letter
A row has broken out between top union officials over civil servants having “serious concerns” about Premier Ewart Brown’s wife’s fundraising.
Ed Ball Jr., General Secretary of the Bermuda Public Services Union, sent a letter to then-Premier Alex Scott last month saying “a number of senior civil servants” were worried about Wanda Henton Brown’s efforts for the Bermuda Music Festival. However, when The Royal Gazette <$>contacted union President Armell Thomas about the letter — which was leaked to this newspaper — he said it was the first he had heard of it. He complained about the letter being sent on official union headed paper.
The letter was leaked to The Royal Gazette <$>the day before Friday’s PLP leadership election, although it could not be verified until yesterday.
Speculating on the timing, Dr. Brown said: “I could not see anything in it that made much sense and I thought it might be election material, so to speak.”
The document, dated October 17 and addressed to Mr. Scott via the Cabinet Office, was written five days after Dr. Brown resigned as Minister of Tourism and Transport to fight for the Premiership.
In it, Mr. Ball referred to earlier media reports that Mrs. Brown had begun the process of establishing a charitable foundation “to raise funds to cover a perceived shortfall in the budget of the Bermuda Music Festival”.
Mr. Ball said: “The focus of the disquiet is whether or not it is correct for the wife of a Cabinet Minister to publicly declare her interest in raising funds for a government funded programme.”
He said the union understood that the Music Festival appeared in the Department of Tourism accounts and was concerned that accountability for the financing of the event may have been compromised.
He asked for clarification on points including whether registration of a charitable foundation for receipt of the funds had been completed.
He asked if it was correct that the Music Festival was funded by the Government through the Department of Tourism.
He also questioned whether the Government was the sponsor of the festival or whether the festival was a charity that Government could donate to.
“We note that in other jurisdictions, in particular the UK, the charitable status of a body like the Music Festival would have to be established after due diligence procedures had been satisfied, and before any funds could be raised,” wrote Mr. Ball.
“On the basis of our understanding, it appears that the foundation established by Mrs. Henton Brown to raise funds for the Music Festival does not have a mandate from any source.
“This must put the funds raised in question. These funds are not insignificant as we understand that a check ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 US was collected at the close of the Kathleen Battle performance.”
Mr. Ball concluded by asking Mr. Scott to clarify the situation as a matter of urgency.
Mr. Ball, who is currently off the Island, referred initial queries from The Royal Gazette <$>about the leaked letter to Mr. Thomas, who said: “I can’t really support the comments contained in the letter.”
Mr. Thomas said a grievance form was usually completed by the union when such complaints were made, but he had not seen any formal documents relating to this complaint, and the letter was not copied to himself or the union executive.
“I have not heard these concerns before. Mr. Ball has not discussed any of the things with me. I’m a little embarrassed in one sense that a letter’s being sent out and I’m not clued in on it,” he said.
“I don’t have a problem with Mr. Ball writing this letter. The problem I do have is that it’s on a BPSU letter head. I don’t want to tarnish the union in such a way.”
Mr. Thomas added that he had not received a response to the letter from the Cabinet Office yet.
Mr. Ball subsequently contacted this newspaper, saying he had been off the Island for personal reasons since October 20.
“I don’t want the BPSU to be reflected in a bad light,” he said. He also remarked: “If anyone wants to distance themselves from representing workers in Bermuda then they need not be a trade unionist.”
He declined to discuss the specifics of the grievance that sparked the letter — or its contents — but maintained that it was a genuine reflection of the concerns of more than three civil servants.
He added that concerns raised by members often did not go to Mr. Thomas, but instead to himself.
“Persons who needed to know were aware,” he said of the letter.
Mr. Ball added that in issues related to the civil service, the Secretary to the Cabinet would be expected to investigate.
On Friday, before Dr. Brown took over the Premiership, Mr. Scott’s spokeswoman Beverle Lottimore said: “The Premier’s office has confirmed receipt of the letter and submits that the contents are being reviewed.”
Mr. Scott himself did not respond to calls for comment. Also speaking on Friday, Cabinet Secretary John Drinkwater said he was not aware of the letter. He would not comment further yesterday.
Dr. Brown said last night that The Royal Gazette <$>should speak to his wife directly about the letter, but she would not be available until her return from a trip to New York tomorrow evening.
Although he declined to comment on the issues raised, he said: “I could not make heads or tails of that letter. It doesn’t seem to make much sense.
“I have not seen it officially since I assumed office and I suppose if and when I do I will look into it further.”
