The Mayors of Hamilton and St. George's claim that Government's $800,000 reform of Bermuda's two municipalities is actually part of a plan to eliminate them.

And in a statement released last night by the United Bermuda Party, Opposition Leader Kim Swan said that Government should be focusing on more important things. Charles Gosling, The Mayor of Hamilton, said in a statement that Government's aim to abolish the municipalities was obvious based on comments made on Friday by Minister Walter Roban – who has been tasked with overseeing the reforms. "Last Friday, Minister Roban, J.P., M.P., held a press conference where under questioning he stated on the record that neither he nor the Government had ever said that they were trying to take over the two Corporations," said Mr. Gosling.

On Friday Mr. Roban announced that local firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki Barristers & Attorneys as well as the international firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge would serve as consultants during the detailed review of the municipalities. Most telling, said Mr. Gosling, was the Minister's statement that the consultants "have been given specific objectives and timelines so that we can move forward with reform later in 2010".

"In plain language this means Government wants to abolish the Corporations and take away voting rights," Mr. Gosling said.

The Mayor also questioned how Mr. Roban could deny it was Government's intent to abolish the two corporations when contrary statements had been made in a letter sent in June 2009 to his predecessor, Sutherland Madeiros.

"It very clearly states, 'Cabinet determined that the most practical, efficient and effective reform would be to repeal the Municipalities Act 1923 and transition the operations of the Municipalities into the relevant Government Departments'."

Kenneth Bascome, the Mayor of St. George's said he, along with three St. George's Alderman and a senior Councillor met with the consultants last Tuesday.

"In the meeting, one of the consultants accidentally acknowledged that their goal was to eliminate the Corporation," said Mr. Bascome. "I believe that the meeting was constructive but I don't think that Government should take over all of the town's responsibilities."

He added: "We are focusing on the positive right now, the Corporation of St. George's is not looking to be eliminated."

Opposition Leader, Kim Swan, said in statement last night that Government should be focusing on more important things than eliminating the municipalities.

"Using $800,000 of public money to explore how to eliminate local government in Hamilton and St. George says this Government has got it priorities all wrong."

He added: "Careless spending in the years before the recession — and even well into it — has seriously weakened the Government's ability to help working families.

"You can see this in its inability to help stimulate job-producing work in the private sector and its lack of money to support more seniors in FutureCare and it's cancellation of the Hamilton to St. George's ferry service.–Mr. Swan went on to say that Government needs to prove that it is competent before taking on more responsibility.

"The Government is mired in a crisis or near crisis in virtually every major category of Bermudian life – whether it be public safety, education, government finances, tourism, health care – you name it. It has yet to show it can perform well in any of these areas in good times, let alone bad.

"If it is going to succeed as a government, it must bring better focus, better skill and better commitment to doing a good job. It is failing right now and for that reason alone it needs to prove it can do the things it's supposed to do before moving to expanding its responsibilities elsewhere.

"We say: Shelve the elimination of the corporations and get focused on more important things — like the people's business. They deserve better."