Retiring Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros has criticised Government for only promising to consult with the Corporation now it has decided to abolish it.

Government recently announced it would scrap the centuries-old corporations of Hamilton and St. George's after branding them "impractical" and "unwieldy" institutions.

Mr. Madeiros told The Royal Gazette: "I find that ironic, they made a decision and now they want to talk about how it should be done as opposed to talking about whether it should be done and whether the Municipalities Act could be amended to our mutual benefit and for Bermuda as a whole.

"But that process never took place. It appears to me that Government seems to want to control almost everything that takes place in Bermuda."

After today's election Government will meet with the Corporation of Hamilton to discuss the handing over of powers including cleaning the streets, dealing with sewage and ensuring the street and traffic lights are working.

Mr. Maderios suspects moves to abolish the Corporation have been afoot for some time.

"It is a regressive step, not a progressive step.

"I think a diversification of power is good in a democracy, not centralisation of power."

Mr. Madeiros added: "The only time central government should interfere with local government is when there is an abuse of power or when they are substantially in debt or other serious problems.

"I don't know of any instances where there's successful municipal government where central government has even tried to interfere."

"Local government is very important and exists in most democracies in the world villages, towns and cities have local government."

When people had an issue in Hamilton they came to City Hall and were dealt with on a one-on-one basis, said Mr. Madeiros.

"We know who our constituents are to a great extent."

Speaking on the eve of what could prove to be the last Corporation of Hamilton election the Mayor welcomed the fact that all the elected posts were being contested and with such a strong list of candidates.

And he claimed morale was strong among those vying for office as he pledged Government had a fight on its hands to axe the Corporation.

"The atmosphere among the candidates is it's absolutely not futile.

"There's a message the community is sending to Government that any moves to abolish the Corporation is short-sighted."

The big slate showed how important the community felt about the importance of the corporations surviving, said Mr. Madeiros. "These people are coming here to fight for its survival."

He declined to say how Government could be stopped but said there would be a public campaign while legal advice was being sought.

Asked whether Minister Without Portfolio Walter Roban was a suitable choice for managing the end of the corporations given his recent public spat with a white voter who Mr. Roban e-mailed saying that he did not correspond with racists or bigots for criticising Premier Ewart Brown Mr. Maderios said: "He has shown political immaturity by his comments."

And Mr. Madeiros voiced frustration that while former Corporation councillor Graeme Outerbridge was able to get two meetings with the Premier, his own numerous pleas for a meeting to discuss Corporation reform were ignored and he was never given a reason why.

"There was no response at all," he said.

Now Government has offered consultation, after already taking the decision to abolish the corporations.

Some observers in the Progressive Labour Party believe Dr. Brown has long wanted to get rid of the Corporation of Hamilton which he sees as a bastion of white power.

Mr. Maderios responded: "I can only say that race has never raised its head in any deliberations since I have been in the Corporation starting in 1994. In these four walls it has never been an issue.

"What they think of us? I don't know. I was called a racist by one or more Government members because of the Sally Bassett statue."

Government and the Corporation had clashed after Government urged the City to install the statue of burned slave Sally Bassett at City Hall.

But the Corporation had its own plans for statues and art work including the tribute to the Progressive Group, who led the end to segregation, now installed at the new Wesley Park on the corner of the City Hall car park.

It was part of a project planned long before Sally Bassett was commissioned by Government, said Mr. Madeiros.

He said it had been part of a collaboration with Laura Gorham, beginning late 2006.

"I said we need to create and put more multi-cultural art work within the City. She said here's a beautiful piece. We got funds allocated and we did it.

"And we have a new piece of artwork coming called 'When we arrived' the first slaves to set foot in Bermuda. We would have been willing to fit Sally Bassett somewhere in the City."

Mr. Madeiros denied the Corporation was a bastion of white power and said the candidates standing today represent a roughly 50/50 split of white and black candidates.