The Corporation of Hamilton say they are "committed to bringing real reform" to the city although their vision differs from the Government's.

"Government's plan to 'reform' the Municipalities Act is to abolish the corporations and take over their assets," said a Corporation of Hamilton spokesman in a press release yesterday. "The Corporation of Hamilton has a different approach – one that would modernise the Corporations and ensure that each resident of Hamilton has the right to vote and have a voice in the city's future. And we have already begun to implement some of these reforms."

In the press release, The Corporation of Hamilton laid out three "core points" which they believe any reform plan must respect:

1. City voting rights will not be abolished or eroded but will be expanded.

2. The Corporations operations, assets and revenues will not be transferred to the Bermuda Government.

3. Elected City Councillors including the position of Mayor will have no less autonomy and authority than they presently enjoy.

Although the Corporation of Hamilton has been making proposals and submitting recommendations to Government on ways to make it more modern, more transparent and more democratic since 2008, they say they have never received a response. "The Corporation leadership team remains committed to bringing real reform to Hamilton," said the spokesman. "Despite this commitment, however, most of these reform measures cannot be enacted without Government action.

"Rather than work with us, Government has instead chosen to spend $800,000 on foreign consultants without regard to the recommendations of the very bodies they wish to reform.

"If reform is truly the goal of Government, then we stand ready and look forward to working with them."

Zane DeSilva, Minister in charge of reforming the Municipalities was last night unavailable for comment.

The futures of the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's have been unclear since Government announced a move to reform them last year.

Both Mayor Gosling of Hamilton and Mayor Kenneth Bascome of St. George's have claimed that Government's plans to "reform" are actually plans to "abolish" the Municipalities.

To see the whole plan to reform the Municipalities Act as submitted to Government by the Corporation of Hamilton go to www.cityhall.bm.