The City of Hamilton’s departing mayor reflected on multiple “missed opportunities” to work with government to boost the island’s economy during his tenure, including attracting more cruise ships to the harbour.

Charles Gosling — who served from 2008 to 2012 and 2015 until mayoral elections this week — also believes the Government’s push for the elimination of municipal elections through the Municipalities Reform Act 2026 has cast a “black cloud” over the function of the Corporation of Hamilton.

He said: “There are so many opportunities where we actually could have been doing stuff together.

“The one economic initiative that can have the biggest impact on the entire island and for Bermudians is to get back contract cruise ships, particularly into Hamilton but also to St George's.

“When you look at retail in Bermuda, it is a slow retraction from what there was in the heyday at the turn of the millennium.

“You’re seeing empty stores and the reasons why those are there is because we are just not getting those numbers in Hamilton or in St George's.”

Mr Gosling said “the overall” reach of the Government, such as issuance of permits to cruise liners, could impact the issue. “Give us a ship,” he added.

Looking ahead, Mr Gosling said Michael Branco, Hamilton’s newly elected mayor, could utilise his tech-savvy experience to introduce projects such as free Wi-fi hubs in the city.

A previous project idea, similar to those at airports, did not materialise but the outgoing mayor noted that it should still be considered to benefit visitors and residents.

He said: “You would work with the local retailers and the restaurants and coffee shops and have a system for it.

“There is an opportunity there and just because we didn’t get it right the first time doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen.”

The creation of a city rangers service, similar to park rangers who have “limited powers of arrest”, is another project Mr Gosling believes holds promise.

“I would like this to happen, because the park rangers have certain arrest powers and I really do not see why a city ranger in the most populous area of the country cannot have the same powers,” he said.

Mr Gosling said over the years the corporation had taken steps to address homelessness in Hamilton.

“It is not going away and we have done a lot in that area,” he added.

A committee at the city has been tasked with addressing the issue and Mr Gosling pointed out that “a much stronger” input was being heard from the Government as well as support from the charity Home.

“We still have a long way to go,” he conceded. “We are willing to do what we can to assist and doing whatever to facilitate positive change.”

Mr Gosling said leadership in tackling such an issue needed to come from parliamentarians.

Among the highlights of his tenure was the opening up of corporation meetings to the public.

“I think it has changed things a lot,” Mr Gosling said. “It was seen as doing the right thing.”

During his second term, “legal chaos” emerged after the collapse of the Par-la-Ville hotel development project.

In 2012, the municipality entered into a development agreement and ground lease with Par-la-Ville Hotel and Residences Ltd to build a luxury complex at the Par-la-Ville car park.

Legal action then followed a July 2014 loan to PVHR, which was intended to jump-start financing to build the hotel.

A total of $12.5 million of the money borrowed by PVHR was transferred to Argyle, a Gibraltar-based investment firm. The funds were never invested on PVHR’s behalf and it quickly defaulted on the loan.

A judge at the High Court in London ruled in July 2017 that Robert McKellar, the director of Argyle, had engaged in “unjust enrichment” and had spent the money.

While some of the missing cash was recovered, it was reported that the recovery costs had almost “wiped out” any benefit.

Mr Gosling said Argyle had been expected to repay a total of $18 million, taking into account the interest rate of the project.

He said to date a total of $2 million was repaid. Despite information and documents being handed over to British police, no further action took place.

Last month, MPs approved legislation that would abolish elections within the municipalities of Hamilton and St George's.

Senators rejected the Municipalities Reform Act 2026 6-5 when the legislation was taken to the Upper House.

However, the legislation can be brought back to the House of Assembly next year and passed without the support of the Senate.

The legislation would have the minister responsible select the mayor and eight councillors, with four recommended by a selection committee.

Mr Gosling said he had “defended” against the takeover of the municipalities for 15 years and that the democratic functioning bodies of St George’s and Hamilton should remain in place.

He said “common sense” was the most likely recourse against the takeover.

He added: “The Corporation of Hamilton is a successful organisation that has run successfully.

“In some ways, it has only got one way to go and with improper interference that will be down.

“And if that were the case, then that is to be blamed on one particular area and that is on those that have forced it to go from a democratically elected body to one which is appointed.”