There are times when even the most overused of overused clich?s must be invoked, so here goes: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

On Friday the PLP Government showed their true intentions and went simultaneously for absolute power and huge pay raises.

Only weeks ago, in his televised address, the Premier proudly proclaimed that although his Government could ?arguably be justly accused of over-consulting with the public? that he had directed his Ministers ?to ensure that consultation continues to be one of the hallmarks of our administration?.

I guess Mr. DeVent missed that meeting. Either that or the 180 Prospect residents who signed a letter to the Minister protesting his lack of promised consultation are lying.

So not surprisingly, if you?ve been following the long-running dispute between the PLP Government and the Prospect residents, UBP MP John Barritt tabled ? or at least attempted to ? a motion deploring ?the failure of Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent to consult with residents of Mary Victoria and Alexandra Road? - as guaranteed - over the expansion of housing units in the area.

The Premier and the Speaker then embarked on a direct assault on the several hundred residents, the United Bermuda Party and our democracy itself, by blocking ? without explanation ? the Opposition?s motion, all because it didn?t suit them.

No reason was offered, no rule was produced, just shouts from the Premier that ?You?re getting a lesson how!? amid mocking cat calls from the Government backbenches. Then, in a shocking move, the Speaker decided to call a vote on whether the UBP should be permitted to give voice to the concerns of the Prospect residents.

When a governing party ? who gained 51 percent of the vote ? decides that the Opposition party ? who gained 49 percent of the vote ? doesn?t have the right to participate, our democracy ceases to function.

But just as disturbing as the Government?s attempt to deny a voice to the Prospect residents are the actions of the Speaker.

Speaker Lowe?s complete about face ? after previously indicating that the motion was suitable ? is simply stunning. Speakers swear to operate with impartiality. Yet Mr. Lowe went along with this anti-democratic move, the strings from his puppet masters clearly evident.

The Speaker, the Premier or anyone else for that matter, are yet to produce one shred of evidence to support their claim that this is within the rules and normal procedure.

This deplorable sequence of events brings to mind that other defining rallying cry of a former PLP Senator: ?We don?t care what you think!? Evidently not, disagree ?at your peril? it would seem.

There?s substantial precedent, both in Bermuda and other Westminster systems, for motions of censure or no-confidence; the latter designed to force an early election. In fact, just to our north the Canadian Parliament is going through this exact scenario.

But no, not in Bermuda. In the New Bermuda the Government alone decides what can be debated.

Friday?s events were a complete affront to established Westminster Parliamentary process. According to the foremost authority of Parliamentary procedure, Erskine May?s ?Parliamentary Process?, there are few circumstances under which members can object to a motion.

These rare exceptions include motions that ?anticipate? another pending debate; opposition motions with financial implications; or motions which are mocking in nature. None apply in this case.

To the contrary, the Government is mocking the people of Propsect, deeming them irrelevant and unworthy of Parliamentary representation.

This all feels very, well, Cuban.

Unlike the PLP Government?s Cuban comrades however, we aren?t a one party state, no matter how much the Government might want to ?Make it Happen?.

Premier Scott?s comment that ?You?re getting a lesson now!? is a new low, and that?s saying something. It reveals a wilful and intentional disdain for our democratic process and renders insignificant the concerns of hundreds of Bermudians.

This latest escalation in the campaign to stifle any and all voices of reason or opposition ? and 49 percent of the population?s right to Parliamentary representation ? is an outrage. It?s also only the latest of many moves in a pattern of hostility for democracy and our democratic institutions.

The list of abuses is long and shameful: There?s the secretive ?cultural? agreement with the brutal communist dictatorship in Cuba ? which at this stage we can only believe means the importation of Cuba?s single party system; Mr. Scott?s failure, as Works and Engineering Minister, to adequately account for taxpayer funds in the form of the $700,000 bond payment to Pro-Active; the now-Premier?s subsequent call for the replacement of the Auditor, because he had the audacity to state the truth; a myriad of delayed or unreleased financial statements for Government departments or boards; a Deputy Premier and his cohorts who unapologetically misled because they ?had to?; and of course the Premier?s stated desire to prevent the public voting directly on the unwanted issue of Independence.

Couple all this with the other move in Parliament on Friday, namely the intended desire of the Government to drastically hike their salaries, and it becomes abundantly clear that this PLP Government is most interested in absolute power, money, and little else.

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