There is no question that the Municipalities Act of 1923, which governs the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George, is in need of reform. The question is, what kind of reform? Government's plan to "reform" the Municipalities Act (for which they have paid at least $800,000 in tax payer dollars so far) is to abolish the Corporations and take over their assets.

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 a voice in the city's future. And we've already begun to implement some of these reforms.

Under the leadership of Mayor Charles Gosling, the new diverse leadership team in Hamilton began to deliver on their campaign promise to reform the Corporation and make it more transparent. To that end, it has already implemented several concrete measures, including:

¦ Opening all Corporation board meetings to the public for the first time.

¦ Holding regular town hall meetings where the public can comment and question the Corporation leadership team.

¦ Publishing the Corporation budget so the public can see how their tax dollars are being spent.

Moving forward, we believe that any reform plan must respect the following core principles:

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.

In the fall of 2008, the Corporation of Hamilton submitted to Government a 41-page document of recommended changes to the Municipalities Act of 1923, consistent with these three core principles. These recommendations were designed to modernise the Corporation structure and make it more democratic.

In January 2010, the new Corporation team sent a revised version of its recommended reforms to Government. The cornerstone of our reform plan is the expansion of voting rights in municipal elections to all Hamilton residents without regard to property ownership, familial relationship or tax status. Under the current provisions of the Municipalities Act 1923, the right of individuals to vote in Corporation elections remains tied to either property ownership or taxation and in one instance familial relationship, but this requirement unfairly disenfranchises many who live within the municipal boundaries.

For example, a husband and wife who own a home within the municipal boundaries can vote, but their adult children who still live at home cannot. Two adults who own property jointly but who are not husband and wife only get one vote.

The non-resident owners of a rental property within the municipal boundaries get up to two votes, but their tenants — if there is more than one-get only one. Our plan is based on a simple premise — if you live in Hamilton, and are eligible to vote in Parliamentary elections, you should be able to vote in city elections. This would remove the last link between the right to vote and property ownership or taxation and bring the municipal franchise into greater alignment with the national franchise.

Besides expanding the right to vote, the Corporation's reform plan also protects local elections, simplifies voter registration and promotes disclosure and transparency. The full plan can be found on the Corporation's website, www.cityhall.bm. Unfortunately, to date, Government has still not responded to these recommendations. The Corporation leadership team remains committed to bringing real reform to Hamilton. Despite this commitment, however, most of these reform measures cannot be enacted without Government action.

Rather than work with us, however, Government has instead chosen to spend $800,000 in taxpayer dollars 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.