The Mayor of Hamilton is urging Bermudians to attend a town hall meeting tonight to discuss Government's plans to "reform" and possibly take over the Municipality.

"One of the topics we will cover during the town hall meeting, will be Government's decision to hire five high powered US consultants to review the Island's Hamilton and St. George's Corporations with the intent to take us over," said the Mayor of Hamilton, Charles Gosling.

Mr. Gosling went on to say that Government wants to abolish the Corporations and take away voters' rights.

He said that if Government's plans are realised constituents will no longer have a say in the way the city operates or be able to elect Corporation members.

Mr. Gosling highlighted some of the Corporation's recent changes, he said: "The Corporation is now transparent and truly representative holding town hall meetings and opening the Corporation board meetings to the public.

"Now that the entire Hamilton community truly has a voice in the Corporation, we can't let either be taken away."

He added: "I am urging all residents of Bermuda, in particular, the voters of Hamilton to come and have your voices heard as we move forward and work together to find a solution. I urge everyone to join us at 5.30 p.m. at City Hall."

Last week Government announced it's $800,000 plan to reform the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's. Senator Walter Roban, who is the Minister responsible for the reforms, said local firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki Barristers & Attorneys and the international firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge have been hired as consultants for the proposed reform of the corporations.

Minister Roban said that Government will wait until the report is finished sometime in June before taking any action. He stressed that there were no plans to close the Corporations.

"In meetings with stakeholders I have advised that the Government will rely on the report from our consultants on how best to approach this reform effort in terms of the franchise, governance, efficiency, accountability and ensuring the tenets of democracy are available to all in the municipalities and Bermuda," he said.

Mayor Mr. Gosling and St. George's Mayor, Kenneth Bascome, have both claimed that Government's plan to reform the Corporations is actually a plan to eliminate them.

l See Op-Ed – Page 4