Government should stop picking fights with the Governor and get on with tackling "lethal and corrosive trends in crime", the United Bermuda Party said in its Reply to the Throne Speech yesterday.

Official Opposition Leader Kim Swan questioned whether Government is planning to politicise the Police service — giving itself the power to direct Police to arrest anyone it wants and prevent certain people from being investigated.

Such tactics could "completely neuter the nature of policing in Bermuda", Mr. Swan told the House of Assembly.

Mr. Swan's reply also cast aspersions over the Island's moral leadership — claiming million-dollar contracts go directly to friends and asking whether Government actions are guided by self-interest, personal agendas and cronies.

He also attacked the Throne Speech's failure to illustrate how the economy can recover from the global recession, warning that Bermuda could be set for "the worst winter in many generations".

Regarding crime, Mr. Swan said Government had cut budgets, allowed Police manpower to fall, let morale sink through a wages dispute and declined to reopen St. George's Police Station — while failing to deliver on declarations of SWAT teams, anti-gang legislation, witness protection and parental responsibility legislation.

"In the face of lethal and corrosive trends in crime, the Government's best effort has been to pick a fight with the Governor for operational control of the Police," he said.

"In the first instance, it must be understood that this fight with the Governor would not give Government operational control of the Police because it is the purview of the Commissioner. And so we wonder: Does this Government not understand that fact?

"Or is it planning to politicise the Police service, giving itself the power to arrest anyone it wants, or to prevent Police from investigating the people they do not want investigated. Is this what Bermuda wants?

"We are concerned these manoeuvrings carry the potential to completely neuter the nature of policing in Bermuda."

He said Government was shunning its responsibility to control crime, adding: "The news the Government is refusing to sit down with the Governor and the Police Commissioner for regular meetings is mind boggling, and one more example of a Government more willing to dodge and hide than to fulfil its elected role to work for the people.

"People don't want finger-pointing and blame games in law enforcement. They want focused, cooperative work between all the agencies. This, after all, is the biggest issue facing Bermuda today."

Governor Sir Richard Gozney has said Government has declined his offer for a regular forum on crime with himself and the Police.

Mr. Swan said: "Our first recommendation is that the Government take its seat at the table.

"Sit down with the Commissioner and the Governor. Help devise strategies and plans to better manage and direct crime fighting resources. Show you are working the system for the benefit of the people."

He added that Government should ask for a formal force review of Police strategies, force levels, equipment and budgets.

Initiatives to tackle crime announced in last week's Throne Speech include tougher sentences for robbery and electronic tagging.

Mr. Swan also spoke at length on values-based government, which he said should involve selflessness, objectivity, openness, honesty, integrity and accountability.

"We put these values forward to help this Government find its feet, to enable it to do better work for the people, to make the right decisions," he said.

"What we are talking about here is giving the Island a chance for moral leadership; leadership that does not stray from its commitment to public service; leadership grounded in good conduct; leadership that follows best practices."

He described the imminent retroactive freedom of information legislation as "watered down", claiming it protects decision-makers from virtually any scrutiny.

He added: "We get million dollar contracts that go directly to friends untendered and massive cost overruns with no one held to account.

"Without values-based government, one must wonder what guides the Government's actions. If they are not obviously tied to values of good conduct then what are the motives?

"Are they self-interest, personal agendas, self-dealing, power, friends and cronies? Without values-based government, questions and doubts arise.

"Values-based government offers Bermuda a better way, a way that clears the path of temptation and conflict.

"We urge the Government to step back and commit itself to this system, to declare its commitment to working for the people."

Regarding the economy, Mr. Swan repeated the UBP's allegation that Government had failed to prepare for the recession and had carelessly managed public building projects.

"We are now at a point when these failures and oversights are coming home to roost," he said.

He said Government is premature to claim to be weathering the storm, pointing out Bermuda usually reflects the activity of the US economy at a later date.

"The Government's word that all is OK does not give comfort," he said. "That it has not used this speech to tell people there is a plan to meet the current situation is something that should concern all Bermudians."

Mr. Swan also touched on education, saying the Throne Speech lacked emphasis on the need for reform; called for an overhaul of the parliamentary system; and said the National Health Strategy had come too late in the wake of FutureCare and the commitment to rebuild King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

He concluded with cautious praise for Premier Ewart Brown's recent efforts to promote unity.

"It plays against a career that has done more to divide Bermudians than anyone we know who has held a senior position of responsibility in Government, particularly in his years as the leader of Bermuda," he said.