Opposition attacks SAGE Commission legislation
Legislation to create a new body to improve Government efficiency was approved in the House yesterday, despite vocal opposition.Finance Minister Bob Richards said the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission would bring private-sector efficiency to the public sector.Opposition MPs argued that the Commission was poorly regulated and claimed Government was shirking its responsibilities.The six-member Commission was appointed by the Finance Minister and tasked with reviewing and proposing changes to Government agencies and structures, and identifying operational improvements.The legislation requires Government bodies to provide requested information unless it is related to cabinet proceedings, national security or subject to legal privilege.Mr Richards has already announced the Commission will be chaired by Brian Duperreault, with Kim White, Kenneth Dill, Peter Hardy, Catherine Duffy and Don MacKenzie serving as members.Shadow Attorney General Kim Wilson said the Commission appeared to be an unnecessary expenditure, as its role is already carried out by the Auditor General, the Department of Human Resources and other existing bodies.And because the Board can take donations from the public without the regulations of the Charities Act, Ms Wilson said conflicts of interests could arise.She also expressed concerns about the powers given to the group. She said the board has the same if not greater power than a Commission of Inquiry, but lacks the checks and balances.“They have the power to ask anyone to come before them, bring documents with them, answer questions, et cetera et cetera,” she said.“This act says they can delegate that power to their committees. That’s more power than the Commission of Inquiry Act has.”Shadow Education Minister Walton Brown embraced the effort to regulate Government spending, but said the Commission is “both unwise and unwarranted”.There have already been a number of reviews regarding efficiency, he said.Two-thirds of the Commission has no demonstrated expertise in Governance or running the Civil Service, Mr Brown stated.And he questioned whether the Commission was a “Trojan horse” for privatisation and outsourcing in the Government.Opposition Leader Marc Bean said the legislation was filled with “red flags”.He said it appeared to have been hastily drafted without a second thought to the consequences, and noted the lack of funding in the budget.“This legislation will have a tremendous impact on this Country, and it doesn’t seem like it’s been thought through at all,” Mr Bean said.“We are genuinely concerned with this haphazard, arbitrary piece of legislation.”Mr Richards said it was a deliberate decision to use people from the private sector in the Commission as they were better suited than those in the public sector to respond to the urgent need for change.“The problem with governmental organisations is that the urgency is not there because if you spend too much money, you just increase the budget the next year. You borrow some more money; you raise some more taxes.“There is no Waterloo in Government, but there is a Waterloo in the private sector. If you can’t make the money, if you can’t get the return on investment, your job is toast. It’s history.”He said the Commission has no power other than to make recommendations to the Government, which Government may or not act on.Whatever suggestions are decided by the Commission will be made public, he added.And he said that there are allocations in the Ministry to finance the Commision, he had been told by the members that they could raise funds in the private sector if they were a charity.“The persons they think they can get money from won’t give to anything but charity, so the Commission had to have the status of a charity,” Mr Richards said.“However, the Charities Act requires charities to have a charitable function, and this does not have a charitable function. That is why it’s exempt from the Charities Act, but it’s got the charitable essence in the act itself.”He said the Commission would be audited by the Auditor General, who would then make a report to the House.
A raft of legislation was approved in the House of Assembly yesterday, increasing several fees.
The Health Insurance (Standard Hospital Benefit) Amendment Regulations 2013 were approved, setting a new monthly premium of $325.84 and a weekly rate of $75.19.
The Mutual Reinsurance Fund will receive $34,88 a month under the legislation, and standard premiums for those over 65 years old would increase to $1,303.36.
Bermuda Hospital’s Board Amendment Act 2013, also approved, will require hospital fee changes to be subject to debate in the House of Assembly.
Government also approved a five percent increase in a number of several maritime services to offset the costs of the services.
Marine Board (Light Toll) Regulations, Marine Board (Seaborne Services) Regulations, Marine Board (Pilotage Dues) Amendment Regulations and the Marine and Ports Authority (Port Dues) Amendment Regulations were all approved.
Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2013, intended to streamline complex duty charging provisions for imported goods while encouraging the development of business with duty relief.
It is also expected to increase duty revenue by around $2 million annually by increasing the cost of importing cigarettes, beer, wines and spirits.
Telecommunications Regulatory Authorities Fees Regulations 2013 was also passed, intended to fund the Regulatory Authority, which commenced operations on January 28.
Service providers will pay a consolidated fee of 3.8 percent of relevant turnover, paid every quarter, with 1.75 percent going toward the regulatory authority.
And the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2013 meanwhile was described as a “brief but consequential” measure to streamline the operating of the Island’s courts.
Under the legislation Chief Justice the ability to make rules applicable to indictable offences without immediately requiring the approval of the House.
