Stronger anti-corruption laws on the way

Bermuda’s House of Assembly

Bermuda is set to broaden and strengthen its laws against official corruption, Government says.

But it declined a proposal to immediately enact anti-corruption measures for the gaming industry.

Under questioning from Opposition Progressive Labour Party MPs during Friday’s debate of the Casino Gaming Act 2014, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell acknowledged that the law did not bar politicians from serving on the Bermuda Gaming Commission, the industry’s regulator.

But he told parliament that there was no intention of appointing any legislators to the Commission.

Shadow Finance Minister David Burt then proposed amendments which would make it an offence for the Minister or member of the Commission to seek private benefit in connection with the designation of a casino site or awarding a casino license.

Burt said that while his proposal mirrored existing Criminal Code provisions against official corruption, it was not clear whether the Commission members were considered public officers. The MP said Bermuda should send a strong signal that it would not tolerate corruption in its gaming industry.

“It is our view that this is a very simple amendment to the bill that would make sure we put in very strong language that this jurisdiction would not tolerate any corruption when it comes to the awarding of designated sites nor any influence or undue influence in the awarding of such.”

Crockwell said he was blindsided by the proposal which had been “intentionally withheld” from him during cross party talks about the new law.

And Attorney General Trevor Moniz said that his offices were already looking at broadening the country’s laws against official corruption and would have to study the matter. He did not specify what changes were being considered or when they would be brought to parliament.

“Its very possible that we can achieve the spirit of this by amending another Act,” added Crockwell.

“We can always come back to this Honorable House and amend it accordingly.”

He described the Opposition’s amendment as “very compelling and useful” but asked for it to be withdrawn so it could be fully considered by the Government and addressed at the next legislative session which begins in mid-February.

Burt refused to withdraw his amendment, saying that the advent of Bermuda’s casino gaming industry was imminent.

“We will have a vote on this amendment,” he said. “We want to make sure that there’s no corrupt practices, we want to make sure that the people of the world know that when it comes to dealing with casinos and gaming in Bermuda there is no corrupt practices allowed.”

Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva noted that developers Desarrollos which has been chosen to build a luxury resort in the east end of the island would be seeking their casino license without delay.

The measure then went to a vote and was defeated (13-18).

Earlier in the debate, the Opposition repeatedly reminded the Government that its casino gaming initiative had been mired in controversy – it had broken an election promise to hold a referendum on gaming, and there had been questionable dealings with casino developer Nathan Landow which resulted in Craig Cannonier’s resignation as Premier.

Opposition MPs were allowed a free, conscience vote on the casino gaming law.

While some joined the Government side in supporting the legislation, others opposed it saying the process had been compromised.

PLP leader Marc Bean and Shadow Tourism Minister DeSilva were among the Government’s harshest critics.

“Corruption is written all over this bill,” said Bean, a proponent of gaming.

He challenged Government members to speak to the “pitfalls” of this legislation and the “one-year of skullduggery” that had preceded its introduction to the island’s parliament.

“The whole idea of casino licenses is he who controls the licenses control the key to the pot of gold.”

This article belongs to Politica ! The original article can be found here: Stronger anti-corruption laws on the way – Bermuda Government