Governor George Fergusson’s refusal to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to investigate claims of historic losses of citizens’ property through theft and dispossession has highlighted the manner in which unaccountable figures retain important powers under Bermuda’s present constitution. More than 2,000 gathered at Government House to protest the decision – which marked the very first…...
Hollis resigns as chairman of Bermuda’s governing party
quits following his release of report into scandal
Thad Hollis has quit his post as chairman of the One Bermuda Alliance just days after concluding an internal inquiry into the “JetGate” scandal. Reports are also emerging that Cabinet Minister Michael Fahy may be taking legal action against Hollis and members of the party executive. That is yet to be confirmed and a statement…...
More questions than answers
OBA's internal inquiry satisfies no one
Within hours of its release on Friday, Thad Hollis’ statement on the internal investigation into his party’s dealings with Nathan Landow drew criticisms about its methodology and claims of factual inaccuracy. In a video-taped interview, Opposition Leader Marc Bean derided the party’s decision to restrict the investigation by excluding the actions of Ministers from its purview, and denounced…...
Political financing in Turks and Caicos
How it works
A Political Activities Ordinance was introduced in the Turks and Caicos in 2012. The purpose of the ordinance is to define the legitimate sources of donations to political parties, the use of funds during election campaigns, political activities and detailed arrangements of accounts for campaign and political expenditure. The Turks and Caicos Government explains that […]
Mouthpiece journalism and the forgetful Nathan Landow
Someone has to say it. No one has. So we will. More than two months have passed since we published Selling Bermuda, the story that led to the governing party’s internal inquiry and Craig Cannonier’s resignation as Premier of Bermuda. That’s two months in which the legacy media could have built upon the foundation we […]
Thad Hollis concludes internal inquiry into OBA
Chairman of Bermuda’s ruling One Bermuda Alliance, Thad Hollis has concluded his internal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a $350,000 donation to his party. See his full press statement by clicking on the link below. PRESS RELEASE on OBA investigation Some points Hollis confirms that Derrick Green and Steven DeCosta were signatories to the account which…...
“If that hypothetical bill came on my desk, I would withhold my signature” – Governor George Fergusson
Bermuda's Governor on the exercise of his powers
When Politica spoke with Governor George Fergusson on Tuesday morning, we had no idea that he would soon be at the center of a political storm over the exercise of his powers. We asked a range of questions, including one that sought to determine what, if anything, would cause him to withhold his signature from a…...
11 Things we’ve learned since Selling Bermuda
The JetGate update you've been waiting for
We’ve been closely monitoring things since publishing Selling Bermuda – the story that led to Craig Cannonier’s resignation as Premier of Bermuda. Now, as the country awaits the announcement of the results of the governing OBA’s internal inquiry into JetGate, here’s a list of a few things the legacy media can’t – or won’t – tell Bermuda about […]
Bermuda’s party of ‘white knights’ blocked publication of anti-corruption measures
Historical research by Politica has found that United Bermuda Party politicians kept secret a new ministerial code of conduct when it was first touted in the early 1970s. In 1972, the then UBP government refused to publish the new code of conduct because of fear that the Opposition PLP would make “political capital” out […]
“We never lost a Premier this way”
Bermuda’s top job in historical context
The resignation of Craig Cannonier, the eleventh person to occupy the office of Premier, since it was created in April 1973, was an event unprecedented in Bermudian history as no elected leader of the Island has ever been forced to give up the job in the midst of corruption allegations. Cannonier also managed to…...