The Opposition Progressive Labour Party is to move a motion seeking to stop tomorrow’s debate on the airport redevelopment deal. Shadow Attorney General Michael Scott will bring the motion which asks the House of Assembly to delay debate until all the financial details are provided or commit the matter to the Privileges Committee to decide…....
PLP moves to stop airport debate
The Opposition Progressive Labour Party is to move a motion seeking to stop tomorrow’s debate on the airport redevelopment deal. Shadow Attorney General Michael Scott will bring the motion which asks the House of Assembly to delay debate until all the financial details are provided or commit the matter to the Privileges Committee to decide…....
Police protests plan to restrict access to parliament “wrong” – PLP
A police plan to restrict public access to the grounds of parliament in the event of mass protests has been denounced by the Opposition Progressive Labour Party as “entirely regrettable” and “wrong”. Shadow national security minister Walter Roban also criticised the governor and national security minister Jeff Baron for supporting the contingency measures. He told…...
Government silent on PLP’s compromise offer on airport dispute
The dispute between the island’s two political parties on the way forward on the controversial airport development project (see stories here and here) escalated again today with charges that the Government has misrepresented the Opposition’s position as a critical deadline looms. Progressive Labour Party leader David Burt released correspondence showing that his party adjusted its…...
A dozen police officers hit by pepper spray on December 2
A dozen police officers were affected by their colleagues’ use of pepper spray on protesters outside the House of Assembly on December 2. And more details have emerged about the use of force with police commissioner Michael DeSilva acknowledging that he is only aware of three persons receiving aftercare from police officers after being pepper…...
Independent panel to review airport redevelopment project
Government’s airport redevelopment deal with Canadian Commercial Corporation is to be reviewed by an independent panel of local experts in finance, accounting and economics, finance minister Bob Richards announced today. Richards indicated to the media that he was confident that the panel would conclude that the controversial deal is the best option for Bermuda. He […]
UK indicates airport entrustment conditions not yet met
but Whitehall is "comfortable" with progress
As controversy continues to swirl around the airport redevelopment project, Government House is not yet ready to say that Bermuda has met met entrustment conditions imposed on it by the UK Government. Deputy Governor Ginny Ferson struck a positive note but would only say that the UK was “comfortable” with progress on meeting the conditions…...
Finance Minister: “They’re just wrong, what can I tell you?”
says airport deal critics simply don't understand finance
Two reports by retired chartered accountant Craig Mayor and commentator Larry Burchall reiterating criticism of the airport redevelopment project as proposed by the Government have been released. All MPs received the reports on December 7. Burchall and Mayor’s analyses purport to show that the real cost of the airport project is $1.4 billion. This is…...
Pepper spray guidelines caution against use in crowds
Captor "not designed" for crowd control
Captor spray – the form of pepper spray used against unarmed, non-violent protesters on December 2 – was not designed as a crowd control measure. And guidance notes provided by the UK’s chief police officers caution against its use in crowds, and state that it should not be used closer than one metre from the subject…...
Richards turns down airport debate proposal
remains silent on request for an interview
Finance minister Bob Richards has turned down a proposal for an on camera debate on the controversial airport redevelopment deal with his Opposition counterpart. And he has remained silent in response to a request for a full length interview. Think Media proposed the debate last week in the wake of protests and civil disobedience which…...