Roban on Inaccurate & Misleading Statements Concerning Municipal Reform
19 February 2010 | Press Release
The Hon. Walter Roban, J.P., M.P., Minister of Health with responsibility for overseeing Municipal Reform today issued a statement responding to the inaccurate and misleading statements published in an opinion piece by the Corporation of Hamilton in the Bermuda Sun on February 19, 2010.
Minister Roban said: “It is entirely misleading for the Corporation of Hamilton to allege that a foreign law firm has been appointed to carry out a review of the Municipalities. The Government has in fact appointed a group that includes local firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki (ASW) who have partnered with international firm McKenna Long & Aldridge (MLA). ASW is a specialist corporate and commercial law firm with extensive and wide ranging experience in the legal services market of a number of jurisdictions, both onshore and offshore.”
Contrary to the Corporation claim that foreign consultants will decide what happens to the Municipalities, Minister Roban said: “Whatever is ultimately decided will be decided by the Bermuda Government – not the consultants.”
Concerning the allegation that employees working for the Corporations have been left uncertain about their jobs and whether they are at risk, Minister Roban said: “I refer to my original statement made in the House on June 26th, 2009 in which I said: ‘I wish to make it clear that all of the rights and employment terms of those employees of the Corporations will be respected and preserved. In fact it may well be that they are enhanced by this process.’”
Minister Roban said that perhaps one of the most outlandish claims was the accusation concerning MLA being connected to the transfer of Guantanamo bay prisoners to Bermuda. The Minister said: “In view of reports to the contrary in the news media, I wish to make clear that McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, nor any member or employee of McKenna Long & Aldridge, had no part in discussions between the United States and the Government of Bermuda regarding the acceptance of Guantanamo Bay detainees.”
Minister Roban said: “Government is conducting this review to facilitate the removal of the undemocratic structure and practices of the Municipalities that have been in place since 1923. For far too long many people have been left without a voice and without representation in their constituency – be it Hamilton or St. George’s.”
Minister Roban added: “Many of the public comments and opinions are extremely unhelpful and some even appear to be calculated, malicious attempts to derail this process. In the interests of serving all Bermuda residents, I would urge the Municipalities and other stakeholders to offer their full support and cooperation to the consultants as they carry out their remit.”
