After all that... no change

PROGRESSIVE LABOUR PARTY WINS ELECTION

It would be hard to find a story bigger for December than the final results for the 2007 general election. The PLP were made the Government for the third consecutive time. Despite all the predictions of people switching votes, the results were very similar to the previous election with 22 seats for the PLP and 14 seats to the United Bermuda Party — though four changed hands.

In the biggest shock of the election former Opposition leader Michael Dunkley lost his bid to unseat Patrice Minors in Smith's North, Mr. Dunkley got 444 votes to 536 for Mrs. Minors. Dr. Brown called Mrs. Minors' win "very special".

Another upset saw the Attorney General Philip Perinchief beaten by 29-year-old Donte Hunt at St. George's North, with Mr. Hunt winning 544 votes to the Mr. Perinchief's 519.

And Veteran UBP MP and former Tourism Minister lost to newcomer Zane DeSilva in Southampton East Central in a major gain for the PLP. Mr. Dodwell got 520 votes to 566 for Mr. DeSilva.

And St. David's went to the PLP this time with Lovitta Foggo's winning 572 to Suzann Roberts-Holshouser's 482 votes

Earlier the UBP's Darius Tucker became the first person to be elected to the House of Assembly beating the PLP's Wayne Caines 547 votes to 420 in Hamilton South.

IN HOTT WATER

One of Bermuda's most popular radio personalities Thao Dill and Miss Thang found themselves in hot water when they were consistently heard reading out PLP election advertisements. Radio employees should not be participating in political advertisements, according to legislation passed by the Progressive Labour Party.

After the election Mr. Dill was made a PLP senator. Former Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb said the United Bermuda Party (UBP) had a right to complain about the pro-Government bias on Hott 107.5. The UBP wrote a letter to the Broadcast Commission claiming the station is showing Progressive Labour Party "bias" and is breaching broadcast laws.

Ms Webb, who did not run in the 2007 election said the law had been updated under her watch as part of a general review of broadcasting legislation but the radio station was obviously flouting the new rules.

On December 12, the radio station was ordered to remove adverts that violate Political Broadcasting Directions. The Broadcast Commission, headed by lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, decided last night HOTT was violating the law, which stipulated that employees of radio stations should not take part in a political broadcasts unless they are a MP or a candidate and they take part in a broadcast in that capacity.

LARRY DENNIS TO SUE MINISTER

On December 4 it was announced that Auditor General Larry Dennis planned to sue Minister of Labour and Immigration Derrick Burgess for alleged libel.

He told The Royal Gazette that he had instructed lawyer Alan Dunch to take action over comments Mr. Burgess made at a PLP rally, in which the Minister accused Mr. Dennis of criminal conduct.

Mr. Burgess alleged Mr. Dennis received stolen goods in reference to a leaked police file about allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation. The Auditor General, the Island's independent financial watchdog, has seen his office raided by Police twice this year

He was detained for 24 hours after the first swoop and put on Police bail until today, but has never been charged with any offence. Auditor General Larry Dennis, the island's independent financial watchdog, took a lot of the heat during the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) leaked dossier issue.

On June 19, he spent the night in custody at Prospect Police Station following a raid by detectives on the Office of the Auditor General, and also his home. Copies of BHC inquiry documents were handed over to detectives by the Auditor General's wife.

Mr. Dennis was released the next day. No charges were filed, but he was told to report back to the Hamilton Police Station on August 22. On October 13, Auditor General Larry Dennis was interviewed again by Police. His bail was extended. Meanwhile, Progressive Labour Party (PLP) MP Larry Dennis publicly accused Mr. Dennis of being a criminal.

He alleged that Mr. Dennis should be charged with handing stolen documents over a leaked Police report on the Bermuda Housing Corporation probe. Mr. Dennis slammed the Police over the second raid on his office. He said he believed the move was an attempt to link him with the leak to the media.

The AG denied having anything to do with the leak, and said he was "very upset" by the two raids — the like of which he had never seen during 30 years in the job. Public Safety Minister David Burch defended a Police raid on the Auditor General's office, warning that "no one is above the law".

BHC ISSUE STRETCHES ON

The Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) controversy was threatening to stretch on into 2008. On December 14 Housing Minister David Burch called for a "full and unequivocal apology" from the Mid-Ocean News that claimed it had fresh evidence to show that Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) money was used to partly to pay for the construction of Premier Ewart Brown's home.

The Minister said the story contained about eight allegations that were "pure fabrication and complete lies". The article said freshly leaked financial papers, including bank statements and copies of cheques, showed that BHC paid $400,000 to Bermuda Composite Construction (BCC) after the Premier refused to pay the same company for cost overruns of a similar amount on his mansion at AP Owen Road, Smith's.

Lt. Col. Burch said an assumption in the story that a payment of $229,000 in October 2002 to BCC one of whose directors was PLP election candidate Zane DeSilva from BHC was a final payment for 20 low cost housing units at Southside was false.

Statistics

December 6: Some observers said the election was becoming a referendum on Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's leadership and the latest poll shows he has a narrow lead over Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley on the popularity stakes.

Asked for their overall opinion of Dr. Brown, 53.4 percent of voters were favourable compared to 41.9 percent who disapproved and just 4.7 percent not sure. Mr. Michael Dunkley got a favourability rating of 49.5 percent while 28.3 percent disapproved and 22.2 had yet to decide.

Before the election, a Profiles of Bermuda survey commissioned by The Royal Gazette showed 45.3 support for Government compared to 31.8 percent backing for the Opposition, with 12.1 percent still undecided and 1.7 percent not voting.

December 2007 Voices

"When one party expresses sharp rhetoric, it's been responded to in like. This behaviour from both sides has now, in my view, whipped up those irresponsible elements amongh the ranks who are capable of that sort of behaviour on both sides'.

– Former UBP Senator and current PLP supporter Llewellyn Peniston

"A dangerous precedent has been set whereby SDOs are used to enable large tourism developments to opt out of Bermuda's planning process."

Dorcas Roberts, the National Trust's environmental conservation officer.

"Say what you mean and mean what you say. They don't think we should be using presenters' voices in the ads. Why didn't the Chairman write about that? Then I wouldn't have a problem. And you don't hear poeple complaining about all those e-mails going around."

– Kristy Burgess, aka Miss Thang, a radio host on Hott 107.5

"... A UBP vote is a vote back to the plantation. it is a vote that will return the shackles to our feet! it is a vote that will keep us as slaves because the UBP has one aim; to ensure that we, the working class, the underprivileged, never get our fair share of that economic pie... Emancipate yourselves!"

– first-time PLP candidate Lovitta Foggo at the party's East End rally. Ms Foggo knocked out UBP incumbent Suzann Roberts Holshouser.

"The result of the 2007 election was something of a surprise as I was expecting it to be rather closer. However, like many I am very glad that the campaigning is at an end. The nastiness that we have seen over the past few weeks was both unseemly and unworthy of those who so indulged themselves for purely political ends."

– Anglican Bishop Ewan Ratteray speaking after the election.

"Nasty must work. I was confident ... obviously it didn't resonate. I wish Patrice Minors all the best."

– Michael Dunkley, the defeated former United Bermuda Party leader.

"I'm doing great. I'm very shocked. People need to realise that I have a deep empathy for Bermuda and its people and they clearly spoke today. I'm Bermudian. I love this island and I want the best for it."

– Michael Dunkley again.

"People are not afraid to come out and say who they support. There was a time when United Bermuda Party (UBP) supporters were stealth voters. You'd never know they were UBP voters. Now they have flags on their cars. They have t-shirts. No more closet elections."

– Premier Dr. Ewart Brown during a visit to the Smiths South polling station during election day.

"The modification and adoption of this piece of legislation into Bermuda will not accomplish that same feat because those doors are already wide open. The reality of why Bermudians are not expeditiously marching through those doors lies in the failure of our education system. Specifically, the public education system."

– Bermuda Employers Council boss Willie DeSilva has said poor schools were limiting opportunities for Bermudians as he criticised the Workforce Equity Act.

"I expected a convincing victory. I know many months ago I called for 30 seats but a victory like this is just as a sweet."

– Premier Brown on election night.

December 2007 Timeline

December 6: Government unveiled its new drugs master plan that gave equal weight to reducing demand and supply. Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler said the five-year plan, which had been two years in the making, would bring together all the agencies including Police, customs and the department of National Drug Control in one coordinated effort. He said greater acceptability and availability had increased the risk of drug abuse for young people. Mr. Butler added: "All of this has caused an unprecedented upsurge in the prevalence of illicit drug use — mainly cocaine and heroin, as well as drug-related criminal activity associated with illicit drug trafficking." The plan called on churches, schools, communities, business and families to help the drug fight as Government tries to slash drug use and the health damage and crime that goes with it while increasing the number of successfully treated addicts.

Education reform, a crackdown on crime, scrutiny of protectionist immigration policies and candid discussions on race — those were the Christmas wishes of the Chamber of Commerce. Outgoing Bermuda Chamber of Commerce President Philip Barnett said Bermuda must increase the value of its "human capital" in order to remain a leader rather than a follower in international business. "Innovation was what allowed Bermuda to create a system of tourism that became not just the envy of the world, but the template for other destinations around the world to copy. However, not only did those jurisdictions copy it, but they innovated and exploited. Bermuda, to all intents and purpose, continued doing the same old, same old."

December 10: The Progressive Labour Party unveiled its election manifesto on December 10 that pledged to provide free day care for Bermudian families, free bus and ferry rides for all and improved health insurance for seniors. Premier Ewart Brown told party supporters gathered at Alaska Hall that the Patterns of Progress platform contained no "grandiose promises", but set out a vision for keeping the Country on the right track under the PLP. He said the 48-page document contained "two bold initiatives designed to significantly enhance the quality of life for Bermudians at their earliest years and during their golden years".

Postal workers intercepted a package addressed to Premier Ewart Brown containing a bullet and a threatening letter. Security was stepped up around Dr. Brown as a result of the discovery at the airport sorting office.

December 13: A Special Development Order was granted for a multi-storey affordable housing complex at Southside, without a planning application ever being submitted. The SDO, for the Bermuda Housing Corporation, meant that those who wished to object to the 106-condominium development would not be able to make their views known. Critics said it was another example of Government overriding the planning process. Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environment and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) said: "I'm distressed that it (the SDO) seems to be bypassing the process. This is similar as to what was done for Loughlands, where an SDO was granted without a Planning application being made.

December 14: Japan's biggest insurance company was preparing to buy Bermuda-based Kiln for $902 million. Ending a week of speculation about who was involved in talks with the Lloyd's of London insurer, which recently moved its base to Bermuda, Japan's Millea Holdings revealed it was seeking to buy the company and has already secured support from shareholders who control more than 20 percent of the company. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Company, which is a unit of Millea, intended to seal the deal as the Japanese insurer seeks to expand its operations significantly beyond its home country. The proposed bid price represents 1.7 times Kiln's book value.

The Royal Gazette believes that it was the subject of what is known as a "denial of service" attack by computer hackers designed to crash the website. Additional measures were taken to restore service and protect the website, and these will be continually improved upon. An investigation has also been launched into who was responsible for the attack. "We are tremendously disappointed that someone has decided to attack our website and deny our readers in Bermuda and abroad up to date news on the Island, especially in the middle of an election campaign," Editor Bill Zuill said last night. "This is a violation of international Internet ethics rules and of the laws of many countries. We will be making every effort to find out who was responsible.

December 15: An official complaint was made to Police alleging that cheques from a company part owned by Progressive Labour Party (PLP) candidate Zane DeSilva were forged. The complaint was made on behalf of Bermuda Composite Construction (BCC) to fraud officers about what was understood to be more than 50 cheques from the company all bearing the name of Southampton East Central candidate Mr. DeSilva and one of the company's other directors. It was believed that the second name on the cheques — which date from 2001 to 2004 — was the one alleged to have been forged. A source told The Royal Gazette: "A number of them were paid out to subcontractors. Many were to construction workers."

December 18: Arbitrators ruled that Pro-Active, the company sacked by Government from the new Berkeley Institute site, owed Government around $13 million. According to sources close to the secret arbitration process, the decision was handed down on Friday. Pro-Active had 28 days to pay from that date, according to the insiders, who also revealed that a company set up by the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), Union Asset Holdings, owes $6.5 million of that sum. That figure related to the performance bond for the project which is akin to an insurance policy, and was underwritten by Union Asset Holdings. The sources told this newspaper the performance bond could not be called until an agreed sum was settled upon. The arbitrators also awarded a legal costs to Government. This, The Royal Gazette understood, would be a percentage of the total legal costs.