My high school math teacher used to display a poster in his classroom with what seemed a rather harsh sentiment: "It's better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than speak and confirm it."

The world of politics, both local and international, is littered with the output of those who've failed to heed this advice. I suppose that when you talk as much as politicians do, you're bound to say something stupid everyone once in a while (me included) and for that the public tends to be quite forgiving. Every one of us can compile a list of our favourite examples of stupidity from Bermuda's politicians; some are humorous and benign, others offensive and harmful.

Bermuda politics however seems to have moved firmly into the offensive and harmful territory lately with the Government practising both sides of the saying; the Premier says nothing while some of his Ministers seem stricken with a political strand of Tourette's syndrome.

It may come as news to the Premier but the onus is on him to disavow and disassociate himself and his Government from the impulsive brain dumps and lashing out of his proxies. Mr. Scott's self-assigned designation as a strong leader notwithstanding, his management style ? if there indeed is one ? stinks; a classic example of silent but deadly.

The stench of two recent events lingers, both courtesy of the Premier's most prolific Tourette's patient, Minister Burch.

The first instance is the now notorious insult that won't go away, where the soon-to-be Senator ? on his officially non-political but rabidly political talk show ? labelled anyone of his race who doesn't share his political ideology a "House Nigger".

What has the Premier had to say publicly about this matter? Nothing.

And when the boss is away his Ministers will play. While the Premier was off the island his loose-cannon Regimental recruit engaged in a ready-fire-aim attack on the Defence Board/Governor and the Auditor General; the pungent odour of his earlier racial attack still lingering.

Only hours after the Human Rights Commission delivered their ruling on the slur, this very same Minister attacked the selectors of the Regiments new Commanding Officer and steamrolled the Office of the Auditor General; the latter a blatant act of intimidation and revenge for a factual ? and hence unfavourable ? audit.

When our strong leader returned to our shores for a brief stop-over visit he pledged to meet with the Senator, but pledged before the meeting that he would remain a Minister. And the point of the meeting was what then if the outcome was predetermined?

But what was the outcome? Did the Premier denounce the actions and words of his hand-selected Minister? Nope. The Premier opted to say nothing; an act of silence which at best described as indifference, at worst an endorsement.

The simple fact of the matter is that Sen. Burch is a Cabinet Minister, one of two non-elected Ministers. He's not just some harmless backbencher with a big mouth in a safe seat whose antics we can just chuckle at; a harmless class clown.

When a Cabinet Minister defames all Bermudians who don't share his dogmatic views ? white or black ? it's up to the Premier to sanction that type of behaviour. Yet he doesn't. He promotes the culprits into his Cabinet. The Premier sees no evil and hears no evil while allowing others to speak it on his behalf.

And where oh where has our Premier's voice gone on the matter of the Auditor's Report? We already know Senator Burch's response; pack him up and shut him down to shut him up.

The only logical conclusion to be drawn from the deafening silence is that our Premier is wholly un-concerned with the contents of the Auditor's report and its un-audited estimate of $800 million dollars. That's a fact. An amount totalling approximately one full fiscal year's revenue and spending is not certified.

The CEO of any publicly traded corporation, who the Premier is fond of likening himself to and wants to be compensated like, would have been fired or resigned in disgrace long ago. Mr. Scott gives us nothing. The buck stops nowhere in his administration. Not so much as a whiff of concern. Silent but deadly.

Need someone remind Mr. Scott, fresh off of his sightseeing tour of Washington DC, that Bermuda's unparalleled economic success invites unjust attacks on our reputation and credibility as a financial services centre?

The attack which presents the most difficulties for our companies is the one on our regulatory framework. It's also the easiest to address, because the allegation that Bermuda is unregulated is not true. However when those who regulate the private sector flout the very regulations in their own affairs, these attacks gain traction.

Permitting hundreds of millions of dollars to go un-audited only emboldens and increases the ammunition of those who want to shoot us down. Nor does it suggest that our tax dollars are under good stewardship.

Bermuda as a financial centre must comply with international standards, regulations and good financial practices. This is necessary if we are to prevent punitive regulatory attacks from competing jurisdictions and ensure that our firms are treated fairly and can compete on even terms.

Notably our financial services sector is seeking more regulation by the BMA ? at its own expense and initiative. While the private sector increases their compliance, Government Ministers attempt to tear their's down.

Mr. Scott's lack of comment on the Auditor's Report undermines our credibility and endorses poor financial controls. His silence on the Burch outburst reinforces the bigotry and divisiveness of some of his members.

The Premier can't sit mute while his Ministers act in such a cavalier and dangerous manner, both socially and economically. Too much is at stake