The Government has been asked to confirm whether municipal elections will be held this year.

Polling for the Corporation of Hamilton and the Corporation of St George, which takes place every two years, was last held in May 2023.

However, Hamilton officials are embroiled in a legal battle with the Government over plans to scrap elections and have mayors and some counsellors hand-picked by the minister responsible for municipalities, while others would be appointed by a selection committee.

The matter went before the Privy Council in London in December — but the court has yet to make a ruling.

Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister of Housing, Municipalities and Home Affairs, said that the Government needed to confirm whether voters would be going to the polls.

Referring to the 1923 Municipalities Act, he said: “Clarity is required from the Bermuda Government on its intent.

“Is the Government waiting for the outcome of the Privy Council judgment in the hopes that it is successful in wiping out the corporations as we know them and replacing them with unelected government appointees prior to May 2025?

“If a judgment does not come within the next few weeks, preparations will need to be made for municipal elections to fulfil the requirements under the Act.

“Voters, those desirous of standing for election and current elected officials deserve to know. Will elections be held in May 2025 or not, or will the elected corporations be lost for ever?

“To be clear, the OBA does not support the Government’s ultimate desire to take over the corporations, and hopes that the Privy Council judgment will go in the corporations’ favour.

“In the event it does not, we hope that the Government will be brave enough to reverse its clear intent for ultimate control.”

Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, backed Mr Fahy’s comments.

He said that the corporation had contacted municipalities minister Zane DeSilva shortly after his appointment last month.

Mr Gosling said: “Mr Fahy is indeed correct.

“We approached our newly appointed minister within days of his appointment to gain clarification on this matter. We are anxiously awaiting a response.”

Mr DeSilva has been asked for comment.

The Government moved to overhaul the municipalities in 2019 after passing a Bill in the House of Assembly.

That Bill was rejected by the Senate, but the Corporation of Hamilton pressed on with its constitutional claim on the basis that the Bill could be presented in the House of Assembly again and would no longer need the approval of the Upper House.

The corporation was unsuccessful in the Supreme Court and in the Court of Appeal in arguing that it would be deprived of its property and its right to the protection of law if the Bill and parts of various associated amendment Acts came into effect.