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The alleged moves by the Premier to dismiss the head of the Civil Service strike at the core of the ­stability inherent in Bermuda's system of government.

The Service is supposed to be ­protected from political interference by the Constitution and ­General Orders - now called Conditions of ­Employment and Code of Conduct - and such a move would mean Dr. Brown is no longer fit to lead our ­island.

The Premier has already been implicated in the ­illegal firing of civil ­servant LeYoni Junos, plus others whose names have not yet been made public.

Any attack on the head of the Civil Service is tantamount to an act of treason as the mechanisms for ­orderly governance of our island are being threatened.

This alleged cavalier attitude ­toward the protocols of good governance is no doubt the reasoning behind the calls for a leadership change within the PLP.

Those defending the ­Premier are harping on about adherence to the PLP's Constitution.

According to them, Dr. Brown's coup that toppled Premier Jennifer Smith in 2003 was wrong and Dr. Brown should be protected from being deposed in the same manner. But while he is being shielded by calls to follow the rules, he himself appears to have little ­respect for them if they stand in the way of his ­personal agenda.

Planning rules, civil service rules, rules about ­putting government ­contracts out to tender, ­parliamentary rules, traffic rules - all these and more are allegedly being ­disregarded, ­disobeyed and flouted.

In the process, the entire framework of lawful society is undermined. This is treasonous ­conduct.

The duplicity is horrendous, evident in the following two examples.

Dismissed

Firstly, when lecturing taxi drivers, Dr. Brown ­pontificates: "Adherence to the law is paramount."

But when pushing his own agenda, whether as Premier, Tourism Minister or Transport Minister, ­circumventing the law seems to take precedence.

Secondly, the Premier ­dismissed Education ­Minister Randy Horton from Cabinet, reportedly for not doing his job well enough.

So why wasn't the same action taken against tourism advertising firm Globalhue?

They reportedly billed Bermuda for ads that didn't run, placed ads in markets less likely to produce ­results, paid out our money without receiving invoices and overcharged us by as much as $1.8 million.

Instead of being ­dismissed, the firm was ­rewarded with a new two-year contract worth a staggering $28 million.

Premier Brown seems to make enemies of almost every individual or organization he has to deal with, except those he controls outright or those for whom he controls the payout.

He has allegedly had ­people who won't knuckle under fired and picked on the weak. He has been ­accused of wasting the ­public's money pursuing frivolous court ­actions and appeals and of sending jobs or contracts to undeserving parties by ­either subverting or bypassing competitive tendering processes.

It is also alleged he used race-baited arguments to side-step questions and ­silence critics. No one doubts that our Premier has a quick mind.

But he seems to make most use of his intellect to bend or break the rules, ­utter cleverly worded insults, demonize his critics, intimidate or otherwise­ ­coerce compliance, shoot at any non-compliant messenger and funnel funds in ­directions shielded from ­accountability.

When defenders list the benefits of the Premier's leadership, they amount to petty, largesse gifts - the giving over of public funds and/or services to selected private individuals through entitlements, no-bid ­contracts, hidden trusts and under-regulated ­construction contracts.

Confidence

Under Premier Brown's leadership, violence has ­escalated, imported motorbikes and cars are capable of - and are travelling at - higher speeds and traffic lawlessness has increased.

This includes illegal noise, which has resulting in serious traffic accidents and speed-related deaths.

People are more fearful of repercussions if they speak out against the government and more fearful of being victims of crime.

Confidence in the integrity of government and politicians has eroded.

In short, the quality of governance and quality of life has taken a turn downward turn.

Premier Brown has triggered more discontent in parliament, in his party and in the country as a whole than any local leader in my memory.

His good qualities have been outweighed by the bad.

If the allegation he tried to subvert the relationship between elected government and Civil Service is true, it is the last straw.

He has stepped over the line and should be ­removed.[[In-content Ad]]

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