Row over Cannonier's business interests: negligence or clerical mix-up?

FRIDAY, JUNE 29: Sparks have been flying between the two main political parties in a row over the OBA leader’s business interests.

PLP Senator Jonathan Smith told the Upper House on Wednesday that Craig Cannonier had been an MP for 240 days — but had yet to register his interests.

In a subsequent press release, the PLP said this showed that despite Mr Cannonier’s stance on transparency in Government, it was lacking in practice.

According to the OBA, however, it all boils down to a clerical mix-up.

Trevor Moniz, the House Leader and shadow Attorney General, said Mr Cannonier had filled in the form and handed in to the Clerk’s Office in the House of Assembly shortly after becoming an MP.

But — after Sen. Smith and the PLP highlighted the issue — Mr Moniz said the Clerk’s Office had said it was unable to find the form.

Mr Moniz added: “He [Mr Cannonier] had obviously never done it before — but he has now filled it in again and he gave it to me and I handed it to the Clerk’s Office.”

And by yesterday Mr Cannonier’s business interests had been added to those of his 36 Parliamentary colleagues.

Mr Moniz said: “It’s not a situation where he refused to fill it in.

“… There is nothing of interest in Craig’s form in any case — it’s not like he’s trying to hide anything. His business interests are straightforward.”

Mr Moniz added: “There are a lot of much bigger issues we have to deal with than this.”

In its press release on the matter, released yesterday, the PLP stated: “Craig Cannonier may talk the good government talk, but, when it comes to submitting his required registry of interests to the public, he's 240 days late.“In Senate debate on Wednesday, Senator Jonathan Smith noted, ‘240 days after he was elected to the House of Assembly, Craig Cannonier hasfailed to ensure that his register of interest declaration is publiclyavailable. All 35 of his colleagues have posted their registries onlineon parliament.bm but, not Craig Cannonier’." The PLP further noted: "Craig Cannonier is all talk and no action. Hehasn't articulated any plans or policies for Bermuda. And, now, welearn that he hasn't even filed his registry of interests! So much forhis commitment to transparency! Bermudians are watching and we knowthat his actions speak much louder than his words."

Clerk to the House of Assembly Clark Somner told us he had no personal knowledge of Mr Cannonier’s form.

He added: “I am not absolutely sure in Mr Cannonier’s case what happened.”