'We want to give Bermuda a voice in London'

Politicians and lobby groups could soon be presenting their case to the U.K. Parliament, according to Andrew Rosindell, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Overseas Territories (BOTs).

The Conservative MP is also a member of the U.K.’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) and visited the island on the way back from an official U.S. visit this week.

During his three days here he met Premier Paula Cox, representatives of all political parties, the Bermuda Police Service and Bermuda Regiment.

“This visit is to get an update on how things are in Bermuda, and also to forge closer relations — to let the people of Bermuda know they are not forgotten in the British Parliament and concerns of its people,” he said.

White Paper

The U.K. Government is preparing a White Paper aimed at a more inclusive style of governance towards its Overseas Territories.

“It is going to look at taking the relationship to a different level. It will be an exciting development,” Mr. Rosindell said.

The White Paper will examine areas where the BOTs can be “properly included”.

“Too often in the past they have been overlooked and that leads to resentment,” Mr. Rosindell said.

“In Bermuda not so much, because it is self-sufficient, but if you look at Montserrat when they had the volcano — it was a poor response by the British government. We should have done a lot more a lot faster.

“When Hurricane Ivan hit the Cayman Islands, no assistance was given by the British government.”

The U.K. government had also “dragged its feet” in assisting St. Helena to build its own airport.”

The White Paper is expected to be introduced next year. It follows the 2008 Foreign Affairs Committee Report on British Overseas Territories — the first study of its kind in 10 years.

Mr. Rosindell said: “The whole issue of how Overseas Territories can be represented in the British Parliament is something that does need to be addressed.

“At the moment there’s no formal mechanism for any group of people from any Overseas Territory to come to the U.K. Parliament and raise concerns or put forward a case about the way things are being handled, if they are unhappy.

“They just have to hope a Minister may be able to see them.

“There does need to be a better way for people to make their voices heard.”

He added: “We should also be able to ask them to come to talk to us, because in the Turks and Caicos Islands that was exactly the situation where we should have summoned the Chief Minister to come and explain to us what was going on.”

Political mood

As for representation by Overseas Territories MPs, he said; “I don’t think elected MPs to the House of Commons is likely. I don’t think there’s a political mood in the Overseas Territories and U.K. to go that far at this point in time.

“But we have 21 territories — 16 Overseas Territories and five Crown Dependents — so it is a good reason to perhaps have an external territories committee, such as they have in Australia.”

During the British Overseas Territories report, the FAC also received allegations about corruption in Bermuda.

Mr. Rosindell said: “Any allegations are an internal matter for Bermuda. It only becomes an external matter when it gets as serious as it did in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“I haven’t come here with any facts or evidence of any wrongdoing. There’s no suggestion in my mind there’s any corruption in Bermuda.”

A meeting with Chief Justice Richard Ground has provided him with “a full briefing on legal matters”, and he also met with Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews to discuss her role as it relates to the Bermuda Government.

“I don’t have any particular agenda [in meeting her],” Mr. Rosindell added.

As for the issue of conscription — the FAC had recommended it be phased out — the MP said this was a matter “for Bermuda to decide”.

The FAC also recommended the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Human Rights Act.

Mr. Rosindell said: “Discrimination of any sort is wrong and everyone deserves to be treated equally and fairly in society, provided they are living within the rule of law.”

Freedom of Information was another FAC recommendation.

Mr. Rosindell welcomed Government’s PATI (Public Access to Information) legislation.

“Freedom of Information is something all governments have to embrace,” he said.

The rise in gun crime was “a major concern” but this was an “internal matter” for Bermuda. He was confident the police “are dealing with it”.

On the Uyghurs however, this was an issue the British government had to decide.

“It’s very clear an issue like that is something which should have been dealt with by the Governor,” said Mr. Rosindell.

But he also blamed the U.S. for the situation which saw former Premier Ewart Brown resettle four former Guantanamo Bay detainees in Bermuda, without consulting Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

“The United States of America ought to know Bermuda is British sovereign territory. An issue as sensitive as that, they should have known better than to handle it the way they did,” he said.

“Clearly we need to have a watchful eye on things like that. The British government should have had the right to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

The controversy however was not a pressing concern.

“It’s not been high on the agenda. It’s not something I’m really addressing while I’m here.”