---

On January 22, Health Minister Walter Roban announced Government had awarded an $800,000 contract to McKenna, Long & Aldridge - a foreign firm with headquarters in Atlanta - to review all aspects of the municipalities of Hamilton and St. George's. This was followed by a series of contradictions by Mr. Roban, who failed to give an explanation as to what these consultants were hired to do.

To date, Government has not given an adequate answer or any information related to what we believe is a takeover scheme of Bermuda's municipalities.

Since then, Minister Roban has been relieved of his role. But even with this change, Government has still not been up front with Bermudians. They have not shared just how much more than the $800,000 in taxpayer money will be used to pay the foreign consultants - cash eight out of 10 Bermudians feels would be better spent on seniors, education and police officers.

Maybe we need to look to U.S. newspapers for real answers, like last week's Atlanta Journal-Constitution. An article entitled Law Firms Bulk Up Their Caseload Via Governments (printed March 18), states our island is "in the midst of a national debate over rewriting [the Municipalities Act of 1923]" and that "Atlanta has a hand in settling all of this".

What does Atlanta know about settling anything in Hamilton? And a national debate? Where? There has been little to no dialogue between the corporations and Government to discuss the Municipalities Act.

There has been no dialogue between Bermudians and Government about their so-called reform efforts of our municipalities.

Meanwhile, the Corporation of Hamilton operates with transparency and is fiscally accountable for all matters of the city.

The team at City Hall welcomes an open debate with Government where the public can hear both points of view about improving our city and expanding voting rights. On many occasions the Corporation of Hamilton has tried to engage Government, only to be ignored.

We have even submitted, and made public, a reform plan with recommendations to modernising the Municipalities Act of 1923.

We also learned this week Government has not responded to an MP who asked for a copy of the request for the proposal related to the hiring of consultants, proposals received in response to the request, including budgets and costs and information on the "bidding process to overhaul" the corporations.

Secrecy

More than 45 days have passed and Government has been silent. Cabinet secretary Marc Telemaque said Cabinet would not be responding to the inquiry.

He failed to give a reason or to explain by what rules Cabinet can remain silent.

Why is there a need for secrecy? Maybe it's because Government does not want us to know the consultants specialise in major real estate land deals and privatisation of city services.

If Bermuda's leadership will not provide answers, the public can only fill in the blanks themselves.

And while the foreign consultants are not publicly giving interviews to our press, they are talking to their home papers.

One of the leaders of this $800,000 foreign consulting team, Eric Tanenblatt, a major fundraiser for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, gave an interview on this matter to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

He talked about his interest, not in reform, but in the issue of "road paving". Where that road will lead Bermuda's taxpayers is anyone's guess.

Our municipalities are at risk of a takeover. We cannot afford Government's secret tactics any longer. But it seems the more we learn, the more we wonder.

GLEN SMITH is deputy Mayor of Hamilton.

---