Regulatory Authority Commissioner resigns

The Regulatory Authority of Bermuda today announces, that local lawyer John Cunningham has tendered his resignation from his appointment as a Commissioner of the Regulatory Authority. The resignation will be effective November 30th 2013. Mr. Cunningham cited the increased pressures of his business life impacting his ability to attend to the almost full-time commitment that being a Regulatory Authority Commissioner now demands.

The Chairman of the Regulatory Authority, Kent Stewart, has expressed his regret at the development – “We are sorry to see John go,” he said, “he has contributed greatly to the birth and early development of the Regulatory Authority. We should all be grateful to John for his contributions to Bermuda’s Telecommunications sector for many years.”

Mr. Cunningham was one of three original Commissioners appointed to the RA in 2012– the others being Mr. Stewart, who became its Chairman, and Mr. Carl Musson, a retired executive.

Mr. Cunningham is a partner in ALLENS, a technology law firm and its associated intellectual property company. In 2004 he was appointed to the Telecommunications Commission. In 2013, John was also appointed Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission.

The RA will follow the procedure for selecting Mr. Cunningham’s replacement as set out in the Regulatory Authority Act 2011.

A Government notice asking for applications for the post should be published within the next two or three weeks. The Authority hopes a new Commissioner will be appointed early in the New Year.

The Act stipulates that a Selection Committee should be formed, consisting of the Minister responsible for Justice, who serves as Chairman; the Minister responsible for Labour; the Minister responsible for the regulated industry sector (Telecommunications), and the Opposition Leader.

Statement by Minister of Economic Development Dr Grant Gibbons

The Minister of Economic Development, Dr. the Hon. Grant Gibbons, who has responsibility for Telecommunications, confirmed that he had received John Cunningham’s resignation as a Commissioner of the Regulatory Authority, effective November 30th 2013.

Minister Gibbons commented, “It is with regret that we accept John’s resignation. We understand the increased workload of being a Commissioner and how that has impacted John’s already heavy workload in his private practice. We respect his decision. I would like to send my thanks and recognition for all the work John has put in, not just as a Commissioner, but also in the build-up to the formation of the Authority which was launched in January of this year. His contribution and wise counsel will be missed. We wish him all the best.”

Mr Cunningham will remain as a Commissioner on Telecommunications Commission and the Broadcasting Commissions, both of which are Statutory Boards.