Closed door meeting about Corporation

Municipalities Minister Michael Fahy met with the City’s business community yesterday to discuss changes to the way the Corporation will be run.

The meeting took place at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters and was not open to the public or the press.

It focused on the Municipalities Amendment Act, which was recently passed by the Legislature despite strong opposition from the Corporation who branded it ‘dictatorial’.

Mayor Graeme Outerbridge has mounted a legal challenge to the new laws and vowed to fight them all the way.

The meeting also came just days after the Corporation of Hamilton launched a separate legal action against the Ombudsman, Arlene Brock, in the continuing dispute over the waterfront redevelopment.

Joanne MacPhee, executive director of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, told the Bermuda Sun: “Given the concerns of a number of our City–based members regarding the Municipalities Act and recent actions taken by the City, the Chamber reached out to Minster Fahy through his Permanent Secretary Mrs Cherie-Lynn Whitter, and invited him to meet with the membership to discuss matters of mutual concern.

“We were delighted that the Minister found time in his hectic schedule to join us this morning for what was a very frank and open conversation.

“Members in attendance had a number of questions regarding the new Municipalities Act, the proposed Waterfront Development and other City matters.

“The Minster did his best to address the issues raised and it was agreed that the lines of communication should remain open for future dialogue. In all it was a very satisfactory first meeting.” 

Mr Fahy described the meeting as ‘fruitful’, but declined to provide further details.