It is the role of the Opposition to hold the Government to account. When the Attorney-General’s husband is handed a government consulting contract worth almost $14,000 per month, the Opposition has a duty to ask why this happened. Just as important, what involvement might the Attorney-General have in this affair?
And it is a good thing we asked. If the OBA had not asked questions in Parliament, would the Burt Administration have ever revealed the numerous undisclosed payments being paid to various consultants?
The Attorney-General’s husband, Myron Simmons, is already a figure embroiled in controversy. Mr. Simmons used to hold the role of Senior Crown Counsel at the Attorney-General’s Chambers. There followed a slew of court claims against him, one or two claims made also against the Attorney-General herself.
It is true that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Yet the Supreme Court then handed down a Judgment involving Myron Simmons on 29 March 2022. Mr. Justice Mussenden expressed concern about the “suspicious conduct by [Mr. Simmons] in respect of his handling of client funds”. The Judge felt compelled to refer the matter to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions among others.
Given the Supreme Court referral to the Police, it was perhaps no surprise that Mr. Simmons did not remain as Senior Crown Counsel. The surprise was – after his role as Senior Crown Counsel ended – Myron Simmons received a new consulting contract worth almost $14,000 per month.
The Attorney-General is an elected MP and a public official. The public is entitled to know what, if any, involvement the Attorney-General may have had with the consultancy contract secured for her husband. If the AG had no involvement whatsoever in the process, it is easy for her to say so.
Curiously, neither the Attorney-General herself, nor the Government of Bermuda, has actually responded to the concerns raised by the Opposition in the House of Assembly on 19 May.
Instead, a response was deployed from an unnamed “party spokesman” from inside the Progressive Labour Party.
People might ask why information relating to decisions supposedly taken by Civil Servants of the Bermuda Government at the Ministry of Legal Affairs have been shared with an unnamed communications person inside the PLP?
Although our Government will not give straight answers to the Public, the political-wing of the PLP still seems to have the inside track.