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Bermuda Bermuda The Bermuda Triangle Bermuda Triangle Theory Bermuda History Bermuda Government Bermuda Government 2 Offshore Low Tax Banking in Bermuda Bermuda Reefs Bermuda Weather Bermuda Tourism Bermuda Hotels Bermuda Towns Bermuda Flags & Coins Other Low Tax Islands Bahamas Cayman Islands Isle of Man |
The Government of BermudaBermuda has to this day the oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth outside the British Isles and shares an equally interesting history. Here’s a short overview of Bermuda’s Government historyIn 1609 Bermuda had been settled, inadvertently, by the Virginia Company when its flagship, the Sea Venture, was wrecked on the reefs. Aboard the ship was the Admiral of the Company, Sir George Somers (after whom the islands and the first capital were first named). When the news about the Sea Venture’s survivors reached England, the royal charter of the Virginia Company was officially extended to include Bermuda (back then known as The Somers Isles or Virgineola). A Governor, Richard Moore, arrived with settlers aboard the Plough in 1612 as a representative of the Virginia Company.In 1615 the Somers Isles Company was formed to operate the English colony as a commercial venture. Five years later, the first assembly took place on August the 1st in 1620 in St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s, at that time still the capital of the islands. When the Somers Isles Company was dissolved in 1684, the Crown assumed control of Bermuda’s affairs. From that point Governors were sent out on an ongoing basis as official representatives of the Crown. In 1701 Governor Bennett brings the Silver Oar to Bermuda, an emblem of Admiralty jurisdiction, and begins the custom of placing if before him during the meetings of the Council. In 1721 the Bermuda Government buys the Silver Oar. Bermuda had effective control of the Turks Islands since 1681 and thrived on its salt industry. In 1799 the British Government assigned them to the Bahamas what had a disastrous effect on Bermuda’s economy. |
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When the capital was moved to Hamilton, the Parliament convened for the first time in the Town Hall on Front Street (today known as the Old Fire Station) until 1826, when they moved to its current location, the Sessions House on Parliament Hill, even though it wasn’t completed until 1893. The Governor is responsible for the police, external affairs, internal security and defence. The present Governor is Sir John Vereker and has held office since April 2002. Today Bermuda's Government consists of the Legislature, the Cabinet, the Judiciary, and the Public Service. It is based on the 'Westminster' model of parliamentary democracy. The two legislative chambers are the House of Assembly and the Senate. The House of Assembly counts 36 members, elected by eligible voters in a general election at least held every 5 years. The leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Assembly is appointed Premier. He’s in charge of for forming a government or Cabinet by request of the Governor. The largest minority political party becomes the Opposition. The Opposition has its own leader and Shadow Cabinet. The Senate counts 11 members; 3 are appointed by the Governor, 5 are appointed on advice of the Premier and 3 by the Leader of the Opposition. For a law to come in effect, legislation must be passed by the House of Assembly and approved by the Senate and Governor. The two largest political parties in Bermuda are; the United Bermuda Party (UBP) and the Progressive Labour Party (PLP). The most recent elections (held in July 2003) were won by the PLP. The current Premier is Dr. Ewart Brown. In 1973 Governor Sir Richard Christopher Sharples was gunned down by assassins linked to the militant Black Beret Cadre, as small Bermudian Black Power group. Not only Sharples got killed, but also his campaign assistant Hugh Sayers and his beloved Horsa, a Great Dane. They were ambushed outside the Government House while they walked the dog following a dinner party. Sharples was buried in the graveyard at St. Peter’s Church in St. George. Upon his death his wife was made a life peer as Baroness Sharples. The assassins were Erskine Durrant ‘Buck’ Burrows and Larry Tackklyn. They were hanged on December 2, 1977. Burrows motive for killing the Governor was to make (black) people aware of the wickedness of the colonialist system |
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