Bermuda's Full-Service Government
by Roger Crombie

Even though the population of Bermuda is relatively small by international standards, its government must provide the full range of services expected by a sophisticated population in the modern economy. And so it does, though a web of Ministries, Departments, services and quangos whose primary function is to serve, protect and enhance the interests of the community.

Because Bermuda is constitutionally an Overseas Territory of Great Britain, His Excellency the Governor serves as the representative of her Majesty the Queen, who is the Head of State. The Governor is formally responsible for public order and security, although in practice much of the day-to-day work in these areas is delegated to the relevant government Ministry.

The position of Premier and members of the Cabinet, the most visible officers of government, are held by elected members of Parliament, who carry out the mandate granted at the polls with the support of a non-elected civil service, professional administrators who act without political influence.

Several departments report to the Cabinet Office, which has administrative responsibility for the Premier’s office, the National Youth Council, Delegated Affairs and lotteries.

The departments reporting to the Cabinet Office are the Archives, Communication & Information, the Central Policy Unit, Human Resources, Management Services and Statistics. The Premier’s office has administrative responsibility for the Parliamentary Registry and the Public Service Commission.

The bulk of government’s work is done by 11 Ministries.
           
The Ministry of Community Affairs & Sports supervises the community’s involvement in recreation and a number of allied initiatives. Under this banner fall youth development, sport, recreation, human rights, race relations, community education and consumer, community, and cultural affairs. The Ministry has four departments and supervises four quangos. The Departments are: Community & Cultural Affairs, Human Affairs, Libraries, and Youth, Sport & Recreation. The quangos are: Consumer Affairs, CURE, the Human Rights Commission, and the National Sports Centre.

The Ministry of Education & Development trains and educates Bermudians from kindergarten through to adulthood. The Ministry has responsibility for education and career development, Bermuda College, CedarBridge Academy, the new Berkeley Institute secondary school, and the National Training Board.

The Ministry of the Environment looks after the Island’s parks, planning and the Bermuda Aquarium Museum & Zoo. The Departments are: Conservation Services, Environmental Protection, Land Valuation, Parks and Planning.

The Ministry of Finance makes and monitors budgets and sets financial policy. It has administrative responsibility for companies, Social Insurance, the independent Bermuda Monetary Authority, the Small Business development Corporation, pensions and Customs. Among those reporting to the Ministry are the Accountant General, Customs, the Post Office, the Department of Social Insurance and the Tax Commissioner. The office of the Auditor General, although independent in function, falls administratively under the Finance Ministry.

The Ministry of Health & Family Services takes the lead on a wide range of social services, including child and family services, health and safety, hospitals, women’s issues, pest control, drug prevention, seniors and the physically challenged, liquor licensing and the Parish Councils. The Ministry has four main departments: Child & Family Services, Court Services, Financial Assistance and Health. The Ministry has administrative responsibility for the National Drug Commission and Bermuda’s hospitals.
           
The Ministry of Justice supervises the Island’s judicial system, which consists of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, Magistrate’s Court and the Court Reporting Office. The Honourable Chief Justice is the head of the Department. As legal advisors to Government, the Attorney-General’s Chambers provide legal advice and litigation services to government, and drafts legislation. The AG is appointed by but is nominally independent of the Government. The Director of Public Prosecutions reports to the AG’s Chambers.

The Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs & Public Safety oversees the peace of the realm, enforces Court-ordered punishment and ensures people’s security. The Ministry has administrative responsibility for the Island’s defence and police forces, although these are formally the responsibility of the Governor. Among the Ministry’s departments are the Department of Corrections, Fire Services, the Department of Immigration, Labour & Training, the Registrar General and Security Services.

The Ministry of Legislative Affairs manages government’s legislative programme.

The Ministry of Tourism, Telecommunications & E-Commerce is responsible for two key functions: tourism and the Island’s hospitality industry, and the growing fields of telecommunications and e-commerce, which, it is hoped, may one day represent a third pillar in Bermuda’s economy. The Ministry operates five Departments: E-Commerce, E-Government (the push to move much of government’s function online), the Information Technology office, Telecommunications, and Tourism.

The Ministry of Transport has responsibility for air and sea travel to and from, and ground transportation, in Bermuda. The Ministry has five departments: Airport Operations, Civil Aviation, Marine Administration, Marine & Ports Services, and the Transport Control Department. The Ministry also has responsibility for the Public Transportation Board.

The Ministry of Works & Engineering and Housing is responsible for managing public lands, public roads, the public water supply, public sewage schemes, public buildings, and their construction, erection, improvement, maintenance and repair. A centralised administration unit supports three main operating divisions: Architectural Design & Construction, the Lands, Buildings and Survey Division, and the Engineering & Operation Division. Within the Ministry, the Rent Commission assesses rents, and operates a rent control programme. Operation of the Tynes Bay incinerator also falls under the Ministry’s purview.

Finally, a Bermuda Ombudsman is an independent, non-government official who investigates complaints from the public about the administrative actions of public authorities.

In its annual Budget Statement for the year from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, the Bermuda Government estimated that it would raise $750.5 million — three-quarters of a billion dollars — and also said that it expects to spend $816.7 million on running the country and its programme of capital improvements. At that level, government intends to spend an average of $11,500 in the year for each person living in Bermuda. Not bad going for a country without income or corporation taxes!

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Much of the foregoing material was developed from pages of the Bermuda Government’s website, www.gov.bm.