Retired Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller will head up an investigation into Bermuda’s history of land grabs, as Chair of the new Commission of Inquiry, a motion originally brought to the House of Assembly by the late Walton Brown in 2014.
The announcement was made in the Lower House this morning by Premier David Burt.
Other members include former Progressive Labour Party MP Wayne Perinchief, lawyers Lynda Milligan-Whyte and Maxine Binns, business manager Frederica Forth, environmentalist Jonathan Starling and land surveyor Quinton Stovell.
“This now forms part of the legacy of the late Honourable Member, Walton Brown who was its champion,” said Mr Burt.
“It is in our late colleague’s honour that I am pleased today to advise this Honourable House of the members appointed to this important Commission.”
The commission is charged with probing “historic losses in Bermuda of citizens’ property”.
The Premier also announced that “senior civil servant Ms Marva-Jean O’Brien, most recently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, has been seconded as Secretary to the Commission”.
Ms O’Brien’s new appointment prompted reports that she had resigned as a Permanent Secretary, which was not the case.
MPs “be advised of the location of the Commission’s offices, their contact details and the Commission’s procedure next week”.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Bermuda I am extremely grateful to the Chairman and members for agreeing to serve and conduct this important work,” Mr Burt added.
“My comments in May bear repeating: ‘.. truth can be uncomfortable. Unearthing historic wrongs may be inconvenient for some … [but] it is never too late for justice.”
- Feature Photos Courtesy of DC: (Seated) Premier Burt, Justice Norma Wade-Miller, Mr. Wayne Perinchief. Standing: Ms. Maxine Binns, Mr. Jonathan Starling, Ms. Frederica Forth, Ms. Lynda Milligan-Whyte. Missing from photo – Mr. Quinton Stovell
