will run in to you on the street or find you at your place of employment and drop in. Mr Butler: I would have to say too, that my office at the moment is also in the street. I email on the blackberry at least ten questions with names, phone numbers, addresses to Ministers almost every day. At least five or ten people stop me. Mr Barritt: There’s no question
Mr Barritt: I am aware of the criticism that was made in the past, but that was then and this is now. Mr Butler: It was in the mind of the government repeatedly that we couldn’t and that’s why the government has resisted attempts from the opposition to collaborate. I think it is imperative especially given the current financial situation, to put that down and move forward and I have tried to demonstrate
that we are accessible. Mr Butler: I think that’s healthy. Most of us have our names in the phonebook, email contact and people know you because you’re on television. Even MPs who don’t speak a lot in the House are contacted regularly. I know this because they send me emails of concerns that people bring to their attention.
Mr Barritt: Finally, how well do you think the opposition and the government get on in this country in terms of moving the country’s agenda forward? Mr Butler: Not very well
because of our history and the lack of trust. I think we’re going to be able to change that because everybody is so inspired by President Barack Obama. However, there is more room for improvement and I think looking forward, the government has to push that agenda forward now that we’ve demonstrated our competency. That is to say, we want to be judged by history as having moved forward.
that at my level as Minister. Mr Barritt: I agree with you that the past and the baggage of the past makes it hard for some people and maybe it needs a new generation. However I’m still a firm believer that Parliament can be what we make it and we need to be building more bridges for collaboration and consensus to happen.
Mr Butler: We have no choice and I think that history calls us all not just to look at what was, but where do we really want to be? What do you want your legacy to be? Who are you doing this for? It is for the people you’re representing, to make their lives better, easier, more acceptable. That makes sense and that’s what we have to start looking at. The real reason for being here, while I feel great being a Member of Parliament and a Minister, is to represent the people who put me here. Mr Barritt: I couldn’t agree more and our goal has to be focused on building bridges. Mr Barritt: One of the questions
we have not touched upon is whether the job of being a MP in Bermuda is a full-time job? Mr Butler: I think being a Minister is a full-time job, but just being a Member of Parliament based on my experience, there isn’t sufficient work to be a full time Member of Parliament, not unless you’re sitting on Select Committees and other Committees on a regular basis. Mr Barritt: They would also have to be committees that were fully functional and operational and we’re not quite there yet. Mr Butler: We’re not there, but I think there is room for better pay for backbenchers and Members of the Senate. I don’t think there’s sufficient work for them to be full- time. I really feel we need a smaller House of 22 given our small size, only 21 square miles and 65- 70,000 people. That would be a cost saving in itself and allow for a higher salary and more people considering politics. I also feel there should be some redundancy pay for Cabinet Ministers who can be called in at any moment and sent to the backbench without a single comment other than “please hand in your keys”. Mr Barritt: My concern would be
that with fewer Members we would have fewer voices and less challenge. With respect to finances, there was a recent recommendation for increases but they have been put on hold in light of the current economic climate. Ministers are in fact paid on a full-time basis if they elect to be full-time. Mr Butler: It’s a choice, because if you have a career – like I did after I left teaching, I moved into the restaurant business and I quite enjoyed that. It was difficult for me to leave that and my part-time Ministerial job but the Premier said that he wanted us all (as many as possible) to be full-time given the challenges ahead. In January 2008 when I was re-appointed as a Minister after the general election, it was a full-time post. I only act as a Consultant Director
with a proviso should I be asked for my keys I could return as a full-time Director. Not all Members of Parliament are so lucky. Sometimes, realizing the precariousness of your position, you don’t forcefully challenge issues, the comments of your colleagues or leaders because you have this at the back of your mind. We all have responsibilities and if you are well-off, you take that into consideration and compromise. On the other hand, if you lived off redundancy pay you would have something to sustain you while you sought a second job. Mr Barritt: I suppose no position in a democracy is secure, or should be, but Ministers are paid full-time; on top of the $50,000.00 they get $100,000.00 if they’re full-time. Mr Butler: It should be a little bit more than a permanent secretary, but in this sort of climate no one is going to really start asking for additional wage increases. Mr Barritt: Everything was put on hold very recently as a result of the current economic challenges, but the fact of the matter is Members of Parliament and Ministers are still allowed to have a second or third job, and to keep their business interests as well, as long as we declare them. Mr Butler: I think that’s very healthy to declare one’s interests. I declared my restaurant interest because we have the largest number of restaurants in Bermuda and I declared my interest as the executive director of Atlantic Publishing House because we publish our own books as well as other people’s books. Mr Barritt: Right now it’s a voluntary system and it would be an interesting debate as to whether or not it should be mandatory. Mr Butler: Some people to this day have refused to sign the Register of Member’s Interests. I think all Members should be encouraged to sign it. Mr Barritt: This is another area that needs to be improved upon. Mr Butler: I agree.
The Parliamentarian | 2009: Issue One - Bermuda | 23