Bermuda Opposition Criticizes Government Over E-Commerce

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

13 March 2002

The Opposition in Bermuda has accused the Government of underfunding the country's e-commerce sector.

In his response to Finance Minister Eugene Cox's February budget, the Shadow Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce, Alan Marshall, pointed to the relatively small figure allocated to the Telecommunications department, arguing that despite its stated aims, the Government is clearly not serious about developing the jurisdiction into a regional e-commerce hub.

'The entire budget for this Ministry is less than the cost of about three fast ferries,' he observed of the $850,000 allocation. He went on to add that: 'The Telecom and E-Commerce Ministry is the smallest ministry of the 13. Add another 50% and it would still be the smallest and lowest funded ministry of the 13. Double the budget...and it would only overtake the Community Affairs and Sports Ministry by about $2.2 million.'

Referring back to promises made by the Government to place Bermuda 'at the forefront of global e-business,' the Shadow Telecoms Minister said scathingly: 'Is $852,000 sufficient a budget to realise the objective to place Bermuda at the forefront of global e-business as promised in this year's Throne Speech? I doubt it. The funding is woefully inadequate.'

Mr Marshall further accused that there had been no major international e-commerce success stories in Bermuda under the current administration, a charge which was strongly refuted by Telecommunications and E-Commerce Minister, Renee Webb.

In addition to greater Government spending on e-commerce development initiatives, the Opposition Telecoms Minister called for more surveys on the state of e-business in Bermuda, and the creation of a substantial international e-commerce presence.

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