Exploitation

Foreign Exploitation of British Overseas Territories. One of my readers has drawn my attention to a recent article in the Royal Gazette of Bermuda [link here]. It concerns an initiative by Bermuda Premier Dr Ewart Brown and his wife to set up a stem-cell research centre in Bermuda. They have linked up with a US-based Russian medical research company to develop a private research facility. They hope to treat patients using as yet unproven, controversial and highly expensive scientific techniques. What conceivable reason could these Russian-American foreigners have for wanting to be in the West Indian territory of Bermuda? The answer should be obvious to most of us. Bermuda lacks the laws under which such treatment can be monitored. Bermuda has no infrastructure to ensure compliance with internationally agreed standards. The obvious intent is to avoid and circumvent regulatory oversight by regulators such as the FDA or the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. Dr Brown is no stranger to questionable activities in Bermuda while serving in government. His recent investigation by police for his alleged involvement in a fraud concerning public monies has been widely reported [link here].

What disturbs me even more is the risk to the integrity and good name of Bermuda’s public service. The Chief Medical Officer of Bermuda reports to Cabinet. How can he be expected to properly carry out his function when the proposed facility will be partly owned by the Premier and his wife? The potential for conflict of interest is staggering in its extent. The moral of this story is that we are at far more risk of exploitation by our local leaders than by crooks from overseas. The Foreign Office will continue to follow the official policy of not intervening on the basis that the colonies have to learn by making their own mistakes. All I can say is, thank Heavens, such a thing could never happen in Anguilla!