Don’t you dare smile at me

In his Bermuda Sun interview, Mr Burgess said he played by the rules and “did not do anything wrong”.

He claimed the LED lights were the best bulbs you could buy at that time, did not pose a health hazard, were better for the environment and saved taxpayers’ money.

Mr Burgess said MET Laboratories rather than the more commonly recognised Underwriters Laboratories (UL) had certified the lights.

He also insisted he did not go against the advice of his technical officers as they had not given him any advice.

Mr Burgess went on to say he only saw the report, which was carried out in April 2010, when he returned from his vacation. He said the report speaks of The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations Act 2009 when the lights were put in under the previous 1982 regulations.

The story failed to mention why the lights at Global House had needed to be changed back to fluorescent strips and whether taxpayers were footing the bill.

Mr Swan said he welcomed Mr Burgess finally speaking out, but said the published story “used more space extolling the virtues of LED lighting than in explaining the Minister’s actions with the Global House issue”.

He said: “The issue is not LED lights themselves, the issue is the manner and mindset which he, the Minister, exhibited in installing these lights in Global House.”

Mr Swan said Mr Burgess’ interview highlighted “the modus operandi of this Government, concerning unethical versus illegal behaviour”.

He said: “Either is wrong, and in this lighting debacle, the health and safety of citizens he purports to represent has been put at risk.

“As a citizen of this Country, I expect elected officials to exhibit both ethical and legal behaviour.”

The story was printed in the Bermuda Sun on the day of the Cabinet reshuffle where Mr Burgess was moved from the Ministry of Public Works to Transport.

Mr Swan added: “The fact that the Minister has now been moved to another Ministry Transport speaks more to the problem, and so creates more questions than answers about his actions.”

Mr Burgess and ETM president and CEO Leroy Robinson did not respond to requests for comment.