Richards On Government Food Pricing Enquiry
[Written by Bob Richards, One Bermuda Alliance Shadow Finance Minister]
The Government’s plan to study food pricing in Bermuda will not ease financial pressures on struggling families in the foreseeable future. Families need help now, but this appears to be more about political pandering than an action plan to help people today.
The investigatory processes outlined by the Premier in her statement Friday were exclusively about information gathering from importers and grocers, unions and business organizations, with no mention of what the government intends to do with food prices, let alone how it plans to take action.
If the Government was truly committed to easing financial pressures on families it could already have addressed fuel prices. Prices at the pump have jumped enormously this past year – 18% by the latest report.
Despite the existence of a Price Commission vetting fuel prices, the Government has done nothing to save families money at the pump even though the dollars it costs to drive our cars and trucks are the same dollars from the same pockets that are needed to buy food.
It is worth noting that there is a substantial government duty on gasoline that adds to the price at the pump, as well as a substantial duty on Belco fuel oil and diesel, which adds to the price of electricity.
The fact that more than a thousand families have had their electricity turned off for lack of payment speaks to how serious the energy pricing situation is. It also raises the question why the Government has not activated or applied levers to ease these pressures on people.
One reason the Government has failed to protect people from cost of living pressures is the punishing interest burden of the debt it rang up in recent years.
The fact that the debt now costs the Government $260,000 a day to service is the most important political fact in Bermuda today.
This is money that must be raised and paid before anything else and it has left the Government with no room to help people.
If the Government had not run up the debt to more than $1.2 billion, there might be room to cut duties on fuel or food. Instead, they are busy cutting social services at a time when people need them most.
A “caring government” must turn lip service to into action. This government has already wasted all of its resources and therefore can do very little.
The reality is that the Government has not only presided over but exacerbated an economic decline that may very well have hurt more people financially than any government in the history of modern Bermuda.
The best way to turn around this sorry picture is through a plan of action that grows the economy. This Government has not done that nor does it have a plan to do that.
The One Bermuda Alliance has a plan to reform the economy to generate jobs, grows paycheques and expands opportunity. We want Bermuda to succeed but it will require a commitment to change – change in the way we conduct business and change in the Island’s leadership.
The current government has run out of ideas, run out of energy and is in a desperate scramble to persuade a skeptical population that it can return the island to an era of prosperity it let slip from its grasp.
We can get Bermuda’s economy back on track. The sooner we start the better. It’s time for a change.
- Bob Richards
Once again, negative Bob comes forth with his criticisms.
if the OBA has a plan, which is what we continue to hear, then show us the plan? if not shut up.
Bob Richards has been consistent in his crticism of the PLP, from warning of impending financial crisis to offering suggestions on how to weather the storm.
His consistency is only matched by the level of denial from PLP Ministers and their supporters. This is no more apparent than our current Premier & Finance Minister. She is directly responsible for hole in which we find ourselves. You just keep drinking the coolaid.
Just found out I will be loosing my job. My company is moving business away from Bermuda because they feel Bermuda is not meeting their business needs. Will the PLP show me what flipp’n Plan they have to turn things around!!!???? What the hell Plan have you ever seen Ms. Sigh?…..this govt is ruining Bermuda!!!!!!
What coolaid, there you go again with you subliminal racial attacks. Because you support the PLP you “drinking the coolaid”? Thats part of the reason people wont ever vote UBP/ OBA or whatever they decide to be.
So now trying to regulate price of food is bad? Or part of some political agenda to win back votes? You people will never be satisfied until any party other then PLP are Government.
Saving $50 on groceries wont really help people like you I’m assuming. smfh
what the hell does “drinking the coolaid” have to do with race?
you do realize that that phrase comes from a cult leader that made his followers blindly drink poisoned koolaid, even tho they knew they were doing it? and not the “blacks like koolaid” stereotype.??
Always has to be a race issue with you Ganja mon huh? You are obviously clueless(as usual) about where the term “drinking the kool aid” originated because it has nothing to do with race.
Yeah…be a good PLP supporter. Get on the train and do what the PLP says which means making the PLP elite rich at the expense of working families. Or get off the train and shut-up. If you’re on the train you can do whatever you want. If you’re off the train then you need to follow the law and be quiet.
Never said that. What i am saying is that it is easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize everything that is done, but when you offer no tangible suggestions, then you lose credibility.
his suggestions are right in front of you..
PLP, dont do the stupid things you want to do…
thats his suggestion… to stop making things worse..
If the voters vote back in the same people to govern this island, then change will never happen. The PLP need to be made redundant. They need rehabilitation. Bermuda will continue to slide down hill until such time the PLP take politics out of the decision making process. Suggestion? They need to appoint an independant Office Of Procurement and an independant Tourism Authority to get this country back on track. This alone will save hundreds of millions. Bermuda is not about making the PLP elite rich. Wake up Bermuda!!!!!!! Demand accountability. Demand change.
@ Sigh – dey not critisizin it…THAT IS DER JOB YA DUMMY. Der called de opposition for a reason. what good would it do if dey were all silent on everythin. sum ppl bra…
“Sigh” are you serious? Families **ARE** in bad shape in Bermuda. Or are you not seeing that? The fact is that Bob Richards has been correct before on the economy and in particular, the recession. When he was encouraging the Govt to cut back on spending because there is a recession on the horizon, they sounded just like you, “more scaremongering from Negative bob”. Well, time proved him right and we find ourselves in the situation we are in now. Can’t afford to run buses or ferries full time, can’t find money for charities or youth organizations, cut back in funding for almost every program designed to help our young people etc. I don’t understand how you could ignore the financial reality that Bermudians are facing and still attack the messenger.
What is the funny part in this is that you Sigh are here doing the same thing you are accussing Bob of doing………..
LOL
I vividly recall the PLP CRITICIZING Bob when he was warning them about the financial crisis!!! Like I must be living in the twilight zone. HE ALREADY TOLD THE PLP what to do and that was STOP SPENDING!!!! They didn’t listen, now there is NO MONEY. Oppositions are SUPPOSED TO COMPLAIN about the government in power in they aren’t doing things properly, hence the shadow finance minister title? Do you watch American news? Have you noticed how much the Republicans complain about Obama over EVERYTHING he does???? The PLP constantly complained about the UBP when they were the opposition! That is their job!! That is how the PLP got in power, calling out the bs of UBP! Do you understand how things work?
Go on the OBA website. The Plan is there….or can you read??
Can you kindly provide a link to the OBA’s price control policy? I can’t seem to find it on their website. Thanks.
I am quite sure that OBA has a plan without second thought. Why should they tell Government. Why.
It’s politics and they are just waiting for an election or notice thereof.
Sorta like telling a thief when your going on vacation and where the key to the house is. Mr. Richards is spot on. Everything that he wrote is correct.
As for “if not shut up” if the PLP are elected again, I can assure you, you and many others will choke on those words and be eating suckrocks……. if you can find them…..
So if Mr Richards has a plan, is winning the election by keeping his plan a secret, more important than trying to work in a bi-partisan approach?
I personally think Bob has been spot on with all his predictions and suggestions (and he has made quite a few)!
Yes I think Bob and the OBA have a plan, should they make it public? Well, considering that the PLP haven’t listened to any of his previous suggestions why should they… And if they did the PLP would just write it into their election platform and completely ignore it later (as is the norm)
Exactly, this is what happened in the 2007 election.
LOL
LOL you arent seriously saying the PLP is willing to work bi-partisan are you?
@Sigh – I see Bob’s statement as being constructive. Do you have a plan? If you do, then please share. I know that “Knowledge Is Power” but more importantly, what you do with the knowledge/power is even more important.
I don’t think Bob Richards has any obligations to share his plan with the people of Bermuda. If people don’t think he is credible by now then they are a lost cause. Why should he show his cards? He’s the one that warned people about the debt, offered solutions before the last election and what did people do? They voted the PLP back into power!
Asking Bob Richards to show his cards is like Steve Jobs showing the Chinese Apple’s latest innovation before it hits the market. Bob Richards is a poitician that works for votes just like a business sells a product for money. Give Bob Richards and the OBA your vote, put them in power and we’ll see the plan. I’m willing to take a leap of faith…
Mr. Richards if you have something to offer than I am willing to hear it…Anything is better than what we are dealing with at the moment…..in the meantime I will go grocery shopping with “sigh” and have her/him buy my expensive, outrageously priced groceries for me and my family as they are quick to critize you for your efforts but I see no suggestions in their comments either……
@it is what it is……go on the OBA website….the Plan is there. Stay will “sigh” and starve? I hope not.
Can you kindly provide me a link to the OBA’s price control policy? I can’t seem to find it on their site. Thanks.
If a sector of the population is concern about the high cost of food/fuel prices, and find it difficult to keep up with the spiralling raising prices. The Government does have a responsibility to review the cost of food increases and determine if the price raises are infact due to economic demands on business, or an attempt by some business to make an extra dollar by using the recession as an excuse to make a profit. A government must take steps to look out for its people.
Prices have raised worldwide however, Bermuda prices of goods, are marked up more than 2 X, the mark-up is sometimes 7 X times. I recall talking to a sales person in a furniture store, who said me the manager had mark-up the furniture almost 7 X times the original price. This they felt was a rip-off to the average man. This is why some Bermudians would go overseas, and buy their entire set of furniture or other goods with duty included, at a better price. Persons were able to stretch their dollar. In most cases they do not want to do this, as they realize it is best to invest in Bermuda.
Mr Butterfield should not assume that persons on the panel are not able to make an educated decision, does he believe that no Bermudian has knowledge and are qualified in various disciplines. If his company is playing the game fairly, there should be no need to be concern, as there is nothing to find out. Mr Richards is playing the political card, because even if govt was no debt, govt cannot pay for everyone. There should always be a measure by companies of being responsible to the public.
It would be nice to hear some solutions, instead of the blaming game for ones!! I question what solutions Mr. Richard really has that would make a difference to the average man, or is he only good at pointing out what should or should not be ?
You answered your own question “or is he only good at pointing out what should or should not be ?” The should part is the suggestion is it not. Oh and as others have pointed out the “plan” is on the OBA website.
LOL
lol pointing out what should not be IS a suggestion..
Why are we just looking at food prices? What about prescription drugs, OTC drugs and health and beauty products. Some of the prices on these are 150% over the US prices.
@specialgirl4you, you talk about the price of furniture in Bermuda. Why doesn’t the Government review the prices of all products sold in Bermuda?
If only the Government would lower its tax on fuel oil and gasoline, everyone would benefit across the board. Fuel prices have gone up 18% in the last year alone!
it shouldnt look at prices of all products because this is a free market.. if govt started regulating prices on everything, then we move away from free market and into a more govt controlled society.
Certain foods, and perhaps prescription drugs are necessities, so they can be looked into, but other stuff are only luxuries.
Why are there people who always have to comment negatively on anything the current govt “attempts” to address. We voted for PLP so let the PLP do what they do..what ever that is…do you really think people will care and actually take notice if they start saving a few dollars at the pump, those few dollars may get me a few more items at the grocery store but it aint going very far. I guarantee the OBA doesn’t do any better..all around the country has poor leadership, no vision, and probably one of the worst finance ministers Ever!!! Haven’t we had the same finance minister for like 6 -7 years… i’m just saying, and why is it that every time we get a new premier they have to hold more then 1 portfolio. The president of the US isn’t also the defense minister… How can each receive an equal amount of attention. Like I said I’m just saying!!
All,
Let us try to be constructive. Whether we like it or not, people have been complaining about the actual or perceived high prices of essential goods and services. The Premier (PLP) has respondedg by initiating an enquiry under the remit of the Price Control Commissin to see whether high prices are fact or fiction. The continued criticism of their every move will serve no real purpose in the long run.
If we are objective, MP Richard’s role is to constantly hold government accountable. The unfortunate consequence is that he often comes across as being negative. To that end, he admitted on Friday that his own colleagues think he comes across as a lecturer – be that as it may.
One proactive task for all of us is to start to take more notice of prices and consider which items are relatively expensive and whether or not cheaper or less expensive alternatives exist.
I look for to some constructive comments in this regard.
Its funny when the BPSU were marching on cabinet asking for this most of you (including Bob Richards) were up in arms in agreement with them while saying that the PLP would not listen to the people. Now a step has been taken to address a concern of the people and all we get is complaints from Bob the builder of negative and all of his joke posters . SMH you all are full of it if its not one thing it another, its almost as if you look at everything the PLP does and search deep to find negative in it.
Yes this won’t solve poverty in Bermuda or be a complete solution to family’s who need help but it will play a part of the overall effort to help with this problem. How does talking about the price of gas add value to this topic? All it serves to do is draw peoples attention away from what the government is trying to do in this case.
Then you get the stupid comments that have been flying in lately every time the Premier put something on the table in the house or holds a town hall “its electioneering.” Please the Premier has not even been in a full year yet and she had a platform she has been working on it ever since she was elected Party Leader and appointed Premier. So stop with the BS and trying to take advantage of the simple fact that she became Premier close to the deadline of when a election must be called. She is doing the job she said she would do if she became Premier not trying to gain votes for a election none of you know will be called.
Bob Richards you are full of it. There is no one off solution to fixing Bermudas problems if there were then there would be no reason for any of you to sit in the honourable house as I am sure it would have been found long before the PLP came into power. So stop misleading the people and pretending you have all the answers because if you were to win the Government it would be proven that you don’t.
People were not up in arms in agreement about food freezes, at least i wasnt..
it was more about govt reducing their salaries, when they expect everyone else to do the same.. .the cost freeze was simply the other alternative the bpsu wanted.
“its almost as if you look at everything the PLP does and search deep to find negative in it.”
LMAO! Um there has been NO NEED to search deep for such things over the last five years! Now that was a good laugh for the day, thank you.
@ Scott What price freeze are you referring to?…Haven’t heard anyone mention a price freeze. This is a “Food Pricing Enquiry”. Please make your comments relevant.
@ my two cents you just proved my point you have no argument so you dig into my post for something you can poke fun at negatively as to take the focus away from what I’m saying. Two cents is correct because your talk is cheap.
you’re right… as per usual the govt “with no mention of what the government intends to do with food prices, let alone how it plans to take action.”
as with the hopkins report, the mincy report, the gas price report, as well as whatever other reports hvae beend made, there is no action on any of them.
anyway i think you are nitpicking. the bpsu was asking for freezes in essential goods… soon after the govt is initiating a food price review.. with the aim of?? well part would be to appease those bpsu memebers who wanted a freeze..
as such my comment was relevant, just perhaps a bit jumping the gun
I speak the truth, no need to dig for all the debacles and screw ups as they are there for the whole world to see my friend. It’s called Google. You know people are desperate when they make comments about your screen name. Grasping for straws anyone??? The more you all deny how bad the PLP has ran the country, the more negative things will get. It’s not a river in Egypt, it’s DENIAL. And it’s ridiculous how the PLP can sit up there pretending that nothing is wrong with Bermuda. It really is the twilight zone….
I would wager that not one poster on this comment blog is or has ever been an operator/owner of a medium to large retail business in Bermuda. The sad thing is that the way things are going means it’s not likely any one of you ever will be.
Bye now and don’t forget to turn out the lights (or has Belco already done that for you?)
Food prices going up, gas going up, unemployment going up – kinda sounds like the politicians salaries UP UP UP
The PLP want to have a price enquiry. What about a PLP salary enquiry or consultation enquiry or better still “lets freeze their salaries??? I think that is needed more. Good for nothing waste of our money for sure.
The people will speak. Iran, Iraq, Eygpt, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Somerset, St George……..Cedar Hill………..Aly Akbar…………………..
I’ve got a great idea. Let’s enact price controls on food. Then, when it reaches the point that it costs more to import things than the grocers are allowed to sell it for the importers and grocers will simply go out of business. If nothing else it’ll solve the island’s obesity problem in one fell swoop.
The only question I have is what exactly do the unions have to offer with respect to the study?
And while the Government is investigating food prices ask them to check why a magazine price is more than doubled when it gets here(no duty)why gas is so high(Government taxes) why is Electricity from Belco 7 to 10 times higher than it is in the US? Not to worry if they cannot complete a census in over a year or figure out how many are unemployed(they know but dont want you to know) I think its fair to say thay they will hire a consultant and form a committee and launch a campaign and then there will be an election and it will all go away….question? what has gone up more than food prices? PLP salaries? yes…Parliamentarians pensions? yes