Videos: Premier’s Town Hall Meeting

January 19, 2012

Last night [Jan.18] Premier Paula Cox was joined by three Cabinet Ministers at the Dalton E. Tucker Primary School in Southampton, as she hosted the first in a series of Town Hall meetings to discuss the upcoming Budget.

The Premier was joined by Attorney General & Minister of Justice Kim Wilson, Minister of Health Zane Desilva, and Minister of Youth, Families, & Sports Glenn Blakeney.

The Town Halls are to discuss the Pre-Budget Report, which was released last month and highlights a number of policy options currently under consideration.

Approximately 75 people were present including Minister Wayne Perinchief, Minister Michael Scott, Minister Wayne Furbert, as well as PLP MPs Dennis Lister, Walter Lister, Terry Lister, and Randy Horton. Senators David Burt and Vince Ingham were also present, as was One Bermuda Alliance candidate Anthony Francis.

Premier Paula Cox, Part #1:

Premier Paula Cox, Part #2:

Attorney General & Minister of Justice Kim Wilson:

Minister of Health Zane Desilva:

Minister of Youth, Families, & Sports Glenn Blakeney:

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Comments (46)

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  1. Pitts Bay says:

    If you take the approx. 75 people, deduct the PLP MP’s, PLP Central Committee and other PLP insiders and the press, I do wonder what the true number of concerned Bermudians attending was !

    30? 20?

    • Just wondering? says:

      So because people in the audience supports the PLP they aren’t concerned Bermudians? What amazes me is that people get on these blogs and bring down the government but when given the opportunity to seek information first hand or even question the government not many people show up. Many people had a lot to say about the possible increase in duty but not one person asked a question about it last night. I will remain optimistic, hopefully, people will attend the other town hall meetings and voice their concerns. Now is the time to be heard, if not, keep your mouths closed!

      • Cedar Beams (Original) says:

        If you want your concerns to be heard – simply vote these incompetents out.

        • Yup says:

          Standing room only to see the fools who got us into this mess.

      • pebblebeach says:

        Waiting for the election, then I will speak…not interested in more Cog-wash…enough is enough…

      • Gillian says:

        Totally agree with you Just Wondering.

        • Cedar Beams (Original) says:

          @Gillian: You can wonder why Bermuda sank below the ocean if the incompetent PLP gets voted in again by a bunch of people who are too stupid to know any better.

      • Pitts Bay says:

        @Just wondering

        You will note that I specifically did not say “supporters”. I made express reference to MP’s, Central Committee and PLP insiders. i.e. those persons who already know the story line and have direct lines of comminication with the Premier and her gang.

        Once you take those persons (and the press) out of the attendee numbers, I am sure that it will have been substantially lower than the 75 persons quoted.

        I see no problem whatsoever in having supporters attend – I am sure that they are happy to hear the spin, and will lap it up verbatem.

        I just think that there should be an objective view when reporting the numbers of attendees, and not count the members of Friends and Family Plan in the number. It distorts the reality.

        • LaVerne Furbert says:

          Pitts Bay, you and others have so many criticisms of the governmment and the Premier that I would have expected you and to have gone out in droves to question and challenge the Premier and the other Ministers that were in attendance. No, you all, sit at your computers all day, cyber lynching the Premier and the PLP.

          Reading the blogs and listening to talk radio, I think that the island is going to encounter some real mental health challenges once the last vote is counted and the PLP is once again elected as the Government of Bermuda.

          • Cedar Beams (Original) says:

            As I have said in other submissions, the PLP will only get in if enough ignorant people vote for them. Criticising government is nothing new and poor bloody PLP is no different than any other government. They should take it like a man or stay out of politics. Your pathetic ramblings about how the PLP are so poorly done to and bullied are just what I said: PATHETIC! You call it a lynching just because you want another nail driven in about race. You might as well cos the race card is the only one you PLP have to play, without it you got nada.

            • Cedar Beams (Original) says:

              As usual LV: Shoot the messenger instead of own up to your party’s pathetic shortcomings. Throw in a reference to race and you got it all sorted. Play another record because this one is becoming very very BORING.

              PLP: Please Leave Parliament.

          • Pitts Bay says:

            Ms Furbert – my criticism was actually directed at the reporting of how many “non-connected” people were in attendence, not the Premier…..

            But I suppose I should not be surprised by your response – standard PLP/BIU method of communication to any who don’t buy the propaganda: ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK.

            • specialgirl4you says:

              Well put Mrs. Furbert, it is easy for one “to criticize but, difficult for one to provide “solution-based ideas.” The challenge was put before all, and some decided to hide behind their computers (cyber lynching) and throw out darts from behind closed doors, as cowards often do. Here was an opportunity for them to go to a meeting and ask questions in regards to any concerns they had. Cowards I would say !! They are also not willing to be objective and give praise were praise is do….rather they continue to act as the old UBP/OBA did, so how can MR. Cannioner say there is change?

              • Shaking the Head says:

                Hide behind their computers? Is Specialgirl4you really your name? Betty Trump suits you better.
                Anyway, I hope the PLP does win the next election, as it will be interesting to see how they will handle the financial storm they have in large part created. Fire over 1,000 Government/Civil Servants will be high on the list as there is no money to pay them. Or is the PLP trying to lose, for the same reason?

                • specialgirl4you says:

                  “Era of Engagement”,

                  Wow another “excellent idea” by the government to allow the people of Bermuda to have a say and provide input. Wow this process by the PLP are sure allows for an open process of dialogue, planing and input. This “open process” allows for all of Bermuda’s citizens to actively take part. The door is open to all, no reason to talk behind closed doors. There is no secrecy behind government planning or programmes or policies.

                  This process is a great opportunity to learn more about how the “tax-payers money” is being spent daily and why. It allows for an “interactive conversations” on the “Budget”. Whats even more exciting about this process is that anyone is free to make or recommend suggestions. The government is open to ideas and are including the people of Bermuda in the entire process. This is really an “Era of Engagement”, and I am loving it. This process of Engagement allows for persons to share their views on what should or should not be considered, in regards to how government directs the funds. It allows persons to gain a better understanding of the budget process and how the economy works in Bermuda. It is also a great idea of students to learn more about their country’s economy and how government work.

                  Government keep pushing on as you have really shown that your open and transparent. I love this wonderful “Era of Engagement”

                  So get out, and go to one of the meetings and learn, listen, discuss, and add your ideas and recommendations to the future economy of Bermuda! Be active and do not take the easy way out and by hiding in your favorite place in “cyber-space!!”

              • Finally left! says:

                If you would actually read what the “haters” and opposition are saying, it is not just “to criticize”. Tell the PLP that certain idea are horrendous, telling them certain policies are short sighted and will never work, telling them STOP doing what they are doing is a “solution based idea” in itself. The solution is stop doing it.

                If you have a gun, and decide to shoot your self in the foot because somebody person will ike you more, and i say “specialgirl that is a stupid idea, dont do it, itll hurt”, what other kinda of solution should i be giving?

          • Redman says:

            Why would I want to waste my time listening to more spin and rubbish from the Govt?! They will only do what they want anyway. Of course as is the norm with the PLP Govt sometime in the near future they will then have to reverse their ill thought out policies, Same $**t Different day. Yawn

            If they are elected the Govt again then Bermudians need only blame themselves as the Island slips further into Third World Status.

          • Dee says:

            Ms. Furbert in my opinion the island will have encountered some real mental health challenges if the PLP is once again elected as the Government of Bermuda!!! Remember the saying – ‘To keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity’. To keep voting the PLP in again and again and hoping that they will finally figure out how to run this Island is definitely insane.

          • Noel Ashford says:

            Laverne, and when they aren’t elected, you will be the FIRST person i laugh at when you cry foul. Prepare yourself honey – reality is gonna hit you harder than the rest because your so far detatched from it!

            -Noel

  2. Cedar Beams (Original) says:

    Real ‘concerned Bermudians’ won’t be voting PLP so didn’t need to listen to their BS. The only people voting for them are too stupid to know better so wouldn’t bother to show up.

  3. Single says:

    Keep waiting for the election to vote PLP out, in the mean time duty will increase to 35% because you people did not go out to voice your concerns now. Yup, that makes a lot of sense!

  4. Liars says:

    l wonder if Madam Premier payed duty on that tasty huge Canadian Indian Sweater she is wearing?

    • LaVerne Furbert says:

      “Liars”, one thing is for certain, Premier Cox knows that the past tense of “pay” is “paid”. After all she went to the Berkley Institute. Hopefully, you’re a private school graduate.

      • ooopss... says:

        Lawerne, you should proof read your own writings, the BIU website has at least 4 spelling mistakes on the front page. And your eloquently written articles within the Workers Voice are a classic example of why you need to use spell check. Its not rocket science. Don’t cast the first stone!

      • Whatever says:

        http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/payed – it may be archaic, but it’s not wrong.

        Where did you go to school, LaVerne? Obviously, nowhere that teaches appropriate punctuation and grammar. This is evidenced by your previous post (just one example of many):

        “No, you all, sit at your computers all day, cyber lynching the Premier and the PLP.”

      • Redman says:

        @ Mrs. Laverne Furbert,

        The Premiere is a Berkley Graduate, like Woop Dee Doo!! I would bet most of the Civil Servants in the MOE are as well and look at what a mess Education has been in for the last twenty/thirty plus years. Big Yawn!!!

  5. Rockfish #2 says:

    If people are continually lied to, and deceived by their government, why would they bother attending these staged town meetings?

  6. Mike Auxard says:

    Laverne Furbert, Betty trump, specialneedsgirl4u are all Trolls. They are actually white men stirring the pot.

  7. PEPPER says:

    I listenrd to the town hall meeting via bernews ( thank you )The minister of health was pathetic…health care is in a shambles !!! but he said there would be a change in having to pay up front some time this year…
    The only one on the panel that was spot on was Kim Wilson. I wonder why there was only 75 people that showed up? I think Bermudians are tired of the crap that the P.L.P. are spewing out,and the race card is showing its ugly head again .

  8. specialgirl4you says:

    “Era of Engagement” is now………

    Never say you did not have the opportunity to voice your ideas or share your concerns with the government of the day. Here it is go to a meeting. So get out, and go to one of the meetings and learn, listen, discuss, and add your ideas and recommendations to the future economy of Bermuda! Be active and do not take the easy way out by hiding in your favorite place in (cyber lynching)“cyber-space!!” Stop, think, and move on to more mature intelligible discourse.

    • Boom says:

      What are you doing here then fool!

    • navin johnson says:

      Ah yes The Era of Engagement” so we are now over “Resetting the dial” and entering “The Era of Engagement” which is sometime after “The Platinum Period”….Special girl you and “The Central Committee” really believe that people are stupid enough to keep buying “The Catch Phrase” of the day? really do you? The Era of Engagement just make it EnGAGment please….

  9. Cedar Beams (Original) says:

    LV seems to think that criticizing the ruling Government was invented specifically for the PLP (because they are so facking important) – and consequently we’re all racist. Has she never seen Monty Python? Is she serious?? Has she ever paid attention to UK politics in the last half century? Did she ever go to a Not The UM UM show in the 80′s? Did she ever go to the UM UM show in the 70′s? Wake up LV and if you can’t find any evidence of political piss taking in Bermuda then contact me directly and I’ll send you a load of stuff. This did not start in 1998 and was well alive decades before. Its just that the politicians then actually expected it (and accepted it) instead of calling it racism. Grow the fu@# up PLP – you are in the public eye. It will take much more than paid bloggers to overcome proper and expected criticism. You are in the public eye – live with it!!

  10. Paula Cox is 2 Safe says:

    DUN

    All of you guys have no idea how safe Paula Cox is…I’ve met her in person, and as far as I’m concerned, the more Town Halls the better. She is personable and gracious, and a stalwart of Government transparency.

    Why in the SuperNatural Bogue-Beister would you say otherwise?

  11. Truth is killin' me... says:

    DUN…HOW TRANSPARENT WAS SHE WHEN SHE WAS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE UNDER EWART BROWN DUN! THAT’S WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS BROKE DUN. NUFF SAID!!!!!

  12. Truth is killin' me... says:

    What happened to all the comments Bernews? R U being edited?

  13. specialgirl4you says:

    It is killing the OBA/UBP fans that “The Era of Engagement” is now, and really taking place…

  14. happy bermudian says:

    Mrs. Furbert is a paranoid delusional always talking about lynching as though it’s happening in 2012 in Bermuda. Really, is that her fave word? What happened with the last PLP catch-phrase “Let the People Build One Another….Together”? Anyone can go on google and find these catch phrases. Unfortunately Bermuda need so much more than ‘sweet talk’.

  15. It's real says:

    This is where the lynching obsession comes from
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3_6tayiUe0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    • Redman says:

      Apparently someone out for a lynching to Mrs. Furbert is a white protester holding a placard and smiling/shouting democracy or words to that effect. Further evidence to me that she is a delusional and twisted individual. It appears that she has become just what she claims to have fought against. I give thanks that she no longer is a Senator with direct influence on our island. (small mercies)

      If you want to see Intolerance, Hatred, and someone likely to Lynch anyone just look at Mrs. Furberts Facial Expression in that ZBM ‘interview’, sad really.

  16. specialgirl4you says:

    Stop taking the easy way out, and focusing on calling Mrs Furbert names and using personal attacks. Everyone knows who and what Mrs. Furbert politically supports. She has a right to speak out in support of her party, in the same way that you do. Mrs. Furbert will not change her political position, just because you think she should. She is firm in her positions, and often presents hard facts that supports her arguments. Lets take the debate to a higher and more mature level. I am hoping that many of you OBA/UBP supporters/members are capable of doing such. Stick to the subject matter, and debate the issues of the day. Take the level of debate to a higher level. Calling persons names serves no purpose at all.

    So as I recommended, Go get engaged in the real discuss and voice your concerns, and more important your recommendations to address the issues that you deem important. Many of you seem to believe you have some great ideas to resolve all of Bermuda’s challenges, so go forward and get it going. “Actions are more effective,than mere words and criticisms.” “It is easy to criticize, but difficult to find real workable solutions, and Cowards often hide behind just criticizing” for the sake of it.” Take the road less taken……..action action…..action…………..