Bean: Miami Trip A Waste Of Taxpayers Funds
The Opposition is “disappointed” to see the Premier and three Ministers “wasting thousands of dollars on an unnecessary trip to Miami,” Opposition Leader Marc Bean said today [Sept 23].
Last week the Government announced a Bermuda delegation would attend the KPMG National Infrastructure Strategy Seminar in Miami, with attendees set to include Premier Craig Cannonier, Minister Shawn Crockwell, Minister Trevor Moniz, Minister Sylvan Richards as well as a few top civil servants.
Mr Bean said, “The Infrastructure Development Strategy is a key component of the PLP’s plan to get Bermudians back to work. It would also remove arbitrary politically motivated decisions and replace them with a holistic approach, using planning based on a sound economic rationale.
“The KPMG Summit is not for discussions as an end in itself, but rather, as a means by which respective Governments may engage a professional firm such as KPMG, to develop a Strategy.
“As Minister, I attended the summit in 2012 and as a result issued a Request For Proposal [RFP] for the development of a comprehensive Infrastructure Strategy for the use of future Bermuda Governments.
“Multiple bids were received and PWC was selected as the successful bid. In the 4th Quarter of 2012, PWC was paid approximately $500,000 to produce the Infrastructure Strategy. Naturally, the creation of the Strategy was on-going by the Dec 17th election, and upon completion, was to be presented to the incoming government.
“We have repeatedly asked the OBA about the Infrastructure Strategy, even calling for them, via our National response of July 22nd 2013, to implement it as a means to stimulate the construction sector and facilitate the creation of much needed jobs. The OBA have ignored our request for a status update, to the point that the public can be forgiven for thinking that such a strategy does not exist.
“We are disappointed to now see the Premier, three Ministers, and four Civil Servants [including the Permanent Secretary who participated in the original RFP process], now wasting thousands of dollars on an unnecessary trip to Miami.
“It is clear that the OBA instead of accepting the advice of their Technical Officers, would rather spend taxpayers funds on what amounts to be a junket on South Beach. My disappointment grows deeper when I consider this waste of taxpayers funds in the context of pay cuts for government workers, the Premier’s call for collaboration, and the oft touted OBA slogan of ‘shared sacrifice.’
“The other Governments attending the KPMG Summit are there to begin a process that Bermuda commenced two years ago and completed several months ago. We urge the OBA, for the good of our Bermudian construction workers and companies, to stop wasting time, stop wasting money and implement the Infrastructure Development Strategy,” said Mr Bean.
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Mike Hind, before you get all defensive, just read the above from the Leader of the Opposition, the former Minister of Infrastructure Strategy. I await your unbiased thoughts, since I asked you yesterday to wait for the facts, and you chose to ……..well, to be Mike Hind. Please don’t respond by claiming there are no facts in the statement. Bob Richards can confirm the RFP process, winning bid, and amount paid.
As Bean states correctly, he did call on the OBA to give attention to the Infrastructure Strategy in his TV address in July, and the OBA totally acted like it don’t exist. Yet now, they are in Miami to do what? party? Total waste of funds, and a true reflection of some of the OBA cabinets mindset!
Nice job, misrepresenting my position and pretending that asking people to back up their claims is somehow “defending the OBA”… And an even better job putting words in my mouth. You had a whole argument with me in this post without me even being there! That’s talent. I’ll read the story and post my thoughts, since you’re such a fan.
Wait… All that happened BEFORE the OBA got in? And he’s saying, basically, “Why haven’t they put OUR program into place?”
Um… Isn’t it because you’re not the Goverment any more? Wasn’t it the policies of YOUR Goverment that got us into this mess?
If I’m off the mark here, please correct me, but, from what I’m reading here, it looks like “they shouldn’t do this because we, the former Goverment, already had a plan in place and they’re not following it.”
I stand to be corrected.
Mike, come on mate. Isn’t it clear that the Strategy was not the PLPs, it’s a PWC Strategy for the Government of Bermuda, regardless of who the Government is. Similar to the telecoms reform, the investment act passed last week etc. isnt it obvious that KPMG had a bid also, but was not successful? Why do you think they are holding the Summitt? Bean explains what this meeting is about, having attended AND then moving the process onto its next logical stage. Why haven’t the OBA presented to the public the PWC Strategy, let alone acknowledge it? Not all OBA cabinet ministers travel like this, and I’m surprised to see Trevor there. The other three….well…..it’s par for the course.
But like I mentioned below, I’m sure the excuses will be just what I suggested…….tah dah, I’m right. Shameful by those four Ministers and the Civil Servants they know better.
Huh? So Mr. Bean was incorrect when he said ““The Infrastructure Development Strategy is a key component of the PLP’s plan to get Bermudians back to work” and that the whole thing was a PLP thing?
You asked for my response and I gave it, based on the “Facts” presented in this story.
The rest of your response is all biased opinion.
I thought we were having a conversation…
You seem to have a serious reading comprehension problem!
Really? In what way? What part of what I wrote is incorrect?
Mike Hinds, will defend the OBAubp NO matter what, just overlook his comments, and move on and write whatever you wish. He does not own this website or Bernews. He is one of those diehard supporters living in OBAubp Denial, and so his behavior is expected and NO surprise. He can not help himself, it is part of his OBAUbp Makeup, poor soul.
That is – yet again – another outright lie from “B. Trump”.
No surprises there.
Here’s the thing “B. Trump”, if the truth is so bad, why do you have to resort to lies to make your point?
(And what do you mean “OBAUbp Makeup”? Hmmm? Is that code for something?
You keep making these false claims, yet always disappear, tail between your legs, like the coward that you are, when confronted with ANY sort of opposition. I wonder why that is… could it be that you are just a pathetic, lying demagogue? Oh, yeah. That’s exactly what it is.)
Point made. No response to being called out on the lie.
Agreed!
You agree with outright lies?
That says a lot about you and your position.
Projecting YOUR motivations and behaviours onto others is about as dishonest as it comes.
9 months and counting LMAO
So the PWC was paid $500.000 to produce the Infrastructure Strategy and was ongoing until completion, was to be presented to the incoming Govt., the OBEAH/ubp have been asked about it repeatedly to no response !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am I missing something here or am I just a little bit slow. LMAO
You REALLY want us to answer that one?
(‘Cuz… well… both.)
Each time I drive trough the Old St.Georges Golf course I am reminded of what the PLP did in my neighborhood.
They blew up a hotel, tore down a perfectly good Golf Club, closed down a golf course that brought hundreds of people (locals and tourists) into town.
So please stop with your PLP hype and OBA doom and gloom. The evidence of the pathetic PLP years IS ALL AROUND US!!!
Who cares, we’re fubar’d anyhow.
what is a waste of of money is the Corp. Hamilton going to Columbia, no body says anything about it,,LOL
As I often comment, this has to be a mistake.
Can it be true that PwC (an internationally recognized accounting firm)was paid $500,000 to develop an infrastructure strategy and they have done so!!
And that KPMG (another internationally recognized accounting firm) are attempting to get government to pay them to do the same thing?? Is it also true that KPMG were the firm hired to assist with the transition to a new Tourism Authority.
As I said – this surely can not be true!!
MP Bean – you can expect the normal criticism of ‘the PLP did it to’ but you can easily ignore that! The fact is that Bermuda can not afford these unnecessary trips. I think the news reports have shown other Premiers attending but I do not recall other islands taking 4 Ministers.
I’m sure the likes of Zombie, Sandy Bottom, and Mike Hind will attack Bean and blame the PLP. I can here them now…”Bean don’t know what he is talking about”, “maybe the OBA did not like the PWC strategy”, “Bean went there last year so what’s the big deal”, and my favorite…..”the PLP is holding the country back with all their negativity”.
The FACT is that everybody should be angry, and not because of ones political bias.
A party in South Beach is all this is.
We need a new Premier, and a cabinet shuffle FAST!
I am interested in why bean thinks it’s a ‘waste of money’ this time, but I’m guessing wasn’t a ‘waste of money’ in 2012 or in 2011, when each time his PLP government sent numerous ministers and accompanying civil servants to the same KPMG infrasstructure conference.
His “justification” in his press release appears to be the $500,000 wasted by him when he commissioned a PwC report weeks prior to losing the election.
Maybe it’s because they already have the report?!!?? So why get a second one?
We had a new Premier and cabinet shuffle in December! Shut your pie hole! Why dont u ask your beloved PLP where the missing monies are! BTW ask Beenie Man what happen to Spicelands and Spring Benny cuz he surely goes on trips when THOSE questions are asked!
Last time I checked, Bean has responded and it’s in writing. Just like Sylvan, well, when he is on-island! Oh yes, thats right, Sylvan Richards has already told you that he will continue to make planning decisions as they have always been made by Ministers, but deflection by the Oba defenders(some are Oba MPs) is typical. Heard them participate in parliament yet? Well, they don’t Participate! Lol
Back to this South Beach Party………where is Minister Dunkley, Richards and Gibbons on this? At least they can be counted on to do the right thing….RIGHT?
Nope. We leave the attacking to your side.
Here’s the thing…
There ARE things to complain about and, if you guys would show an OUNCE of honesty and integrity and complain about the things that ARE important, instead of making a mountain out of every single molehill that comes up, you’d have a LOT more people on your side.
But this CONSTANT dishonesty, making false ad hominem attacks and easily debunkable accusations on anyone that dares not believe you, the inevitable and invariable tropes of “Cannonier is a puppet” and all the rest of it makes it almost impossible to both take you seriously and to support you when you DO have a point.
Agreeing with someone like B. Trump, who is so pathetically biased as to make them a Glenn Beck-like caricature, shows that you have no real interest in actually helping the country move forward and are solely interested in mudslinging and sneaky propaganda in some weird attempt to make sure your party wins the next election… which is YEARS away.
Why not, instead, actually prove that you’re better than the OBA?
Maybe you can show some honesty and integrity and enlighten us on the things we should be complaining about.
How does that show honesty and integrity? Oh! You’re just parroting my words back at me without a care as to what they mean. My bad. I thought you were being serious.
fire them all when they get back from the party
Agreed.
Why can’t we afford these trips?
I understand you much better now Mike Hind. No worries, no need to engage you any more. Take care
Lofl The hilarious thing is the answer to Mike’s question isn’t here anymore and his name rarely comes up. We ALL know, just like we all know the plp wasn’t all bad, just when Mike’s answer put his plan in motion….I think it had something to do with bringing knees or something….but hey, nice response buddy.
Ah, the “Mike’s and OBA supporter” thing as an excuse to not engage with someone who asks questions.
Dishonesty at its finest.
It’s funny how you were all howling for me to post and now? Silence.
Odd, that.
Because the OBAupb said they will cut cost, but so far they have increased our debt with in less than 2 months, while the PLP did it over at least a period of 14 years. But your blindfaithfulness to the OBAubp will not allow you to see pass your OBAubp NOSE.
Why did we have to raise the debt ceiling? Last I checked we weren’t in debt and that was like, 2006 I guess. Didn’t the last premier say debt was good? I’m royaly confused… In the words of Mazumbo, LMFAO!
So again you’re saying “the OBA increased the debt”. That really is an idiotic argument. We all know why they had to raise the debt.
Lol, @sandy bottom……you just might be an Oba MP! Re-read your first and last sentence!
B. Trump – the PLP started it right out of the gate, or did you forget the Pro Active / Berkeley Scandal that cost us tens of millions extra? How about T-Street scandal? The list goes on and on ..
Its amazing how everything the OBA does it turns out to be what the PLP was about to do. The only difference is the OBA is DOING it. Stop complaining about trips man. They are working to bring investors back to Bermuda and to build infrastructure. When you go fishing, you dont wait for the fish to come to you, you go out to them and drop a dam line! SHUT UP already.
Try and read with your eyes open. Cheesh, and they say PLP supporters are ridiculous! Smh
Not PLP supporters. Just their demagogues and propagandists.
Half the countries in the Caribbean are also attending the KPMG seminar pitching their possibilities. This one is certainly more justifiable than many of Dr, Brown’s distant wanderings … or the Corporation’s recent fiesta in Colombia.
7 people? I have a little trouble with that.
Ask Donal Smith how many people he took and why he went to Columbia. Oh that’s royal….Black Mayors conference LMFAO!!!
If PWC was paid that much … the report should be released to the public.
Great point! It’s taxpayers money for the work of an international firm, not a report by some PLP committee or commission.
the pwc report should be made public if they refuse march on the house until they do
And as the ship was sinking, former premiers were heading to Bollywood. Glad we got some big stuff out of that lol.. It’s easy to blame the OBA now that the money has dried up but it’s hypocritical not to look in your own backyards.
So the Premier and OBA Minister have gone on another unnecessary trip…perhaps they are getting their last few trips in before the changing of the guard in october.
so its october now?! last time u lot said that it was supposed to this month or even august. STFU already…only people that will be changing will be Marc Bean.
This is hard for me to admit, but I agree with Marc Bean on this one. Waste of time, waste of money, little to no ROI and not enough accountability. The OBA promised better than this. The clock is ticking.
Having said all that, Marc needs to be upfront about his planning issues. Fair is fair.
Lets not loose site of what Ewart Brown and Co. did along with Paula Cox et al.
Cheap flight to the Carribean no where compares to trips to India, Africa, China et al.
Garbage spoken by MP Bean.
Useless opposition. Years ago they kept the UBP on their toes. Today they step on them in more ways than one. Their own.
Shalom.
I think video conferencing equipment would be a good investment for Government to invest in.
The former govt took trips all over the world.They then left us BROKE!
Dr.Brown took himself and his son to The Playboy Mansion.He was promoting Bermuda by way of his Tourism Ministry.Just cannot figure out how we benefitted,I have not seen any playmates down here!
Dready, look above. You are posting under 2 alias! Lmao! The Oba are calling even their non-blogging bloggers to defend and deflect! Shameful.
who cares…what do you say about his points?! oh ya nothing cuz you can’t…
Lets not forget DBs opening offices that remained empty in Washington for months, or Caricom, or Diaspora Tourism etc..
“disappointed” to see the Premier and three Ministers “wasting thousands of dollars on an unnecessary trip….who said that? smh
Amazing that Bean would even open his mouth on this….he went to the same summit in September 2011 and took a large entourage to Miami with him….4 months later he attended the same conference with another large group…..at least 12 people attended the same seminar over 4 months. He is a joke…KPMG needs to take a break from the same thing over and over or at least have one in Bermuda.
Hey Navin, you didn’t read the facts in the statement I see! All that you have said is INCORRECT, false, a lie, and a terrible deflection. I know this is painful for you mate!
Concerned citizen you are wrong dude.. bean attended 2 of the same seminars back to back and the 2nd one in January of 2011 or 2012 was over the Super Bowl weekend in Miami. You are the one with the incorrect facts
As mike hind loves to say….prove it! Find a bernews story as evidence…..I forgot, you can’t!
According to KPMG this is the third year that Bermuda has attended (http://bernews.com/2013/09/bermuda-delegation-to-attend-seminar-in-miami/)
And, if memory serves correctly the government in power at the time of those two meetings was ….
What facts?
I think the very least the OBA should do is explain what the issue is with the existing $500,000+ infrastructure plan before going off to develop yet another. Particularly since this plan is extremely recent.
I’m hoping this is more than a case of “we didn’t commission it so we’re not using it”. If PWC already independently produced an infrastructure plan just a few short months ago I fail to see the logic in spending and $500,000+ on another one. The key here being “independently”. If there is some apparent meddling evident in the plan such that it is not independent then I would understand the need to do something about it. However, I’d prefer a less expensive alternative. Like revising out the previous governments bias in the plan; if that is the case and is doable.
The bottom line is $500,000+ is a lot of money for a government saddled with the debt inherited from the PLP government. OBA, swing voters are watching!!
Ride
@ride, no government can “meddle” in a RFP produced by KPMG or PWC. How could they do so after attending 1 ,2 , 3 summits? You make very good points.
And while we are at it Concerned there is nothing that could ever convince me that Bean has or had a clue as to anything remotely connected to infrastructure ….he was given the Ministry because of his connections to Brown and after the failure of Roban over the DeSilva issue at Devonshire marsh..
Let me get my opinion straight here before the Trumps jump in and end all reasonable debate. This is the same sort of thing for which we so roundly criticized the PLP. It was wrong then, it’s no less wrong now. It does not make it less wrong that Mr. Bean is supporting a hypocritical position. Mr. Bean’s position in this (and the PLP’s history in it) doesn’t make this trip any more right. The trip is wrong and Mr. Bean is being hypocritical. The two are not mutually exclusive. The hypocrisy (on both sides) can now proceed as usual. The defense of all things indefensible (on both sides) can now proceed as usual. If it appears that I am fed up with EVERYONE involved, that is because I am. The Island deserves better than this. On second thought, maybe it doesn’t.
Where is Bean’s hypocrisy? He took the trip as Minister and then moved the process towards an RFP, which is the entire reason KPMG actually hold these summits and invite government officials,. Bean did what a competent Minister would do and bring value to these summits by producing a plan. Read his starment as to what the purpose of the summit is? Basically, KPMG is looking for business. Just so happens that instead of just giving the business to KPMG, Bean put it out to tender(transparency right?) remember, under Paula Cox, she created a Ministry with Infrastructure Strategy, obviously as a result of her initial meeting in 2011. In other words, as Bean states, the OBA are going 2 stps backwards. Imagine if they did this on ll the other programs that they inherited and completed post election? Telecoms reform, incentive for job makers, just to name a few.
It’s a conference. It’s not, and never was, a meeting prior to setting up an rfp with pwc. Bean’s comments don’t even make any sense. I know he has no qualifications, and no business exoerience, so it may be that he didn’t understand what was happenning last year.
The PLP attended this conference in 2012 and 2011 in large numbers. For him to come out now and make like it was acceptable then but not now makes him look like a fool.
Has he fired his shadow finance minister yet? Still too weak?
The PLP was forced to defend sending so many people to this before. Wrong then, wrong now.
The PLP were not forced to defend it, actually. They went in 2011 and again in 2012, each time with several ministers and civil servants.
It’s an infrastructure conference. Doesn’t anyone think it’s worth having senior government members well-informed on this subject?
Lol@ verbal and the trump comment. Actually, Betty defends the PLP to death, but i noticed that he/she very rarely comments on the Opposition Leader. I’m not sure if Betty Trump is a fan of Marc Bean to be honest. Sounds weird I know!
People on both sides of this are trying to make two wrongs add up to a right. Who are the hypocrites here? The OBA and the PLP. Both. Wrong. End of story.
I agree with you totally Verbal Kint…in my haste to condemn Bean I neglected to mention I do not see the value of this seminar over and over again….KPMG sees a gravy train with these events
These comments are like reading a script from the Young and the Restless.
Basically 29000 people of age (older) fussin and fighting.
Town hall meeting gone bad.
Good bye Bermuda.
Sorry for the folks that helped build it.
Agreed.
Leave it to the PLP travel bureau to pass judgement – after their fourteen year all expenses paid junket…
Where is Bean’s hypocrisy?
How many trips did Mr. Bean take while under the tutelage of Dr. Brown? How many did he “support” as justifiable at that time? India? We were promised a movie, never happened. China? We were promised tourists, they never came.
…and I’m not defending the OBA on this trip. Stay home and clean house. That is what they were elected to do.
What are your thoughts on Donal(d)’s recent Columbia jaunt?
The plp are extinct!
The OBA cannot possibly waste as much as the PLP did!
Lol, you folk give betty reason to call you diehards…..it’s true. With the exception of Verbal kint who speaks without bias, the rest of you are really crazy and no better then the PLP supporters that you call all sorts of names. As expected, Samdy Bottom and Others have now decided to attack Bean on a personal level. It cannot work, especially when you have a clueless Front man of a Premier jetting around partying, can’t debate in Parliament, afraid to take on a Ministry, afraid to go on talk radio, afraid to go Moreno’s show, don’t no what self determination means, and certainly could not debate the Opposition Leader on any topic…well, except operating gas stations! Wait a minute, that’s not dong to well either? I know, it’s painful. Learn from Verbal Kint, it would do us all a world of good!
LMAO
here we go again with the attacks on the Premier.
All of this has been discussed and all these points have been shown to be nothing more than smear and mudslinging.
Yet another example of why people won’t back you up on those rare times that you actually have a legitimate point to make.
Sad.
I especially like where you denounce people for attacking someone on a personal level, then attack someone on a personal level in the next sentence.
Nah. No hypocrisy there.
There is a plan and it’s very comprehensive. Technical officers worked in conjunction with PWC and we were waiting for an approval to begin work. It never came before I left, now I know why. Smh
The Premier forgot to take his body guards?????
How does Minister Crockwell get his US waiver’s passed through so quickly…he should be helping the rest of the Bermudians that are on the so called mentally retarded stop list get theirs passed so quickly…..just saying
Waste of Money…. And how many times did the PLP take a trip…i work at the airport and would see the PLP ministers on a regular so PLEASE Lay DOWN PLP your time is over
TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING OH ITS A PARTY, OH THERE DOING THIS, DOING THAT, WERE YOU THERE, ARE YOU THERE?!?!?! NO, THEN STFU AND MOVE ALONG SINCE EVERYONE ONE OF YOU IS SPOUTING BULLS**T!!
Also to all the people who complain about the OBA constantly, ask why Donal Smith went to Columbia. For the Black Mayors Conference (he isn’t even mayor), and who’s money is he spending, certainly not his. (Hamilton building/shareholders money to exact) WHY AREN’T YOU UP IN ARMS ABOUT THIS….?!?!
Donal Smiths trip to Columbia and his words in the media regarding lqgt persons was totally out of order…period!
Btw, did you read the clear and concise statement by Marc Bean, who has attended and explained the purpose of the summit? Read it again….very slowly….ok.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. It’s interesting that when the plp wasted millions on “work” related trips that was acceptable.
Are you saying that because the PLP did it, it is now acceptable for the OBA to do it? If so there is clearly something wrong, and if not, what is the point of your post?
The plp did worse they went around the world do you know how cheap it is to go to miami and how ,aybe the oba is actually doing something productive instead of just going on vacation. The plp are blatant…. and marc bean should be ashamed to criticize anyone, the plp is a poor excuse for a political party. Read the comment again so you can understand.
If we could get back a portion of the money wasted or s…. by the PLP, we wouldn’t be in the trouble we are in. Where did the money go Marc Bean? You lead that rabble now!!!!
plp members consistently blew $100,000 to $200,000 a year PER PERSON on extravagant travel. so don’t even bother trying to point fingers, you PLP are utter pathetic losers.
plp ruined this island. hope you are all happy you got what you want. bunch of twits.
The PLP spent the people’s money on themselves.They took trips to The Playboy Mansion,India,Argentina,China and everywhere else.Then they left Bermuda in debt,up to our eyeballs,and broke.
Now Opposition Leader Mr.Bean complains about the travel of the present govt.Give us a break,Mr.Bean.Your party ruined Bermuda for future generations to come.My children and grandchildren are going to have to pay for your partie’s gross mismanagement!
Pretty sure free travel is a perk of the job, no matter who has it
How about all the Trips the PLP has taken in 14 years.
and stayed in some of the fanciest Hotels in the World too!
Marc you should have never bought up this suject — hey your just a young bye’
I don’t think you remember the PLP doing it up real Big from 1998 to they realised the money was about to run out
after ex Premier Brown went on a worldwind spending spree — he went on a lot of unnecessary trips.
Check out your own Party’s History of unnecessary trips.- you might find a thing or too!
So whats this summit really about? Is it a massive sales pitch or is more of a discussion of how infrastures might be changed to meet the needs of the current sitaution for governments?
The report that was done for the PLP should be released and perhaps used but then again how accurate is it?
Seems like the Premier was speaking at the event as well, so does that mean his stay is covered by the event organizers?
So after all the (unnecessary wrangling), do we know how much money was spent on the Infrastructure strategy, and to whom it was paid? Same s**t, different day.
Here is the moral of this fable. As long as the “die hards” play this blame game and every question turns into a case of “who got bit and who owned the dog”, the politicians (in both parties) will continue to misuse your money with impunity. If you are a loyalist, apologist, finger pointer for one party or the other, you are facilitating the misspending and misuse of your own money. Time to wake up. Bermuda (that means you) is nearing the end of its prosperity unless drastic measures are taken. Time to hold ALL the politicians accountable. I’m personally not holding MY breath. The clock is ticking.
I’ll start worrying about the Premier’s trips if he starts bringing back suspected terrorists with him in the middle of the night so we can look after them for the rest of their lives as a humanitarian gesture.
Humanitarian gesture? Yeah right! Who would ever fall for that baloney – oh yes, we stupid Bermudians.
Found innocent, more than once.
Let’s be fair.
It’s not the fact that he brought them here, it’s how he did it.
Taking them in after all they had been through was a Bermudian thing to do.
Sneaking around and then lying to the House and the people of Bermuda about it? That’s the problem.
Sorry Mike, it includes the fact that he brought them here in the first place. If they were so innocent, how come the uSA wouldn’t take them? The UK? The whole thing was the very worst act he whose name cannot be mentioned ever undertook. It was also illegal and he will go down in history being universally hated for this. We still have to look after these people for many years to come.
He (whose name cannot be mentioned) should have been charged, convicted, and locked up for doing this.
Why didn’t the US take ‘em? Well, that’s a whole ‘nother conversation.
I honestly don’t have a problem with them being here. I was brought up to take care of folks who need help, so that part didn’t bother me.