‘Significant’ Contribution Of International Business
Following the comments made by Deputy Mayor Donal Smith, the Chamber of Commerce said they would like to emphasize the “significant” contribution of international businesses to our economy, and also noted they are against any form of discrimination.
A statement from the Chamber said, “While the community debates the recent comments made by the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Donal Smith, the Chamber would like to once again emphasize that the contribution of International businesses to the Bermuda economy is, undeniably, significant.
“The recently released 2012 GDP statistics confirm that the International Business sector directly contributed 25% to the local economy in 2012 and as much as 50% if one includes indirect contributions.
“These companies rent properties, employ thousands of people, use local service providers, provided significant funding to many charities and the list goes on. In addition, their employees spend a significant amount of their own income buying goods and services in the island.
It serves no purpose whatsoever to engage in a verbal attack on a sector that contributes so much to our economic survival. We have seen the tremendous negative effects of job losses over the last few years, some of which have been the result of jobs being moved to other domiciles.
“In light of this, as Bermudians, we must all work as hard as we can to retain the business we have here and support any initiative to attract other businesses to set up in the Island. This is not a political issue, it is a Bermudian issue.
“In addition, as an organization that represents a broad spectrum of the Bermudian business community, we are against any form of discrimination.”
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Category: All, Business, News, Politics
well, Donal Smith I think that you just should just go bury your head in the sand. I think that the international companies sector contributes more to charity than any other entity and supports more Bermudian jobs than any other entity. The policies of the previous government are responsible for the reduction in jobs in international companies leading to the predicament that we are in now with job loses.
Donal Smith you need to just resign your post (like Mark Pettingal should have done) as you have no understanding of International Business or how an economies work and should be in charge of anything.
Last line amended:
You should not be in charge of anything!
So does that mean unless you agree with homosexuality you won’t get the support of the Chamber/IB?
it means nothing of the sort – it means if you are openly bigoted and discriminatory (in any fashion) – the chamber is against it – see the first paragraph of the article
Thanks @how strange
What’s to agree with? Your personal life is your own.
As a government official he does not get to stand up and make derogatory comments and then hide behind the right to free speech and opinion. It is an embarrassment, Bermuda is behind the times, look across the ocean in either direction and you will see the direction society is headed in. Equality. For all.
His comments alienate not only international businesses and homosexuals, it is all of their family, friends and supporters of these people.
It’s as if he stood up and said he has a personal problem with white/black people. Would that be ok? No. Nobody deserves to be discriminated against.
I don;t know about each direction, but certainly to our closest East and West. This guy is an embarressment to Bermuda and her people, because most do not agree with him, also International Business has done an awful lot for us including volunteering. How can we allow this man to speak for us. I know what the Mayor said,this was his opinion, but surely he should learn to be closed mouthed when it comes to the largest resource we have, and certainly when his opinion is so biased.
Good question! I’m not really feeling this dude Ronnie Viera.
no. If you discriminate you should not get their support.
All Internaltional Companies should all band together and demand Donal Smith be fired.
I don’t see the word ‘homosexuality’ mentioned anywhere in the statements by the Chamber. Discrimination against anyone should never be tolerated and they are stating that fact. All those homophobes out there clearly don’t know any homosexuals – friends or family. Every person should be judged on their character and not on who they love. Bermudians need to learn to embrace the guest workers and IB because that’s where our bread is buttered! You have to be a complete and utter moronic entity to not know that!