Video: BTUC Concern Over Premier’s Comment
[Updated] The Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC] held a press conference this afternoon [Oct 18] where they expressed concerns about recent comments made by Premier Craig Cannonier.
Speaking on behalf of the BTUC, BIU President Chris Furbert said the MOU was “signed in good faith” and to have the Premier come out and “say civil service job cuts are not ruled out…and also to talk about comparing some Union’s benefits with another Union’s benefits” is “very concerning” to them.
Mr Furbert also said the MOU said certain things were supposed to have taken place by September 1st, but said the letters that were to be sent to the private sector did not go until Wednesday, some 6 weeks late.
Update 6.29pm: In response, Premier Cannonier said: ““While I have stated that nothing is off the table, it does not infer intent.
“There is an MOU in place which remains intact and states the following: The Agreement was made with the understanding that the Government agreed it is not their intention to make redundancies or lay-offs from the signing date of the MOU to 31st March 2015. However, if it becomes necessary to do so, the Employer agreed to consult with the BTUC on any proposal to abolish any position/post within the Public Service which will result in redundancies.”
The MOU, signed by all six Unions this summer, agreed that all Public Officers would take one unpaid and un-worked day per month and a pay freeze for two years.
Speaking at that time the Premier said, “From a Government perspective, we went into the negotiations with the intention of not making redundancies or layoffs. I am encouraged that jobs have not been cut and that no position has been made redundant.”
Speaking of late Chris…you guys filed your financials yet?
Last time I heard they were several years overdue!
Furbert, shout all you like, THERE ARE TOO MANY GOVT WORKERS. We have to do something about it.
Wrong – to many paid government employees, not nearly as many workers. Sorry to say but anyone that passes by that pathetic sidewalk construction project on north shore in Pembroke knows this comment to be true. That project started in May I believe. However, you will notice almost zero progress being made their daily. Not a highly complex project! I’ve seen school kids make sandcastles at the beach that required more thought.
These guys are examples of exactly what is WRONG with the government work force. They are either lazy, unskilled, unhealthy , uncaring or perhaps a mix of all of the above. The one thing they are not is productive. Can you imagine how much slower this job would be going if they were working in an area that was not in an area in the public view. This is a smack in the face of every tax payer! And Chris – you want us to support them? They have been ripping off the public for years! Time to go! Buy them out – $50K per man and bye! It would save us millions!
I agree. They sat at the end of Watford Bridge for a good month on a 50/75ft sidewalk. It was unbelievable how I saw them just siting all day long.
Sad part is, we are all made to pay them. SMH
The OBAUpb promised pre-election on my door steps, and in a poster, that CS will not lose their jobs…NOW your telling me the OBAUpb was merely using this as an “Election Ploy” to get the VOTES of the people? Also, are you also confirming that another OBAubp promised has now been broken? Wow,…yet the Big Business man seem to be reaping all the rewards from this OBAubp government. Guess it does look like what your saying is true after all, this OBAubp government is anti-Bermudian….REALLY
So the OBAubp did not negotiate in good faith after all with the Unions… OOOH this government seems incapable of keeping their word…WAKE UP FOLKS STOP SLEEPING>>>>
Hypocritical propaganda from “B. Trump”.
“We had to deceive you” is defensible, but, suddenly, because the OBA is doing it, “breaking promises” is a bad thing.
*Cue “Mike Hind is an OBAubp supporter/biggest defender/whatever” attack in a pathetic attempt at deflecting the point.*
Mike will write a comment after each of Betty’s comments….WHAT DOES this SAY ABOUT MIKE HINDS>… THIS MAN HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM>>>HE IS ON OBAubp duty to DEFEND>>>>KEEP PLAYING YOUR CARD MIKE>>>FOLKS NOW WHAT YOUR LIKE>>>BROKEN MAN OF SORROW>>>
And there it is. Not a single thing about what I said. Completely predictable… And dishonest.
What a joke.
The OBA also said that their first order of business was to ‘look under the hood’ and see what they were dealing with. Did you not attend any of the SAGE commission meetings? This is exactly what this group was looking at. And the stark reality is that this government spending is in dire circumstances and it would be IRRESPONSIBLE of this government to NOT ADDRESS the situation. The EASY thing to do in order to get votes is to stick to your promises and appease the masses. The HARD thing to do is to DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL OF THE COUNTRY even if it means losing votes. I vote for a government that DOES THE RIGHT THING even if it will cost them the next election because people feel they didn’t keep a promise. The promised to take a look at where we are at and move towards fixing it….if they do that, then they did EXACTLY what they said they would. Check out the SAGE commission findings and even you will agree, there are few options and this MESS must be dealt with….and blaming one side or the other for the MESS is unhelpful. We simply need to deal with it now or we will ALL pay the consequences in short order when we are bankrupt.
The OBA negotiated in good faith just like the PLPbiu ATTEMPTED to NOT negotiate in good faith when they asked the BIU to except a pay decrease and how did that go!? Did the PLP agree when the BIU asked them to take a decrease in their pay? EEEERRRRTTTTT. The talks came to a screeching halt!!! WAKE UP FOLKS….THE OBA FACED THE MUSIC THE PLP RAN SCARED FROM….>>>>REALLY!!!!
So your solution is to put more people out of work, yeah that works, dumb a@# !!!!!!!
Robert, great, but where is the money to pay them going to come from?
And where is the money going to come from for financial assistance when these people lose their jobs?
Less people employed in Bermuda equals less revenues for business which equals even more layoffs.
Chris does have a point.
TIME TO TRIM THE FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The MOU was “signed in good faith” and to have the Premier come out and “say civil service job cuts are not ruled out…and also to talk about comparing some Union’s benefits with another Union’s benefits” is “very concerning” to them. Are you now agreeing that this Government is lying and never did neogatie in good faith. This seems like another OBAubp BROKEN PROMISE< this seems to be the OBAUbp trade mark of late….REALLY…
What recomadations do have for the Government to cut cost? Do you want them to continue to borrow and increase the deficit? With 350m short on operating cost more must be done.
Yup , and more black folk suffer, god we are so stupid here in Bermuda!!
Comparing Craig to Obama is like comparing North Village to Manchester United. LMAO
I had to laugh at that one. LOL
Where in the world is Paua Cox ? this lady got us in the mess we are in now ….. she has a lot to answer to…
In Barbados …. Sipping champagne .
Chris you talking to the wrong person!
Craig is just the highest paid mascot in the World and is reading the speech his real boss gave him.
Like Obama.
Obama may have a speech writer, but for sure he injects his own thoughts and ideas to frame the speech. His ideas are presented, the writer merely ensures that the message is delivered as effectively as possible. This can not be said of your OBAubp Premier Craig…it is a speech that he usually has to just read…BIG DIFFERENT in the case of Craig, and it is noticeable big time..only a blind or deaf person can not see that….I am sure your not deaf but maybe playing it
Evidence? Care to show proof that what you claim here is true?
Or is it just more “B. Trump” lies and misinformation and smear?
OBAubp Election Promise, posted on the doorsteps, on the news, in the newspaper, that they will not cut CS jobs, but what we see today is more BROKEN PROMISES>.. Broken MOU this speaks to a government who is falling down on what they say and do.
Should we start listing the plp’s broken promises.? Or do they not count?
I thought that’s why they were ousted….change is good reaping is bad.
The PLP spent a lot of time doing illogical things and using the excuse that the UBP did it…..now we have something similar happening when the OBA has to make tough decisions or change course.
Can we move away from these types of responses……”what about what THEY did?” etc. is so passe at this point.
Not evidence that the premier is guilty of what you are accusing him of.
Any evidence of THAT?
Mike, we have discussed this before. I know you are talking to B Trump, but it is painfully obvious that our beloved Premier is not the one making important decisions, but it more or less the person to present the decisions on behalf of the party.. I don’t want to go on a tirade bringing down our “beloved premier” but this guy is in it way above his had, and not many of us are fooled by the deceptive smear that the OBA is attempting to present.
If the OBA are the Government than I can live with that, although they are not my party, they won the election in a democratic way.. but for heaven’s sake, give us a leader who can pull this island together and move forward, and not someone to create some form or silly perception.
So… No evidence, then.
Got it
What “Deceptive smear” are you talking about, by the way?
Just curious.
And… who would you suggest would be a leader who can pull this island together and move forward?
I won’t speak for others ONLY myself THIS IS MY OPINION!!! Mr. Dunkley, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Richards and a couple others seem like they would make for better leaders of the OBA and in turn Bermuda.
Not only is Cannonier a political novice, but I find it difficult to believe that he is truly seen by other OBA members as the BEST among them to lead.
Again this is MY OPINION…..I think he’s there because of the way he looks and the way he uses that Baptist preacher voice every now and then.
I didn’t feel like Pamela Gordon, Kim Swan or Wayne Furbert were believeable leaders either.
AGAIN this JUST MY OPINION!
It’ is work in progress fool. The hell with promises just do what is require for our survival!
If you plugged your destination into a gps and it gave you directions for the shortest possible route yet as you’re driving along you discover a gas tanker has rolled over in the road and exploded, are you going to drive into the wreckage or make corrections to your route?…..Nevermind, I know the answer to that.
Mike, Obama is nothing but an uneducated black politician who was voted in as commander and chief purely off of the emotions of other uneducated black, Hispanic and poor white folk ?!!
Nope. Not even close. That’s another untruth. No one has said or even implied anything like that. Except for you.
Says a lot…
Bermuda is one sad and oppressive country, run by power hungry, rich white men who use sheep politicians to do their bidding.
Black on black slavery
Bermudas racial bigotry runs deep, and shows its ugly hea all the time on bernews
It’s raising it right now!
Wow,!!!!! That a very damming statement. Can you in any way qualify that statement ?
dude read your above statements
My union dues go to charity. At least the Salvation Army do something constructive. That’s +$600 a year.
That’s good but if it wasn’t for de Union you wouldn’t be getting de wages your getting now and your for-fathers wouldn’t have got descent wages and benefits to send you and your siblings (if you have any) to college if you went and to live a comfortable life.
Every employee in Bermuda benefits from the Unions because they set de bench marks and keep some corporate employers in check.
They set de bench marks did they?
Unions don’t work out in all scenarios. They actually hurt productivity in most environments and keep some folk employed who shouldn’t be.
The good thing is they protect against unfair dictatorships lead by uncaring and egoist senior managers.
Not to mention most unions in Bermuda don’t even negotiate the best benefits and the pay for certain jobs is usually too high, or not high enough.
What you say to many…..BLACK WORKERS!!!!!
no to many stupid statements like yours
If you think that you are going to save Bermuda off the backs of ordinary
working Bermudians and their families; you have better think again. We will never surrender our country and put Bermudian families in economic peril at your say so. We will throw the anti- Bermudian one term OBA government out of office and liberate our country from the clutches of those who would sell out the interests of my fellow Bermudians and threaten the future of our children.
LOL…Did you read what you said????
If you think that you are going to save Bermuda off the backs of ordinary working Bermudians and their families; you have better think again.
At least you acknowledge the fact that the PLP put Bermuda in a position where we NEED TO BE SAVED! We were in the top 10 of countries with best standard of living, in top 10 for highest per capita income as well. We had almost zero unemployment except by those that could not or would not keep a job.
After the PLP…where are we exactly? How are we better off? Name one area where we as a country are better off post PLP? I await your answer?
Your children’s future was threatened when the PLP were in power my friend.
After the PLP reign,
Your children education system was worse
The debt burden of this country that your children will have to deal with is worse.
There are fewer jobs after the PLP
There are fewer hotels after the PLP
There is higher crime after the PLP
and so on….
Why the hatred towards the OBA? Why is some of the anger not directed at your great PLP? They caused this mess! How has the OBA made anything worse for your kids!
Plp are a bunch of uneducated black folk, right ?!!
Who said that?
You implied it
I did? When?
Why the hatred towards the OBA? Because the OBA is a party that believes in the conservative view of governing. They believe that businesses should be respected by Government and employees because they fuel the economy. The PLP believes that businesses are the mortal enemy of employees and they aren’t paid enough money to be independently wealthy.
Look back at 2011-2012. Do you remember the PLP’s reaction when they asked the Unions to take a pay cut? The workers demanded that the legislators take a pay cut first….the talks came to a screeching halt. The PLP was not going to take ANY pay cuts. Sadly, by passing the buck to the new administration, the cuts have to be deeper because the hole we were in got deeper.
Chris, I’m sure you probably conveniently forgot about that, right?! If Anthony Richardson figured out that the spending habits of the last administration has finally led to HIS realisation that the government may be bankrupt by 2016 could not have just come to his brain only since the OBA took office, as he was your former Accountant General!!!
But yes folks, the PLPbiu were superb at trapping the OBA into promising not to shrink the Civil Servants except by attrition and not by job cuts…..they knew that was the only real alternative to cutting the massive debt the PLP incurred. BRAVO PLP, BRAVO!!
You want the PLP back in power? Seriously? LOL. We can’t afford the PLP.
Here we go again.. “anti- Bermudian one term OBA”…
That’s all he wants to say. The rest is just an excuse to type those words.
Mike hind, go dry up !!
Why? Why do you get to post but I don’t?
Alvin – while I applaud your passion, the reality is that this Government spending has been at an unsustainable pace for many years. That is why we keep borrowing money. Everyone knows that if you keep borrowing money that you can’t pay back, you go bankrupt. And if we don’t do something soon, that’s exactly what your children and grandchildren will be left with? Is that your desire for all of your hard work…a bankrupt nothing for your future generations?
This is not about being anti-Bermudian. This is exactly about being pro-future Bermudian. Unfortunately the struggle of the common man is once again going to occur in order to better the lives of future generations. It is sad that the struggle now has to occur due to mismanagement of spending, but that’s the reality. We can choose to ignore it to our own peril, or we can all acknowledge that we want a healthier and better Bermuda for our families in the future. Check out the SAGE commissions finding and you will see there are few options to get government out of this situation.
If its too many then put a freeze on hiring cause if you cut my job and keep hiring something is drastically wrong and I bet they will look at the little man but not the ones high up. By the way are all civil servants getting a pay cut I heard some are not can someone answer that please
You sound like your attorney general !!!! If you dont like what we are doing leave OUR country
@ Robert, there are a bunch of empty seats available daily leaving for parts unknown, occupy one. This Island will never make it with you and your dead beat ideas in the way.
Says the “boy”…
@ Alvin Williams, you and your plp group put us in this position. By the way, it will be a cold day in h— before the rabble will be in power again.
What position do you think this anti-Bermuda government is putting the ordinary men and women in today. Guess your not looking at the long-term impact of their policies and granting PRC to so many folks. The impact will not be seen in the short-term, but by golly it will be right in your fact in the long-term…think ahead..dearest ……
The PLP left us with no long term. None. Zero. So how can the OBA remove what is not there? Nowhere to go but up Betty.
It is true your living in blind OBAubp faithfulness regardless and not willing to examine the impact of the OBAubp policies in the long-term impact and outcomes…REALLY
I repeat – nowhere to go but up.
Care to explain how they’re anti-Bermudian?
Or is this yet another demagogic talking point you’re trying to push?
If we don’t get government spending under control now, there won’t be any Bermuda in the long term….so unfortunately, your point is moot.
If you believe that cutting the CS is the answer to all of government’s woes, than the OBAubp has got your fooled. The OBAubp have gotten you to drink some bad Kool-aide…
The reality is cutting of CS is not a Quick fix to Bermuda’s woes. Cutting of the CS will not make a significant difference to our economy. It is likely to create other problems, that OBAubp are failing to accept or take a close look at. I am sure that folks are not falling for this poor attempt by the OBAubp government to place all the blame on the feet of the CS. The problem extend beyond that.
If any government regardless if PLP or OBAubp believe that CS is the only fix, they are lacking greater insights into this issue. This problem with our economy will only be fix when the government seeks alternative viable ways to generate RENVUE. The reliance upon the “ONE leg horse of IB”, and the “Dying pony of Tourism” will no longer do it for Bermuda. We must look at “Another Leg to our economy”. That is the most key factor moving Bermuda forward.
The attempt by this OBAubp govt to only relied upon IB and tourism will not reflect any changes in our Economy, As both of those factors have changed. The recession has impact those legs of our economy. IB is doing business differently, and tourism has become Global. WAKE UP FOLKS>>>stop buying the hype of this OBAubp government and look a the FACTS….do your own research…use your own intelligent….
Who said that it’s the only fix?
“use your own intelligent….”
SMH, seriously? That’s 4 times in a week. Please don’t use the word again until you learn how. I won’t even get started on hitting the hammer with the nail. At least you corrected your “die-hearts”. Oh and what’s with the multiple names and e-mails? One not enough for you? Reminds of of someone else. Actually now that I think about it you popped up shortly after she was told to watch her public statements. The things that make you go “hmmm”.
All I am saying is that the government continues to run its spending at current levels, we will have to continue to borrow and eventually default. FACT.
I agree that increasing revenue is PART of the solution. But if you look at the spending, there is NO WAY to increase revenues to the level required to balance the current spending. FACT.
You can decrease spending within the government outside of cutting CS, and they should do so as part of good stewardship. However, these cuts can only go so far (legally and practically) and will fall short of what is required in order to balance the budget. FACT.
Cutting CS is inevitable to balance the budget even with increased revenue. FACT.
This is not about ‘quick fix’. Balancing the budget is about a long term plan to pay down the huge and unnecessary debt created by having such a large CS workforce in the first place.
The only way the oba will win the next election is by kissing @ss, right now they kissing the wrong one. Lets see who’s cheek they kiss when it roles back around to vote again.
Poor black folk, how you think they got in this time?!!
Thank you for acknowledging that the PLP created poor black folk. The PLP are not for Bermudians…you justproved it.
I’d prefer a government that is interesting in doing the right thing rather than pandering to get votes. We’ve had enough of that. If they get the job done and lose the election, so be it.
Remember when the UBP lost. They did nothing wrong, money and the economy was sky high. People just got tired of them just looking out for the HIGH CLASS TEAM!
Nope. Sorry, but that’s simply not true. They might have done ok economically, but socially, they were failing. 1998′s election’s outcome was the right one.
James – my point is that balancing the budget and getting Bermuda’s finances under control IS the right thing for ALL BERMUDIANS. It may feel like a ‘class issue’ because some may say cutting CS is at the expense of the little guy. And I’m sure that is what people will make it out to be, but the fact is that the ‘little guy’ (and all people) has been done a great disservice by the huge level of debt and bloated government which we now have. The only solution is to reign it in or our future generations will ultimately suffer. There is no free lunch…what you borrow you must pay back. We either bite the bullet now and get it right, or suffer in the future. It’s our choice…actually there really isn’t much of a choice.
Careful, that cold day is close at hand
The OBA claim they won’t let go of the workers. So how can they possibly balance the budget without cutting down the civil service? As US Vice President Joe Biden would say “Malarky!”
Oh thank you Chris!
You admit that the Civil Service needs to let the a large number of workers go!!! That probably cost you at least one of your legs.
What do you propose to do Chris? Your beloved PLP created this mess. Spend, spend, and spend some more….In three years when there is no money, then everyone will be out of a job. Just ask your parents about their home country of birth, Bermuda is headed there due to the same mentality. Am I wrong??
One can ask the Question what is the OBAubp going to do, when faced with the highest level of unemployment this country has ever seen?
Why set up a SAGE Commission, without seeking out first ways to develop our Economy? That would have been a more smarter and intelligent move by any government. After all the OBAubp did tell folks they had all the answers pre-election, and can change our economy around.
OBAubp blamed the PLP for borrowing monies, yet what do they do…put us in bigger debt and continue on the same pathway of BORROWING. At least the PLP did it over 14 long. long slow, years, while the OBAubp did in in less than 5 months. It does speak to the FACT that OBAubp lack a PLAN, and had not Solutions, or ideas but merely lied to folks for Votes only. I think the OBAubp are failing in their role as an effective govt, I have yet to see one idea that will generate our economy or grow it.
Complete mistepresentation of reality, yet again.
If the truth is so bad, why do you keep making stuff up?
Why set up the sage commission Betty? So that we stop wasting hundreds of millions of dollars. I know you like wasting and spending other people’s money Betty, like all your halfwitted PLP mates, but the rest of us can’t see the point any more. That’s what Sage is for Betty. Easy enough for you?
OBAubp ran off an election slogan that they had the answers to all of Bermuda’s Woes.
The SAGE commission is merely something the OBAubp are hiding out behind. It is a way to place blame elsewhere rather than stand up and accept what the OBAubp are going to do anyway”
The OBAubp are preparing folks for the FACT that they will CUT JOBS, rather than create the 2000 jobs they promised Bermudians. They will do it quickly, as they hope by the next time Election rolls around FOLKS will FORGET. As they believe most Bermudians have Short-term memory deficits.
The OBAubp will Quickly attempt to implement SAGE recommendations with in the year. This strategy will hopefully allow folks to forget their failed promises made pre-election
The OBAubp will Quickly play like they did not know the fall-out from the recommendations, and the implications and impact upon certain folks in the community. The average man and woman will suffer, as these policies are not in their best interest, but the HAVES will be okay. As most of the recent polices by the OBAubp are impacting the “HAVE NOTS”, while the “HAVES” have been rewarded.
Folks be ready for this political trickery of a strategy by the OBAubp ….
The Sage commission is to stop us wasting money Betty. You and your PLP halfwits love wasting money. Nobody else does. Those days are gone Betty.
And your complaining about haves and havenots? Would the HAVES include the ex Premier and his three luxury homes and yacht? Or the multi millionaire Zane Desilva? Or Pastor Bean, who kept the $160,000 he paid himself despite Cox asking him to return it? Are they the HAVES that your annoyed about?
How can they possibly balance the budget Chris? That’s your big question?
By expanding the economy. That’s the idea. It’s obvious to the rest of us Chris.
If they can do that against the tide of anti-foreigner hate speech coming from the racists and xenophobes. So it’s not guaranteed. It will take some effort by the xenophobes.
Oh, and the other general concept is to stop wasting money on stupid sh1t like that $60m eyesore on South Shore.
And, of course, millions will be saved now that we’re not giving away hundreds of millions of dollars to useless overseas consultants who are -er- let’s call it “well-connected”.
How’s that Chris? Easy enough for you to understand?
the biu and the plp WRECKED this island…
so sit down and shut up,Mike Hind can do the same thing too.
I beg your pardon? Why so hostile?
If the UBP didn’t move Bermuda into International Business the island wouldn’t be wrecked..
Houses would still cost around $400k, jobs wouldn’t be and issue and we would actually have a tourism industry.
A better statement would be the incompetent government wrecked Bermuda..
OBA/UBP are showing their true colors, I hope ALL Bermudians of color are paying attention. They have done nothing to benefit us during their time as Government. Every Law they have passed, board they have formed has no interest or benefit to us of color. We need the Unions and the Unions will stay!
They are trying to SAVE YOUR COUNTRY. And unfortunately, the cuts required to do so are going to be painful. Know the facts, these are dire times and not just for the folks out of work…but for the very future of your children and generations to come. It must be sorted now and it will be painful. But if not dealt with, it will be even more painful for future generations.
@bermuda boy, you are soooo wrong to think that they won’t be back, Just wait and see when the next election rolls around again. I personally know folks who voted for OBA/UPB and now they are sorry they did. I know they won’t be getting their votes and I also know a few people that didn’t vote at all and our now sorry they didn’t.
I’m with you on that!
Hello! They had better pay attention..
The mess was caused by the PLP are you blind.
Ummm actually it wasn’t.. There were many factors which lead Bermuda to where it is now. Some we are not in control of.
And some, we were.
Do you ever reply with substance? Stop trolling.
@ blackbird. The plp/npp (national peoples party), whatever they are called didn’t want to stay in power, we had nothing left for them to dispose of, pocket,borrow forever,or just plain take.
I am not surprised to see Alvin Williams getting all fired up over this. Afterall, his job is virtually obsolete. The post office is one government branch that needs a huge machete taken to it. It loses millions every year and is massively overstaffed. The only time I use snail mail is when whatever I am sending something that absolutely positively DOESN’T have to get to its destination in any sort of hurry. Otherwise it is email and courier service. I haven’t sent a letter personally to anyone in about 10 years now.
WOW, IT IS APPARENT THAT MR. WILLAMS WORDS ARE POWERFUL, AS THEY HAVE HIT THE NERVES AND MINDS OF THE OBAubp DIEHARD FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS. KEEP WRITING MR WILLAMS, YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HAMMER. YOUR POWERFUL WORDS SET A FIRE IN THE HEARTS OF THE OBAUBP FAITHFUL….WOW…WELL SAID MR WILLAMS…WELL SAID….THEY NOT ABLE TO DIGEST IT…
What a load of nonsense.
hahaha. Nail on the hammer. How very fitting, sort of like the tail wagging the dog. Mr. Williams knows what I was talking about. He wants the PLP back in because he knows his job is obsolete and he is hoping to get all the free hand outs he can get. Especially for being such a vocal propagandist for the PLP. He feels he DESERVES to be looked after.
But, was what I said wrong? Just look at this conversation Betty. Wouldn’t have been possible just a few short years ago, we’d be corresponding by Letters to the Editor. That is all so….passé now. Unnecessary and a waste of time and money.
Mr.Furbert,you still getting a HUGE SALARY off the back of the workers?
He deserves it he’s fighting for workers rights, and just like his predecessors before him all the back to Dr. E.F. Gorden, cant say much for high paid Oppressors who don’t give a s–t about workers especially when their M.P. salaries are their side hustle!! LMAO
I agree with everything after your first comma.
Mr Williams is retired
Image how it felt to work in the non-monopolistic private sector under 14 years of PLP terror. Almost ALL the job losses and pain and suffering in Bermuda since the recession started has been in the private sector. Mass retirements and pay cuts is the way to go with CS going forward
Its all fine and dandy to cut jobs but what will happen to these people afterwards? With no money to pay bills, Belco isn’t dropping their prices any time soon, or rent, I just had to let some one go from my two bed room apartment because they couldn’t afford my 800 a month, and no money to feed them selves our their family, Arnolds and Market Place keep raising their prices, they will have to rely on Government pay outs, crime will rise, And then the Government, whom ever is in power after the next election, will have to pay out more money to fix that problem so Bermuda will still be stuck in the same position.
What did the former PLP government do that supposely has put Bermuda into a fiscal crisis? Advance social spending on the people of Bermuda? built Housing for the people; expand educational benefits give more benefits for seniors; generally strengthen Bermuda’s infrastructure . All the criticism
is pointed to government employment levels. But without that level of stable Bermudian employment; the human cost in this economic recession would have been very much greater on the country. Bermudian families would have suffered even more. The anti-Bermudian one term OBA government successfully took the focus off the world wide economic crisis that effected all countries; accept maybe China and perhaps a few other countries that were not greatly expose to the sub-prime melt down which started this economic crisis and the accesses of Wall street which even caught major business interests in Bermuda; something that has been down played while the political focus was put on the PLP government. Some big names in Bermuda’s business world came close to economic disintegration as a result of their exposure of the economic contagion which over took the world. Now that the anti-Bermudian one term OBA government is now in power; we hear no more about so-called internal factors effecting Bermuda’s economy; yet what has really change? Bermuda’s budget deficit has being place at an even higher level under this government and all those critics of the former PLP government about Bermuda’s fiscal debt; have now lapse into silence; a true example of the herd mentality that characterize the political supporters of the anti-Bermudian one term OBA government. No I don’t trust this government to look after Bermudian interests. It puts too much value on the foreign element in this country. And it will seek to put more grief on Bermudians through the use of it’s Trojan Horse the Sage commission which is nothing more than a cover for the social and economic policies of the anti-Bermudian one term OBA government.
All of that denial, just to push his ridiculous catchphrase.
Sad.
Bermuda’s budget deficit has being place at an even higher level under this government and all those critics of the former PLP government about Bermuda’s fiscal debt; have now lapse into silence; a true example of the herd mentality that characterize the political supporters of the anti-Bermudian one term OBA government. Fitch also reported that this government has provided NO NO alternative ways to generate RENEVE>
Report by Fitch:
The downgrade of Bermuda’s ratings reflects its weak macroeconomic performance relative to peers, deteriorating fiscal and government debt ratios and lack of a credible fiscal consolidation strategy. A narrow and volatile revenue base further limits Bermuda’s scope to maintain large fiscal deficits and debt burdens (OBAubp lacking alternative revenues sources). However, the country benefits from access to international capital markets and the local financial system. A sinking fund also provides the government with some flexibility to service its debt.
The ratings are supported by Bermuda’s wealth (the fourth-highest GDP per capita among Fitch-rated sovereigns) and the high savings rate relative to its peers in the ‘AA’ rating category. Bermuda’s competitive advantage as a domicile of choice for insurance, reinsurance and financial services companies remains intact. This is due primarily to its sophisticated legal system, strong regulatory framework, simple tax regime, proximity to the US market and highly-skilled human capital.
Such credit strengths, however, are counterbalanced by Bermuda’s (OBAubp) lack of economic diversification, weaker growth prospects and limited policy flexibility. This is resulting from its currency peg to the American dollar and its narrow fiscal space. Moreover, Bermuda’s economy depends extensively on tourism and insurance business, two industries that are in a mature stage and face strong competition from other jurisdictions.
Takes more than 10 months to fix all those years of mismanagement.
To think otherwise is either naive or willfully ignorant.
Betty,
Why did the PLP stop auditing the public pensionsin 2005 and what caused their last four consolidated audits to be qualified by the auditor?
The worst thing that the PLP did is that THEY left Bermuda in an extremely weak financial position. Of course nobody could have predicted the level of economic downturn, but a financially conservative Government would have not spent and spent with no reserves in place for a rainy day. We literally can’t afford to have another Government like the PLP ever again. They were caught with their pants down and Marc Bean basically admitted to that on the News last week. The PLP have been left with NO credibility to manage Bermuda’s finances, as they even now still amazingly come out with statements that appear to be unsupportive of growing the local economy that is flatlining. The PLP proved that they are very good at spending money, which is easy to do when it is flowing freely but to actually create and nurture new business, they were clueless as to what makes Bermuda successful. The OBA are left holding the baby and and all of us should pray that they can pull it off. To suggest as Alvin does continually that they are anti Bermudian can only be seen as propaganda. If that were true what would be their motive? It makes no sense as a political party. Their objective, as with any political party, would be to secure as many votes from all Bermudian voters by improving Bermuda as a whole and that is their goal. To those that voted for the PLP and suffered their party losing it must be a hard adjustment to make. The reality is that if the PLP had won, Bermuda would be in a far worse state right now than it is. The sense of hopelessness would be overwhelming. The 2 years leading up to the election were painful to go through as the PLP seemed unable to do anything at all to turn things around. Do you think anything would have been changed after the election if the PLP had won? We should all be thankful that change came. Nobody said it would be easy and it will no doubt get worse still, but at least people are in charge that get it and are trying to do all they can to turn Bermuda around.
If you do not believe Mr Williams about the OBAubp lack of PLANs to move Bermuda forward, read the FITCH report, it telling us the same thing, just different use of words in a more kinda way…. I think you need to forget the messengers and read the message…it might help …
Mr. Williams,
Was it pro-Bermudian for the PLP to stop auditing the public pensions since 2005, or receive qualified audits opinions on the consolidated fund for how many consecutive years?
Signed back up to the media council that you and yours fought so hard to implement to control the media?
To answer your question, a mountain of debt that must be paid back an we cannot afford to pay back under the current spending. A mountain of debt that when not paid back that will result in the demise of the country for ALL PEOPLE. Any other questions?
The mountain of debt was increased by a HUGE AMT by the OBAubp government whom promised to decrease our debt pre-election…guess you forgot that one…SHORT_TERM MEMORY DEFICIT AHAH>…..
THE OBAubp increased our debt levels in less than 5 months, while the PLP did it over a long, long, slow period of 14 years…hows that working for you…truth is a b….h.
The only way to move forward is that the OBAUBP must have a PLAN. This they do not have, as we have yet to see one. …same only methods of trickle down economics is not going to work…it only benefits some and not all…. OBAUpb lacking a viable solutions to move Bermuda forward….and BLAME it on the PLP card will not get us there….so move on…In less than 1 year folks want ANSWERS, not BLAME….as there is enough of that to go around….if you look at the historical context of things…..
Housing? Like Grand Atlantic? LOL Great example, the monument to PLP incompetence.
Worldwide economic crisis? lol…as usual you make the attempt to shift blame. Tell me, all those companies that left Bermuda, where do you think they went? I doubt you know or care, but I’ll help you….they didn’t go bankrupt and were not close to it (with the exception of AIG and they stayed here!), they left here and went to Ireland or Switzerland. They left here under the guise of cost savings. (Have you ever been to Switzerland? If so, you KNOW that any company that went there was lying) They left here because your beloved PLP soured the political environment to the point that they didn’t want to be associated with Bermuda. You refuse to see this.
If Grand Atlantic is so bad, why are there folks interesting in buying it. Actually Bermudians loss out on such an opportunity due to the spin put out there by their big fan Mr. Hayward and the other OBAubp folks. By the way, finally the other day your Premier indicated that the World-wide Recession did impact Bermuda…finally OBAubp admitting to something…. get real..
Betty, for crying out loud. Grand Atlantic has been empty for two years. It’s a $60m monument to PLP waste and incompetence.
I’d still like a list of all PLP MP’s who benefitted from that scandal.
More outright lies from B. Trump.
Par for the course
Who are these folks that are interested in buying it? Who? Certainly not the PEOPLE they were built to provide HOUSING for, which is the point your boy Famous was trying to make. What is being considered now is how to try and get some use out of this complete and utter debacle. Tourism and seniors’ residence (but no elevators because that was NOT its intended purpose) are being considered possibilities….out of desperation. You cannot defend the Grand Atlantic Betty, it stands as the monument already described and always will be.
As to the recession: $60 million wasted on Grand Atlantic, over 20 million to football and cricket with nothing to show for it, Berkley cost doubled, say another 80 million, TCD building, unnecessary and yet what was supposed to cost 5 million cost 15, the Court Building, massively overrun with change orders inflating the cost, which is still unknown., the “we can sit back and rake in the cash” cruise terminal. I could go on and on. The capital projects that Famous claims were all done for social reasons were virtually all the reasons why we are in such a mess today. Couple them with the Uighur mess and comments from unelected but very powerful people such as “we don’t care what you think” or “I smile when I see all the for sale signs” signalling how twisted policy can turn into all contributed to the perfect PLP storm of incompetence.
Once again Well said Mr Williams you have exposed the facts to them, and this is difficult for most of them to accept.
YES WELL PUT: “Trojan Horse the Sage commission” which is nothing more than a cover for the social and economic policies of the anti-Bermudian one term OBA government.
The OBAUbp will put into place the recommendations of SAGE Quickly, as they hope before the next election rolls around folks will have developed a “Short-term MEMORY DEFICIT”…REALLY …WAKE UP FOLKS
Alvin…wake up. The alarm just went off and it’s time to get out of bed after sleeping for 14 years. While you’re at it, brush your teeth, get a cup of coffee and go out and WORK FOR YOUR COUNTRY instead of trying your damdest to divide it!!
@ Al williams where is the missing 800m to, where is the st geo hotel to that they blew up, the most work permits giving out in Bermudian history, the grand atlantic failure, 8,000 government workers the most in the world (just for votes), term limits (took away work from me and YOU), took away cruise ships from St geo, i can go on! U said u dont “trust the oba government to look after Bermudian interest.” I see u had your blind fold on for 7 years! Wake the hell up bie the PLP broke a LOT of records during their 14 year reign!
Truth is we don’t need this quantity of civil servants, even when their numbers almost doubled during the last 14 years, nothing gets done either quicker or better, look around the BMA are bulging at the seams with granted not highly paid or super smart people but people doing little non the less, I didn’t hear the premier saying that layoffs would be before the expert on of the agreement in -April 14 so what’s the noise about, I would be more concerned if he started pre that date after all the previous Government never laid anyone off no matter how bad, lame or criminally tainted they were. We are all taking licks but we can’t watch as the bulging civil service drains the public purse, look at Works and engineering, for years this has been Bermudas dumping ground for the unemployed and unemployable, now we see them around the island using 10 guys to do a job that would take 3 and they take two weeks to do a job that a contractor could rap up in a day or so, this is the end result of a bulging service and who’s paying for that….
Bma is not funded by government. It is self funded. They actually are very busy policing bermuda’s international business.
Please explain self funded.
@blackbird
I was one out of the thousands that abstained from voting at the last election ,because neither party represented my best interest.
That is ya Democratic right but people before fought sacrificed and suffered for you to have that right.
So you vote for whatever PLP based on something that happened before many in Bermuda were even born., and regardless if they destroy childrens futures, you still vote for them…..wow
Mazumbo
Show me the evidence of these freedom fighters that fought for me.Task # 1
On another note Voting doesn’t authorize power.Ask a few of those un-employed Bermudians who were unemployed prior to to Dec.17 and are still unemployed to date.
I was fooled to vote for the PLP,never again.All my Civil Servant brothers and sisters have to take a pay cut because of their(the PLP’s ) ignorance.
Because of the oBAUbp your brother and sisters will have no job, if you continue to believe the twisted agenda of the OBAUbp..REALLY
Alvin: None so blind and all that.
Well said again Mr. Williams, you have gotten the wheels of the OBAubp Blind faithfulness followers turning…they are working hard to cover up the MESS of the OBAubp…Playing the only card they have OBAubp DEFEND card….your powerful in your writing, this is too much for them..their comments reflect just that…lol…..
The govt’s income has shrunk so much action has to be taken.The action is going to be a reduction in pay of The Civil Service.
Thank the former administration for putting us in our debted situation.We cannot go on borrowing to the point of bankruptcy.Union leaders know it,business knows it and the workers know it.
Unless we get massive foreign investment we are doomed.Immigration reform needs to go further so that job creators stay.The Unions need to be responsible and straight with the workers or else many will suffer as more jobs disappear.
Pay cuts are better than no job at all.Continuing to borrow 300 $million a year is a recipe for third world status.Rents and house values are plummeting so the cost of living is going down.The pay cuts will not be that bad,as our general cost of living decreases.Service industries will cost less ,everything will cost less,except for Imported goods which we have no control over.
Brace yourselves Bermuda,hard times are coming,and we are all going to have to adjust!
OBAubp ran off an election slogan that they had the answers to all of Bermuda’s Woes.
The SAGE commission is merely something the OBAubp are hiding out behind. It is a way to place blame elsewhere rather than stand up and accept what the OBAubp are going to do anyway”
The OBAubp are preparing folks for the FACT that they will CUT JOBS, rather than create the 2000 jobs they promised Bermudians. They will do it quickly, as they hope by the next time Election rolls around FOLKS will FORGET. As they believe most Bermudians have Short-term memory deficits.
The OBAubp will Quickly attempt to implement SAGE recommendations with in the year. This strategy will hopefully allow folks to forget their failed promises made pre-election
The OBAubp will Quickly play like they did not know the fall-out from the recommendations, and the implications and impact upon certain folks in the community. The average man and woman will suffer, as these policies are not in their best interest, but the HAVES will be okay. As most of the recent polices by the OBAubp are impacting the “HAVE NOTS”, while the “HAVES” have been rewarded.
Folks be ready for this political trickery of a strategy by the OBAubp ….
the only “concern” is C Furbert and the likes of Betty Trump and the “blind followers ” of the party that put us in this predicament. The bail out of Greece, Spain etc is nothing compared to the mess we are in. Thanks plpbiu