Cannonier: “Keeping To The People’s Business”
[Opinion column written by Premier Craig Cannonier]
It is my mission as Premier to bring about change that makes Bermuda work better for Bermudians.
This can mean passing legislation that expands human rights, it can mean attracting foreign investment to create jobs; it can mean taking steps to protect our most vulnerable.
Our objective is recovery that gets people working again. Our goal over time is to renew Bermuda to make it more fair – achieving social and economic equity, leaving no one behind.
To get there, we are working on many fronts to find and legislate solutions that work for the people.
This past week is an example of what I mean.
Over the course of two days in the House of Assembly, we passed legislation to grow jobs, improve Bermuda’s competitiveness and strengthen our system of justice.
On the economic front, we passed a Bill that allows local and exempt companies to purchase high-end residential properties already available for foreign purchase. We brought forward this change to generate construction-related jobs and to make Bermuda a more attractive and competitive jurisdiction for international business, which is the mainstay of our economy.
We also passed a Bill to finally get the development of Morgan’s Point off the ground. The legislation was the culmination of challenging year-long negotiations to replace a development agreement put together by the previous government that was not working.
In another piece of legislation, we eliminated “double-vetting” of company incorporations – a process that was unnecessarily long, unnecessarily expensive and a negative for Bermuda’s competitiveness. The change eliminates double-vetting by law firms and the Bermuda Monetary Authority in favour of vetting by law firms with the BMA having regulatory oversight.
The tabling of the Government’s audited Financial Statements for 2012/13 are another positive development for the people’s business. As Finance Minister Richards reported, the 2012/13 statements received the first clean audit in six years. This marks a return to standards of financial management that people can expect from their government, with accounts finally, properly and accurately reflecting its operations.
Also last week, the Government introduced changes the Criminal Code that, in effect, allow more scope in sentencing to reflect community values and mores. The first change gives judges more flexibility to determine the most appropriate sentencing for convicted killers. The second change creates a sentencing structure to penalize people convicted of a crime who are also members of a gang.
I am particularly pleased by this second change because it is a preventative measure that tells young people not to join a gang; warning them that society will punish them if they do.
All of these advances last week are part of a broad plan to get Bermuda working better for you, your families, your friends and neighbours.
No single measure is going to bring about the recovery and renewal we all want, but taken together over time, with our eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead, we’ll get there. Of that, I am sure.
- Craig Cannonier
Please let minister Richards do all the talking.
This could mean passing legislation that directly effects the Bermudian people.
But that would appear to be too much to ask.
Craig go jump on a plane and take a trip everyone knows by now you’re not the leader of the OBA.
My guess is that you would prefer to go back to the dictatorship. Leadership by consensus of the MPs does not suit you. You would like to have ‘my way or the highway’ again.
Yeah, that one worked out real well for us didn’t it.
A fool that’s how it is now…. Under your OBA!!!!!!
Leadership by consensus of the MPs is a form of oligarchy & an oligarchy is a form of dictatorship. Democracy is when the people have a choice like Ukraine wanting to have a voice through referendum while Russia wants to instill their past dictatorship on them.
So this week, I will approach this differently and see if my “friends” here on this site will agree or disagree. . .
I do not have an issue with the information provided in this opinion piece from the Hon. Premier – not at all. I may not agree with all of it, but I don’t have a problem with it.
The only issue I have with the Hon. Premier is this is the only medium where it seems he provides any information – - – yes, I know he went on Lopes and Spence’s radio shows last week (very nice gesture), but he refused (or requested, depending on who you ask) to take calls and questions from the public.
Hon. Premier – you work at the pleasure of the general public of Bermuda – not just the Chamber of Commerce, not just IB, not just the Unions – - but all Bermudians. And just like the Hon. B Richards reminds those in the civil service daily – - we have every right to request your resignation if we feel you are not working to the appropriate standard.
Q
So he appears on radio shows, but you still critic. SMDH
@Hmmmm:
Yes – you didn’t read what my issue was and continues to be – - it is his lack of response to questions – - it doesn’t matter to me if he appears on those “other” talk shows (i.e. Sherri’s show or Gary’s show) – not at all.
I just want to feel that my elected leader is willing to answer questions put before him by the people of this country – - is that too much to ask?
Q
Ok so if his reply was something along the lines of “I had to deceive you” would you quit harping on it and let him get on with getting Bermuda out of the hole we are in? Would that shut you up?
Redo -
No – it wouldn’t be ok as the last person who said that, in my book, wasn’t ok – so why if I didn’t give the previous Premier a break would I allow the current leader to get away with it?
Don’t come on here spouting stupid statements deflecting from the truth – our current Premier is not leading by example.
And to answer your last question, no – it won’t shut me up.
Q
From past experience would someone who deceived us get us out of a hole or would they climb on top of our backs to get themselves to the top?
Two wrongs never make a right.
Cannonier is doing just fine:
(1) Don’t respond to ‘jetgate’ tom foolery
(2) Continue with photo ops that make u look good
(3) Always decline invites to 102.7 FM
4) Always issues very calculated and measured releases in circumstances where he is not available for further clarification.
5) Always has his name at the bottom of these statements, no matter who is actually writing them.
Why does it matter whether or not he writes them? It’s common practice for people to have speech writers. Why is it only bad if the Premier does it?
(1) The only tom foolery from jetgate was the Premier bringing his business associate along on a government job then denying he was in on the meetings just to be caught out by his own tourism ministers words. Then he relies on the excuse that the manager was there for his golf expertise but why bring his business manager & not Andrew Brooks who has much more recent experience in golf & is a REAL expert.
More tom foolery is the Premier stating “to portray someone considering investing in Bermuda in a negative light is not helping.” but the investor he met with has been cast in a negative light by multiple sources in his own country for decades. Many of the controversies that surround him are related to hotel casinos.
(2) Photo ops don’t make someone look good positive actions do. Allowing an act to pass that takes away the right of a local to know about a job opportunity in their own country is not a positive action. Taking away the people of a country’s voice is not a positive action.
(3) The Premier can decline or except all the invites he wants but refusing dialog with his society will solidify where he stands compared to them.
this guy is like a broken record
same gibberish,different day…
empty promises, masquerading as genuine concerns and aspirations…
one thing we can be assured of, is that he is getting paid.
maybe we should promise to pay these clowns, possibly then they would understand the meaning of words, and broken promises.
In terms of broken promises, that particular charge cannot be leveled at the above article.
All that legislation noted by the Premier actually took place and was passed.
Whether you agree with the laws is a whole other story.
But for me I don’t see what is so sinister about legislation that is aimed at promoting hotel development, protecting someone’s human rights and creating a more hospitable atmosphere for business to domicile in BDA. And I definitely cannot see what the issue is with this Government receiving a clean audit, for the first time in 6 years, by the AG on Government finances.
I know I can’t see the issue with such developments, but I guess others have a differing opinion on why such matters and changes are so bad for the island and her people.
To all those listed above who are criticizing Craig or the OBA, you should be glad you are able to do this. What we had under the PLP was a party who accused everyone who disagreed with them of racism. Sometimes quite publically. Lives were ruined!
It was a virtual Dictatorship as Triangle said.
Once again – be glad you are allowed to voice your opinion. This was not the case under the PLP.
Being accused of racism or being accused of xenophobia is not much of a difference. PLP/OBA same ish different day.
No protests under the PLP government? I never thought I would see the day that Bermuda’s white population would take to the street in protest; but we did see that. I was at the government house when they came marching up the hill; all in an effort to get the British government to end the PLP government’s policy to end duel seat constituencies which gave a minority more voting power than a larger constituency and replace it with one man one vote of equal value. Than there was the march and protest around the House of Assembly by what I called white child soldiers carrying their parents political point of view against the than PLP government. Not to mention what was the near lynching of PLP member of parliament Zane Desilva and his family as they drove out of the grounds of parliament. How about the secret trip to London to get the British government to take over the Bermuda government just like they did the Turks & Cacios. Dictatorship under the PLP government? with the OBA premier running from elements of the local media he does not like and is going to grant the international media interviews? Dictatorship? Some OBA political supporters need to look under their own hood in this regard.
You’re not even TRYING to tell the truth any more, Mr. Williams!
These are outright LIES!
“I never thought I would see the day that Bermuda’s white population would take to the street in protest; but we did see that.”
No. You saw Bermudians protesting. Just because there were white people in the group doesn’t mean that it was “Bermuda’s white population” any more than a BIU march represents “Bermuda’s black population”.
“Near lynching of PLP member of parliament Zane Desilva and his family”?
That is not even CLOSE to being true.
These lies are truly vile, sir.
If you have ANY love for our country, I beg you to start telling the truth.
Mike hind, crawl back into your hole !!
The usual from the big man, “Robert”.
How can you attack me on this? I know you’re on the same side, but the man is lying, outright.
Are you seriously ok with this? You don’t have a problem with outright lies like this, as long as it’s from your side? That says a lot about you.
Sickening.
It is a fact (not fantasy) Mr Williams that the PLP could not take criticism of any sort and that includes peaceful protest. I was at cabinet office that day and we were simply accused of being racist. Just like every other person who ever protested the PLP. You even turned against your own calling them Uncle Toms. The way the PLP ran things was disgusting. Thank goodness they are finished and that people with your blinkered 19th century views are largely dead and gone.
Thank goodness they are “dead and gone”. Mercy mercy me,, Those people who you referred to as having “blinkered views” didn’t just come to their mindset at a meeting and decide to act that way. Those people you refer to came up in a very segregated and unjust Bermuda and by extension World and for you to diminish the things that these individuals faced during their time on this earth is very very disrespectful and insensitive.
We are all products of our environment in some way, our choices, ideals, passions etc. are all impacted and shaped by the things that we endure during our lives. Thats why I try to understand what makes someone think the way they do or act the way they act before I condemn them. Right now I am trying to understand what makes you have such a one sided view of this world.
I’m not really for any party but if you really and truly believe all the BULLS*** you just wrote, YOU ARE A MORON FOR REAL!!
Cannonier shines once again signing his name to an opinion about his opinion . Well done great leader of the letter writer .
Why does it matter?
I know you’ve got an agenda to push, but PLEASE tell us why it matters.
@Mike Hind
You keep asking – why does it matter? As in who wrote the premier’s speech…
Well for one, there is a very grave misrepresentation in this speech. Go to paragraph three;
“This can mean passing legislation that expands human rights, it can mean attracting foreign investment to create jobs; it can mean taking steps to protect our most vulnerable.”
What human rights legislation? Passing legislation that helps to attract foreign investment to create jobs is NOT human rights legislation. So, where in this speech does he outline the steps taken to protect the most vulnerable as it relates to their human rights?
It would be a far stretch of the imagination to state that legislation pretending to gangs and sentencing guidelines are new and/or amended human rights laws – a far stretch indeed – because they are NOT. The legislation expands the criminal code Act by giving the judiciary more discretionary powers on sentencing.
Whilst you are attempting to spin this into human rights legislation; you need a better speech writer! And for what you pay him, this is an embarrassing attempt at best.
The premier has a speech writer and when that speech writer crosses the line into FICTION, he as an agent of the premier and the premier himself are being deceptive.
Now where precisely is this legislation that was (or will be passed) to expand human rights? There is NO mention of precisely what this legislation is? Who it will protect? How it will protect? When it will take effect, etc? In other words, let’s cut to the chase – this is a misrepresentation.
So, here is where I strongly disagree with you, Mike Hind, the premier of this country has a duty to be honest in making these “pep talk” speeches to the people of Bermuda.
It is solely the premier’s responsibility to read, digest, approve and/or edit any speech that he makes to the people of Bermuda. It is his, not his writer’s, responsibility to ensure that what he reads out to the public is clear, honest and correctly stated about the public affairs of Bermuda.
Mr premier, do NOT come back to the public with another speech pf spin and deception, simply work with what you do have, note your limitations and praise those who have made exceptional contributions thus far.
London, England
FINAL EDIT:
@Mike Hind
You keep asking – why does it matter? As in who wrote the premier’s speech…
Well for one, there is a very grave misrepresentation in this speech. Go to paragraph three;
“This can mean passing legislation that expands human rights, it can mean attracting foreign investment to create jobs; it can mean taking steps to protect our most vulnerable.”
What human rights legislation? Passing legislation that helps to attract foreign investment to create jobs is NOT human rights legislation. So, where in this speech does he outline the steps taken to protect the most vulnerable as it relates to their human rights?
It would be a far stretch of the imagination to state that legislation pertaining to gangs and sentencing guidelines are new and/or amended human rights laws – a far stretch indeed – because they are NOT. The legislation expands the criminal code Act by giving the judiciary more discretionary powers on sentencing.
Whilst you are attempting to spin this into human rights legislation; you need a better speech writer! And for what you pay him, this is an embarrassing attempt, at best.
The premier has a speech writer and when that speech writer crosses the line into FICTION, h,e as an agent of the premier, and the premier himself, are being deceptive.
Now where precisely is this legislation that was (or will be passed) to expand human rights? There is NO mention of precisely what this legislation is? Who it will protect? How it will protect? When it will take effect, etc? In other words, let’s cut to the chase – this is a misrepresentation.
So, here is where I strongly disagree with you, Mike Hind, the premier of this country has a duty to be honest in making these “pep talk” speeches to the people of Bermuda.
It is solely the premier’s responsibility to read, digest, approve and/or edit any speech that he makes to the people of Bermuda. It is his, not his writer’s, responsibility to ensure that what he reads out to the public is clear, honest and correctly stated about the public affairs of Bermuda.
Mr premier, do NOT come back to the public with another speech of spin and deception, simply work with what you do have, note your limitations and praise those who have made exceptional contributions thus far.
London, England
Wow. There’s a WHOLE lot of speculation and nonsense in here.
And a whole lot of ignoring the question to push some talking points.
I’d go through this and explain, but the last time I did, you ignored and dismissed my post, so, if you aren’t going to show the respect of reading my posts, why bother.
You say “here’s where I disagree with you”… I haven’t taken a position, I simply asked a question. You trying to pretend I have is specious and wrong. Please stop making things up and then acting like they’re true. You’ve done this several times now.
Your whole post is based on out of context misrepresentation.
I shouldn’t expect better, but I do.
You have the nerve to call someone a liar, well… What hypocrisy!!!
[Opinion column written by Premier Craig Cannonier] ppppftt!!! Riite..
At least he’ll address the problems, and when / if wrong, he will admit to it, (tongue in cheek)As stated by Sophia Loren,”Mistakes are a part of the dues that one pays for a full life”.
@Raymond Ray…
I read Ms Sophia Loren’s autobiography many years ago.
Ms Loren also stated, “A man has experience, a woman has a past.”
Interpretation…he pays his dues yet she..?
Do we measure by the same yardstick where fe/male are concerned in Bermuda?
Or conversely, how many females thrive under his leadership?
London, England
Speculation and nonesense, and you cannot be bothered to show me where…
Ignoring WHAT question? Re-read my post, Mike Hind, with all the mud you throw at others, you fail to grasp the points of my post. I finally must admit,you lack any proper understanding of any posts on this blog and that is why you are so contenious.
Mike, you do not have to take a position – and that is your KEY weapon of contention, you RIDE everyone’s else’s positions, very parasitic. You lay in wait attempting to hijack everyone else’s position on subjects pertaining to the OBA, to ridule, scorn and belittle anyone who critises the OBA.
Mike, your language is always filled with words of negative belittling, such as; the crtics speak nonesense, but you tell the truth. The critics are vile people, but you are unjustly attacked for defending the truth. The critcs make up stories, but you cannot properly identify the precise story that we, the critics, have made up. You defend the story by throwing mud at the critics.
Mike, could your failure to connect with critics be because it’s not based on the story but on simply on your repeated attempts to annilate any critisise of the OBA.
Oh, but in your mind your are very impartial, but I have never seen you attempt to bamboozle (with your own special brand of reasoning) the critics of the PLP. I wonder why?
London, England