Government Responds To People’s Campaign

June 29, 2014

The Cabinet Office advised today that Government has formally responded to the representatives of the People’s Campaign.

In correspondence to the Principles of the organisation, the Premier Michael Dunkley acknowledged the People’s Manifesto [PDF] and highlighted what Government is doing to address the economy, unemployment, education, justice, health and other matters of concern.

Premier Dunkley said, “After extensively reviewing the document with my Cabinet colleagues, we ultimately agreed that there is no difference between the goals of equality, jobs and justice articulated in the Manifesto and those of the Government.”

Slideshow of the People’s Campaign march held last month:

The Premier added that “one of the first priorities since Government came to office was addressing government’s unsustainable debt” and said that “arresting the debt was critical if there were to be resources available to address the socio-economic matters of shared concern.”

Premier Dunkley said, “To address the situation and make possible the ideals we share, the Government adopted a two-track strategy to grow the economy and to curtail and control government spending.

“Our aim has been to rebuild the economic foundation and stabilize public finances in ways that restore confidence, opportunity and hope – generating tangible benefits to the people.”

He added, “Despite the challenges we face as a Country, we are confident that we are moving Bermuda in the right direction, towards economic recovery, thus expanding opportunity and full employment for Bermudians.

“We appreciate that recovery is not happening fast enough for those Bermudians who are still facing hardship. And I shared with the members of the People’s Campaign that this Government is pursuing priorities and applying available resources to bring relief to people as fast as possible.”

One of the specific issues raised by the People’s Campaign were concerns regarding interest and mortgage rates with the local banks.

The Premier highlighted the fact that Government, via  Minister of Finance Bob Richards engaged Clarien Bank to discuss the concerns, which ultimately resulted in some progress being made. Last week Clarien Bank announced preferred CD rates for union members.

The Premier concluded, “Bermuda remains a work in progress. We agree on the fundamentals of equality, jobs and justice for all residents.

“In that regard, the People’s Campaign and the people of Bermuda can be assured that I, my colleagues and other community stakeholders are working hard to make Bermuda a fairer place for all, ultimately ensuring a more prosperous Island for everyone in the long run.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (25)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

Articles that link to this one:

  1. Weekend Reports, Photos, Videos, Links & More | Bernews.com | June 30, 2014
  1. Don’t forget prostitution….let’s just legalise dat badboy get it ovah with….sometimes you gottah buy wattah….well dissis de same thing!

  2. Raymond Ray says:

    It’s a breath of fresh air when I hear our Premier address the various issues that we the public are extremely concerned with…I further do believe the One Bermuda Alliance will accomplish much of what the people of Bermuda request of them, but in due time. Far too many expect things to change,(for the betterment of all) over night, unfortunately it can’t happen like that :-( All things do / will take time. The only thing that can and will happen over a short period of time is “troubles” (something we all can do without)
    So my fellow Islanders / “Countrymen” just be patient and remember, Roman wasn’t built overnight…but it certainly crumbled quite fast :-(

    • ole Onion says:

      How much $$ do u get Mr Ray for your speeches endorsing the OBA/ UBP ?
      Are you one of the paid Bloggers ??
      Aka friend and family members ??
      I guess in your book only OBP I mean OBA politicians can do no wrong !!
      Well let’s just ask PATI !! She can tell us !!

  3. Kunta says:

    They need to keep on marching to indicate that they are serious!!!!!!!!!!!!
    And Clarien Bank sucking up to Union members because they are taking their money and putting it round de Credit Union shows the people do have POWER, don’t fall for de gimmicks that’s how O.B.A.-ubp duped de gullible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anon says:

      Kunta, marching is very helpful to all of us because it means that we will no longer have to deal with those pesky tourist and foreigners and we will them all be unemployed and won’t have to march anymore. Great idea.

      BTW…how do you proposed the Gov. create new jobs? How do you proposed Gov. pays to support everyone in the currently civil service and their unions?

    • Double D says:

      Do you know how much the Credit Union pays on their deposits and what rates they charge for their loans (i.e. spreads)?

      You should do some research as you would be very suprised (and not in a good way either, but I am sure you would justify it some how).

  4. cromwell says:

    If there is no difference between the OBA the old UBP and the People’s Campaign who needs the OBA when we could just elect the People’s Campaign if they form a party or maybe even the PLP.

    The admission that the present government agrees to the socialist left People’s Campaign platform suggests there will be no reform to the Bermuda economy and the borrowing and increase civil service with more regulations will increase.

    There will be less and less reason to build business in Bermuda except those who like to play golf and the international financial markets.

    Might as well become an internal county or district of the UK and elect our own UK Member of Parliament.

    The

    • Purple Koolaid says:

      @cromwell. Where does it say that there is no difference between the OBA and the People Campaign?????????

      Here is what he said. Read slowly, you might understand it this time if you do.

      there is no difference between the GOALS of equality, jobs and justice articulated in the Manifesto and those of the Government.”

      The GOALS is what he said! Wait who is this? Spindoctor, is that you!

    • nuffin but the truth says:

      Absolute Bollocks!

  5. Sir George says:

    He is and will be all things to all people – are you all sleep yet?

  6. Huh says:

    Where’s the response from the PLP? Oh sorry, forgot they’re having a Tea Party…

  7. aceboy says:

    They are just a branch of the PLP. Nothing to see here, move along.

  8. Justice! says:

    Raymond Ray,

    You didn’t call for the same degree of patience when the PLP was the Government. You racist hypocrite!

    • Starting point says:

      Really, it seems the PLP were given 14 years of patience? or was that not enough?

      If that is the case then I expect Justice! to give the OBA 14 years to give it a go…or are you the hypocrite?

    • Raymond Ray says:

      “Justice!” the P.L.P. had 14 years to prove what they meant e.g.turn the Island around. The irony is, “they did turn the Island around, for the worst”. By the way “Justice!” I take back calling you a cxxt you’re more than that :-(

  9. Steve Davis says:

    Great response by the Premier to the National Socialist Party!

    • Impressive says:

      One thing for sure, Dunkley is a good politician, I am not an OBA supporter, but I do applaud his political skills. He knows how to turn the heat down when things begin to boil and does it in a very polite way, much unlike the last excuse they had for a Premier.

      • Kunta says:

        Ya sounds like when de Europeans gave Natives de Bible then told them to kneel down, close their eyes and pray, and when they opened their they where in chains and their land taken from them, VERY SMOOTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Kunta says:

          opened their eyes

          • Impressive says:

            lol, I feel you on that one,, He is very smooth about how he goes about his work, I do agree with that. He is so much less volatile then Cannonier, who often replied in such a defensive or “if u like” antagonistic manner. Dunkley has a way of making it appear that he takes your concerns into consideration, despite whether or not he agrees with them or not. (It remains to be seen if this is just politicking or if he is indeed genuine).

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          Actually, your thinking of the ‘Peoples Campaign’ manifesto, cause you can be assured, if anybody tries to do what they think should be done, the taxation that will need to be levied means you won’t have a pot to pi$$ in, much less the ability to buy any toilet paper for when you will need to go in the bushes. That is what you get if close your eyes to buy what they are selling, their type of socialism has not worked anywhere in the world in history, and we, sure as the sun, don’t have the population to finance it.

  10. LaVerne Furbert says:

    “The Premier highlighted the fact that Government, via Minister of Finance Bob Richards engaged Clarien Bank to discuss the concerns, which ultimately resulted in some progress being made. Last week Clarien Bank announced preferred CD rates for union members.”

    That statement is an outright lie. First of all, why would the People’s Campaign asked for “preferred CD rates” for union members, when all union members already get “preferred CD rates” from the BIU Members Credit Union. Further, representatives of the People’s Campaign concern has not been just union members, instead their concern has been for all Bermudians, especially those who are no represented by a trade union.

    Lastly, the People’s Campaign have had their own meetings with Clarien Bank and they certain do not need Bob Richards to speak on their behalf.

    • Kunta says:

      Well I guess that’s de end of that.

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      So your argument is that the ‘Peoples Campaign’ meetings with Clarien are the reason for the union members getting the ‘preferred CD rate’… If they achieved that, then why didn’t they get the ‘preferred’ rate for all Bermudians as you say that that is who they went up to bat for? Your own statement is either a confession that the OBA managed to at least get a better rate for union members or that the ‘Peoples Campaign’ settled for only getting a better rate for union members, pick one, because you can’t have both.
      Well, suppose in your world you can’t see how your argument cancels itself out, but here in reality it does, nice try though.