OBA Respond To PLP’s Criticism On Travel

September 27, 2014

The trip to New York City was “part of the Government’s work to re-establish Bermuda’s profile in overseas tourism and business markets, a profile diminished in recent years because of the mishandling of Bermuda Tourism marketing and antagonistic government attitudes,” the One Bermuda Alliance said.

The OBA was responding to criticism from Shadow Tourism Minister Zane Desilva, which followed after Premier Michael Dunkley, Minister Grant Gibbons, Minister Shawn Crockwell, Senator Jeff Baron and Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Bill Hanbury traveled to New York for meetings.

Earlier this week, Mr. Desilva said, “As Opposition, the OBA and their supporters criticized any travel by PLP Ministers regardless of the benefits that were delivered to Bermudians.

“The public has a right to know why it was necessary for Premier Dunkley, Ministers Grant Gibbons and Shawn Crockwell, and Senator Jeff Baron to participate in this New York junket and how much Bermudians paid for it.

“In light of Minister Bob Richards recent comments dismissing the needs of Bermuda’s seniors, and Minister Wayne Scott dismissing the concerns and needs of the Centre Against Abuse, the OBA must explain how they continue to be make funds available consistently for these types of excursions,” added Mr. Desilva.

In response, the OBA said, “The One Bermuda Alliance, under the leadership of Premier Dunkley, is working hard to rebuild Bermuda for Bermudians.

“Bermudians have every right to know how their tax dollars are spent, and they can have confidence that this Government is making prudent decisions as it works to attract businesses and visitors to our shores.

“Premier Dunkley has demonstrated the Government’s commitment to transparency by introducing and passing the Public Access to Information [PATI] bill within weeks of his Premiership.

“The commitment to transparency and accountability will be extended with the imminent launch of a website that will outline all travel expenses for any travel taken by Government Ministers and MPs.

“Travel to market the island is essential for Bermuda’s economic survival. Attracting more visitors and more investment dollars means more economic activity, which means more jobs.

“To get the economy working better for Bermudians, the Government must fish where the fish are, the east coast of America is our primary market for business and visitors.

“The trip to New York City this week – the world’s business capital – is part of the Government’s work to re-establish Bermuda’s profile in overseas tourism and business markets – a profile diminished in recent years because of the mishandling of Bermuda Tourism marketing and antagonistic government attitudes that alienated investors and stakeholders – key sources for the Island’s income and jobs.

“Opposition spokesman Zane DeSilva has sought to cheapen these efforts, using falsehood and disparaging language to criticize the New York trip.

“First, Premier Dunkley doesn’t do “junkets”. Mr. DeSilva’s use of that word betrays more about his own government’s approach to ministerial travel than the new reality today.

“Second, Mr. DeSilva’s statement about the Premier’s “refusal to disclose” the cost of the trip is a deliberate falsehood. The Premier has been very clear that all ministerial travel will be made available to the public, starting with the imminent posting on a Cabinet travel website of the cost for this week’s New York trip.

“Finally, let’s consider the hypocritical shallowness of Mr. DeSilva’s opposition to the New York trip. Mr. DeSilva, we recall, was a vigorous defender of PLP Government travel including former Premier Brown’s trip to China, which he said was a trip “to try and build up our relationships with that country.” Right.

“Premier Dunkley has said he will take every opportunity to promote Bermuda to benefit Bermudians and no amount of misleading criticism from the Opposition will sway those efforts.

“In conclusion, we want to be clear about one thing: the need and the urgency behind Bermuda’s efforts to restore visitor interest and investor confidence in the Island today is because of the damage done by the previous government.”

Earlier this week, the Government said they are “in the process of finalising a travel website detailing Ministerial travel costs, which can be viewed by the public,” adding that the “website launch is forthcoming.”

The costs of travel by Government officials has been debated for many years, and last summer former Premier Craig Cannonier said they were working on developing a website to show the cost of travel by Cabinet Ministers.

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Comments (64)

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  1. Unbelievable says:

    “Finally, let’s consider the hypocritical shallowness of Mr. DeSilva’s opposition to the New York trip. Mr. DeSilva, we recall, was a vigorous defender of PLP Government travel including former Premier Brown’s trip to China, which he said was a trip “to try and build up our relationships with that country.” Right.

    Hahahaha who ever wrote this response has a sense of humour. Take that PLP. Lol

  2. somuchless says:

    I still wana know what Hanbury is being paid.

  3. Triangle Drifter says:

    Give a civil servant something to do today. Dig up some of the PLP travel expenses. Lets see how much those 5 star hotels & restaurants cost us. Don’t forget the limos & luxury car rentals when more modest transport & accomodation would have done just fine.

  4. Daddy Yankee says:

    This OBA response is so childish. So the OBA could not offer a ball park figure of their costs and explain they will get accurate numbers asap?

    All that fluff to say nothing.

    All you had to do was say what each person actually did over the course of the trip instead of words like raise our profile. Did they sings song with the cowboy who only wears his underpants and boots in Times Square, make a Vine that went viral, create a new youtube video with Uzimon jahfakin in which to increase our tourism numbers and then tweet about it?

    Just say that the Minister for Economic Development met with three business leaders, two airlines, one hotel and a partridge in a pear tree; the Tourism Minister sat in a room and nodded while Hansbury did the talking and Baron carried Dunks bags and entertained Katherine Zeta Jones.

    • serengeti says:

      You accuse them of being childish, and then you ask “Did they sings song with the cowboy who only wears his underpants and boots in Times Square”.
      Pot, meet kettle.

      • Smh says:

        Finally the OBA is standing up for itself!!!! EXCELLENT response. Well done calling out the incoherent ramblings of the opposition and letting people know the extent of the damage they did to our country. Keep up the good work. Thanks for restoring my faith in you.

    • mixitup says:

      Sorry but that was HILARIOUS!!! I love it!

    • Smh says:

      Finally the OBA is standing up for itself!!!! EXCELLENT response. Well done calling out the incoherent ramblings of the opposition and letting people know the extent of the damage they did to our country. Keep up the good work. Thanks for restoring my faith in you.

  5. Raymond Ray says:

    “Premier Dunkley has said he will take every opportunity to promote Bermuda to benefit Bermudians and no amount of misleading criticism from the Opposition will sway those efforts.
    The trip to New York City was “part of the Government’s work to re-establish Bermuda’s profile in overseas tourism and business markets, a profile diminished in recent years because of the mishandling of Bermuda Tourism marketing and antagonistic government attitudes,” the One Bermuda Alliance said.
    Stick to construction Zane; you’re burying your Party in politics :-(

    • more than enough says:

      In other words, we can expect him to be going on lots more trips!
      Craig managed to spend over $400,000 on travel during his short tenure as premier in tandem with bieng paid and housed (still), where is the value for money there?

  6. Coffee says:

    Zane Desilva was correct in calling out this last trip by the UBP/OBA a junket , albeit a very high class big ticket junket ; be that as it may .

    Every year , bar none since the advent of the tourism industry in Bermuda , we have fished in the east coast market . Bar none . Any fisherman worth his salt knows that every day is a fishing day but not everyday is a catching day .
    So the PLP went farther afield looking for the elusive potential visitor , no big deal , I wish this administration well in netting fifty seasons full of lucrative visitors . Everyday many flights fly over this reef going to the Caribbean , Central and South America . Bermuda has become like a freeway sign letting pilots know that they are on the correct vector to reach their final INEXPENSIVE destination . Never better , because Bermuda is by far the most beautiful and infinitely more friendly and safer vacation spot in the WORLD .

    The OBA/UBP /BTA seeks to defend its position for funding part of this private perfume business , the BTA charter affords it to support such ventures (read it before responding ) because I know the UBP/OBA shills will come out swinging in uniform but woefully uninformed !
    As for being antagonistic ; when you have a Dr/Surgeon of German origin demanding the government to cede privileges and rights otherwise not afforded to ordinary guest workers , it is an affront to the citizens and the government PLP told him to pack his bags and go . Well just maybe attitudes like what this particular Dr/Surgeon asserted was pervasive among many seemingly benign guest job maker , job creators . Again I’m writing to one example of why it may have appeared that the PLP in protecting the integrity of Bermuda had to make very unpopular decisions .

    • Unbelievable says:

      Coffee, the BTA is not funding the perfumery. Stop making up stories. They attended this event that was happening at the same time.

    • mixitup says:

      good read..

    • jt says:

      Straight out of Zanes playbook. OBA are funding perfume venture? Let’s see some proof of that please.
      You cry for the transparency never provided by the plp and when it is structured to be provided you fly off on a tangent of distraction about fishing holes, funding private business and something apparently far off topic but seemingly perhaps a little personal to you.
      How about some facts on the number of fish caught in these new spots while we ignored the schools known to exist in our good spots. How about some facts on the expense of trying the new spots. No fisherman wastes money on fuel for no return. How about that faith based thing? Beyonce? Productive fishing?
      I look forward to seeing the expenses and being able to weigh them vs. return. It will be refreshing to be able to to so instead of being told nothing. I don’t think we really ever had a clue what went on in China…what it cost…or what Bermuda got out of it…or even what was hoped we would get out of it. Do you know?

  7. james says:

    Is this all we can aspire too? What a ridiculous comment from our Government….to start the whole thing off with an antagonistic comment ( that the PLP destroyed business and tourism) while at the same time complaining that the former Government had an ‘antagonistic attitude , is just laughable. Of course there is a certain irony in Zane Desilvas comments , but its only possible because the OBA is acting in a similar fashion to the PLP, which gives him something to comment on.
    Then to go and present a statement like ‘ we have to fish where the fish are’ , as if this is some amazing new discovery, is bordering on the absurd. Good lord , we have known the East coast of the U.S. is our primary market for almost everything , for the past 400 YEARS!
    I still fail to see how having Hanbury , Dunkley , Dodwell , Gibbons ,Crockwell and others all at a minor perfume launch is ‘prudent decision making’ … sure they tacked on a breakfast meeting with some travel writers , but surely this task could have been handled by just one of the above mentioned people.

    • expense report says:

      Agree wholeheartedly.. Its the job of the Opposition to hold the government accountable, and this response from our government seems so immature. For what its worth, I do hope that they did make progress as it relates to advertising Bermuda further, but in this age of technology, was such a large group necessary?.. I guess the same 18 or 19 people will dislike this comment as well. smh

      • Onion says:

        It’s not the responsibility of the opposition to be hypocritical, two-faced, and frankly silly.

        They have a bad case of foot in mouth.

    • mixitup says:

      22 ‘Dislikes’ when you speak nothing but the truth.. A shame that this Island is so divided we can’t see the forest for the trees.

      • Toodle-oo says:

        Maybe it ‘s not the ‘truth’ that we’re divided on . It’s the BS

  8. Local Yokle says:

    Dont forget when Dr. Brown would travel with an entourage of Bermuda Police officers. Don’t just factor in the cost of Dr. Brown’s airline ticket but include the airfare for the police officers who were being paid whilst overseas, the cost of extra hotel rooms for them, the cost of extra transportation in the form of huge suv’s, daily expenses for these accompanying police officers – all paid for by the public. The public was paying for this and the police officers salary to have them accompany Dr. Brown to another county where these officers had NO power… We all seem to forget that.

    • Ruthless says:

      You forget basket ball games the Officers went to with Dr.Brown! All paid for by Government. Seen pics for proof as well!

      • Local Yokle says:

        My bad,.. Also I saw with my own eyes a police officer accompany Dr. Brown to one of the Bodybuilding/Fitness competitions here at Ruth Seaton James auditorium. I am sure they were given free tickets BUT the officer would have been on duty being paid by the public. Those outrageous and hidden expenses would be hard to quantify but talk about a waste of tax payers money. Also I have seen a Bermuda Police officer standing outside of an airport bathroom in the USA guarding a carry-on suitcase. Moments later our Dr. Brown exited the bathroom…… Another ridiculous waste of money and precious Bermuda Police resources. Try to add up those expenses….may be difficult to tally those up…

        • mixitup says:

          What a bunch of morons.. Take your heads out of OBA’s rear for one second and maybe you will get the picture.. They are doing exactly what you all decribed, SPENDING UNNECESSARY TAX DOLLARS! Then again they were of a different persuasion, but that isn’t the issue IS IT?!

          PS Yes described is spelled wrong…Just trying to make those spell checkers feel relevant..

          • Creamy says:

            Talking of morons, mixitup. What “different persuasion” did you have in mind? I counted 6 people in the photo with KZJ, of which 3 were white and 3 were black.
            Unlike the PLP, the OBA appeals to a broad cross-section of the community.

            • Kangoocar says:

              @creamy, you didn’t think for one moment that the likes of ” mixitup ” would let real facts get in the way of their silly story, did you???

            • Double D says:

              More than one white person is a sin to mixitup and his cohorts. Just another PLP racist. Nothing more and probably a lot less.

              Hence the reason the PLP made sure that Jonathan Smith was run in a constituency they knew he would fail. Isn’t ironic that the PLP ensured that a former Police Commissioner wouldn’t get elected but made damn sure that a convicted armed bank robber was placed in a safe seat.

              Desilva made up the quota and Smith breached it.

      • Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown says:

        Surely you would not have had us leave the officer outside the arena!

  9. Encyclopedia says:

    Did you notice that OBA did not mention “India” but only China, because they are trying to make friends with India.

    OBA should be glad Dr Brown started the India relationship and signed agreements which will help OBA cement the relationship.

    • Terry says:

      I love the word “cement”.
      Ask Jim Butterfield et al.
      Time for my meds…………………

    • LiarLiar says:

      What benefits have we received from India so far?

      The only one I can see that benefited was that Dr. Brown and Mr. Comissiong who were able to procure a generic drug importation contract with the Indian representative that they were pictured with on the premise that they were doing teh ‘people’s business?’

      Please enlighten us on the benefits for Bermuda?

      Still waiting for that Bollywood movied to be shot in BDA as promised by Dr. Brown.

  10. sebring says:

    come on it is only a new york trip like i would have like it myself !and really any good publicity that could have come of this was spoiled by the ex politician with the new and the nice lady in pink ! some how Bermuda can,t wipe the **** from her shoes!

    • sebring says:

      the picture of the ex politician that is !if Bermuda is to move forward keep him well hidden !the presnt premier and the very nice actress would do wonders for the islands image!

  11. more than enough says:

    “Bermudians have every right to know how their tax dollars are bieng spent,”
    Like with the bta?
    “Premier donkley has demonstrated the government’s commitment to transparency by introducing and passing the public access to information bill within weeks of his premiership”
    He has also demonstated that he in no way will comply with these ideas and laws, and in true hypocritical fashion refuses to release any details about how our tax dollars are being spent. Once again I refer you to the bta.
    The above story does nothing to provide clarity. Just more empty promises.
    The regular old lines are once again given the leading role.
    Donkley is working hard for bermuda fixing the previous gov. mess, inspiring confidence in bermuda, fishin’ where the fish are, with complete transparency all in the name of jobs for bermudians. What a load of crap!
    The oba response is weak at best.
    Just admit it…Y’all had a great time at the taxpayers expense, producing a bunch of empty promises for our $$$.
    And the party goes on…

  12. We Are Not Amused! says:

    the plp and zane nearly destroyed Bermuda.
    Never again,ya finished boyos

  13. somuchless says:

    Milk man has enough money and I’m sure he don’t need to use gov money to pay for a trip. But than again who in their right mind would not take up the offer of free travel. The PLP did. Lol

  14. Rhonda says:

    the OBA caught lying again, IMV… was this a trip to promote a private company, that turned into a publicity trip to promote Bermuda ….or publicity trip to meet investors without any Civil servants, as required…

    PR 101 never admit you are wrong……just say you are making changes to improve the situation…

    I don’t care who one wants to vote for..but you would have to be totally, delusional to not see this trip as a junket….

    • Kangoocar says:

      Rhonda, do you have no shame??? You of all people should never ever bring up the subject of lying!!!! I will also include “coffee” in your camp as well, you two have been caught in so many lies that even Pinocchio would be envious of the size of your noses!!!!!!

    • Toodle-oo says:

      I wish I could stoop to another poster’s level and call people morons but I wont.

      How many time must it be said ?

      THEY WERE UP THERE ON OTHER OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND ATTENDED THIS LAUNCH WHILE THEY WERE IN THE AREA . IT WAS NOT A SEPARATE TRIP OR ‘JUNKET’

      Get it ?
      Got it ?

      Hell no , you never will .

    • Creamy says:

      You’re sounding desperate Rhonda. It’s a bit pathetic, really.

  15. John E. Thorne says:

    Zane must spend a fortune on Charmin.

  16. adrianne says:

    NO ONE WENT OVERSEAS MORE THEN THE PLP DID, AND ANY AND EVERYTHING THEY DID, THEY NEVER GAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR IT, THEY SPEND MONEY LIKE THERE WAS NO TOMORROW, THAT’S WHY THIS ISLAND IS IN TOILET TODAY, NOW THEY WANT THE OBA TO TELL PEOPLE EVEY MOVE THEY MAKE, GIVE US A BREAK,

  17. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    The O.B.A. and the P.L.P. both have an obligation to work every one and the common good…………What is it you don’t understand ?

    The sooner we learn we all have to work together the better, before it is to late.

    Ease up on the negativity!

    Give it a break ! stop the grumbling, it is unproductive !

  18. Silence Do Good says:

    Great response by the OBA to the PLP. Silly season is starting up again and it is good to see everyone is getting in rear form. These types of articles and comments are so amusing to read. All of this entertainment for free while the country continues down the crapper. I would applaude any politician at this point for solving our real problems rather than rolling in the mud for votes.

  19. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    There will not be any travel unless Bermuda maintains a 5 star health record.

    $1,000 fine for “standing water” after first pink ticket warning.

  20. Eve says:

    Instead of asking the important questions this has become OBA vs. PLP childish tit for tat. Bermuda taxpayers should be asking what the cost was for the 4 men who are not working directly for the Government? Look at the group picture, Romanelli and Tomlin are consultants for BTA or Government? Smith and Webbe surely were not there for the perfume, so what were they doing and who paid their way? OK it wasn’t a junket but there was a large entourage….for what??????

  21. Joseph says:

    @Toodle-oo and all other OBA supporters who refuse to acknowledge the truth.

    According to the statement released to the media by BTA, they were “partners” with the company that launched this new perfume. The Bermuda Tourism Authority and The Bermuda Perfumery “partnered” on the launch of this new perfume.

    So, please stop deceiving yourselves or, are you all paid bloggers with the mission to water down the truth? If it’s the latter, it explains why you turn the bogs into a childish, gibberish playground of propaganda on behalf of your Acting Premier.

    The Acting Premier’s first and most important overseas event and he failed to be able to distinguish between a business initiative from a tourism initiative. The Acting Premier’s inexperience is greatly exposed as he wasted a vital opportunity to showcase the many new initiatvies by HOTELS on the island, and the representations by the hotels.

    And, the more you analysize tise squandered opportunity, it is glaring obvious that hotel beds are a major consideration for the America’s Cup. So, who better to sell and/or reassure the international media and America’s Cup officials, but hotel reps? Yet the bitter irony, they were NOT INVITED to partner with BTA. Instead Crockwell spoke on their behalf. Why were they not invted? They cannot speak for themselves?

    But taxpayers money was spent “partnering” in the launch of a new perfume? How many beds will this new perfume sell in Bermuda? In other words, how many tourists will come to Bermuda due to the new perfume’s launch?

    This new perfume brought no value to the tourism product but it gained international exposure and market share penetration by this “partnership” that it would never have been able to gain on its own two feet.

    The Acting Premier’s failed miserably on his first attempt out of the blocks, at least Cannonier did not make this major overseas marketing blunder.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      When you find out how much this ‘partnering’ cost us please get back to us. That’s if the egg on your face doesn’t prevent you from seeing your keyboard.

  22. Redman says:

    “Finally, let’s consider the hypocritical shallowness of Mr. DeSilva’s opposition to the New York trip. Mr. DeSilva, we recall, was a vigorous defender of PLP Government travel including former Premier Brown’s trip to China, which he said was a trip “to try and build up our relationships with that country.” Right.

    Yup the PLP know all about junkets and wasting money, they are experts in that regard!!

  23. Photographer says:

    The PLP went to India,China and Argentina to promote tourism.what a bunch of jokers!

  24. Joseph George says:

    @Toodle-o…here is the DIRECT quote from the article, ‘Lilli Bermuda To Unveil Perfume in New York’ published September 22nd, 2014 in Bernews.

    Direct quote…

    “The Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] will PARTNER in the event to leverage the fascinating story of the Mary Celestia, showcasing Bermuda as a travel destination to some of the world’s foremost lifestyle media in New York, Bermuda’s top feeder market.”

    And may I further invite you to read the article in its entirety, it may allow you to concede that the truth, NOT fiction, lies, spin or propaganda is being stated by my comments.

    So, please try to have the facts before you before you start to gloat. And you may want to tone down your cotempt.

    I don’t do smirking, it’s immature and insensitive, BUT I will take your opinions with a very high level of scepticism, in the future.

  25. Joseph George says:

    And one further point Toodle-oo, Zane DeSilva asked the question of costs, so why not join him in asking the Acting Premier to provide the breakdown in partnering, as we know, with absolute certainty, that they (BTA and TBP) were partners in the event?

    Here you should concede that the costs of partnering are better known to the OBA government than the public. And since you came up with the suggestion, the OBA government may oblige the request from one of their faithful members.

    Smirk? No, just attempting to get YOU to think outside an OBA box.