‘We Will Fight Govt. Every Step Of The Way”
“If the Government chooses to move ahead with its agenda of Privatization, Outsourcing and Mutualisation, then the BTUC will be left with no other option then to move forward with our agenda,” and “will fight the Government every step of the way,” the BTUC said today.
The Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC] consists of multiple unions including the Bermuda Federation of Musicians & Variety Artists, Bermuda Fire Services Association, Bermuda Industrial Union, Bermuda Public Services Union, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Electrical Supply Trade Union and the Bermuda Prison Officers Association.
The BTUC said it is “patently obvious” that the Government is “forcibly moving forward with its agenda to transfer economic wealth from the public sector to the private sector. Under this agenda, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.
“The challenges we now face and as a people are unprecedented. The Government’s plans to privatize, outsource and mutualise the public service will result in job losses, and cuts to wages, salaries and benefits.
“This is a fight that the BTUC is not prepared to lose, not only for its members but because of how this will affect the general public. The BTUC is prepared to stand in solidarity to stop Government’s agenda is to stand united and in solidarity. The BTUC will not sit idle while the Government forges ahead with this legislation and their agenda.
“The BTUC realizes that Government is facing economic challenges and that they are struggling to find solutions to the current fiscal stress. However, Privatization, Outsourcing and Mutualisation are not the answers.
“The BTUC is calling for true reform of the public service. Reform that seeks to:
- Modernize the public service
- Improve customer experience
- Achieve greater openness, transparency and accountability
- Affirm skills of leadership, capability and human resource management reforms
- Builds a world-class, 21st century Public Service to recruit and retain the best public servants.
“These are elements of true reform and is what we support. In addition, the BTUC is requesting the opportunity to work with the Government to develop a multi-year deficit reduction strategy. This was outlined in our letter to Premier Cannonier on February 11, 2014 [see below].
“If the Government chooses to move ahead with its agenda of Privatization, Outsourcing and Mutualisation, then the BTUC will be left with no other option then to move forward with our agenda.
“The workers of Bermuda will not be defeated. We will not accept job cuts and we will fight the Government every step of the way.”
The letter the BTUC sent to former Premier Craig Cannonier is below [PDF here]
If they have ideas for a “multi-year deficit reduction strategy” why weren’t they shared with the Sage Commission? They had months to have their say.
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Stand Strong and the battle will be won. No battle is won without standing strong. It will be difficult, but do not step away. The Unions are only asking that Government work in a way that encourages TRUE Collaboration, Consultation, Honestly.
The Government has failed to develop a Long-term “ECONOMIC PLAN” that will jump start Bermuda’ economy. The Government is lacking “Intellectual Capital” to come up with a “Economic Plan”. Despite promising folks they had a plan pre-election. Today we see no growth of the Economy, and failure to have a plan forward. The average citizen is doing all the Shared Sacrificing”, which is not a good look for Bermuda.
Stand together !!
The words Economic plan and PLP in the same sentence is nothing short of laughable to say the least. PLP destroyed are economy and Bermuda as we’ve all known it. Time for voters to stand up against the continued, manipulative denial by the PLP
Are you paid by the PLP or the union ????? What financial interests do you have Betty.
I want an investigation.
I’m paid by noone for my opinion. My interest is the future of Bermuda for Bermuda and Bermudians.
Thats right Betty, lets fight on and celebrate when you win the battle, and then cry later when we all loose the war.
You say, the government has failed to come up with a plan? Are you serious. Privitization etc… is part of the plan. Whats the PLP offered to correct the problem that they created? Since you , the PLP, the BIU have the answers, can you share just one with us. I won’t hold my breath.
You seem to have missed the point, the OBA actually have developed a long term plan and have been implementing, you are just choosing to ignore it because it isn’t your idea of a plan, even after your idea of Bermuda lead to such failure as never before in our history. Also it is impossible to collaborate with any organization that does want to collaborate with the reform that is required, because they don’t want to face the pain that is now required for the reform that is now needed. Perhaps if the PLP had kept their promise for ’98 for the reform to the civil service then, the pain would not need to be so great now. You think it is your job to protect people’s jobs, but you are wrong, ultimately that responsibility falls to the employee by doing the best jobs possible, and there are those in the CS that do just that. Unfortunately they and the CS are being brought down by those who don’t, and you still protect those people at the cost of those who work hard, and Bermuda society as a whole, when they need to be removed from the body so that it can survive. Ultimately for the survival of our CS and Bermuda says a whole, we can only hope that this needed reform will help do just that.
SHUT DE WHOLE ISLAND DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like BUI/PLP is doing just that. You must be so proud.
Go ahead. The government won’t pay you. The union won’t pay you. The longer you stay out, the more money the government saves.
In the event you failed to read this:
By the way,someone please explain to me why is it that some Bermudians want to start a new job from the top? Let me be a bit more explicit. We hear people say they want work so Government. encourages foreigners to invest here in Bermuda by offering “deals” e.g. Tax deductions. They will be new foreigners and they must come here and open up a new business, (this brings dollars to Bermuda, U.S.A. dollars may I say are the dollars we are in desperate need of.)So this new business will be able to hire 10% foreigners( 1 out of 10) who will also be contributing their dollars to our economy. The other 90% of employees will have to be Bermudians.
There, it’s that simple, one plus one make two. It’s elementary
Many of my fellow Islanders are like an ostrich with its head lying to the ground but its tail is high and showing.
There is no strike money Kunta because the BIU have already spent the money on themselves.
Drive the IB sector and what few tourists come to BDA now away… And the Island will be shut-down!!
There are MANY capable people in the civil service and I think the people who work hard for a living and are valued and productive members of these organizations don’t assume a “job for life” are not the ones fighting anything, this is a natural progression that will happen in Bermuda as it has all over the rest of the world we simply cannot afford the civil service as it stands today.
Exactly! If you are a productive civil servant then you have nothing to worry about. If you are not, you are probably one of the loudest protesters out there and you, my friend, need to either step up your game at work or update that resume! We cannot afford to continue donating a pay check to you. Fact.
Cant the unions, unionize private companies? What are they afraid of? They could even form a company, bid for jobs and show us how to run a profitable business. Whats the problem really.
They are afraid that no private company is going to give them the potential for having a quarter of the year off paid. A rightly so, one successful company will. The one thing the unions will never acknowledge is that they have brought this down on themselves, their continual failure to and resistance to reform means we can no longer trust or wait for them to do it themselves. The question the unions need to ask themselves now, what is more important to them, themselves or Bermuda, because they are no longer mutually inclusive and that has been their own making more than any others
Second sentence should read ‘And rightly so, no successful company will’
Like most, if not all Civil Services around the world, including England, Canada and the US, our Civil service is not as productive as it could be. I agree that the numbers will have to be reduced, but let’s start with all non Bermudians.
I do not agree, we need those who work hard and know what they are doing, we need to remove those that are the cause the lack of productivity due to bad work ethic, whether they are are Bermudian or not. A failure to do that will just allow the lack of productivity to continue.
****BINGO****….. And all courtesy of the PLP!!!
I undertsand the Unions’ position. That’s what they are there for.
But they need to become part of the solution by offering ideas.
What suggestions have they provided to combat the financial issues we face that affect ALL Bermudians?
Threats of work stoppages will achieve nothing and hurt the island even more.
@liarliar, you are totally correct, just look at the five bullet points the by btuc has come up with as an answer to our debt problems???? Shear ignorance and a total lack of understanding of the real problems we face!!!
We are all in for a long downward spiral if this Union and the others get their way!!!
At this point as someone else said below, let’s just get it over with and let them take industrial action, I am fine with that so long as those that take it do not GET PAID!!!! Let’s see who actually starves to death first??? Thankfully I have prepared for that day that bermuda crumbles under the weight of a certain segments stupity and it will not bother me in the least if I just pack up and leave!!! Sadly though there will be five more families that hunger will set in and that would be those of my employees, who all happen to be BERMUDIAN!!! Sad really????
I hear you and agree Kangoocar,if people haven’t prepared for the “day” it’s going to be a sad, sad day for many Bermudian families…
Have the OBAubp cheerleaders such as Kangoocar, Ray & Liar, read the proposals put forward by the Unions. Based upon their comments, this does not seem like it. Comments based upon false assumptions, and not FACTS.
The Unions have presented ideas and solutions which are filled with ideas and more so solutions. If only the UBPoba government would take time to have “TRUE Collaboration, Meaningful Consultations, Listen, and meet with the Unions, common ground can be reached.” This current pressing problem can be resolved in good time.
The Government has refused to engage in meaningful, true Consultation or Collaboration with the Unions. Plenty of ideas and solutions can be put on the table. The Government is acting in a fashion that is arrogant, closed-minded and unwilling to talk or negotiate with the Unions.
Failure to listen to the people does not fair well for any government. The direction the OBAubp are headed in will see the King fall on the Chess board soon, rather than later. …next move…
Can you please state what all these brilliant ideas are betty??? We the masses, have not seen ONE constructive idea yet??? I am sure you will correct us, won’t you????
Attention plp propaganda squad: You’re dreaming if you think the plp will ever get elected again! Bermudians are not that stupid. The plp movement put us in this place, yet they refuse to step up to the plate and give us some WORKABLE ideas for Bermuda’s recovery. So typical of them…
Fighting “Government” (your employer) on this issue means you are also fighting against all the other Bermudians who are not employed by Government
Do the union believe the Civil service is overstaffed for Bermuda ?
Do the Union believe that the addition 2000 heads were needed and if so, how did the country survive before that ?
The Union is anti Bermudian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They want Bermuda to fall to its knees so they can keep holding their dues.
If the Union wins, Bermuda loses, Bermudians lose and the workers are out of a job anyway.
I’m not employed by government and I stand with my fellow Bermudians who are fighting for their livelihoods. Removing these people’s jobs will only lead to further economic strife for the everyday Bermudian.
Who is fighting for their livelihoods ???
Stop being so melodramatic.
Folks who need to support and feed their children. Live a reasonable life in Bermuda like yourself.
Have they announced job cuts? No. So it is melodramatic
Not yet but its inevitable.
Privatizing = Loss of jobs, lower wages, meager benefits, etc …………………………
Meager benefits? Like, what, 3 weeks vacation and 2 weeks sick leave, like the rest of us? Pensions that aren’t index linked, like the rest of us? That sort of thing?
We can’t afford thousands more civil servants than we need. That is a fact.
Where is the data to support your position? The government does not even have such data, and never evaluated that hypothesis. Really The Unions have done more research than the government in regards to the CS.
Data? Are you being serious? Just look at the Governemnt’s financial statements for confirmation of the unsustainable level of expenditures.
Please post links to the alleged Union research. Otherwise stop making erroneous and unsubstantiated remarks. Your opinion is NOT A FACT. Post FACTS!
The “data” is the findings of Sage, Betty.
Where’s your “data” Betty? All you lot of spoiled brats can come up with is slogans from the 1960′s.
Spoiled brats?? More like welfare slugs with their hands out constantly looking for freebies and handouts. Don’t you lot ever get embarrassed?
BS !!! The BIU can`t even research its own bank account! Research this Asӣ$%*
BIU Member wage (Gov employee)$800.00
BIU dues = whatever (that comes out first because they know this happens!)
Fri. bar bill $300.00
Fri. herb bill $200.00
Sat. Hennessy,cigs,beer,chaser. $150.00
Sat. phone top up $100.00
Sat. fuel for car $20.00
$30.00 for rest of week
Money aside for rent $0.00
Money aside for grocery $0.00
Money aside for utility $0.00
Money aside for savings $0.00
Money aside for Child support $0.00
Can`t wait for next Friday !!!
Analyse this !!
ps If you don`t think this happens, think again !
This is what your standing for Betty ?
This is right where the Union want you biu Members, figure it out would you !!!
Where is said research Betty? And what proposals came out of this research? Who conducted this research? Chris Furbert? Ed Ball? Jason Hawyard? And were the respondents engaged in this research members of the BPSU? So were the responses objective? You need people on the outside, somewhat versed with how it works in the real world…to help the research…yes bpsu needs to be at the table, but I like many others, think that it is painfully clear that the civil service, cannot of its own steam, make the radical changes within the service that are required. how is it that cs workers are not even subject to a performance appraisal?
If we stopped paying the union dues in totality, then how much would the Govt off the Payroll???????
There is a start. As long as the workers get the support in terms of protection of rights and working conditions through the system, then why do we need to pay the unions ?
Employment law is there and tribunals have been very fair and independent when used.
Perhaps the unions should be volunteer based. Law firms provide pro bono Employment support as part of doing business in Bermuda. Whilst Govt have to pay for their side of the hearing via another law firm.
Well, either Government reforms or they will get laid off. It’s that simple – we don’t really have many other choices. You can’t tax the population more to pay for them – and you can’t borrow even more without some evidence of reform.
Then they have nothing to lose..
Actually they have a lot to lose, considering they are still employed and paid by the taxpayers.
But the people that will really be hurt by any public sector unrest will be the non-Government workers as no company in their right mind will domicile in Bermuda with such instability and thus current jobs will be lost while any potential jobs will go to another welcoming and stable jurisdiction.
And without a successful private sector to pay for the public sector…well you get the picture I imagine.
Yes they do. The chance for this country to provide future opportunities for them.
Here we go again, all of this “us against them” nonsense.
This island is in a sad state of affairs. At the end of the day, we need more people working and contributing to the Bermuda economy.
Yes public sector works contribute significantly to the economy, but in order for those salaries to be paid, government revenues need to be collected from the private sector. Plain and simple.
Less people in the private sector has to equate to less people in the public sector. Government revenues have decreased consistently over the past few years while expenses have either gone up or remained stagnant.
The BTUC’s mandate is to continue to kick that proverbial can down the road.
So what is our union doing to become part of the solution, does our union think the propsed action will benefit Bermuda in the long or short term? At what cost are we willing to continue down this road. Our union leaders should lead by example and start to implement the changes required rather than wait for someone else to do it.
Modernizing the public service may mean reducing the worforce and becoming more agile… so how does our union define what they mean by modernizing…
No concrete proposals or ideas then from the BTU, just negative rhetoric. As expected.
Where is the concrete “ECONOMIC PLAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT? We should have seen the roots begin to grow over the past 2 years by now. But NO ECONOMIC PLAN to grow our economy…
The Union has ideas/solutions, the Government has failed to engage in REAL meaningful dialogue, consultation, and consultation. The Government has rejected such, despite saying they are willing.
What solutions? List them. Otherwise stop with the lies.
Please tell us?
The truth is that plp pundits keep diverting and pointing at others when the problem resides solidly within their own ranks (the new combined opposition).
The repressive plp movement and greedy little union leaders will NEVER co-operate with the OBA to turn this Island around, because it is not in their collective Culture to do so. Their totally self-serving focus is to destroy the OBA and get elected again at all costs!
All this has nothing to do with Bermuda’s “recovery” or “co-operation” or “preserving jobs.” This is all about the plp – and only about the plp – as we’ve seen before.
Unfortunately for the Island and its people, the plp movement’s angry adherents refuse to accept the truth about themselves. They actually seem willing to destroy their own Country for the exclusive benefit of their fallacious self-serving leaders. Again. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
As Socrates said long ago, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” People need to wake up!
Bermuda it is time to stop the talking and start moving toward taking affirmative action, let this administration know that we are not going to sit by and and watch them destroy what is left of our Island as we know it, there are to many other ways to accomplish our goals then to watch the privatization of many key areas go into the hands and the likes of those who are already wealthy and will only benefit even greater if this is allowed, while main stream Bermuda will become more impoverished and the wealthy don’t give a damn. I SAY SHUT THE WHOLE DAMN ISLAND DOWN NOW, send the message loud and clear, we may all have to take the hit but it won’t last forever. sacrifices was what our fore parents had to make for the betterment of their future generations and now it is our turn to do the same if we are to protect our children and grand children’s futures. Keep listening to the O.B.A and you will end up in a ditch, none of them are hurting in any shape or form, the bottom can drop out tomorrow and every last one of them have a meal barrel to sustain them and the majority of them have another jurisdiction they can flee to, but most of them have enough to live comfortable for more then the next ten years without blinking, so who the hell do they think they are fooling.I may sound like a fool but as far as I am concern this is their way of saying payback time to all those who voted for the P.L.P and their way of showing they are in control. I say throw them out on their backsides before the bottom falls out.
@duane, after that long tirade of absolute nonsense, the only FACTUAL thing you said was, ( I may sound like a fool ) you do sound like a fool, and an irrational one at that!!! Why were you NOT shouting as loudly at the plp when they were causing all of our demise??? There is no time left now for your type of thinking!!! If you think it is bad now, I can assure you it will be a lot worst if nothing is done about OUR debt problem, the OBA have no bullets left in the gun thanks to the PLP!!!!!
You certainly are correct about sounding like a fool. You are good as demanding a better cabin on the Titanic.
The bottom already fell out and it was directly due to mismanagement by the PLP.
your plan would hurt the poor and needy directly, while destroying Bermuda’s long-term viability everyone, including for those you care for
I get it, it is necessary to vent our frustrations on occasion but unfortunately it is no way to solve the problems we are facing as a country. It would be wise to avoid cutting off our nose just to spite our face.
I feel sorry for you
I will never cease to be amazed at just how unintelligent some people really are. I know not everyone has taken Economics 101 but what about common sense? Do you really agree with what you wrote? I feel like I’m being punked. No one that knows how to “turn on the internet” could believe and write such lunacy? Correct??
Pity you weren’t this upset when the PLP were ruining the lives of the next three or four generations of Bermudians.
And i say DON’T PAY THEM WHILE THEY STRIKE. P-E-R-I-O-D
“I may sound like a fool …” Yep you sure do, nothing new there though.
Sadly bluster, lies and innuendo will not help change our position, nor will forcing the Govt to step back from what needs to be done. In fact it will likely hasten Bermudas demise and ensure job losses are ten times higher then what they need to be now. It will probably make any economic recovery in even our grand children’s lifetime a dream.
But please do carry on with your vitriolic nonsensical letters and keep your head buried in the sand, just as you did while when the PLP where in power. How’d that work out for us again?
I enjoy the views of a** kissers who think more about a party then it’s own people,so only for clarification to those idiotic comments about me never making any comment at or about the P.L.P, anyone who really keeps their finger on the pulse of the community would know that I gave the P.L.P more hell then what is being stated here, I am not a political party voter, I believe in the individual or individuals who have the best interest of my people going forward, and I don’t bow to the pressure of those who oppose my view, so you are the one’s that sound more foolish then anyone else, because all you can come back with is what you think was done by the P.L.P but don’t have the ball’s to say that this was a long thought out process that was discussed under the U.B.P,or just maybe some of you darn bloggers are just to damn young to remember. most of what we are experiencing was long told to us but to many folk have been asleep at the wheel.all because we never thought we would see the day that this would become a real possibility of happening in Bermuda.
No sometimes you just enjoy sounding foolish as you stated. Else for @$$ kissing, I remember your rant on the talk show when the Govt supposedly received a bullet in the mail for Dr. Brown, that was puckering up at its best.
Yup you and I plus many others gave the UBP and then the PLP hell except you carried on supporting them even when it was clear they needed to go. Ive never been a member of any party and sure as heck don’t follow any party line.
As for the UBP planning to deal with the inefficient CS that is not a conspiracy it is good Governance, it needed to be addressed then and also under the PLP as well but they just added more people to the payroll and of course more expense. We simply cannot continue to feed this overgrown giant.
I’m sure we all have many family and friends who work for Govt I know I do. From customs, the post office, immigration, Parks and W & E to name a few but we cannot look the other way because it may affect someone we know. Maybe if so much money hadn’t been squandered before coupled with the continued sluggish economy we could just carry on or put this off to a future date but we can’t. If you and others can’t see that then you are being ignorant to the facts or you just don’t care.
There are sectors of Govt like the Bda postal service (more people moving less mail) W & E and Parks … that are costing more than they are worth and it must be dealt with plain and simple. Jobs will have to go its quite simple, that’s not a conspiracy its an unavoidable fact.
So tell us how to reduce expenditures and reduce the deficit. Tell us how to pay down the debt (after all, the government borrowed like there was no tomorrow and now we’ve got to pay that money back). Tell us how to properly fund the various pension plans.
And tell us how to do that without reducing the size of the civil service.
Nobody wants anyone to lose their job. Nobody wants anyone to suffer.
The picture today is because of the PLP’s inability to manage our economy.
If the unions don’t accept change, then the unions are the enemy of Bermuda and Bermudians.
Duane – who are you? Nobody cares what you think. Or why you think it. Or that you have ‘big b@lls’ for posting the s*** you do. So stop feeling important. Your posts are ridiculous. Your thoughts are crazy. And you and your kind can’t get off of this island soon enough.
You’re a PLP a** kisser. That’s exactly what you are.
Duanne Santucci, have you ever heard of the IMF
When we can no longer borrow from our present lenders, the IMF move in and take over our loans.
Then they will dictate to us what has to be done to pay off these loans which they now hold.
Take a look and see what they are doing in Jamaica, Barbados, Greece just to name a few countries.
First they will lay off maybe half of the CS, then they freeze pensions and any other programs they deem necessary. Guess what, you cant do anything about it once they come here. No Strikes etc.
So go ahead brother, shut the island down, I DARE YOU.
Where is said research Betty? And what proposals came out of this research? Who conducted this research? Chris Furbert? Ed Ball? Jason Hawyard? And were the respondents engaged in this research members of the BPSU? So were the responses objective? You need people on the outside, somewhat versed with how it works in the real world…to help the research…yes bpsu needs to be at the table, but I like many others, think that it is painfully clear that the civil service, cannot of its own steam, make the radical changes within the service that are required. how is it that cs workers are not even subject to a performance appraisal?
Trash didnt get picked up on the day it was supposed to earlier this week. Why not? Too many sick days maybe..? Pathetic. Then the Unions complain when govt wants to privatise certain services. You all want your cake and eat it too! Bunch of selfish spoiled children.
@Joonya–Whats pathetic is some peoples memory—-furlough days were taken to save money, in saving money some services have been axed or delayed…bottom line.. furlough days….the sacrifice that union members made in order to help the economy and pay a portion of the interest on the debt…The union have every right to complain, they convinced members to accept a compromise outside of their agreement! that sacrifice affects many persons!Trash truckers, bus drivers, works, parks, post, teachers, ect…ALL gov. workers took a furlough, while government continues to have enough to pay consultants, and assist start up private companies.. soo who’s being selfish?
When the PLP left power they left thousands of Bermudians out of work, ALL from the private sector. While public workers were getting pay increases and cushy pensions, and had their jobs guaranteed, the private sector have been taking pay decreases, benefit cuts, and job losses. Why the he.ll should the public sector be immune? You lot have 14 weeks sick leave and 6 weeks vacation. We all see you swarming out of your offices at 5 on the dot. You’re a bunch of spoiled brats.
So you think that a furlough day a month was going to fix the government debt problem, and that we shouldn’t be investing in private start up companies (the ones that generate tax revenue that the civil service needs to function). Got it.
Anything else from the rest of the brain trust?
You mean the BTUC intends to extort the government. Government expenditure must be reduced. Unfortunately poor Bob has to be the one to tell you – game over.
Given our financial status I am not too sure how the BTUC can make the claim that the proposed reform will transfer wealth from the public to the private sector.
The public sector is broke! The Government has to borrow just to cover operating costs nowadays and that is completely and utterly unsustainable. No matter what Party is in power these facts will remain constant. Bermuda as an island is broke and something has to and will finally give.
Whatever happens Bermuda is finished in the end IMO. No one wants to accept reality and no one wants to work together. I am tired of hearing about it and wish the actors in this game will just do what they feel they need to do and finish us off once and for all. Hopefully there will be enough scraps off the table to go around.
Good luck to all as we all will need it no matter the Party you support.
The BTUC is confused: The public sector costs us money. The Private Sector makes us money. How can you “transfer wealth” knowing that? It’s a ridiculous concept.
I guess “Bermudians” arent liking the idea of being poor “rich” people!
J-O-K-E-R-S who had it too good for too long. Learn to tighten your belts…W-H-I-N-E-R-S!!!
You cant possibly think selling the blinged out SUVs, the supercharged jet skis, and the souped-up motorcycles are options at all??
Whether they who have them “luxuries” want to believe you or not “sonso” the one fact remains, without gas / fuel their “luxuries” will remain parked in the yard and possibly sitting up on concrete blocks
Pure political party tow the line stupid response to a problem they acknowledge exists but would rather kill the entire island than try to solve..What is so wrong with the private sector, afraid they will loose some of the members who may finally figure it out. I am disgusted to be a Bermudian at this time of our CRISIS,
Sorry but shutting the whole dam island down aint going to do S&^*! We will still have the same problem chipmunk! U kept listening to the PLop and look where that got us! Richards told people along time ago pay attention all he get was “**** ********’! Right Santucci? And guess what u wont be hurting either ya been getting ya juice paycheck for along time stop trying to make it seem like ya suffering cuz ya NOT!! Who made the people of Bermuda suffer? Not the OBA, Ubp! Who? Lets talk about payback who the *%^& but Bermuda in this position sir? *&*^ing WHO!???
and I will FIGHT against the BTUC at every chance and step along the way
Case in point. Blue bags picked up by PRIVATE enterprise on time and regularly. General trash pure HIT or MISS as to when and if. GGS
Yup!!! My trash is still sitting out at the street????
mine to and so it shall sit until.
They’re all making sure they use up their 14 weeks sick.
” … and “will fight the Government every step of the way,” the BTUC said today.
In other words: Even though we are adrift in shark infested waters in a sinking boat The Unions resent the fact that their members will have to bail with buckets. They want to use the bilge pumps even though the batteries are dead!!!!
Lets see how well that works. SMDH
I will simply say that it is about time that the members of all working groups consider that fighting the government initiative may put an end to the only well thought out plan to reduce costs that we have. The Unions may be successful however they may win this one but when investment dries up and the country has lost it all. I hope the workers will know who to blame.
I have been thrilled to see progress in our economy and the bright hope for our future. I have been hoping that all would support the elected government who have been working so hard to sort our the financial mess they inherited. The people spoke at the last election for change and growth I would ask, will fighting the only real plan we have help? If we do not rally behind our elected government and all fails who benefits?
I support the government’s efforts to straighten out our financial issues. So should we all.
can we just imagine how fantastic this island could be for all of us if we used the energy being used to fight against the govt towards being a part of the plan and supporting what this govt is trying to do and they were elected by the majority. We will all win if they are allowed to put their plans in practice…the alternate will be failure…so why not support it and be amazed at the results with new business coming to the island and feeling wanted The world can read all about our battles and say who wants to go there they can’t work together. Ok so the rest of the world is in turmoil why not be the jewel in the middle of the ocean that gets it together …come on Bermuda it matters not what union or no union what color or what religion, we are all in the same boat…and it will sink if we don’t all pull together.
The PLP/TUC will put all of Bermuda out of work as they seek power to continue what they did before!
All those suckers are buying the Union and PLP nonsense . They are using you and it ain’t for your good either.
The B.T.U.C. are a group of people with brains but no commonsense
If they have any intentions of calling an Island wide strike, then they should first remember, them that have money,(big bucks) can take the “work stoppage” but how long can the workers survive by stopping? As the old saying goes, “Only fools rush in where wise men fear to tread”. Whatever is done by them, the Unions will only have one chance and then…well the, the writings on the wall 
With Charities suffering, how many union workers have redirected their dues to Charities. Are there any statistics?
I’d like to know.
@hmm, I would like to know that as well?? But if I had to bet money on it??? I would bet that the unions have sent NOTHING!!! But those pesty IB companies and employers such as myself have been doing all the contributing??? Funny how that is never acknowledged by those that have caused the most suffering????
The combined opposition, ( biu/btuc and the plp) are now stepping up their nonsense in an all out attack of the OBA, not surprisingly it comes just a few weeks after the Dreb called for it at his Union speech???? One can only assume that being those guilty of participating will only learn the hard way, REAL financial pain and hunger!!! I sort of look forward to the day when they go to book a flight and they are told sorry but $$$ bermuda are not accepted or they go to the grocery store and find bare shelves, I guess that would be one way of ridding the island of the wild chickens ( one bright spot I guess?? )
The OBA need to take seriously what the union is saying and stop wasting precious time trying to educate them on the seriousness because they have proven that they are not interested and only have one objective!!! Regain power at all costs!!! So OBA! Get on with it and do what is nessassary to save bermuda in the long run inspite of these foolish people!! Remember who received the majority of the votes Dec 17 th 2012 and do what you were elected to do, clean up the plp mess caused by total incompetence!!!
A current attack on the OBA is an attack on all of our futures
The TUC is obviously being led by the BIU leadership, since Mr. Furbert has already announced his opinion. This is a perfect opportunity to cause community unrest for political reasons. The country has no money. It is in dire debt. No one wants to see their family member or friends lose their jobs. However, what is the answer? Where were the unions when the money was being squandered. No one spoke out when the PLP was in power and the borrowing began. Now that a proper Finance Minister is trying to clean up the mess he inherited, he has to deal with TUC threats. Did not the ‘Foreign Expert’ who was brought in just prior to the last election categorically state that it did not matter which party that got in to power after the election, that if the country were to survive there had to be immediate cuts? I think the unions are much too concerned about their dues.
I voted OBA NOT the UNIONS! I have sacrificed this long and i will continue to sacrifice for sake of Bermudian children!
All I needed to see was the BTUC logo on their letter head. A series of arrows going around in circles entrapping the Island of Bermuda. The perfect visual metaphor for our somnambulistic civil service clinging to the status quo. Nuff said?
“We’ll fight the Government all the way” and “take back power”.
Just where do the people who support this think the money is coming from that doesn’t exist now? The answer is they don’t know and don’t care or understand. Just as long as the PLP are in power. Well they will get a real awakening if the PLP do get back in power, and sadly they will be the ones to suffer the most. Watching and listening to the video of the meeting at Pier 1 shows so much lack of understanding of why Bermuda is in the critical financial mess it’s in and why. The PLP/BIU elite will not suffer, just their voters/members. What is really sad is that their voters/members will accept it, yet they will be the ones paying the extra taxes to keep themselves employed.
Seriously Jason, threatening ain’t gonna work, that tactic was worn out decades ago. You should consider treating this situation similar to CBA negotiations. Nobody gets exactly what they want but Everybody wins
Just look at Greece…. that’s where we are heading if the unions flex the muscle. ..see 19 80 s when the hotel workers were Dancing on the tables at Elbow beach… now see where tourism is..
Go and take the island down… it will take us 2 or 3 genarations to get back..
Actually it was 1981. The hotel was the Sonesta Beach Hotel. Look where the hotel & all those jobs that were in that hotel are today.
No more tables to dance on. That one worked out really well for them.
They were also dancing on the tables at the Sonesta Beach… Courtesy of that idiot Ottiwell Simmons – who shut the Island down in 1981 with his ridiculous “strikes” because the late Sir David Gibbons dared to face-up-to the BIU!!
The chickens have come home to “roost”!! If you don’t have a UK passport by now and a *Plan B* – then you are a fool!!
The government appears to be telling us that the ‘house is on fire’ and we need to take steps to get out of the house to safer ground. At some point, there will be time to ‘modernize, improve, achieve, affirm and build a world-class 21st century house.’
The government and the general public need to understand and accept both the need to grow revenue and cut expenses. There seems to be a reluctance on the part of many to accept the need for cuts. We will need to suffer some cuts now and in the short term as opposed to doing nothing and suffering greater and unbearable hardships in the long term.
go ahead shut de island down…you might as well, because if you don’t EBOLA will…i’ll be laughing at you, not with you…its a good thing you all love camping coz that’s gonna be your only option…it’s all dandy while you are spouting illogical jibberish, then go home to your nicely furnished and air conditioned place of abode with a full fridge of nicey…that will surely come to an end…unfortunately, my efforts to enlighten people through the years hasn’t been successful enough to pull us through…those of you, that may have woken up from your dream, which is jus a deluge of pretty pictures to soften the REALITY of which you cannot escape..but it’s TOO LATE…it’s too late nowww, its too late(isn’t that a song?).
i’m starting to feel for the most aggressive plp’ers…it only shows how deep their false prophets have their hand up their azzez all the way up to their hypothalamus…putting them on the front line(the dispensables)while they sit back safely awaiting the repercussions, whether good or bad…and the followers are soooooo disillusioned, grasping at straws, seeing things that are not there(money), we all should pray tonight that some form of intervention occurs in the immediate future.
and if you think britain or the usa would idly sit by a let 4000 of you destroy this little diamond paradise, as you have declared, hahaha, it’s gonna be an interesting up coming year…jus’ remember this…RICH=ASSET…POOR=LIABILITY…which would YOU eliminate..? also remember that your answer, could label you as a RACIST.
If the private sector cant sustain paying govt wages….and there is not enough influx of foreign capital to sustain govt wages…surely the solution is not to reduce govt services and keep paying the high wages of govt workers….should be the opposite…..better to have a job one would think….the choices and end results of those choices r clear….people are not keeping the end in view.
the over all solution is for this entire over priced economic system to be lowered….every one is fighting to keep the status quo in place so they wont loose any money…money they get from taxpayers. bermudas economic system is not sustainable….i dont agree with making govt services private owned…..what needs to happen is all govt workers keep their jobs…take pay that is equal to the private sector….and the entire economy be altered …so that the low wages being offered to bermudians become the new model of middle class income…in other words…its time to balance this islands economics so that the concentration of wealth is not in the hands of 5% of the population…and lets be honest here…unions are not looking out for the average man…they are looking out for their members and the income their members bring into their organizations they run….which directly ties into their personal pay……looking out for the island economic sustainability …means a comprehensive operation of shared sacrifice…and i just explained what that should really mean
Flipping fools!!!!!! Don’t have a clue!!!
If the OBA is trying to reduce our debt thats completely PRO-Bermudian if u ask me. Why? Because if the government reduces our debt then the more prosperous Bermuda becomes! The government starts to put money in the economy (remember governments dont create jobs the build an environment where business can be done fairly and profitable) Thats the LAST thing the PLop/Unions want!
Hang in there Minister Richards, many of us are on your side!!
I voted OBA not TUC.
OBA grow some b@lls!
If the BTUC “will fight the Government every step of the way” they are effectively fighting all of us. Talk about being anti-Bermudian!!
oh please…plp put us owing oodles of money to people who told them they were their hostile take over friends…..were did Gibbons bank go…and why…oh well…now we have other consessions of the same intentional over spending and debt. boys….you own fleas bite you the hardest…nobody elses fleas can bite you…am i right or wrong?
I do feel thet both parties are rolling to the same drummer and are both denying a truth not intended for our ears….deception is afoot.
So the BTUC/PLP has drawn a line in the sand. They have shown exactly where they stand & where they stand is not in Bermuda’s best interests. They really don’t care about Bermuda.
Well, I guess The OBA is going to have to pull a President Ronald Reagan & his handling of the air traffic controllers when they went out on strike. It was ‘be back at work or be fired & replaced’.
That would be no problem in Bermuda. There are plenty of underemployed truck drivers who would be happy to drive buses & trash trucks. There are plenty of unskilled construction workers who would be happy to collect the trash. There are plenty of underemployed tourboat skippers & crews who could man the ferries.
The BTUC seems to have a problem with privatisation & the saving of money to the taxpayer even while returning a decent profit to the operator of the company performing the service.
The worthwhile civil servants have nothing to fear. They are the people the private companies will want to hire. The deadbeat civil servants should be shaking in their shoes. They will have to start working for their pay or be out of a job just like the rest of us in the private sector.
they paronise us with a make belive vote that has no consequence.
If we are in such a rot Mr. Finance Minister please tell the Country why YOU are allowing jobs to be advertised in the Civil Service. On Friday there are job adverts amounting to close too half million a year. So if your words are true”We have no money and money don’t grow on trees”, please tell the Country why you are allowing these jobs to be filled when the CS should be shrinking
What jobs? Show us. Are they contract jobs, are they skilled jobs are they replacement jobs as people have left for the private sector, died, or left the island.
Is there a hiring freeze?
Some positions have to be filled. The question is which ones. As for the rest, hard choices have to be made – either we go on the way we have been and the island sinks further and further into debt until the inevitable happens or we take corrective measures.
All the Unions are asking for is proper consultation and collaboration!!!!!!! Any right thinking person should encourage ALL STAKEHOLDERS to sit down and work this thing out before making any drastic changes to our Constitution! Remember, measure twice and cut once! What the OBA are planning to do has failed in other jurisdictions. What makes Bermuda so special that this wouldn’t have devastating effects? The OBA have managed to mislead and go to the extreme on all of their policies. If the OBA are serious about this matter, they should do everything in their power to include all of the entities that represent the electorate as a basic right to them.
Didn’t Government just have a triparthid meeting with the unions last week?
The unions want the Government to be reasonable & see things their way.
Sorry, the voters elected the OBA to save Bermuda from the PLP experiment which was an absolute disaster. The OBA needs to get on with it. Enough talking to people who do not want to listen has been done.
The unions’s idea of consultation and collaboration is to do things their way. Repeat – Their way.
Anything else is not acceptable.
Where have you been? The Sage commission met with the unions and held public meetings.
Who is talking about the Constitution? Measure twice cut once? What the heck are you talking about?
The government is spending almost $300m more than it is earning, every year! How do you suppose we should fix that?
The BPSU says we should “modernise the civil service, improve customer service” these are just buzz phrases that sound nice but lack any semblance of substance, maybe they should “leverage social media” too. Get your head out of the sand and help the rest of us confront this problem before its too late.
Patriotism issupporting your country all the time,and your govenment when they desrve it.
A man that carries a cat by the tail learns something learns something he can learn in no ther way.
Shut the Island down…see how fast you get no strike pay to feed your family on..oh wait a minute,,,shut the island down..wonder how many shops will be open and how many small mom and pop shops run out of supplies real fast..say in maybe one day…
But hey,I don’t care if you all go without…
Can we perhaps identify a country elsewhere in the world that has been ‘successful’ and try to emulate their practices?
This is a direct quote from the Sage commission final report:
“Our research into what has and hasn’t worked in other countries revealed that privatisation is complex.
It takes time, specific expertise and careful consideration. We believe that we shouldn’t let Government inefficiency be the sole driver to making a decision about privatisation.
We also learned that outsourcing is not a simple task. It must be planned carefully and have meticulously crafted contracts.
With the above in mind, we believe there are a number of clear and compelling opportunities to use privatisation and outsourcing to reduce the cost of running the Bermuda Government.”
@ JD: Where can one read that, “direct quote”? Inquisitive minds would like to know…
Google: bermuda sage commission report
Its on page 12 of the Final Sage Report, last 4 paragraphs. Theres a link below – don’t worry I won’t tell the teacher that I did your homework for you.
http://www.oba.bm/images/stories/pdf/sage%20commission%20final%20report-%2031-10-2013.pdf
Following was extracted from the Sage recommendations: We recommend that Government remain an equity investor in all privatization ventures to both maintain some influence over future service delivery and pricing and encourage the hiring and training of Bermudian staff.
In alphabetical order, we recommend that the following services be considered for privatisation by the
Authority, and we have included a brief summary analysis for each:
• Airport Operations, Ministry of Tourism Development & Transport
• Civil Aviation, Ministry of Economic Development
• Highways, Ministry of Works & Engineering
• Maritime Administration, Ministry of Economic Development
• Public Lands & Buildings, Ministry of Works & Engineering
• Waste Management, Ministry of Works & Engineering
• Water & Sewage, Ministry of Works & Engineering
Now, there you have it…
By the way, thanks JD…
Senior, entrenched, time-serving civil servants are the architects of the problem and the ones dragging their feet, covering up and resisting change. The ministers are working blind or, even worse, being led up the garden path. Neither the PLP nor the OBA have come to grips with that they need to make a civil service clean sweep. On the other hand, job one for the unions is to protect their key clients and fellow travellers at the top of the civil service who, despite all the talk of cuts, keep hiring new troops.
Those with half-a-brain… Think about this…
The first ill-conceived riot that occurs in Bermuda will kill your tourism and your IB sector – permanently. What happens next? I’ll tell you… armed troops from the UK to restore order. I HOPE you do not choose this path – because you will NEVER recover!!
Obviously, some people have to learn-life’s-lessons the hard way – and the silent, innocent MAJORITY always suffer!!
THE UNION.
They know that Bermuda is trying to save its soul.
They know who do not give a days work for a days pay.
They know what is needed to be modernized the system.
They know what needs to be done .
They know it does not take ten people to change a light bulb.
They know who is swinging the lead.
They know it will be painful for some, not all.
They know what it take to balance the budget.
They know who is cheating the system.
They know who have been carrying the load.
They know who goes on sick outs.
They know how to break a country, learned that from the UK
They know every one must pull their weight.
They know Bermuda is headed for a brighter future.
They know we all have to work together for the common good.
They Know how to fix the problems.
They know there is a BRIGHT RED CARPET.
They Know we BUY food , we SELL service.
They know about sitting down around a table.
I know of at least one job that could and should be cut immediately…the previous surrogate (in their own words) ex premier. Craig that is, he ain’t
doing anything and still gets paid. What is his purpose? Move yuh self!
Then all the rest of you rich boy/girl politicians cut your wages, in the private sector many business owner/operators have slashed their personal wage in some cases not receiving a wage at all, in order to keep the business alive. Are these mp’s somehow above this? Sage recommended it, but funnily enough i doubt they will do that, oh no , not our wise and illustrious mp’s. “Not this government.” Bob richards.
I agree with you, whoever you are, “more than enough”. I too believe our Govt. and Opposition leaders need to/should lead by example and yes, take a larger pay cut…
It definitely makes sense, unfortunately it seems that this gov. is determined to cut everybody elses jobs, pay, benifits, and hours of work, simultaneously cutting the management of most of their governmental responsibilities, with no mention of cutting their own pay, or downsizing parliment.
And they are already in the process of setting up more gov. funded “authorities”
Something definitely stinks here.
Why do you assume they are rich? I think you’ll find that they are not all rich financially.
You can fool some of the people some of the time…
but you can’t fool all the people all of the time…
All of them have other intrests and are well off enough to sacrifice their time and energy to get us out of debt…after all bermuda is the country that helped them gain success in their various undertakings.
I propose a 50% cut for all top brass in the government at minimum, and maybe they should be means tested…they can make a new website for that displaying all of their annual revenue streams and if they make more than the taxable amount ($750,000 per annum) then they should gladly work for us for free. That, I, and I am sure many others, would respect.
Obviously we will have to do “so much more” to dig ourselves out of debt but this approach would help and then the rest of the civil service would most likely be willing to take pay cuts too.
It is my opinion too, that all government jobs should have an expiration date ie there are only so many positions in gov. It is not right that they should be tied down by one person for forty-fifty years… and even the very best employees should be required to have an understudy in training for that job…maybe a 30 year limit or so.
There are two Bermuda’s two economies and in mindset of this anti-Bermudian government; their agenda is to effect an economic recovery-so-called on the backs of the Bermuda people. You think we are going to sit on the wall while you make Bermuda comfortable for every one else but the Bermudian? And than you expect us to be like Johnny Barnes smile and wave as the traffic passes us by . The finance minister states that he was surprise at the level of anger the people has expressed? That just shows how out of touch he and his OBA government are when it comes to the concerns of the Bermudian people. The OBA did not win a political mandate to give away the national interests of Bermudians. In fact with the revelations that continue to reveal themselves; they did not only tell the big lie; but with their dirty tricks; they brought an election.
The people will not allow this government to create a Bermuda without the Bermudian. They have push us up against the wall and thereby created the conditions where for our own salvation we have not choice but to resist.
It is very scary how much ignorance there is on this island. Consider this: The only time we ever make a dollar, is when somebody comes here and spends it. We need people from overseas – its that simple.
Read the above again if you are not sure about this.
The very scariest thing however is that we may just have enough unaware, uneducated voters to vote the PLP back in.
If this happens, we will pretty much be finished. We will fall into poverty like Jamaica. And Jamaica has an export!!
Maybe we could rise to the occasion and legalize ganja, like jamaica is already poised to do, and have made significant changes in the old stupid laws against herb, simultaneously creating new bermudian businesses, bermudian jobs, and possibly in the future when more and more countries legalize it, we will have an export.
Immediately or within months bermuda and bermudians would be able to produce and provide enough sensimelia for recreational, medical and tourism applications. A 100% bermuda product, provided by bermudians.
Personally, I don’t have a preference for which party gets it done
right now it is the oba that has the power to make this change, the sooner the better…
I challenged y’all to come up with a better buy bermuda plan than this… I am still waiting for a response. Anyone?
This encompasses a wide range of our concerns, investment in new bermudian businesses, increased tourist numbers, more economic activity, cheaper health care options (courtesy of mother earth) and most likely at least 2000 new jobs, and the ever sought out foriegn $$$…without bring in anyone from abroad or without any outlay of cash from the gov. coffers. Only a simple change in legislation; legalization is the way to go.
Not to mention the savings.
Then, maybe we could get more of the tourism activity that is currently sitting on jamaica’s beaches burnin’ big spliffs!
And just to preempt those haters of ganja, or ganjaphobes who might feel the need to try and go on and on about how weed is bad, you’re wrong.
Furthermore, our premier and finance minister are booked on an international stage to represent bermuda at an alcohol event some rum reception bs most likely using our tax dollars to promote black rum I think. This substance is among the most dangerous of all, being glamourised in this way. What are we a drinkers paradise? (Rhetorical)
Now, if adults are afforded the freedom to drink responsibly (which is next to impossible due to the very nature of its chemical reaction to the human mind and body). Why on earth would they not be afforded the same unregulated (basically) freedom of choice to smoke responsibly? Particularly considering the nature of the plant and the many wondorous and beneficial chemical reactions with the human body and mind.
In conclusion, a similar approach should be taken with bermudians building business in this area, such as those enjoyed by ib, no ridiculous taxes, red tape, etc… goverment must have an open for business freindly relationship with the entrepreneurs in this field,
and allow us to create a new industry which will in turn bolster your coffers with payroll tax. And owners/operators/employees will have more cash to spend in the economy on rents food buying goods and services etc… bolstering the economy on a whole.
We also have a unique oppurtunity to grow a new medical science industry, providing more jobs and possibly more life saving applications for this quintessential plant.
Alvin, the OBA stepped up to plate to rescue you, yet you hate on them. The PLP destroyed this country, yet you love them.
Either you are stupid or brainwashed. Which is it?
*Either you are stupid or brainwashed. Which is it ?*
Both. And evidently , he has plenty of company .
So tell us how the OBA is giving away the “national interests of Bermudians”? The PLP already did that when they borrowed billions of dollars of money that Bermudians will have to pay back. Not IB (the Exempt Companies Act says they can’t be taxed until 2035). Not expats (they’ll just leave). But Bermudians.
Bermudians are the ones that will have to pay the bills as they become due (and since government pension plans are grossly underfunded people won’t even be able to rely on that source of income).
Alvin & his beloved PLP got us into this financial quagmire, carrying a bill of over $200,000 a day in interest charges, now he & the BTUC/PLP expect the OBA to wave a magic wand & make all those years of the PLP nightmare go away.
Well, sorry Alvin. You voted for them time & again. You caused it. Now you, along with the rest of us who did not vote PLP, will have to suffer for it.
*****BINGO*****——The chickens have now come home to “roost”!!
Didn’t Government just have a triparthid meeting with the unions last week?
Not sure about any one else… I have no money. .have no house..my ex got that…I have a job for now… God help us..
How we can have 6000 plus public service worker’s in a work force of 35000…is better odds than going on a cruse.. if I was one, and I am not.. I would be worried for my job…I would pick up the pace do the best I could personally to do the best of my ability to give the best service…work harder..if you slow down and start giving a hard time..you will be the 1st to go… even the big bosses..who have forgotten what it’s like to work..and be a regular worker bee..stand by..Cuz you an lose you position and job…
RE: “How we can have 6000 plus public service worker’s in a work force of 35000″?? SIMPLE… Voter pay-back to the PLP supporters!! They thought they were going to be in charge forever!!!
Did that ever backfire on Brown and Cox!! But I’m very sure they looked after themselves – or you would NOT have a $2+ BILLION deficit!!!
Rather ironic that the PLP is always shouting about the alleged abuse of power by unelected members of the Government, yet here is the BTUC, an unelected body, calling for effectively an overthrow of an elected Government. An unelected body trying to oust a democratically elected Government. Sounds like a Third World/Dictatorship type of Island.
In some respects I say go ahead. An island wide strike for 2 weeks will save millions of dollars in paychecks, but the BIU have only a few thousand in the bank to pay the workers. Guess where the anger of the workers will turn.
Pretty sure the anger would turn towards the expats … since for some reason there are very many delusional inhabitants of this rock that believe the expats are “stealing Bermudians birth rights” since we are easy targets and not willing to accept the implications of PLP policies over the many years.
This OBA government boast that it had two thousands jobs ready to roll; but instead we have lost two thousand jobs under their watch. Their leader boasted that his government will stop the bleeding? But the only blood he has slip on was his own. Thousands of Bermudians out of work and the solution this government has is to bring in more foreigners and to lay off more Bermudians.Every since I have participated on these on these blogs People like Kangoocar have been threatening to leave? Well I say the causeway is open; leave before a storm cause us to close it. One good thing where ever he goes he will pay his fair share of taxes. I never voted for this government because I knew they were telling the big lie and what did they do use foreign money and brought in political mercenaries to win an election. This is a bitter political lesson Bermudians have had to learn one with which we will not soon forget.
Poor Alvin. Nothing has been learned since the days of Ottiwell Simmons & the strikes of the 70s & 80s. Look at how many jobs no longer exist. Look at how many hotels, big & small, no longer exist.
The biggest coward in the world is investment money. You all thought it would never happen. But it did. The steel workers, the auto workers, the clothing manufacturers of the US all thought that their jobs would never go overseas. But they did. The US unions learned from that experience & now there are large auto makers back in the US. The new auto unions have educated leaders who understand that they can no longer stomp their feet, throw a tantrum, & get their way.
In Bermuda, the unions are decades behind the mentality of the US & British unions. They are still stuck in the 60s thinking that money somehow falls from the sky to pay them for jobs that are not necessary but they are entitled too.
The BTUC sees the ship of reality on the horizon & rapidly coming their way yet they are in denial & tell their hapless followers that all will be well for them.
It won’t.
You see Alvin, when you start every post with an outright lie, you just make yourself look more stupid.
@Alvin, lets not get into the numbers game. A certain David Allen said he would turn tourism around in 100 days…uh, that was 5,000 days ago and we are still struggling but we are making progress with the BTA. How did the African Diaspora initiative work out and just for kicks how many Africans travelled to Bermuda to avail themselves of the experience…
Nah you didn’t vote for this Government because there is more than one token white guy. Which is way past your quota of one.
Now go back to teh ’60s cause the 21st century has and will continue to pass you by.
For those posters whose trash still waits to be collected, bet your all in OBA strongholds! I’m dropping mine off in brother Chris’ yard; or maybe Alvin’s.
The PLP/BIU stand strong for Bermuda ? HAHA…the “Cog” issued more work permits than any minister in the history of Bermuda. We now have a huge foreign work force willing to work for 1/2 the Bermudian rate……….and they do not call in sick !
DREB’s dream of bringing Bermuda to it’s knees has been successful. Burch [Browns henchman] was extremely successful with the race divide. You got what you vote for.
Now threats of violence…Is there an end to stinking thinking?
The PLP messed Bermuda up,now all have to pay.
PLP in power = POVERTY