PLP: “What Is The Reason For OBA’s Delay?”
[Updated] Shadow Tourism Minister Zane Desilva said that “in the interest of openness and transparency,” the PLP is asking what is the “reason for the OBA’s delay in releasing information surrounding a recent trip to New York by the Premier and several OBA insiders.”
Mr. Desilva was speaking after the recent trip to New York, which saw local officials attend business meetings, a meeting with the media and the launch of the Mary Celestia shipwreck perfume, with the Bermuda contingent including Premier Michael Dunkley, Minister Shawn Crockwell, Minister Grant Gibbons, Senator Jeff Baron, BTA Chairman David Dodwell, and BTA CEO Bill Hanbury.
Mr. Desilva said, “Taxpayers deserve to know:
- 1] How many people accompanied the Premier to New York
- 2] The cost of transportation, accommodations and per-diem allocations
- 3] If civil servants were present in the alleged meetings with investors and if not, why not?
- 4] How many taxpayer dollars were contributed by the BTA and/or the Bermuda Government to the Perfume launch event?
- 5] If money was contributed to the aforementioned event what is the return on investment?
“Also, it was over a year ago that former Premier Cannonier promised that the OBA would launch a website to highlight OBA expenditure,” added the Shadow Minister.
“It would be appropriate at this point for the current Premier to provide a timeline for when this project will be completed and at what cost to the taxpayer,” added the Shadow Minister.
“The OBA has swiftly built a record of broken promises, lack of transparency and deception, culminating in the resignation in disgrace of their first Premier.
“In light of the JetGate scandal, it is important that the One Bermuda Alliance be watched very carefully to ensure that the OBA operates in a manner that will not further damage the image and reputation of Bermuda.”
On September 25th the Government responded to the first statement from the Opposition about the trip, saying: ““New York is considered to be the business capital of the world and a critical market for Bermuda’s economy.
“The New York visit has only just concluded, and it would be premature to provide a finalised account. However, the public can be assured that the visit was prudent and fiscally managed, with the aim of achieving key national objectives of attracting direct inward investment and showcasing Bermuda as a premier vacation destination.
“The Premier and Ministers who attended New York were there in key capacities,” the spokesperson added.
“In fact the business meetings conducted by the Premier and Minister Gibbons were invaluable as were the media briefings in which the Premier and Minister Shawn Crockwell engaged in. This resulted in considerable exposure for Bermuda on various levels.”
Update 1.26pm: The travel cost website is now live, and lists the cost of the recent New York trip as $3,228.15, and notes that the costs for persons accompanying the Premier are covered under their own Department.
It states that Premier Michael Dunkley was accompanied by Minister Grant Gibbons, BDA CEO Ross Webber, Minister Shawn Crockwell, BTA CEO Bill Hanbury, the Premier’s Press Officer Nea Talbot and Senator Jeff Baron.
Update 6.28pm: In response, Mr. Desilva said, “The government site, which apparently was rushed out in an effort to deflect from legitimate questions, remains incomplete as the full costs of travel still have not been disclosed, nor have the OBA disclosed any details surrounding alleged meetings with investors. The website only shows expense for 2 of the at least 7 people that traveled on the government dime!
“Is concealing information and racing out an unfinished and incomplete website what the OBA means by openness, accountability and transparency? We again call for the release of all of the expenses of the OBA’s junket to New York City. The Premier needs to act to make sure the public have full information.”
Three things to say.
1. I’m a taxpayer and I really don’t need to know any of those things.
2. It would take them a long way to get to making Bermuda look any worse than we did prior to the last election.
3. The Government has a limited amount of money to be spending and there are tons of better things for them to be spending it on than all these little demands by the Opposition for unimportant things.
hmm-a bit surprised Rhonda—Both parties are equally guilty of politricks, and you mentioned far more important things to spend our money on which was MP Zanes point!Either we rely on Bermuda Tourism authority or we don’t, after all why spend three lots of money(BTA,Tourism minister salary,and travel expenses to promote an already overexposed island who has held headlines overseas for many reasons, although I do agree that the exposure MAY be good..Anyone monitoring, BTA,MP????
Oh, no doubt both sides are guilty of the nonsense that’s been going on, but the PLP, from my perspective, are winning on the ‘who can be more silly’ scale.
That aside, I would hardly say that Bermuda is overexposed, at least not in the right areas. This is where the BTA and yes, the minister and Premier, come in to play. While the majority of work needs to be, and I’ve no doubt will be, done by the BTA, it doesn’t change the fact that those in office need to be out there doing face to face meetings and promotions, both for pure tourism and business reasons.
Now, if the trip had been to someplace less centrally located for business, tourism connection opportunities, like, say, Morocco, then I’d have some questions.
Mind you, if they had just gone up there for the perfume release, then I’d be more concerned.
I don’t have nothing for either party but sPLP you have some nerve well in this case for Zane, you have some balls lol
No kidding. Hey Zane remind me again which Premier racked up a $23,000 hotel bill during a one week stay in London? That’s just the hotel bill mind you.
or was that the trip to Dubai
Or China?
or India?
Or India? We got a lot of return on our investment for that trip didn’t we??? Yea, not holding my breath.
He’s either got a lot of nerve, suffers from memory loss, oblivious to all that the PLP did and did not answer for, or not too bright.
Whats the answer!?
Any opportunity to try to make them look bad before TSHTF.
Interesting timing from Zane. The same day the Government travel expenses website is announced as going live. Of course it won’t satisfy Zane though.
Zane, a better question would have been whether or not it is ethical for the Premier and Official Government entourage to promote a private venture (the Perfume launch) the way they did. I imagine it was done with the best of intentions, but a lot of things about this Premier are beginning to show that old time UBP bias and disdain to those not in the clique, and it can be very nasty when they think they are getting away with it.
The perfume is limited edition and promoted Bermuda as a shipwreck destination for snorkelers, and divers. I see nothing wrong with this.
They were not promoting the company but rather that specific limited perfume.
at least that’s how i interpreted it.
You are playing with semantics and either way it stinks (unlike the perfume). This Premier is no better than his predecessor, though maybe brighter, and he clearly does not need the money (perhaps he could decline his salary and pension, that would be a good example).
So if you believe Prem Dunkley should decline his salary and pension, I can only assume it was an OVERSIGHT On your part when you didn’t expect the DREB to do the same???? Or am I wrong?????
I am sure they are both charitable men, indeed when they tee off down at MOC.
@Not Impressed, can you now compare him the another former Premiere, Dr. B!
This ought to be interesting!
Zane, Zane, you again? Bie’ give it a break!”One major manifestation of social intelligence is having the ability to deceive”. And you bie’ are just far too much
Zane you are a complete embarrassment. Words fail me to describe how pathetic you are. Further, you will never EVER be picked to lead that bunch of complete losers, so one wonders what your agenda really is other than to be voted Bermuda’s most complaining, moaning, loser politician.
Zane the people would really like to know where all the millions went. When you answer that question maybe then the OBA will answer yours.
Anyone can nit-pick, but not everyone can destroy an economy. How do you feel about your role in that Zane?
I cannot wait for April 1st, 2015 and PATI I want to see where all the money went. How we went from Black to Red in just a few years. Where the monies went? To whom and what for? Was MP Desilva in charge of any ministries?
Good one HMMMMM
Check out the website. It was just launched.
The Premier’s costs were $3.2k and that also encompasses Sen. Baron as he falls under the same Ministry.
All other questions regarding attendees were also answered.
What delay???? The new government website clearly outlines the cost for the Premier + Senator Baron came in at approximately $3200.
The going on now 2 year delay.. Do you think that if the opposition hadn’t pressed this issue that that web site would be up today? The opposition has asked for the transparency the OBA promised and what the populace screamed for pre 2012, now the posters are telling them to shut up already? Ceases to amaze me.
They got back from the trip 9 days ago.
The OBA was elected 2 years ago. So you assumed that they were going to arrive, turn a key and fix everything and deliver on all promises on day 2? Funny how you had no problem standing behind your party and were patient and forgiving as we slid downhill!
You do remember that pre-PLP we were consistently in the top 5 of lists for countries with highest per capita income, best places to live and work, longest economy, lowest debt, friendliest places to visit / work and so on. After a few years of PLP business tactics and counter productive ideas we dropped off that list.
I often wonder if he is blowing smoke to distract from the fact that he has nothing of substance to offer ,or if he really thinks he is asking good questions that are at the top of our priority lists?
Zane, help us get out of this economy. How, help us to find out where out unaccounted for aka missing $800 million went!
How about… they have a country to govern?
The OBA has swiftly built a record of broken promises, lack of transparency and deception, culminating in the resignation in disgrace of their first Premier.
Well…
The PLP has swiftly built a record of incompetence with public funds, lack of transparency, blatent lies by their leader (“we had to deceive you”), AND a reputation of trying to justify their wrong doings by hating on the side that beat them at the polls.
“The PLP has swiftly built a record of incompetence with public funds, lack of transparency, blatent lies by their leader (“we had to deceive you”), AND a reputation of trying to justify their wrong doings by hating on the side that beat them at the polls.”
And the PLP were voted out… No watch what happens come next election.
U mean their lazy voting base will actually get off their a**es and vote?! Hahahaha your own supporters cost u the last election. Get a life. The only way this county is goin forward is for nobody to vote come next election and scrap this stupid party politics all together. Hopefully the youngsters coming up dont buy into the old peoples bull crap and actually do something to change it.
Can Mr. Desilva please remind all of us how much of the taxpayer’s hard earned money was spent by the PLP on no-bid contracts for the renovation of the Port Royal Golf Course and construction of both the TCD facility and Heritage Wharf complex?
How about the dozens of voter financed PLP boondoggles including trips to LA, the Middle East and Asia that never produced ANY MEANINGFUL returns for the taxpayers?
How about the Berkeley School and Court Building contracts that went to hand picked vendors that weren’t recommended by the civil service during the vetting process?
How about the wall taxpayer money rebuilt on private party near John Smith’s Bay for the benefit of a former Premier?
If one were to look up the word hypocrite in the dictionary don’t be surprised to find a photo of Mr. Desilva wearing a PLP polo shirt.
He wont remind us, why, because it would seem he was the beneficiary of some of it!
Isn’t it ironic how one man that contributed to the destruction of an Island owns a with the opposite name.
Go look at the website Zane LOL!
I think Zane deserves the “SHORT PLANKS AWARD” for this week.
When PLP was in power i had neva seen the oba/ubp on tv or in the newspaper so much complaining like a bunch of *******. Zane give it a break ur making yourself look like mr.beans puppet
Zane gets my vote for the most nauseating member of parliament!!!! Between this nonsense and the camp hill junction thing he has now become to much??? One can only assume going if one is stupid enough to listen to him, would be the camp hill juntion stuff he is complaining about was mysteriously not an issue when his Plp were in power, but we all know why he has picked that spot??? Also if he actually had a concience, he should be feeling very silly about now when he reads the actual costs of this OBA trip and compares it to the travel expenses of HIS Plp, I think he should do the honorable thing and apologize!!!!!! Yeah, like that will happen?????
With respect to HM Loyal Opposition.
As a taxpayer and an advocate for GVT and an Opposition party to provide “checks and Balances”, I find this current dialouge laughable.
Mr DeSilva, is this the most important thing the Opposition has to focus on? Perhaps you can help us all by focussing attention on how Bermuda will get itself out from under the debt overhang that was caused several years ago–perhaps assiting in affordable health care for all Bermudians–this was your portofilio–so you must have some ideas to help solve this issue no? ie–new foreign investment=new job opportunities=more Bermudian having health care coverage=more workers contributing to the coverr of health care expenses.
Sadly, this approach gives the impression that you and by extenstion your colleagues are not in possession of any new thinking that can drive this country foward.
Thank you.
@ “This is a joke”: You’ve hit the proverbial nail upon its head.
Look on the website like the rest of us.
Wow,
Thought it was me. Bad enough practically EVERY day of the week we get the PLP whining. But Zane has definitely put in his shift recently.
To be honest, he is not helping the PLP. For voters like myself, this sort of politics does not sway me.
Are they still driving GP cars with the changed plates for protection ?
not sure coffee, but one thing I can tell you is, I have not seen one GP car at a grocery store, football game or anywhere it shouldn’t have been since the OBA were elected!!! I wish I could say the same for when the Plp former ministers were driving around in them!!!! Hope this helps your inquiring mind????
I have… Along with them stacked up at the Airport on a weekly basis.
Not over the executive jet side ! Say it ain’t so !
Bermuda is still waiting to learn of the benefit to Bermuda to smuggle in 4 persons in breach of the Constitution. PLP MPs called for the then Premier to resign, but nothing happened. Who paid for that junket? How much did it cost? Who benefitted? Bermuda needs to know.
Craig Cannonier at least resigned. What did Dr. Brown do? He continued in office and then had a weekend grand party at the Southampton Princess to celebrate his 4 year reign, attended by the same people like the Minister of Finance who announced she had been “politically neutered”.
What were the costs incurred by the PLP on Government credit cards that went undisclosed? Large sums spent by the first PLP Premier in dubious clubs in New Orleans for example.
Zane again runs his chops without checking FACTS!
I hope investigative reporters use the Public Access to Information.
Now that we know how much was spent on the New York trip ($3,200…a paltry sum, certainly), I fully expect the PLP, and Zane in particular, to start whining and then demanding to know how much its costing the government to have a web-site created and maintained! The PLP have brought nit-picking to a new level and surely they must know how absurd their petty demands truly are! I need a drink !!
Our annual Budget deficit is about $275M and Zane is worried about a small bag of chicken feed while forgetting how his beloved PLP spent millions & millions on travel each year on multiple junkets during their 14 year reign of economic issues