Opinion: Middle Class Under “Serious Threat”
[Opinion column written by Erwin P. Adderley and David J. Tavares]
So far, in our writings, we have presented to you, my fellow Bermudians, the true fact is that you are able to be replaced in our new global economic business model.
For the past 20 years you have and still are being hood-winked into thinking that you are the ultimate beneficiary, when in fact both [old and new] political parties’ vision and commitment to special interest continues at the expense and detriment of Bermuda’s middle class.
The first political party to win the government-of-the-day, second and now third continues with the blueprint [Commission for Competitiveness, 1994] for Bermuda’s future prosperity as a partner in the global economy, even if it means you are the sacrificial lamb to the slaughter.
The middle class, have become a pawn and our industry and political leaders are prepared to sacrifice you for the bigger picture give the upper class what they want, or else!
For the first time in our history the middle class of our island home is coming under serious imminent threat! Special interest is now totally in the driver’s seat. Both political parties, past and present, encouraged this by undermining tourism, so much so, that international business could thrive and now made us totally dependent on foreign capital, irrespective of the concentration risk that comes with this flawed vision, or should we say, unintended consequence.
Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC] is a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. The ultimate goal is to maximize wealth and given Canada’s continued problem of income inequality over the past 20 years or more, the historic memorandum of understanding [MOU] will pave the way to help their economy more over the 30 year period than our economy?
The memorandum of understanding [MOU], which our government has signed, is yet another example of partnering with foreign interest to help them solve their problems elsewhere in the world, while Bermuda’s income inequality continues by reducing the number of career lasting jobs for our Bermudian workforce.
- Erwin P. Adderley and David J. Tavares
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Has there been another resurrection? it’s been awhile since anyone’s heard from one of these two authors…
Do either of you two have a vested or non vested interest in the airport or it’s operations???
Well said by Mr Adderley and Mr Tavares yet their opinion will be discounted simply because they aren’t part of the OBA machinery.
Bermuda has relied on Foreign Capital since day 1.
No money originated in Bermuda.
In terms of the airport. Bermuda does not have the money for the project. How would the middle classes benefit if no airport terminal was built?
The world does not have career lasting jobs. That is a first half of the last century phenonemon. Technology has changed the world, or we would all be walking to work.
People want progression and to progress you need to move jobs and in most cases employer. No company or business stands still and no business is guaranteed success, prosperity or survivorship.
I’m trying to understand these guys, but we could do with a bit more meat on the bones as to what they are trying to say and some substance supporting their opinions.
I’m not part of any political party machinery and don’t want to discount what these guys are saying. I’m trying to understand more fully their opinion.
“For the first time in our history the middle class of our island home is coming under serious imminent threat! Special interest is now totally in the driver’s seat.”
A very interesting and powerful article by Mr Adderley and Mr Tavares, their position is one that does have serious ramifications for the Middle Class in Bermuda.
They make some interesting points, I was reading an article in UK on the same-thing. It findings were of great significance. I think it will have long-term impact overall.
“The middle class, have become a pawn and our industry and political leaders are prepared to sacrifice you for the bigger picture give the upper class what they want, or else!” —-this is some powerful stuff and has real food for thought.
Keep writing, I like to follow along this is very important to the Middle Class and Bermudians overall.
“For the first time in our history the middle class of our island home is coming under serious imminent threat!” Rubbish.
No, the middle class came under serious threat starting 6 or 7 years ago. Houses we had worked hard to buy were reducing in value, a deliberate policy of the government. Our biggest and most valuable assets. They didn’t care; in fact they gloated about it. Rental units were becoming empty, to remain empty for years (until now). Jobs which had been safe for years were exported. We went from over- employment, when everyone I knew who wanted to work two jobs could do it, to under-employment, with mass unemployment among Bermudians. The PLP hated the middle class. They did nothing for us, unless you happened to be part of their elite ‘in-crowd’.
Seringeti, you are 110% correct in your assessment of the plp!!! The plp are totally responsible for the disappearance of the middle class but also, they made the poor even poorer?? Which the poor was and still is their main support base, the sad part about the poor is they still can’t see it??? Also there was a big portion of the middle class that supports the plp that became poor, and they also can’t see it??? Funny thing though, there seems to be a select few that became wealthy under the plp??? AND THEY STILL CANT SEE IT??? You can’t fix stupid????
You are so right. And they will continue to vote PLP. It’s sad really. They are sad blind followers who just don’t get it. Sigh.
Who was Lehman Brothers and what happened to them six or seven years ago ? What did they represent in relation to Bermuda ,nay , the entities that do business on a global scale ?Was the PLP responsible ?
For the Insurance/Reinsurance business that used to call Bermuda home Lehman Brothers was a pimple on an Elephants ***. The PLP decided to cure a small case of acne by shooting the Elephant.
Burch was skipping around gleefully clapping his hands at reductions in house values, the biggest investment middle class Bermudians have. The PLP built apartments that weren’t even needed and never got used. Using borrowed money that we will take generations to pay back.
They never apologized – they just wanted to kill off the middle class and destroy any chance we had. It was nothing to do with Lehman Brothers. That ‘worldwide recession’ sheet is just a PLP myth designed to dupe the stupid. Ever other country we trade with was out of recession in a year. We were in for seven years, thanks to the PLP chasing jobs away.
Our new global economy? So your suggestion is what? Go back to an agricultural and tourist based economy and ignore the rest of the world? Do that and you won’t have a middle class, only a lower class. Take a look at Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic for your future if you ignore the global economy. Bury your head in the pink sand, ignore the world and welcome Bermuda to third world status.
The middle class has always been a threat! the rich don’t like competition and decide who will be next… the underclass are used to their plight in life and so remain unaffected for the most part, its the unsual grind.. People seeking middle class status need to stop and think about what they are trying to achieve in a society where the aligarchy decide who gets what and for how long…
That is BS
oops *USUAL
Whats the difference between MOU and MAWI.
Time in a bottle.
If I didn’t know better , I would have guessed that the late David Allen co authored that bit about tourism and the UBP/OBA .
So Mr Adderley and Mr Tavares you ride in on your white horses to rescue the downtrodden middle class who are been set upon by both political parties that have governed and failed us as you posit. The two of you in your sage wisdom offer no reasonable alternatives accept to rail on political parties. Since we should listen to you please say something we need to hear from the wealth of your nonpartisan genius how we go forward.
The upper class have wine in the cellar,and are protected from income tax, the lower class may have water in the tank, and are taxed the same.
The Middle class are the larger who bring home the gravy and the backbone of every community.
However,when continual poor judgement resorts to over runs and so on , who do you hold accountable ?
All of them.
No sense closing the gate after the million dollar horse has gone.
We are all being micro managed by both parties of the Government, I do not feel free any more.
The Public anger shows its face on our roads.
The same thing for the “middle class” in the USA!!!