Burt Resigns As Shadow Finance Minister

October 21, 2016

D.Burt-Hoz-8740David Burt has tendered his resignation as the Shadow Minister of Finance, however will remain as an MP and Deputy Leader of the PLP.

Mr Burt said, “Earlier today I tendered my resignation as the Shadow Minister of Finance to the Opposition Leader. I will continue to serve my constituents in Pembroke West Central and look forward to holding the OBA Government accountable in both Parliament and on the Public Accounts Committee.

“I remain Deputy Leader of the PLP and will work to ensure the PLP continues to promote policies that are truly progressive, pro-worker and pro-Bermudian.

“I believe a unified PLP is the best option for the next Government of Bermuda, in clear contrast with an OBA that is painfully out of touch with Bermudians and has the wrong priorities and policies for our country.

“I will be spending more time on the doorstep this weekend speaking to the constituents that I have the honour to represent in Parliament. I hope that you all have a great weekend with your families.”

Update: This now brings the PLP’s Shadow Cabinet to eight people, as it follows after the reduction in December 2015, which saw it decrease from 15 to 9 members.

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  1. Really Really BETTTY says:

    The “Brilliance of Burt”……..I hope Burt will push forward for Leadership. …Now……

    • truth says:

      if he’s going to be as good a leader as he was jr finance minister i’ll pass. his numbers are always fuzzy, he’s be shown time and time again to be less than truthful, and I would hate for him to ruin our country as well.

      • Honestly says:

        Well….this country is being ruined by the OBA currently. I’m sure many of their supporters won’t agree. They are for themselves only. Making decisions based on their own ideals. OBA must go due to selfish policies and agreements with Canadians.

        • Double s says:

          I agree.

          An economy that is growing after 7 years of contraction…

          A $400mn PLP deficit cut in half in less than 5 years…

          New hotels being built all over…

          Increasing tourism numbers…

          Cruise ships heading back to st. George’s….

          Companies redo milking to bermuda…

          Etc.

          I can see how you view such developments as ruining Bermuda when you and yours actually believe that a contracting economy, six consecutive qualified audits, unhindered cronyism (see COI), increasing our national deficit by over 2600% and by extension our national debt is something to be proud of.

          You are a prime example as to why the education system needs to be overhauled.

          • Double s says:

            *companies redomiciling*

          • Portia says:

            And has this created the 2000 jobs the OBA promised, or reduced the number of Bermudians in financial need?

            • Hmmm says:

              Probably more than 2000 from Looking at all the job adverts. The changes in the reinsurance industry cost some jobs. Although more companies are coming here now, so will create more jobs.

            • Stopped THe Bleeding says:

              FACT:PLP Government in 14 years saw a loss of 4000 jobs!

              FACT: The numbers of jobs lost were actually worse than the 4000 figure would appear. In order to mask how bad things were getting they simply hired many (I believe 1K+ was the number) into the civil service and thought that nobody would ask why all the extra jobs within the civil service when there are less people, less business and less money. What was the side effect of this – massive payroll – massive debt = cuts in services and higher taxes.

              If the OBA creates 1 JOB – that is a huge improvement! At least that means they have stopped the bleeding.

          • Crickets says:

            @ Honestly – lets take a survey at who in the community benefited during the PLP 14 years in power.

            Unemployment – Down 4.000 jobs
            Crimes – The worst in the countries history.
            New development – 0 hotels built – many closed or demolished.
            Berkeley Scholl: 60M OVERBUDGET. Who got that deal, ..and why?
            Port Royal GC Deal: $20m OVERBUDGET.Who got that deal..and how?
            Dockyard Pier: $?M OVERBUDGET, had to be rebuilt two years later. who got that deal..and how?
            TCD Construction: who got that deal, and why?
            Tourism Budget: Which minister gave that contract to an alumni member after he took a ride on his private jet? And then resigned contract a second time – without going out to tender?
            Bermuda Cement Company: TAKEN from an individual and Handed over to other persons connected to which party??

            I could go on forever…

            • Crickets says:

              Oh and how could I forget.

              Bermuda Emissions! Who owns it and runs it! Hmmmm??? Why did we need? Large countries now make sure that manufacturers produce cars that pollute less. A simple law stating max emission numbers similar to what we have for car sizes and engine power IS ALL WE NEED.
              Has ANYWAY in Bermuda EVER had their car fail an emissions test! I have never heard of anyone failing. Why is that?? Do they even have a benchmark!
              When I lived in Georgia – the car garages / gas stations had a small simple machine that tested and certified car emissions.

              Who was behind this cash cow? who benefits!

              • Serious though says:

                Just need the data to be released but some cars may have failed, seen some on the road

                • Stopped THe Bleeding says:

                  If I takes 10 years to produce a report I ask:

                  a) why so long
                  b) Is the report worth it?
                  c) what has Bda Emissions center real achieved. Has it helped? could the same be achieved simply by setting standards for new imported bikes / cars and fuels?
                  d) what influence / input do they have (if any) when it comes to which cars are not permitted on the island due to high emissions
                  e) do we even have a standard,- a minimum or maximum?
                  g) what does this cost the government. I’m told that government pays this private company to run this service! A service that we didn’t ask for – and nobody seems to know why we have it – if we needed it – or if the same couldn’t be achieved by a simple change or two in legislation.

                  Who owns it anyway?

                  • James R says:

                    @Stopped THe Bleeding
                    Remember Donal Smith from “Team Hamilton”? This is his vision and contribution. He is Emission Control’s CEO.

              • James Rego says:

                @Crickets
                Just had my Scooter tested at TCD this past week, this is the second year they didn’t test the emissions! I am wondering if they even do it anymore. Smoke and mirrors!

                • Toodle-oo says:

                  And to add insult to injury , in the old days you paid your TCD (tax) fee for your licensing and that was it !
                  And back then bikes and cars/trucks could be failed if they were smoking excessively even though there wasn’t a recognizable emission standard .

                  Now there’s a separate line charge for the emissions testing PLUS the TCD licensing fee .

                  This entire thing was a friends and family scam , plain and simple and I don’t know what’s taking so long for the current government to cancel the entire thing .

                  • sage says:

                    What’s rich is that the CEO was flying around the world boasting that we are trendsetters in emission control, jeesh. Thank god for giving the founder the vision, lol.

            • BermudaRat says:

              Thanks Crickets…please DO go on forever to remind us what we have endured lest we forget before the next election

              • Crickets says:

                There was the Faith based tourism deal – members of what party benefited from that deal.

                Whites Island 25 year lease, who’s friends benefited from that and at what cost to the community that uses it? Was anyone else asked to come up with a proposal?

                Then there was the mandatory implementation of GPS meters in all taxis? Who was going to benefit from the subscription sale and install of the meters?

                The Dame Lois Building – who were the shareholders of the company that was behind the construction of that building?

                We had an airport renamed, government buildings and clinics named after who again? Two holidays renamed? How much say did anyone else get?

                • BermudaRat says:

                  Thanks again Crickets…need to keep those items fresh in mind…
                  Thanks again Crickets. Keep going. Important
                  to keep these fresh in minds.

                  Add to the list:
                  Beyonce
                  Alicia Keys
                  Steve Harney
                  Wyclef Jean
                  Playboy Mansion
                  Rock Newman
                  Henderson Travel (African Diaspora)
                  Global Hue
                  Trips to China
                  Visit to Bollywood
                  Nenderson Travel Agency (African Diaspora)

        • Anbu says:

          And who are the plp for again exactly? If u think they are for “every” bermudian u r smoking the funny stuff. Peace out burt. Dont let the door hit u on the way out!

      • Crickets says:

        He definitely has the ability to be a good leader. However, he (like many others on both sides) must stop with the “debate team” like antics that we often see today. We often see MPs on either side argue …just for the sake of arguing…without offering a better or even different solution. If you don’t like what you see, say so – but then show what you would do differently, why you would do it that way – and how.

        There are people in both political parties that are blind followers and will support either party regardless of what their party leaders say or do. Stop trying to cater to them so you can get a pat on the back and a hand-shake.

        Both parties NEED to be able to work together in order to offer the people of Bermuda and the business community the best solutions. You must work together when it comes to things like crime, community, arts, tourism.

        This stupid mentality that many have where they claim to have better solutions, but would rather say – wait until we govern, or wait until AFTER the next election and things will get better.

        It amazes me how often I see individuals and groups,(political or otherwise) and church leaders wearing shirts or holding banners with slogans, like “United we Stand, Dived We Fall” or One Bermuda ****, Progressive **** United Bermuda, Love One Another, It takes a Village to Raise A Child etc…. and then those same leaders spew messages and act in a manner that is the exact opposite of what they say.

        Wake up Bermuda,if we keep encouraging or allowing our politicians to spew sewage so that they can get a job, power and benefits…well we end up in a place that other see as “****y place to visit, do business, and live.

    • smh says:

      Bean isn’t the best but ill take him over Burt any day. It seems the plp needs new options but Burt is not the one. Betty, maybe you and your PLP brothers and sisters should do some recruiting.

      • REAL TALK says:

        I can honestly tell you this if Mr. Mark Bean remains as leader for PLP I’m voting OBA and I don’t even like this party.

        The OBA best chances of winning the next election is for their paid bloggers to support Mr. Bean as leader and they already know this.

      • frank says:

        marc bean needs to go like yesterday and this would be a good time to go on a medical.
        if he does not go now the plp will loose the next election
        because people will again stay away from the polls simple

    • aceboy says:

      He resigning and talking about a unified PLP but an out of touch OBA? Where have you been the past few months? Where has your leader been?

      • Hmmm says:

        It is just another PLP lie to fool voters into believing something that is not real. The PLP are and have been a mess. You would have to be living on Mars not to know this.

        Can you trust the PLP based on this ? NO!

    • Enough says:

      That’s exactly what is going to happen

    • Terry says:

      John. Keep reading the COI stuff and shut up.
      This is so crazy.
      Barrits jinjah beer………

  2. meh says:

    didn’t see him as someone who was suitable for the position anyway. hopefully he goes away all together soon!

  3. lifetime says:

    More trouble in the camp…smh

  4. Comfortably numb says:

    Never suited for the post in the first place, his knowledge of finance could be written on the back of a postage stamp: on the other hand it does give him more time to develop swizzle.

    • Its me again says:

      How many MPs are PMP’s as well? How many finance ministers has this island had that dont understand basic project management?

      He may be inexperienced but me more than makes up for it with his intellect and expertise in the number one thing Bermuda doesn’t get very well, project management and procurement. We’ll see how this works out.

  5. oneloveonelife says:

    Bob’s probably over the moon with glee.

  6. smh says:

    He must have been scared off by the ad that showed his mistruths. A prime example of a self driven politician.

  7. perspective says:

    Does this mean that a new deputy Leader would need to be selected by the party now? I actually see this as a positive for the PLP. Mr. Burt speaks well, but I think that they can find someone more competent and qualified to handle things.

  8. Family Man says:

    So how many jobs has Burt ‘resigned’ from now?

  9. mmm says:

    Is this the time to step done, after leading charge after charge on the economy ? Is there an internal rift that is getting wider and wider ? I know that one sees at times, that they may need a rest, its long over-due and time for another to take over.

  10. Takbir Karriem Sharrieff says:

    P.L.P. always had and always will have many good options for good leadership.Theproblem always has been and always will be.,,,,,,us as so called supporters,,,,,,,,backbiting,jealousy,,,envy…and cut throating.Hard talk,,,,,real talk,,,,and truth,,,,,.Take it or,,,,,leave it alone,,,,,,,Peace.Pick the bones out of that.

    • Crickets says:

      Both parties suffer from the fact that the leaders ultimately have little or no power. The voices come from the back and if those in the back rows don’t like you – your pushed out. It matters very little if the people of Bermuda like you and voted you in.

  11. Tired of it all says:

    Bermuda politics is a mess…

  12. John says:

    I hope they replace him with Dereck Burgess

  13. Imagine that says:

    He’s going to manage the airport project

  14. No laughing matter says:

    If the PLP wants to increase their chances of winning the next election, they need to get rid of ‘Beanie Trump’ ASAP.

  15. aceboy says:

    There’s just no money in politics any more. Too much oversight now.

  16. Onion says:

    Good. He has been a terrible Shadow Finance Minister. Doesn’t seem to understand basic accounting.

  17. wahoo says:

    At best he was mediocre but who in the PLP can replace him? I can’t think of any who can take on this very important portfolio.

    • Serious though says:

      How we forget PLP have educated Black people

      • Onion says:

        They do but if we’re honest there are a handful of people in the OBA who have the qualifications to be Finance Minister but with the loss of Paula Cox (who was a bad Finance Minister) and Terry Lister the PLP literally have nobody with the international business and accounting/finance experience to be Finance Minister.

        The PLP need to recruit someone.

      • Bob but not Spongebob says:

        Maybe they should have used one of them instead of Burt in the first place.

    • Point boy says:

      Not the cog in the wheel

  18. Sage says:

    Too bad – pass on that ugly Lime Green Tie to the next Shadow; assuming they can find someone who can do basic math. Doubtful though, (a direct product of the PLP’s years at the Education helm)

    • Serious though says:

      There very smart and educated PLP supporters, this is not necessary

  19. Terry says:

    Some people like to shine and not be in the shadows.

    Shalom.

  20. mmm says:

    Does the PLP have a group of accountants to advise their shadow minister of finance as to whether or not a project is within reasonable costs. Was / Is David Burt an accomplished accountant ? Earlier emails suggest that Davud Burt was not qualified to handle the post/ Perhaps his challenge was being able to command a great influence among his own.

  21. bluwater says:

    Former Junior Finance Minister resigning? Another shoe dropping over at the COI…..

  22. ROGER L says:

    GLAD He is staying within the PLP. Mr. Burt is a Leader & is open to Learn, thus could lead the PLP & be Premier one day. HANG IN THERE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS MOST WEEKENDS BURT.

  23. Bob but not Spongebob says:

    How anyone can support this man is beyond me. After helping to tank our economy and using the PAC as nothing more than a publicity tool we would be better off with a Burt-less PLP.

    I wonder what his take is on the COI. He seems to be awfully quiet.

  24. Terry says:

    AC is here.
    Beyoncé is coming
    AC will leave
    Beyoncé is packing

    Things have not changed; still 32/64

    Enjoy and send your children to Paget Island.

  25. All distorted says:

    Call de election now..

  26. Gargoyle Wings says:

    Funny watching you all argue over which poison taste better…well actually, sad, not funny

  27. Broken Glass says:

    The rantings of a man in a dying party that no one in their right mind ever really trusted but pretended to so that they could be part of the friends and family benefits.

    • Tell Dunk to call the election & SEE says:

      Can’t wait to see what you post after the 2017 election? LOL

  28. Leadership Deficit in OBA and PLP says:

    The leadership deficit in both parties becomes more and more apparent when you start to seriously consider candidates like MP Burt, MP Davis-Outerbridge etc to lead an Island.

    Yes, Marc Bean has filled that void after the PLP 2012 defeat when the Party was still shell shocked from being defeated by the OBA’s frilly advertising campaign and the 2,000 jobs pledge. But David Burt representing Bermuda internationally as our Premier?

    It’s bad enough we have 2 left footed unelected Premier Dunkley and not a quality statesman like a John Barritt or Grant Gibbons or Brian Depperault representing us.

    The leadership deficit in our national politics forces quality candidates to now get off their posteriors and get involved as MPs for the next 2017 General Election, please, enough of the rot and lack luster parliamentary representation, time to replace the seat warmers (MP Nandi, MP Autosolutions, MP Cannonier, MP Commissiong, MP Harry Potter Politics, MP Swizzle, MP Flip Flop, MP UBP PLP Jamal and we could go on and on and on……….., MP Burt for leader, sorry this isn’t leading an advertising campaign at college it’s leading something called a $5billion GDP economy, Bermuda.

    Enough social promotion and dumbing down, time to trade up for quality in PLP and OBA before it’s too late.

    • Another Pawn says:

      You sound like a ten cent political ##ore who is shared by best friends.

    • Truth Teller says:

      Gee “Leadership Deficit” could you not have included at least one black leader in your troika of leaders noted above: Barritt, Gibbons, Dupperault?

      Have we been transported back in time to the 1950′s, when ‘some’ knew their place and rightly accepted the fact that only white males are really qualified to lead us with the exception of course of Glenn Smith?

  29. Common Sense says:

    He will be able to find another portfolio; I think that Finance was a bit beyond his capabilities.

  30. John says:

    You have to honest as a politician his stance against same sex marraige stumps us all ??!? But we remember at election time him as well as the other shameful 21

  31. Boater says:

    The PLP is desperate for decent people.

  32. Sara says:

    The economic downturn would not have been nearly as bad if the PLP would have stopped with their extravagant spending. We are paying the price thru higher taxes all around in Bermuda because of the negligence of the PLP. I can understand if you don’t care for the OBA but to think the PLP can do any better is downright illogical. You can feel this or that all you want but facts are facts. And when you choose to ignore facts and just go on how you “feel” well this is why we are in the predicament.

  33. Up D hill says:

    I predict a punch up at plp tonight