Column: Working For A ‘Fairer, Better Bermuda’

February 7, 2019

Wayne Furbert Bermuda February 2019[Opinion column written by MP Wayne Furbert]

Proverbs 12:15 “He who is wise listens”

The PLP Government has often spoken of our open door policy; a belief that everyone deserves to be heard, every suggestion listened to and every idea considered.

This approach came from a place of humility; remembering who we work for first – the people of Bermuda. It also comes from a place of wisdom; the understanding and acknowledgement that we don’t know everything and that good ideas don’t just come from Alaska Hall.

Yet, we are not content just to sit and wait for the people to come to us. That’s why our Ministers are out and about meeting with community and business stakeholders, asking questions, listening and acting whenever possible and appropriate. That’s why we are out canvassing in constituencies across the island. It is that listening, it is that outreach that will enable us to be better informed and better able to serve Bermudians.

When we move amongst the community, and when we listen, it is clear that while a lot of work still needs to be done we have the confidence of many Bermudians.

Confidence that we will protect them with strong immigration policies

Confidence that we will fight for more Bermudian employment and greater diversity in our workforce.

Confidence that we will remove red tape and obstacles towards Bermudian entrepreneurship

Confidence that we will stay humble, stay connected and stay focused on the people that put us here and the job they sent us to do.

People still come to us sharing their pain at not being able to find work in their own homeland. They still come to us sharing their fear that their financial struggles will never end and that their children will have to struggle too.

It’s not right that Bermudians should experience this and we are determined to fix it.

So long as one Bermudian who wants to work is denied employment in their own country, our work is not done.

So long as one Bermudian is working a full-time job and still unable to make ends meet, our work is not done.

So long as one Bermudian is unable to climb the corporate ladder, start their own business or reach their full potential, our work is not done.

We truly appreciate the love, support and prayers that we receive from our Bermudian people. You are why we are here, and that’s why we won’t stop working until we deliver a fairer, better Bermuda.

- Wayne Furbert

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Comments (46)

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  1. chocolate coins says:

    give it a rest flip flop.

    • Big John says:

      ‘We will fight for greater diversity in our workplace ‘

      Is this for real?

      Anti-expat, LGBT and anyone who thinks Religion is nonsense.

      Is that diversity?

      How is this man in an elected position??

  2. Red rose says:

    Headline: ‘government does what it us supposed to do, shock’
    Problem is, it is doing it very badly

  3. Comfortably numb says:

    Our ministers certainly are out and about: unfortunately not so much in Bermuda but certainly in Davos, London, Brussels, New York, Miami, DC etc etc.

  4. truthertz says:

    So making Bermuda more expensive for everyone is considered to be making it ‘fairer and better?’

    For instance your paltry 1.4% pension increase provided my elderly parent with a whopping $9 more on a monthly basis. And you guys took credit for it as if it were some monumental achievement.

    And now today it is revealed that your Party has increased Government health insurance premiums by 5% or by $20 (more than double your pension increase).

    And that is before you implement your raft of next taxes which will make everything that much more expensive for everyone on this island.

    So Wayne next time you pen an articled leave out the fluff and hyperbole and present some actual plans that you guys have to live up to your campaign promise of bringing down the cost of living. Up until now all you have done is the exact opposite.

    Yes PLP supporters who will inevitably reply to my post…I get it…25-11…well done

    • Come Correct says:

      If everyone is broke, that’s fair, right?

      • Tricia T says:

        Yes, I think that is the ‘plan’, if you can all it a plan. It’s the only think that makes sense, for everyone to feel what it’s like to be poor. Of course, the PLP and others won’t be poor, they’ve been socking it away somewhere or other for years, and probably not in Bermuda. Maybe they’ll start a loan company to lend money to all and sundry ! Interesting thought.

  5. 2 Bermudas says:

    What a joker. How are you going to create more jobs through increased taxation and no changes to our immigration policy?!?! This guy needs to sober up, been drinking too much titty milk!! hahahaha!!!

  6. Yawn - Anything but this says:

    Dear MP Furbert,

    The PLP Platform made some very specific promises. As time marches on towards your 2nd year in office the question must be asked of how you plan to accomplish and implement the promises made to the electorate? These Opeds are great but the election has passed and from our daily dealings with Govt Departments and Ministers it is more of the same. I would go a step further and say that your team is actually more conservative around making changes than the opposition OBA who were booted out for doing too many things too quickly and disrespecting the voters of the Island.

    Listening to the talk show yesterday I realised that we really have challenges when a Minister has to come on air to tell you roads will be fixed, or the movement of the hustle truck this week. When will the PLP tackle the important real priorities and promises made?
    Will you run yet again in the next election and continue to write these opeds and pretend to be working?

  7. Yahoo says:

    Actions speak louder than words Flip Flop.

  8. Rockfish#2 says:

    Wayne,
    You may not be aware of it, but the election is over! In your opinion, is the average Bermudian any better off since the PLP won?

  9. inna says:

    Another campaign-esque op-ed Wayne.

    GOVERN for Christ’s sake !!!!

  10. dondererd says:

    This is just a meaningless feel good piece – it says nothing.

  11. red rose says:

    Did the $15oK minister without portfolio (special responsibility communications, ie … do nothing for a lot of money) write this?

    • Rockfish#2 says:

      Watched a repeat of a television interview this morning. The Minister responsible for communications(Simmons)was a pathetic figure trying to justify this shameful waste of our money on his salary.
      He and W.Brown are surplus to our requirements!

  12. sandgrownan says:

    [Opinion column written by MP Wayne Furbert] …stopped reading right there…..

  13. Jt says:

    When all else fails, start with a quote from the Bible.

  14. Kevin says:

    All the time he was writing this he was hovering around on his angel wings…. Get real Furbert the plp government have not listened to the people they have only heard what they want to hear from those they have completely bamboozled. The people are screaming at the difficulties they have in surviving but what great ideas do we have for expanding the economy….silence …oops almost forgot Fintech yes the Burt’s path to the promise land ….don’t hold your breathe. Tax Tax Tax and spend spend spend thats the plp way …why you say ..its because they have no other way to raise revenue and they surely can’t manage look at government expenses …wages …wasted funds on Browns Pay off and QC’s form the UK and don’t get me going on consultants…..plp please do us a favour and get off the Soap box and get to work or RESIGN

  15. smh says:

    It would be a lot better to hear:

    We won’t stop until the buses are finally running
    We won’t stop until garbage is collected twice a week again
    We won’t stop until our finally get a proper education
    We won’t stop until our economy stops tanking
    We won’t stop until we reduce the size of the civil service
    We won’t stop until we address our increasing debt
    We won’t stop until we address our declining population

  16. Ain’t Happening says:

    Wayne is the government leader against marriage equality. His legislative record proves that. Any use of the word “fairer” by this politician is the height of hypocrisy. Attempting to make a virtue out of exclusion. He has a long record now of playing to the gallery. Enrolling the preserve marriage votes into 25-11.

  17. question says:

    Higher taxes, less services, higher healthcare costs, taxes on food, taxes on imports, taxes on rents, shrinking economy, Burt taking risks with Bermuda’s reputation getting mixed up with fintech people, Zane wants to dismantle the highly successful and effective BTA, PLP/BIU now pretending they were all for the new airport, PLP/BIU now pretending they always wanted people to come and live here, PLP/BIU now pretending they always wanted a pathway to status, no talk whatsoever of reducing government expenditure, plenty of overseas travel, no transparency, new GPO cars, huge payment to former Premier.

    • Ringmaster says:

      Their support base won’t say a word in public against them. If this was the OBA there would be marches, hunger strikes and pepper spraying going on. They will suffer in silence, which equates to the PLP assuming they have the confidence in them. Sooner or later the pain will boil over.

  18. Joe Bloggs says:

    Thank you Sir, but I clearly recall going to a town meeting in St. George 8 or 9 years ago and I got shouted down for being bold enough to ask a sitting Cabinet Minister a question and expecting an answer.

    Your words do not reflect the actions I have seen and experienced.

  19. Mark says:

    The empty drum makes the most noise.

  20. Bermuda inc. says:

    You say you work for the people of Bermuda? You are right and we are firing you please empty your desk security will be up to see you out the door.

    • Ringmaster says:

      If only. Where is the MP recall button that was talked about a few years ago. Of course, won’t happen as they are now the Government.

  21. dick francis says:

    Why do these guys continue to behave like they are in Opposition?!

    • Joe Bloggs says:

      25/11. They can do as they please.

      And it works for them.

  22. smh says:

    It would be a lot better to hear:

    We won’t stop until the buses are finally running
    We won’t stop until garbage is collected twice a week again
    We won’t stop until our finally get a proper education
    We won’t stop until our economy stops tanking
    We won’t stop until we reduce the size of the civil service
    We won’t stop until we address our increasing debt
    We won’t stop until we address our declining population .

  23. dondererd says:

    He dares quote this: “He who is wise listens”

    Did you listen to the people whose human rights you are trying to take away?

  24. aceboy says:

    Does the nice shiny new car for you and your fellow MPs to drive around in represent a fairer better Bermuda?

    Confidence in our government is at an all time low.

  25. Adrienne says:

    The PLP are going to TAX ALL OF US on whatever they think of believe MORE TAXES GOING UP get ready people of Bermuda start buying yr TENTS

  26. Have you no shame man... says:

    Perhaps in the past the old adage if you say it enough it will become truth worked BUT

    This time is different and putting on rosey shaded glasses, like the above spin piece does, will not cut the harsh glare of the ailing Bermuda economy and the pain its causing Bermudians.

    We have set this country on the path of economic malaise–we are to blame.

    The sooner the Gvt realizes it needs some help to re-direct this course of action the better.

    Additional taxes are not the answer.

    TAXATION=DESPERATION.

    Mr. Dickinson, surly you can do better than this no?

    • Toodle-oo says:

      *We have set this country on the path of economic malaise–we are to blame.*

      Speak for yourself (if you’re now that enlightened) I didn’t vote for these nasty incompetents so I bear no responsibility whatsoever .

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        Every Bermudian bears responsibility for the state of Bermuda. To say that everything falls at the feet of the PLP is naive in the extreme. The majority of Bermudians voted for the Government we have (and the Governments we have had in the past) and for that ALL Bermudians bear responsibility.

        • Toodle-oo says:

          Say what you want , blah blah . We are in the mess that we are thanks to the plp and no-one else.
          I didn’t vote for them so it’s no fault of mine . Period.

        • question says:

          That is just nonsense. The people responsible for this are the people who did it. I am not responsible for the idiots who voted for shrinking the economy, discouraging IB, increasing taxes, dragging their feet on work permits, blockading Parliament, threatening every chance of improving the economy. Don’t blame me for the cesspit we find ourselves in. I, for one, and there are many like me, had nothing to do with it.
          These rent taxes should impact everyone who pays rent. They voted for it, they should participate fully in getting what they wanted.

    • Bermuda inc. says:

      He wants an AC of his own.

  27. Me says:

    Which party is he the leader of now ? Confused ?

    • Joe Bloggs says:

      Which party is he a member of?

      Wayne was Minister of Transport under the UBP. Then he joined the OBA. Now he is junior finance Minister under the PLP.

      Julian Hall did not flip flop that much! And Wayne is no Julian Hall!

  28. Rotten Onion says:

    No way flip flop wrote this

  29. Paul says:

    The flip floppers from the U.B.P. are only in politics to avoid a real job …
    The talk around the Island is Zane Desilva, is the best choice for the future Premier of Bermuda..

  30. Triangle Drifter says:

    What a load of drivel! A good dose of sweet pablum for the followers to lap up. The first line is a quote from the Bible like that is supposed to make him credible. Good grief!

  31. Question says:

    Furbert still thinks he can tax us into prosperity and that “strong immigrstion policies” will expand the economy. He is a dinosaur. He thinks Chavez is an economic genius.

  32. vote no more says:

    Again nothing from their own supporters, sounds like the tides getting ready to change,
    Meanwhile on the plane.