Hashtag: #LarryBurchallColumns
Column: Burchall On “‘Tis The Season”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] To most of us, we’re in the Christmas season. I was reared in the Christian faith and tradition, so I and my family observe Christmas. To those who follow the new tradition of Kwanzaa or who follow the older Jewish or Muslim traditions, then like me, you’ll celebrate within your own tradition. With an... Read more of this article
Column: “Three Wise Men Came To Bermuda”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] As Christmas approaches, we recall the story of the three wise men. In late November, Three Wise Men came to Bermuda. They were the Three Wise Men of the Fiscal Responsibility Panel. Unlike those three wise men of old, our Three Wise Men [TWM] had only one offering. Also unlike the biblical three, our TWM... Read more of this article
Column: “Continuing High-Level Incompetence”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] The recent Auditor General’s Report covers the Financial Years [FY] 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12. It is 305 pages long. I have read and digested that report. Within those 305 pages there are many examples and references, by the Auditor General, to financial mis-management, uncorrected errors in payments,... Read more of this article
Recalling The Bermudian Soldier Buried In Italy
[Written by Larry Burchall] Devonshire man and son of Ms Elvira Baxter of Devonshire, 21-year-old Pte Baxter W C joined the Bermuda Militia Infantry in 1943. With 100 other black Bermudian volunteers he shipped out as part of a battalion of the 1st Caribbean Regiment and was sent to Italy. The unit arrived in Italy around the time of the epic Battle... Read more of this article
Column: Maintaining Our Bermudian Traditions
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] At the recently held Bermuda Tattoo, the Bands of the Jamaica Defence Force played Jamaican music. In their repertoire and style, they showed that Jamaican culture had evolved from the 1960’s Independence era of heavily British influenced style into a solid all-Jamaican style. Jamaican composers, Jamaican... Read more of this article
Column: Bermuda’s Special “Hurricane Spirit”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] There is such a thing as “Hurricane Spirit” for Bermudians. As with Fabian [2003] and Gonzalo [2014], that spirit was there again for Joaquin. It’s a general national spirit of cooperation and understanding coupling with a real sense that us lot share a common danger and that by collaborating and cooperating... Read more of this article
Column: Looking At The Airport Figures
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] On this Airport scheme, with nicknames, accusations, and “no numbers” whizzing or not whizzing about, let’s get to basic figures. One: There are real numbers. The numbers exist now. The numbers are set out in Government’s own published accounts: “Approved Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the... Read more of this article
Column: Burchall On Looking Forward Until 2017
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] After six years of decline [2009 to 2014], Bermuda’s isolated and unique economy is bound to uptick marginally. Even if only, as now, from general price rises and reductions [some fuels]. Between January 2015 and December 2017, I anticipate that general price rises/reductions, a push from ACBDA, and a nudge... Read more of this article
Column: Debt ‘Redline Day’ Three Years Closer
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] In early February 2015, months before the Minister for Finance announced the $200 million two year Loan Facility from Butterfield Bank, I wrote that we should not go borrowing again. After all, we had just borrowed $800 million in 2013. I saw that we had failed to grab control of spending and the future national... Read more of this article
Column: Next Time You See “Ottie” Thank Him
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] You’ll often see him walking around town. When you do, you should stop him and thank him. Why? Because without the fight that he led, you would not be enjoying this Labour Day weekend, nor would you have things like vacation pay, health care, paid holidays, old age pension benefits, and the five day workweek. Back... Read more of this article
Column: Recalling Militia & Rifles Amalgamation
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] On September 1st 1965, when the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Rifles amalgamated, I was there. Well, not actually in Warwick camp in uniform. But on that day, I was – or had been – a Corporal in the all-black Bermuda Militia Artillery. The actual passing of daylight hours meant little as... Read more of this article
Column: Airport Project ‘Badly Unbalanced Trade’
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] With this $200 million two year Loan Facility the Bermuda Government has just dragged all of us lot deeper into the quagmire that the Bermuda Government self-dug between 2004 and now. If the Bermuda Government succeeds in dragging all the rest of us even further into its self-made muck, this country won’t... Read more of this article
Column: The Beginnings Of Cup Match In 1835
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] Cup Match’s history gives insights into old Bermuda while showing much about modern Bermuda. Originally, Cup Match involved only black Bermudians. It started in August 1835 with recently freed black Bermudian slaves taking an unofficial day off work to celebrate their August 1st 1834 Emancipation. Taking... Read more of this article
Column: ‘Secret Of Disappearing Bermudians’
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] I have discovered a national secret that is so secret that not even the Government seems to know about it. So please make sure that no Government person sees you reading this! You just might get hit with a summons or a writ and find yourself being dragged into Supreme Court. If you choose to read on, close... Read more of this article
Column: Loan Is ‘Major Financial, Political Event’
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] That $200 million Loan Facility that the Minister for Finance announced today is a major financial and political event. It is also a slick way to fix a short-term dilemma without having any impact on the mid-term problem and does absolutely nothing about the long-term situation. What, exactly, are the financial... Read more of this article
Opinion Column: “There Is No Fairy Longtail”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] I’m finding that the America’s Cup, AC17, has much in common with belief in a Fairy Longtail. Seems to me that, led by the Government, most of Bermuda has begun believing that AC17 will end the recession and rescue us from the clutches of those evil Foreign lenders. If all the $930 million of Direct Inward... Read more of this article
