Hashtag: #VicBallColumns
Column: Vic Ball On Political Dissent & More
[Opinion column written by Vic Ball] “The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.” Turkish Proverb It is very rare that I would write a follow up piece to one of my opinion pieces, however, this is one time when I feel... Read more of this article
Column: Biden’s Comments, Business & More
[Opinion column written by Vic Ball] US President Joe Biden recently attacked Bermuda in his first speech at the joint session of Congress on April 28, 2021. He is now added to the long list of US Presidents who have criticized our island for sheltering US corporations from paying their fair share of federal taxes to the American treasury. His exact... Read more of this article
Column: Vic Ball On Vaccinations, Politics, More
[Opinion column written by Vic Ball] When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw. Nelson Mandela The Government has one of the biggest challenges that it could ever face. The leadership style that they have used to win elections is finally knocking on their door asking difficult and challenging... Read more of this article
Column: Vic Ball On Unions, Politics & More
[Opinion column written by Vic Ball] “If this was the OBA government that was making these kinds of inconsistent decisions and practicing double standards that discriminated against Bermudians, it would have sparked an island-wide outcry...” Chris Furbert, April 2021 I am going to do something that I have not seen happen very much in our country.... Read more of this article
Column: ‘Situation Could Have Been Avoided’
[Opinion column written by Vic Ball] How can you be sitting there telling me that you care, when every time I look around, the people are suffering in every way, everywhere. Bob Marley We all feel it. There is a high level of fear, anxiety, concern and trepidation in our country. What puzzles me is why Bermudians are not angry, when they have so many... Read more of this article
Column: Moving Our Island & Economy Forward
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] Bermuda is moving through a period of economic stimulation. There are many projects that are ongoing or are about to commence which promise to revitalize the economy through the creation of jobs. It was this Government’s promise to rebuild our island economy and bring jobs and careers back to our home.... Read more of this article
Column: Bermuda’s Steadily Improving Economy
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] It is important that we take time to reflect not only on where we are as a country, but also where we were and where we are going. It is easy to forget the past and to be consumed with the present that we cannot see what the future holds. As a freshman Senator in November, 2014, Bermuda was in economic survival... Read more of this article
Column: Effort To Rebuild Bermuda’s Tourism
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] I know the Bermuda Tourism Authority is expressing cautious optimism about its excellent 2016 First Quarter tourist arrival figures. I understand why they’re cautious – it’s just the first quarter after all and one doesn’t want to get ahead of oneself. But I’m an optimist who doesn’t need to... Read more of this article
Column: $200M Fishing Is ‘Pie-In-Sky Dream’
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] In his Reply to the 2015 Throne Speech, Marc Bean once again recommended offshore fishing as a way of diversifying Bermuda’s economy. He said, “We support investment in the Blue Economy, with an initial emphasis on offshore fishing within our EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone]. Based on the quotas allocated... Read more of this article
Column: ‘Investment Is Returning To Our Shores’
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] “Bermuda’s six-year recession is over.” So said Bermuda College Economics Senior lecturer, Craig Simmons last week following the release of the August Retail Sales Index [RSI]. The RSI measures the volume of retail activity in Bermuda, which rises and falls according to the amount of money people have,... Read more of this article
Column: Effort To Protect Personal Information
[Opinion column written by Senator Vic Ball] Suddenly, and largely because of the growth of online commerce and the internet, protection of your right to keep your personal information private is a hot topic around the world. One of the ways people are fighting back against criminals, hackers, mischief-makers, and people who are just plain careless... Read more of this article
Column: Vic Ball On Union & Govt. Relationship
[Opinion column written by OBA Senator Vic Ball] At the recent Labour Day Banquet, Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU] President Chris Furbert said: “…the Minister of Home Affairs… has taken five of the Unions to court to seek a final injunction restraining the Unions from future industrial action.” Sounds like the Minister is trying to deny the... Read more of this article
Opinion: Senator Ball On Job-Seekers Skills
[Opinion column written by OBA Senator Vic Ball] Bermuda was once the envy of the world with our over-employment. It was not uncommon for a worker to be able to walk off one job in the morning and get another job in the afternoon. Some of us had two or three jobs at a time. However, Bermuda is suffering from an economic crisis. It was caused by a combination... Read more of this article
Ball: ‘Getting Bermuda Out Of Economic Crisis’
[Opinion column written by OBA Senator Vic Ball] After reviewing both the Budget and the Reply to the Budget 2015/16, I can admit there are good points in both. However, my strong view is that the budget produced by the Finance Minister, the Hon E T Bob Richards, has the better approach to dealing with the fiscal responsibility of Bermuda over the next... Read more of this article
Sen. Ball: BTUC & Members Should Reconsider
[Opinion column written by OBA Senator Vic Ball] The Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC] and its members should reconsider the question of whether to agree to one furlough day per month or make some compromise related to the number of furlough days to be considered by its members. The trouble Bermuda is in is not an issue that should be fought out between... Read more of this article
