Kim Swan on Employment Poll Numbers

Leader of the Opposition Kim.Swan has commented on recent employment polls conducted by the Royal Gazette [link], his full statement follows below:

The poll numbers on employment serve to substantiate what everyone knows – that thousands of Bermudians are suffering economic hardship. The challenge for us as a community is to do what we can for those who need help.

As the Opposition Party in Parliament, we have been deeply critical of the Government’s failure to properly plan for the recession, when the signals showed it was heading our way. We have also been sharply critical of its reckless spending that drained tens-of-millions of dollars from the public purse.

The harsh reality is that the PLP Government and in particular its Finance Minister have badly weakened the government’s ability to support families in these tough times, whether through job-creation projects or additional social support. It did not save during the fat years, and has little left to help people when they need help most.

The bad economy is hurting our people more than ever and by extension setting the stage for a dismal winter – these poll results are a clear indicator of that point.

Comments on Poll Results:

1] “Polls that were conducted for us have said that out of people questioned, 1 in 10 had lost their job or 9%.”

• Response: This represents a huge/significant percentage of Bermudian people that we need to take seriously. Given the social threat created by the illegal drug trade and gang culture – growing unemployment compounds these matters. The illegal drug business is a culture rippling through our society and our families – we must seriously address the growing numbers of unemployed or else these problems could easily be further compounded. The economic position is worst than the Government is admitting to and the problem we face is the potential more businesses closures over slow winter period.

2] “1/3 of people questions said they were financially worse that they were last year. “

• Response: This is a serious indictment on the governments handling of the economy and its financial indiscipline. The chickens have come home to roost and people are suffering because of government wastefulness, extravagance and poor governance.

3] “1/3 of people who had lost a job have found a new one.”

• Response: This is startling percentage, because what is really being said is 2/3 of people who lost a job can’t find a new one. That is tragic and socially unhealthy. This country is at a tipping point where the policies and governance of the plp government have failed us. In addition, we must also consider that – of the people who found new jobs – a lot have had to settle for less than what they had before. Hence, many are struggling.

Unfortunately, my colleagues have been “stone walled” when asking Parliamentary questions on employment statistics, which would have illuminated these numbers a lot sooner. Fact is that a lot of Bermudians are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.

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