Kim Swan: Job Losses & Shrinking Paycheques
[Written By Kim Swan, Opposition Leader] Bermuda over the next months faces its toughest economic challenge since the Second World War. This is already evident in serious job losses and shrinking paycheques that are making life difficult for many families. It is also evident in declining performances in virtually all sectors of the economy.
Most troubling is the declining state of our international business sector, the only engine left in the economy that can power Bermuda out of recession. For a variety of reasons, it is shedding jobs through outsourcing, many of which have been held by Bermudians, and it is no longer generating job growth that has helped sustain and grow the economy.
The Chamber of Commerce, for example, has reported that 3,500 work permits have been lost since 2007. These losses represent a massive negative impact on the economy.
People across Bermuda understand and feel the seriousness of our economic plight, yet the Government continues to treat the matter as a political threat rather than a national threat. Indeed, in its Throne Speech, in the face of growing joblessness and no signs of a turnaround, it told Bermudians we were in a post-recession climate, with recovery at hand. This, to our minds, was deliberately misleading – a real failure of leadership.
Our fear is that the Government does not want to own up to the depth and extent of the problems that have developed on its watch; problems it made worse by carelessly spending too much of the public purse while failing to plan for tough times.
What the Government needs first and foremost is the courage to see and acknowledge what is happening to this once miraculous economy and to own up to its record, which – let’s face it – has been a slow motion disaster.
We need honesty and truth. If we start with that then we can at least begin to address current realities.
For a start, then, we call on the Finance Minister, as quickly as possible, to provide Bermuda with an accurate picture of the unemployment situation. It is inexcusable that the island is being deprived of critical economic information that can help us navigate these stormy waters.
Government, businesses and the people need qood-quality information so that Bermuda can make the best plans for the months ahead.
Bermudians are only slowly realizing that the party is over. This year you had better be happy if your job is important enough for your employer to keep. Hard decisions have to be made. I’ll bet the folks at Smiths & Triminghams never thought their jobs would be gone.
The Government has yet to acknowledge is failure to heed warnings from years ago & take steps to soften the blow. It was spend spend spend. Party party party.
During the past few years & have done some extensive traveling of the US & Canada. I never stayed at hotels so my source of news was over the air local TV invariably giving local news. Time & time again there were stories of town budgets being cut up to 35%. Services were cut or discontinued. Town department heads told, “This is all you are going to get. Deal with it.” That kind of financial hardball is not even being contemplated by Bermudas Government. They keep babbling something about hope & blaming globel recession on a $100,000.00 per day interest fees they played a very large part in creating.
Keep at em Kim & Bob.
Dont you mean to say;
Keep bobbin at em Kim?
Kim,
Your statement demonstrates the UBP’s inability to actually present any viable suggestions or resolutions that may create new businesses, new job opportunities and increased paychecks.
Instead you have just highlighted the following acknowledgements:
1.A declining economy.
2.Job reduction.
3.Decreased paychecks.
4.Government providing misleading information.
5.Lack of leadership from Government.
6.Government’s denial regarding the Bermuda economy.
7.Government’s lack of financial planning.
8.Government’s need to be honest and truthful.
9.That the Finance Minister provide an honest picture of the unemployment situation.
The above was a summary of your statement. Now provide to the public, the information that would provide a road map indicating how the UBP would reverse the above. Most importantly, show us how you would create and deliver new businesses, job opportunities that will increase the takehome paycheck.
Bet you don’t have a plan but just offering cheap political rhetoric as the role of the opposition.
If you can’t produce “Turn Out The Lights”
Why aren’t you asking the party with ALL of the power to do these things? Very odd
Sara,
I responded to the Opposition Leader’s press statement. If you are the spokes person representing Kim, then you provide the following information:
1. A road map indicating how the UBP would reverse the above.
2. Most importantly, show us how you would create and deliver new businesses, job opportunities that will increase the takehome paycheck.
Otherwise “Turn Out The Lights”
I think this is a job for the current powers that be, not the ones who have no way of doing anything. I am no spokes person for Kim Swan, LOL. Not even close to a UBP supporter.
Sara,
Sara,
To be frank and honest I don’t care what you think. My questions are addressed to the Opposition Leader or spoke person in reference to the press statement. I believe that he should be able to offer some solutions to support his criticisms and observations. Also I believe Kim has the right to express what was printed in the his press release and I have no problem with that.
“Not even close to a UBP supporter”.(Don’t care, your affiliation with any group or your views are irrelevant to my objective)
Cheers
Chin up and Turn Of The Lights.
Cheers to you too. The UBP is no longer a viable option and will never be re-elected, so what would be the point of them coming up with solutions only to fall on deaf ears?
Ah look, another non-reply from a PLP supporter.
The question here isn’t what the UBP/BDA/whoever else would do. It’s about what the GOVERNING PARTY would do, or plan to do. There seems to be no question that they will be in power for at least a few years, so the road map is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, and they have shown no indication that they have the faintest idea how to reverse the current situation.
(not Sara, btw)
“Dragging” – - you are barking up the wrong tree! You need to re-address your inquiry. Why would you be asking Kim to find a solution? Last time I checked, he wasn’t in power. It’s NOT HIS JOB to solve this mess. You’re asking him for a “roadmap” but he’s NOT THE ONE DRIVING! You asking him for a solution is like asking the weather man how he, himself, plans to fix the rain shortage – IT IS NOT HIS JOB! Kim is merely stating facts – which I applaud. Why has our current government not kept us informed of the severity of these issues? We are really in a sad state but they keep telling us we are fine – that is unacceptable – plain and simple! THEY need to outline THEIR plan, THEIR roadmap out of this huge pothole! We’re waiting…..
myopinion,
Kim was stating cheap political rhetoric and as Triangle Drifter would say “To keep his Kool Aid swallowers in place” remember Jamestown,
Guyana.
If you want to lead this country provide viable solutions to support your criticism. Otherwise, take your rants and ravings elsewhere and “Turn Out The Lights”
Now you go and find a tree to bark up.
Cheers
“Dragging” – I think you need to “Turn the Lights ON” and re-read the article. He is stating FACTS, not political rhetoric. FACTS are FACTS. You cannot dispute his facts – he didn’t make those stats up – didn’t pull them out of thin air! He didn’t write the THRONE SPEECH, he didn’t guess that 3500 work permits were lost, he didn’t fabricate the joblessness numbers…
He’s not the one serving the Kool-Aid…our current government is. Instead, he woke me up from my Kool-Aid stupor and pointed out facts that our government was not sharing with us.
And to quote you: “If you want to lead this country provide viable solutions to support your criticism. Otherwise, take your rants and ravings elsewhere…” How about the people currently “leading” this country come up with the viable solutions? Isn’t that THEIR job? Isn’t that what THEY were elected to do? Isn’t that what THEY get paid to do?
Again, thank you to Kim Swan for shedding some light on the severity of our current state. PLP, your turn……….still waiting.
myopinion,
The weather has been lousy but thanks to Bernews for providing the opportunity for us to enjoy a wonderful day sharing different opinions without any hostility. Ha Ha Ha
Cheers and best Wishes to you.
We’ll probabaly meet again. I’ve noticed that the (LOL)original is back.
Welcolme back LOL original, hope this time you are not so bitter.
Drag
Just trying to balance your therapy remember to……….
LOL
How many times has Kim swan & Bob Richards said over the years. CUT SPENDING, CUT TERM LIMITS, CUT SPENDING, CUT TERM LIMITS, CUT SPENDING, CUT TERM LIMITS, CUT SPENDING, CUT TERM LIMITS, CUT SPENDING, Here are some more VIABLE! solutions from the UBP, CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING, I could go on and on.
Bob Richards said 3 years ago to cut spending and was dismissed as scaremongering. Well, we’re all feeling it now, aren’t we? Sometimes words mean little, people need to feel a swift kick in the ass before something sparks between the ears. Well Bermuda, bend over, time to take the licks that were warned 3 years ago.
OMG U are spot on with your response to Mr. Swan’s statement and that is why UBP will NEVER become the Government of choice EVA!!! lol!!!!
Exactly, so WHY are people asking for them to do the PLP’s job by coming up with solutions to Bermuda’s problems instead of asking their own party? I find that insane! For the record, a small minority opposition such is the UBP’s only job is too call the current government out on what they are doing wrong. That is politics and it WILL not change ever You are wasting your time asking a party that will never be re-elected to come up with solutions.
Maybe the PLP should ask for the UBP’s advice if they want to know how to help the country, bring that they were trying to warn the PLP train years before the economy went sour that things were going to get bad. Did anyone in the PLP listen to them? NO!!!
Well said. I’d love to be able to pay my bills, and I’m lucky enough to have a job. (Right now, knock on wood.) It would be nice to see our government (and the finance minister under which most of this happened….wait…that’s the now premier, one who ought to set the example) accept some responsibility for the state we’re in, or give some indication that they’ve acknowledged it and plan to change something.
Somewhat related: What’s with Belco’s fuel adjustment charge going up on December 1, anyway? Thought they said they weren’t going to do that.
Hear Hear Dragging A Lure -
Thats always been the problem with Kim and Bob – always bashing – and NOT a single solution…Tell us what you would do as government. Do more of that. Less rhetoric. The truth be told..the UBP seriously lacks the intellectual capital to offer any viable solutions to the current mess. I feel this same way about the PLP leadership, dont get me wrong. Michael Fahy continues to impress me with his delivery of real solutions…Now if we could get all three to work together to offer, implement and manage the way out of this disaster – a fully bipartisan approach – then we will survive….who cares how we got here now? We are here -lets get out together. We all have a vested interest.
“who cares how we got here now”
If we’re interested in not repeating the mistakes made in the past, we need to care who, because are we going to keep voting for those WHO got us in this mess to begin with? And the same WHO that clearly have no clue how to get us out of the mess? We need to know exactly WHO got us where we are, and then make sure those WHOS aren’t elected to do more damage.
It’s pretty obvious that Bermuda is going nowhere very fast because we’re all so busy supporting the political parties like it’s our favorite football team. WAKE UP BERMUDA!!! This is politics, not Arsenal playing Manchester freakin United!! Get past the blind party support and THINK!!
And note, just like the UBP, Arsenal does not stand a chance!
At least arsene wenger runs an honest team and is well respected.
Wenger is a moaner! Don’t get me started. He is good at kicking water bottles though!
O.k. It’s just about football for you!
Lol yup sorry sometimes life is just to short to be serious all of the time.
Thats what I try to tell Dragging all the time. Next time I’ll see if I can change my avatar to PLP green he might listen then…………….
LOL
“. The truth be told..the UBP seriously lacks the intellectual capital to offer any viable solutions to the current mess.”
411- Do you realize how odd this sounds? The UBP are the ones that TOLD the PLP a train wreck of economy was coming and to cut spending fast and the PLP dismissed it a racial rhetoric! Now I don’t support the UBP, but I do support facts and this is a fact that was stated many times over. So, now tell me who doesn’t have the intellectual capacity for the mess? Perhaps the very people that got us into this mess? I think that makes a heck of a lot more common sense than what you have stated.
I have some road maps….people may not like it…but it will save dollars!!! Governement needs to show cost savings in-house before taxing the people!
Effectively immediately….
Travel oversees must meet a certain stringent criteria for all gove employees…with the help of webinars and the internet…personal development, etc can be done via video conferencing etc
All ministers and gov employees flying oversees for busines will travel economy…maybe business class….Hotels must be cost $200 per night or less…All expense reports should be available to the tax payer
Instead of paying enourmous amounts for rent in properties in prime real estate areas…Government will purchase some buildings back of town to renovate and house operations there…which will pump money into the local economy…add St Georges to that too
No food allowed at governmental meetings…zip, zero, zilch….coffee only! Folks need to be awake at the meeting
Use the prisoners (non violent offenders) and the farm to do manual labor and some sort of industry that will assist in cost reduction of their housing and maybe cost payroll savings from another ministrie’s budget (Parks, W&E etc)
there’s more…we just need to think like corporates and outside of the box…it can be done…no one will like all the suggestions, but if government makes some cost saving measures and sticks to them and save money…you’ll at least have respect.
make BDA college only free to those that are actually taking 100 level courses (college level). Why are we waisting money on kids/adults that leave secondary school and are taking prep courses cause they haven’t made the cut????
Invest in salary increases for male teachers….the Ministry is overly Femine and our boyz need positive role models to help them be more productive in society….
I’m with you down to the last two, and not opposed to those. Good points, I would hope someone in the PLP is reading this.
“To be frank and honest I don’t care what you think.” That pretty well sums up what the heads in the sand PLP Kool Aid have to say in response to anything that they don’t want to hear.
Sorry, but the PLP & its supporters got us into this financial sewer. They won’t admit that they did it. They certainly do not have a plan on how to get out of it. That should surprise no one. Look around the ranks of the PLP. The expertise simply is not there. Whats worse they won’t listen to the economists, free or paid, trying to feed advise.
Anywhere else people who would otherwise be PLP supporters, would be protesting in the streets. A shame. Here on the New Plantation the fear is that if they speak out or are seen by the PLP Gestapo, they will find their car tires slashed, or worse.
Triangle Drifter,
It must be cold where you are or is it Arizona, did’nt you leave Bermuda just after the 1998 election or wish you did? Oh how I wish for the good ole days. Ha ha ha
Come on, Spew you Know What Out- Ha Ha Ha
Right on cue DAL. Is that the best response you could come up with?
Who would want to go back to the good old days? life is soo much better in Bermuda now. I mean 3000 jobs lost in the past year. Tourism pretty much non existent. Gang wars. Students graduating who cannot even fill out an employment application. A billion dollar debt. IB companies quietly slipping away. A Government that admits behaving in an unethical but not illegal manner.
Life is great.
Please don’t send us back to overemployment. A robust tourism industry. IB welcomed into Bermuda every day. A Government that operated within budgets.
Lord help us. Who would want to go back to those days?
TD what do you expect from a over the hill foagy like Trollin. I sure his house is paid for so he could give a s$%# about what the youth have to deal with. Go PLP all the way KOOL AID for every body. HHAHAHAHAH…………..
LOL
Trolling how the TEA PARTY the PLP is throwin
Triangle Drifter,
Gimme a Break.
For every thing that you just mentioned there is an opposite. Look around you and see how the past was molded. The good ole days. Ditto
Cheers
Really? List them then. Where are these opposites you speak of which have offset the failures of the PLP to properly manage the economic and progressive social engine they inherited from the UBP?
Have we seen a net reduction in national debt – no.
Have we seen a net improvement in our social fabric – certainly not.
Have we seen an increase in transparency and accountability – not on your life.
Kim,
Are these the folks that you sent out to spread the message on how you would provide the following:
1. A road map indicating how the UBP would reverse the above.
2. Most importantly, show us how you would create and deliver new businesses, job opportunities that will increase the takehome paycheck.
If they are representing you and the UBP they are really pathetic and their responses = E-.
The type of UBP disciples that responded to Drag will guarantee the UBP’s failure as destined.
Drag
Wasn’t it the people just like you calling for the demise of the UBP about 3 years ago, and wasn’t it people like you who said the UBP will NEVER be re-elected? So WHY are you asking them to do ANYTHING?
Darrgging is just off his meds again happens with old age………
LOL
Draggin and Terry sould meet up I bet they would enjoy each others company…
LOL
Ok. So your non-response to listing these “opposites” confirms your baseless remarks. Oh to be so sublimly discombobulated.
Wish you all would go back to BIAW….jingus.
What happened Rummy? Feeling left out in the cold? LOL
Who the hell is ‘Kim’…….
Oh shucks…yah yah Kim Swan. The way you guys write, I had to read it ten times because I saw no comments from Kim except what Bernews posted but you BIAW gang can figure that out…right?