UBP: ‘Island Faces Economic Emergency’
Bermuda faces a “national economic emergency” unless urgent remedial action is taken, Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards said at a press conference yesterday [Jan. 20].
Mr. Richards said in the lead-up to the 2011 Budget, the onus was on Government to both curtail public spending and help re-position Bermuda so it can regain its competitive edge as an attractive domicile for overseas investors.
“We are experiencing widespread joblessness and facing long-term unemployment,” said Mr. Richards. “Whole sectors of the economy are in jeopardy. The situation is dire.”
“Bermuda is on the cusp of a national economic emergency and our concern is that conditions will get worse before they get better.”
The United Bermuda Party MP said the island had not faced such a dire economic situation in more than 60 years and encouraged Government to “grow jobs, grow income and restore confidence” by reducing its own costs, cutting the national debt and overhauling a bureaucratic process he claimed was putting Bermuda at a competitive disadvantage in terms of attracting new business.
“We’ve built up an industry of red tape across decades; built on assumptions that Bermuda needed to control the world coming to it; to prevent it from being overwhelmed,” he said. “It is a regime in which people can’t do anything without permission. Think of the Planning Department and Immigration.
“The need for reform is pressing. We just can’t wait out the recession, thinking everything will then be fine. That would be entirely wrong. In a recession you re-tool so you can emerge from it stronger. There is evidence other jurisdictions are doing just that but here we have not seen any evidence of re-tooling and this is a concern.”
Mr Richard’s full statement follows below:
Ladies and gentlemen,
There has been no time over the past 60 years where Bermuda’s economic outlook has been more serious.
We have witnessed a general deterioration in our economic strengths and contractions in foreign exchange-earning businesses.
We are experiencing widespread joblessness and facing long-term unemployment. Whole sectors of the economy are in jeopardy.
The situation is dire.
Bermuda is on the cusp of a national economic emergency and our concern is that conditions will get worse before they get better.
In two weeks time, the Government will bring forward its 2011-2012 Budget.
There has been no time in recent history where more rests on the leadership and example set by a Bermuda Government than with this upcoming Budget.
And so I want to use this afternoon’s conference to lay down some basic steps we need to
- set this country on a path to recovery,
- secure people’s support for tough corrective measures, and
- provide the government with a better direction than it has shown.
We enter this Budget-building process believing that everyone needs to think first about Bermuda and to do what is necessary to get the Island back on a course that
- grows jobs,
- grows income, and
- restores confidence.
I will speak more about principles to help guide government thinking and hold off on details until our Budget Reply on February 18. I will be brief and then open the floor to questions.
The first principle is
1. Reduce the cost of Government
- Over the past few weeks, we have seen the Government ask workers to agree to overtime pay bans to help get costs under control – to sacrifice for the greater good.
- We believe the Government should not ask workers to lead the way in cost-cutting without first leading them by example. This is an issue of fairness. And so we are calling on the Premier to impose a pay cut for all Government ministers.
A pay cut of 10-15% would signal an all-important commitment to shared sacrifice. It would provide critical leadership by example. Bermuda’s workers should not be made to take the lead in solving problems created by the Government.- We will not support any Government plan that “meets” its $150 million cutback target by cancelling or postponing capital projects that have not yet broken ground or down-the-road spending. If it is serious about curbing its spending habits, the Government must show real reductions and show cuts to current expenditures.
2. Keep Bermuda Working – Stimulate where you can…
The Government can do a lot to stimulate economic activity even though its spending excesses have severely limited its capacity to help people in tough times. For instance, the Government can
- Pay vendors within 30 days
- Direct no less than 20% of what it spends on goods and services to small business. Under current allocations, this could amount to tens of millions of dollars to small businesses, which we know are struggling.
- Fast-track Planning to get jobs-producing projects off the ground.
3. Reduce the debt
- We’ve talked a lot about the debt. It’s a big issue, and we need to see real commitment to debt reduction.
- In that regard, we want this Government to commit to a five-year plan to reduce debt because our debt situation will not be sorted out in a year.
4. Reform Bermuda
- This is perhaps the most important focus. Bermuda has to change the way it does business. The world has changed and we need to change with it.
- We’ve built up an industry of red tape across decades; built on assumptions that Bermuda needed to control the world coming to it; to prevent it from being overwhelmed. It is a regime in which people can’t do anything without permission. Think of the Planning Department and Immigration.
- The need for reform is pressing. We just can’t wait out the recession, thinking everything will then be fine. That would be entirely wrong. In a recession you re-tool so you can emerge from it stronger. There is evidence other jurisdictions are doing just that but here we have not seen any evidence of re-tooling and this is a concern.
Mr. Richards makes a lot of very valid points. The powers that be would do well to consider these ideas.
The morons that call “the peoples show have no idea what Bob is trying to get across…and the host also has no idea !!!!!!
“But but but….It’s the Platinum Period. All of these investors are about to build these new hotels. Bermuda is in a ‘post’ recessionary period.”
The PLP & their parrots will come back & say that Bob Richards is wrong. The fact that he has been right every time about the waste & mismanagement of the PLP Government matters little. The fact that other economists have been singing the same verse of the same song does not matter either.
Lets just stick our heads in the sand & “hope” that all this bad stuff goes away.
Go Bob…Bermuda needs a strong voice to take the current Government to task….
Bob knows whats going on… and Paula needs his help !!!!
Bermuda is indeed at a critical juncture with its economic development and sustainability. Consequently, we need to be collectively more focussed on ‘getting it right’ rather than trying to score political points. In this regard I would challenge MP Richards to do at least 2 things.
The first is to have the confidence to lay out his Bermuda plan for fiscal recovery prior to the February 11 budget day – doing so will show his genuine desire to move Bermuda forward and demonstrate his confidence forethought. The typical practise of responding to the budget statement is reactionary and we need to start doing business a new way (colloquially, it is a cop out).
The second is to be more substantive with his comments. Whilst I accept the symbolic value of a temporary decrease in Ministerial salaries, he clearly cannot preface his remarks about leading by example and then exclude his own MP salary – the comment is clearly self serving. To be clear, if he is calling for a reduction in salaries he should be calling for a decrease in all Parliamentary salaries.
So let me get this straight. You are demanding that Bob Richards (from the OPPOSITION party) spell out his ‘plans for fiscal recovery’…. and PRIOR to the Government (you know- the guys who are in charge, and were voted in to be in control of our budget)??!!
First, I would imagine (as he is recommending the ideas above) that you would take these ideas as part of what he would do, and this of course is not the first recommendations he has made. Remember he had the FORETHOUGHT to make recommendations a while ago that the Government be prepared for the coming recession, to which they all put their hands over their collective ears and said “Lalalalalalalala” then accused him of scare mongering.
Second, it is the job of the Opposition to respond to the Government’s Budget, and they can only do that AFTER it has been presented. If the Government were to present it early they might respond to it earlier, so maybe you would do better to make your demands to the people who control the budget. The GOVERNMENT!
Third, I think EVERYONE, even the new Premier, has said that business needs to be conducted in a NEW way, but only the Government can lead the way in that respect.
My recommendations would be that you put your arguement for doing things differently to the one(s) responsible for putting us in the fiscal shape we are in now.
Do you not think that all avenues have been studied. The PLP are responsible for the economic position we are in. The PLP will make their own decisions regardless of UBP recommendations, FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL. right now if we had a round table conversation with all parties involved, the outcome would be pretty much the same, how to cut costs. Maybe we should concentrate on how to show more respect to our Business community, and how to cut the arrogant outbursts we see on the evening news and radio, almost on a daily basis from a certain minister who has ulterior motives. eyes are always watching! cut spending and clean the stables! Premier.WE ALL have to survive!
not only should MP take a pay cut but also the 300 million a year spent on the war on drugs is a waste..80000 each year for one inmate,bermuda has the 15th highest prison population per head in the world according to kings college of london international center for prisons..look at all the ways money is being wasted on irrational things
I am so amazed that Bermudians are so forgetful. The PLP didnt get us into the triuble that we are in today. Under the watchfuleye of Mr. Richards UBP counterparts, did Bermuda start the downward cycle we are now living today. Let us not forget when the UBP rebuilt the airport, with NO bathrooms and a roof the leaked. Lets NOT forget that they hired the same Canadian firm to build Westgate. Lets not forget that it was the UBP that decided to build Cedarbridge and house a thousand of your children under one roof. So before Mr Richards carries on his solo campaign against the current Government, let him be honest with the people of Bermuda about what his party did for Bermuda, and how much debt and deceipt his colleagues where into.
@ its me.. good point! some of us have short term memories.
I dont think that weve simply forgotten about the hole that the UBP dug us into. Its just that PLP has been in power for a decade now and has done nothing to lift us out of that hole, in fact, they have simply dug us in deeper.
The simple fact of the matter is, this dire situation that Bermuda is in now came about on the PLPs watch, so they must bear the blame.
p.s. Ive always voted PLP and may well do again….. maybe.
brother/sister you go and vote again for the P.L,P.and you will have the same old version of doc Brown…. cause Paula is still a cog in the wheel..and needs someone to to tell her what to do !!!
So forget all that is happening right now in this new decade and the state that we are in, and lets hash out what happened more than 14 years ago! Typical rhetoric… Yes all governments are corrupt and UBP was no exception during their time in power, but the PLP have been driving the bus since 1997.. how are you going to tell me that everything that they have done wrong is a result of the previous government’s doings?!? Get real mate.. i am so amazed that you are so forgetful of all that has gone wrong during this “Platinum Period”!
To say that the PLP did not get us into the trouble we are in is delusional. None of the projects you mentioned were hundreds of millions over budget and their legacy to the PLP was little debt and a thriving International Business sector that is now is tatters thanks to their idiotic policies.. They only pander to their base with no concern for the rest of the island. I would suggest that Bob Richards does not outline his policy as he mentioned on TV “they would not listen to me anyway”. The Westminster form of Government would require that the PLP refute his thoughts and any good suggestions would be wasted. Lets see what your thoughts are when the budget comes out….Any unemployment under the UBP? of course only the Government knows what the unemployment statistics are now….
Yes Bermudians are forgetful & they have very selective memories too.
If you want to pick the day when Bermuda’s Tourism took the death pill look back to a hot July day in 1981 when the hotels were closed down by a strike that had nothing to do with hotel workers & taxi drivers refused to take departing visitors to the airport. The UBP did not order that action.
How is it that a leaky airport roof & no bathrooms is the UBPs fault. looks like a design & enineering problem to me. Westgate design was modified during construction causing increased costs. These costs were NOTHING compared to the Berkley fiasco, still not settled. Cedarbridge was built on time & on budget.
The PLP came to power with a current account surplus courtesy of the UBPs prudent management & a small debt on capital projects. The PLP created debt now costs us $100,000.00 per DAY.
Its Me & Small Biz, keep sucking up that Kool Aid. Hopefully sooner rather than later, you either drown in it or stop drinking.
@ triangle drifter… the PLP and the UBP are at fault in certain areas of their terms at the end of the day. so whats your point??
I still don’t understand this “logic” for the life of me.
The UBP when they lost power left behind a natonal debt of less than $200mn which the late Hon. Eugene Cox maintained until the time of his passing. Within the space of less than half a decade, which has occurred under the PLP’s 13 year reign, the debt has mushroomed to well over a $1bn and rising. We have annual interest payments payable nowadays i/a/o of $25 to 30mn.
But somehow it is the party’s fault that has not held legislative power for over a decade.
Please someone help me understand.
To Tired of nonsense,
A dept is a dept. How did the UBP have a dept of $200,000,000 and did nothing to earn that dept.
Please Explain
Drag,
P.S. Take your BS to the next General Election
While we are on the subject of “Not Forgetting”, lets remember it was the PLP who promised NOT to do the same things as the previous Government. They were going to fix Tourism in 100 days. Capital projects may have been problems in the previous administration, but the PLP took it to a NEW level… complain about Cedarbridge, yet they followed right behind and built Berkeley…. with MASSIVE time and money overruns, along with all the additional issues with contracts etc. Fiscally we were the admiration of the world, but now are in the Sh1t….
It was called “THE NEW BERMUDA”
Um, what was the budget deficit during this time its me? Do you recall those numbers? Thanks.
The PLP and this Premier don’t have the guts to say they have a different economic philosophy than the UBP. Both sides believe there’s only one way to run this economy. I am furious at having to agree with “Bob the Snob” on some things but that’s where the Government has left us. If the only answer the Premier has is to save $150m then we’ll always be susceptible to these issues and will always have to run the economy the way the UBP did: great balance sheet, low taxes on the rich, huge surplus, no social programmes, crumbling infrastructure and occasional interest in helping the less fortunate. All topped off with a culture that makes paying a mortgage for 30 years the ultimate goal ending with your savings paid to keep you in a rest home. If the PLP want to show they’re different then dare to be different. Create a different economy or at least diversify the one we have now. Savings will only get you so far.
To Bernews,
Maybe I have gone sleep at the wheel and missed the turning.(can’t recall if they have admitted the reasons)Can the UBP explain the reasons why, when, how, where and who, put the island millions of dollars in debt when they were Government. Maybe Bernews can investigate.
Cheers
Dragging A Lure
I hate to try to trust the old mmemory but lets see…what capital projects were built in the 90s? There was the airport departures area, Cedarbridge, Tynes Bay?, hospital extensions for starters. I’m sure others can chyme in with more.
And just what does the PLP have to show for 12 years & $1B debt? Not much & nothing anywhere near what it was supposed to cost. They did manage to knock down some stuff & close a couple of golf courses to locals.
They have us in great shape. Just think, if it were not for that $100,000 per day interest charge we could have a brand new ferry every 2 weeks. With the debt the UBP left you would be lucky to buy a rowboat on the interest of 2 weeks debt.
Yeah…they really screwed up didn’t they.
Triangle, rewrite someone else’s record, not the PLP’s. You can’t have it both ways. You and others, Mr. Richards included, criticize the PLP for “overheating” the economy. That means too many projects, too quickly for which they borrowed too much. You can’t overheat something by doing nothing.The whole point is that they have lots to show for it and an empty kitty as a result. 6 fast ferries, Heritage Wharf at Dockyard, Rockaway ferry stop, every dock repaired, every bus air conditioned, TCD has a new building, Berkeley, Hamilton Magistrates Court/Police Station, the new bus terminal in Town, Lamb-Foggo Urgent care Centre, free day care, FutureCare, pension increases for seniors, prescription drug benefits for seniors, $11m to football and cricket, they’ve paved the airport’s runways twice, new tug boat, $26m to affordable housing projects,Sylvia Richardson rest Home, fixed the mold problems at CedarBridge and Whitney……and the list goes on. You can’t ignore the record. Its there for all the world to see. Stick with too much, too fast, too much borrowing. that’s a better argument. Don’t fall into the trap of so many whose anger clouds their reason. Attack the spending, the pace and the borrowing; don’t tell the people all those things listed here don’t exist. They ride them, enjoy them, drive by them every day.Get over it and mount an economic argument not the other kind……you know the one I mean…..often played as a card they say……
**Triangle Drifter** you sound like scorned 40 thief. The death pill of tourism came under the UBP, when the then minister stated that college students would no longer be welcome in Bermuda under his watch. So you stop them coming in their teens/ twenties. Chances are they dont return for their honeymoon, nor come back with their family later on. Do you remember that, or do i need to spell it out for you. What about Education, i guess you want to blame the PLP for the state of our children. Do you realize that the majority of the young Bermudians who are commiting crimes, came through CedarBridge, built UNDER the UBP, yet not one person from the UBP will stand up and take responsibility for a failed education system. As for the current debt, you act like some of it is not justified. Progress comes at a price. I dont know of any civilized country that isnt in debt. You have to spend money to make money, and in Bermuda’s case we have to spend a little more, due to the fact that we don’t manufacture anything. Name one major project that the UBP did that came in not only on time, but on budget. I cant think of one either.
Bermuda is not the only country that is suffering right now. People are travelling less, and have been spending less for the past 10yrs.
The fact that Bermuda has almost half the hotel beds as we did in the 80′s, is because the UBP sold us out. How many properties under the UBP promised us new hotels, after they built condo styled units, and one by one Hotels and Guest houses began to disappear.
Last time i checked, it was the UBP that allowed the huge numbers of cheap foreign labor, which it turn left 100′s of Bermudians displaced from jobs that we did for years.
So please stop with the finger pointing, unless you one of those people who lives in a glass house.
HMMMMMMM, Itsme, you two must be a couple of the Kool Aid drinking delegates who voted in the incompetent Premier/Finance minister that we have today.
Where do I start?
You seem to think that Government spending on an already booming construction industry is good. Strange. All that money on all those migrant construction workers brought in because not enough Bermudians, especially skilled ones, were not available, gone overseas instead of spent here to slosh around the local economy.
Surely Berkley cannot be worn as an accomplishment. Double the budget price. Years behind schedule. Stories of disappearing supplies. Then there is the Court building. It was started BEFORE other major projects in Hamilton, long completed, & it is STILL NOT FINISHED years past promised completion date.
6 overpriced fast ferries: Good job. But wait…there is a rumour that another boat, never seen in Bermuda, was thrown into the deal. Hmmmmmm! Oh yeah, & they only save a few minutes off the mono hull times because of speed restrictions in the harbour due to damaging wake.
A bunch of never used mini buses now sitting rusting away. More special buses for the handicapped totally inappropriate for Bermuda. $200K-$300K each? Could be more.
Unfunded Future Care. No idea how to pay for it. Just an election promise the sheeple gobbled up.
$11 million spent on a bunch of drug taking losers & excuse makers of a football team meanwhile sports where kids are producing results get grants cut. Makes sense to me.
What new tug? They went out & bought a 50 year old harbour tug. It was ‘such a good deal’. It is also totally useless & is nothing but a money pit in repairs & crew salaries as it sits virtually unused.
So-called ‘affordable’ housing projects with construction costing way over the going rate of the private sector. Only one, Loughlands, coming in on time & within budget. No credit to Government on that one. Look who built it. Every one built years later than promised. Southside one is STILL not finished.
We now have a housing surplus. Migrant workers, especially IB, have been chased out. Those who bought homes with rental units are wondering how to pay their mortgages. If you voted PLP last time, who are you voting for next time?
The cleanup costs at Cedarbridge were astronomical. They closed the school & turned off the air conditioning. Of course you are going to get mold in humid Bermuda. How much cheaper would it have been to leave the air on during the summer vacation? Stupidity in an effort to save money.
The rest homes done years behind promised time.
The PLP could not run a sno cone stand on the South Shore on a hot summer day.
It is not a Governments resposiblity to send kids to school each day with a good attitude to learn. That resposibility belongs to the parents…both of them. How many kids are single parented. How many have a single parent/parents who don’t have a clue of how to be a parent? Decades ago who advocated “fronicating in the bushes” to breed voters for their party? Is it no surprise that we have what we have today? It is not from lack of money thrown at education. $4000 per student per year MORE than Saltus fees.
Better check again with the timing & which party was in power for all the hotels to condo deals, starting with Palmetto Bay AFTER the PLP came to power. Just more examples on non business people who do not know how to conduct business. You can’t expect any better.
Better check again when huge numbers of accomodation propertys literally disappeared from Bermudas map. We have lost well over half of them during the PLP years, particularly in the last 5 years.
Finally, Bermudians displace themselves from jobs. Bermuda is NOT another world. We have to compete. If businesses cannot compete they go out of business i.e. NO jobs at all. Look around. See how many accomodations & retail no longer exist. There will be more this year. Hotels compete with other destinations. Most have very cheap unskilled labour which is very productive. Housekeeping staff in Mexico do not drive around in a SUV. It is going to get tougher.
In a few years Cuba will reopen to Americans. They will flock there.
There is a serious need for a change of attitude here. Nothing new there. That was brought out in the Competitiveness Commisson in the early 90s & the Monitor Group later on.
This is a good post and you should feel good.
Triangle – I am with you all the way. However, many Bermudians still don’t get it, don’t realize what is happening, and still think everything will be magically OK any minute now.
There may be a recovery, but not before it has got a lot worse. Many Bermudians are simply not prepared for this because they are not financially solvent. I’d guess that over 50% of Bermudians are essentially worthless – their assets do not cover their liabilities. Sure they’ve got a nice big sports utility tank in their driveway – but it ain’t gonna pay the rent – or the loan you still have on said tank.
The weekly nail jobs you get at $100 a pop when you only make $500 a week. Need I go on?
To: Triangle Drifter,
After all of that irelevant chatter, now tell us how the UBP got Bermuda into a $200,000,000 debt. Let’s see you spell-it-out.
Cheers
Drag
Drag, if you think all that triangle drifter had to say is “irrelevant chatter”, it would make no sense continuing any kind of discussion with you. Why don’t YOU tell us, in as much detail, how the UBP got us into debt!
Thankyou Outsider. I didn’t plan to. There are those who are best ignored if they cannot come up with anything better than a childish response.
Triangle he is retired probly under the UBP something the rest of us will not be able to do at his age. Oh and for reference the guy who company built the airport under the UBP is now with the PLP irony at its best…………………..
LOL
You guys just need to ignore DAL…
He has stated numerous times that his only intention is to deflect and distract from any negative comments/crticisms regarding the PLP…
He has stated several times that he is not going to provide any intelligent or thought out responses to crticisms that are even valid…
Don’t expect him to answer or provide any rebuttalls in an intelligent manner. He doesn’t retain that ability. He demands constantly that critics provide a “road map” to recovery but doesn’t have the ability to do the same and truthfully he doesn’t worry as his life is coming to an end and thus the economy will be his grandkid’s worry.
In other words DON’T FEED THE TROLL!!!! It is a waste of his and your time.
To:Tired of nonsense,
Looks like you’re taking up the cause:
Let’s see you answer the unintelligent question.
How did the UBP manage to incur a $200,000,000 for Bermuda?
Did the auditor general find any problems back then?
To Sara,
Who said anything about the auditor general and problems. I’m asking about the justification of Bermuda having a debt of $200,000,000 under the UBP Government.
Cheers
Drag
To: Outsider,
Thanks for the reply,
At least you have the courage to admit and not deny that the UBP were responsible for incurring a $200,000,000 debt when they managed the economy of this country.
My question to you and others;
How did the UBP incur that debt?
Also assist Bros.Triangle Drifter by encouraging him to stop acting so selfish and share the information with me and other readers, by providing the details that explains Bermuda’s $200,000,000 debt when the UBP were government of this country.
What are you all hiding?
Ha Ha Ha
Drag
Not 1bn in debt with something like 800,000.00 unaccounted for ……………………………………………
LOL
i dont understand this urge for where 200m debt came from?? Yeah there was 200mn debt.. but why do you seem to be justifying 1b debt by trying to say ubp had 200mn debt? You’re acting as if waking a bad thing, multiplying it by 5, is ok? because it was bad before, it doesnt matter if its worse?
if you know the answer to this question you’ve posted 5 or 6 times, then please enlighten us, but then let us know why it matters, and why 1b debt is not extremely worse then 200m? The govt said they would do things better then ubp, and in many (especially this regard) have only enhanced the problem.
DAl is trying to incinuate that Bermuda had no infrastructure before and that all public projects which have benefitted the “people” have been completed under the PLP reign. Thus he is trying to incinuate that the $200mn debt was incurred not due to spending on BDA’s infrastructure but due to corruption.
Because as everyone knows Bermuda had no hospital, roads, National Stadiums, incinerators, affordable housing projects (i.e. Boaz Island, Ducks Puddle etc), airport refurbishments, school buildings or any other normal infrastructure until the PLP came into power and brought Bermuda into the modern age…
Tired of nonsense,
It’s a long process but I think I’m making progess. Only thing is, I’ve haven’t suggested anything that incinuates wrong doings but only trying find out the justifications for having a 2mn dept incurred by the UBP. Check all of my posts. Keep talking and don’t let any guilt creep in the conversations, just facts.
I wish for the good ole days.
drag
Scott,
It is extremely important to know how the $200,000,000 debt was justified under the UBP. (5,6 or 7. you count). Lessons learned. You have a problem with me and others wanting to know? Too bad!! You all seem to know why there is a $1,000,000,000 debt under the PLP but don’t have the courage to explain the 2MN. I believe that 2MN debt 12 years ago is valued at 1BN in today market. So explain your justification.What are you hiding?
Cheers
Drag
Any figures to back up the “2MN debt 12 years ago is valued at 1BN in today market.” claim? Or is it just your “belief” (read: “actually something I made up, but if I phrase it this way, a)it sounds a bit like something that’s true and b) is vague enough that I can back down if I’m called on it”)?
What I’m curious about is why you’re asking… no, DEMANDING… that regular citizens answer the questions about the $200m debt (which I’m not even sure is true. Wasn’t there a $270m surplus in 1998?).
If it’s so important, as you claim it is, why not ask someone who knows, instead of some guy on a news blog’s comment section.
If it’s so important to know this information, and you referred to it as “EXTREMELY important to know” (emphasis mine), why aren’t you, as the only person making this claim, going out and finding the information?
frankly.. im young. the first year the plp was was the first year i voted. I have no clue about every nuance of the UBP’s reign
what i do know is that you seem to be trying to ask a question over and over, appearing as if you know the answer already, and yet use it to justify your current position.
I dont have a solid answer for where the 200m debt came from. the usual, incinerator, airport upgrades, national stadium, etc come to mind..
you seem to imply that you have to spend to get… but it seems the current govt just spends, and then taxes.. they say people shouldnt rely on govt for everything, that we arent a welfare state, and then go and promise freebies to people. They begin capital projects and then throw the regulations out the door.
Perhaps the UBP had their issues too, no doubt, but isnt the point of a new govt to get rid of the “old ways”? or are people so happy about getting a $200/month savings on a servicc that they are fine with getting a $20 increase in taxes, oblivious as to what it does to the rest of the island?
Scott,
I have no issue with your response and really respect the answer. I’m like a dog with a bone. My intent and purposes was to encourage UBP supporters to acknowledge that the UBP had a debt under their leadership and that their spokespersons for finance often speaks out of both sides of their mouths for cheap political points. It looks like my strategy is working.
Good luck and keep up the good work
Drag
When did anyone deny that there was?
Besides me, and I’m no UBP supporter by ANY stretch, even though you’ve inferred elsewhere that I am, simply because of the colour of my skin, I don’t think anyone even IMPLIED that there wasn’t debt under the UBP.
And, you say “My intent and purposes was to encourage UBP supporters to acknowledge… that their spokespersons for finance often speaks out of both sides of their mouths for cheap political points. It looks like my strategy is working.”
Is it?
First off, you’re branding those that disagree with you as “UBP supporters”. You have NO evidence of this at all, so… um… what was that about “cheap political points”? Seems to me that the only one talking “out of both sides of their mouths for cheap political points” is you.
Secondly, you claim, by saying “It looks like my strategy is working”, that “UBP supporters” are acknowledging “that their spokespersons for finance often speaks out of both sides of their mouths for cheap political points.”
I haven’t seen this. Could you show us where this “strategy” is “working”?
UncleElvis,
I’m Dragging a Lure. Ha Ha Ha
So what you’re saying is that you are simply and utterly trolling and have no real point?
Are you admitting that you’re whole “strategy” is nothing but a lie, concocted for political points?
If not, what else does your response mean?
It’s amazing to me that you feel it’s ok to demand answers from people who are in no position to give them, but when a question is asked of you, you refuse to answer.
It’s also amazing that Bernews allows someone who ADMITS that they are only here to troll to continue this behaviour.
I notice you didn’t answer any questions.
I’ll take your silence as a “Yes.”
Can anyone explain to me why this is acceptable?
Maybe you should take a look at the RG from Feb 1999 reply to the first PLP budget. Pretty interesting read as it mentions Daniels Head,Morgans Point,St. George Hotel all started at the end of the UBP rule. Also referred to is the delivery of some of the contruction projects on time and on budget and refers to the sinking fund speaking of which is long gone. Sorry there is no reference to the$200mil you refer to but what is mentioned is the very first year spending increased in relation to income and the surplus was going to deteriorate. just sayin
To UncleElvis,
1. Let’s make it quite clear and I hope that you understand, Dragging A Lure conforms to the Code of Practice in Bernews Legal Document.
Question: 1. Do you have a problem with what I contribute?
Question: 2. Do you have a problem with me not accepting your conversation terms?
Question: 3. Are you actually trying to dictate how I should present my contribution?
Actually I find your’s and other’s opinions a lot of irrelevant background noises based on inaccurate information, innuendo, rhetoric and pure polical biases and not worthy of a meaningful discussion. I choose to troll and it is quite obvious, therefore take your Moral Superiority and Moral Deception elsewere.
Cheers
Drag
I know you are but what am I?
Nope. Not even close, but thank you for trying to put words in my mouth.
But to answer your questions (something you seem to have a problem with doing):
Question: 1: Nope. Well, I wouldn’t have a problem if you’d actually contribute something. You haven’t yet. Trolling isn’t a contribution.
Question: 2: Um… This is gibberish.
Question: 3: Not even a little bit. YOU are the one trying to dictate how people answer you, by your repeated demands. Not me.
That was just projection of your own position onto me, as are your accusations, based on NOTHING, in the last paragraph. Yet another troll tactic.
What I DO have a problem with is a propagandist for a political party pretending that he has a point, other than to spread lies, misinformation and disruption.
What I DO have a problem with is a self-described troll denouncing ANYONE for “Moral Deception”.
As for “Moral Superiority”? I have it. I’m not a troll, therefore, I am infinitely morally superior to you.
The only one spreading “inaccurate information, innuendo, rhetoric and pure polical biases” is you. No matter how hard to try to spin it.
Just a “Question:” for you…
When you say, “therefore take your Moral Superiority and Moral Deception elsewere”, are you actually trying to dictate how I should present my contribution?
One more thing, since you made the claim and seem to want to be held up to this code, which seems to only to apply to journalists and the media… are you saying you’re part of the media?
You actually DON’T conform to the Code of Practice.
1.C. Preventing the public from being misled by an action or statement by an individual or organization.
2. Accuracy
* A. The media shall take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including photographs, video and voice recordings.
* B. A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognized shall be corrected, promptly and with due prominence…
* C. The media, whilst free to be partisan, shall distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact. Facts are not always clear-cut and often open to interpretation but the media shall present factual information fairly and with due regard to context and importance.
1. Discrimination
* A. The media shall avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s skin colour, race, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, illness, or age.
* B. Details of an individual’s skin colour, race, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, illness, or age shall be avoided unless genuinely relevant to the story.
* C. Media reports shall not place gratuitous emphasis on, skin colour, race, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, illness, or age. Journalists should also avoid stereotyping based on the above.
2. Incitement to Hatred
* A. The media has the right and the duty to report and comment on all matters of legitimate public interest. This right and duty shall, however, be balanced against the obligation not to publish/broadcast/post material that amounts to hate speech.
* C. Hate speech is defined for the purpose of this Code as hateful, threatening, abusive or insulting language intended or likely to cause grave offence or stir up hatred against an individual or group on the basis of skin colour, race, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, illness, or age.
You’ve gone against ALL of these on several occasions…
If you want to be judged by the standards of the media, then fine.
I’ve shown the sections where you HAVEN’T conformed.
So… yeah.
That was a lie.