Comments on: Full Audio: One Bermuda Alliance Town Hall

By: In General

In General — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:30:18 +0000

Ever thought that is becuase there are less hotels, and hotel beds available? Because 3 hotels are busy now does not mean we have more tourists – AND cannot be compared to when we had 10 hotels….

By: Sad

Sad — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:28:07 +0000

The real problem is nobody cares in bermuda! The current party has made people numb ole fake politcian wanabees
Whining on the radio and blogging ………..next

By: Hudson

Hudson — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:24:31 +0000

Um, a member of my family is a manager at the Princess. They are suffering. Badly. Last winter was a nightmare. This winter is looking the same. They are desperate, as is Tuckers Point.

By: Shaking the Head

Shaking the Head — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 23:08:55 +0000

Answer this. The PLP has on many occasions stated they are the party for the people and that the The Opposition are the party for business. The issues facing Bermuda concern business, not people. Who do you think could have handled the problem better – a business party who understands business, or a people party who unfortunately understands neither?

By: Shaking the Head

Shaking the Head — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 23:04:13 +0000

Don’t disagree, but can you give us a list of them and the Constituencies they will be representing?

By: Bulldog

Bulldog — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:03:10 +0000

The thing about it is this… Do all of you UBP/OBA/BDA (or whatever) supporters honestly think that Bermuda would be in a different state economically if there was a different party in power??? If that is the case then you are clearly clouded by your loyalty as opposed to paying attention to what is happening beyond the tiny shores of Bermuda. Do you honestly think that the OBA was formed to provide a new perspective? How can you have a ‘new perspective’ with the same players saying and doing the same things but under a new name? That is not a new perspective. That is a trick.

By: Advocating for Truth

Advocating for Truth — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:58:39 +0000

Sandgrownan – Don’t trust non of them.

V O T E FOR THE I N D E P E N D E N T S

tHEY Dont HAVE TO PLEASE the dunkleys gibbons coxes nor brown nose up anyone

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:28:33 +0000

The Government is trying to lock Jamal up for not going Regiment!

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:23:38 +0000

I can’t find a buyer right now because the economy is so bad under your administration and there is no positive outlook in sight!!

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:17:14 +0000

@ Thoughts of a Local:
“Yes I do. I’ve been to several meetings where CEO’s of various corporations have openly said that this island should be thanking Premier Paula Cox for her new found direction. And I quote them, “she is taking this business very seriously.”
Do you think that statement means anything? Of course they said she is taking it seriously, so she should!!?? And I don’t think they said directly that the Island should be thanking Paula as she was in the previous administration which did a good job deal of relationship damage with IB, is she merely putting band aids on wounds her former boss inflicted? How do we know the PLP will not do any further damage since they already have set themselves a track record.
‘A total of 585,266 visitors arrived in 2010, up from 559,048 visitors in 2009 (proof)’:
Larger Cruise ships, maybe a few more boats here and there, the Charleston to Bermuda yacht race comes to mind!! An event put on by the sailing community and yacht clubs, nothing to do with the Government, but I am sure you will try and take the credit. The only thing the present tourism minister has done so far is offer me $50 to invite a friend down to the Island!! What a plan!! Oh wait where is the tourism Plan?? almost a year on from the new administration and we still don’t have one!! Pro active by the PLP!!!
“Hotel occupancy rates averaged 54.0% in 2010, which represents an increase of 5.7% from 2009 (proof). Visitors contributed an estimated $383.9 million to the economy in 2010, up from $331.3 million in 2009. This compares to $475 million in 1996. (more proof).”
What are these occupancy rates in comparison to in terms of total beds available? Last time I checked Elbow beach was partially closed so I am guessing you have adjusted their cottage numbers (occupancy) to reflect total occupancy, while the rest of the hotel closed because it had such piss poor occupancy. $475 m in 1996 before the PLP got into power, not taking into account inflation, so why the decline if the PLP have done such a good job since 1998? 5.7% is a small improvement on rock bottom which we pretty much hit last year. Shall we count out the number of derelict hotel sites on the Island, and how long they have been undeveloped under the PLP? I am sure your mates at the Princess are happy, why? Because they have limited competition, of course they have higher occupancy rates because there are limited hotels on the Island to choose from. But when they offer me a rock bottom rate of $90 a room in winter, you know they are hurting! Hamilton Princess we all know is fed by IB, once again this has nothing to do with the Tourism Department, it is the Private Companies brining these people to the Island. If tourism is so good why did Tuckers point apply for an SDO to boost revenue??? Because Bermuda at present is not a sustainable tourism model.
‘In 2010, 15,078 international companies were registered in Bermuda, many U.S.-owned. They spent an estimated $2 billion in Bermuda in 2009. This sector provided $1.5 billion in total output (current market prices), representing 26.1% of total GDP, or a 3.7% decrease compared to 2008. International business is no longer the island’s largest employer.’
International company registration does not mean a thing because many of them are Captive and financial vehicles. In short they are a postal address and they hardly employ anyone, they may not employ someone at all! The hostility of the PLP toward the expat community, alien licenses, work permits, racial rhetoric, property ownership etc, has done more than enough to detriment the property market in the current environment. Why would you not want people to buy houses in a recession especially with dual incomes??
I work in the IB sector and have sat through many panel discussions, dinners and meetings where the actions of the former Premier and immigration minister were highlighted as largely contributing to the need to decreased foreign staff numbers and proposed relocations, which in turn hurts the Bermudian landlord, plumber, electrician etc. Rising violence and crime are particular concerns as many high level execs have children and family on the Island. This rise in crime rate and hostile attitude all has escalated under the recent PLP administration.
The Government is the largest Employer on the Island as an organization. How do we expect to continue to fund an overinflated civil service on the tax payer’s dime? Every recent industrial action and ministers paycheck is paid for by those people who work the hardest!
Need I say more, the results speak for themselves?

By: Shaking the Head

Shaking the Head — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:06:06 +0000

The 2 Princess hotels were at 100% for about 6 weeks due to a learge convention which I would bet was sourced by the hotels themselves. Recently, the proposed 3 star hotel next door to Southlands has been put on hold. Not one of the other new hotel developments has broken ground. Newstead is in Receivership. These are facts. You have confirmed employment is down, as is GDP, by your figures. You have actually argued against yourself.

By: global village

global village — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:57:57 +0000

Paula Cox is not a leader, she is Lois Brown and Jennifer Smith’s apt pupil, also a very conservative lawyer by profession with limited confidence which is why anyone with an idea or opinion is frowned upon and ostracised from her personal space, let alone the inner sanctum.

Do not expect anything except big words and eloquent speeches during the next 18 months from Paula Cox, as by then she will be removed from office either by the public during the next general election, or by the PLP Delegates when they realise that all the got was yet another wolf in sheeps clothing.

In the hope of a handout or to keep their positions her followers are forced to make postive statements about her administration, and type in blogs like this, but sadly even they recognise she will not last even one day past 3 years as Party Leader luckily for Bermuda she has completed 11 months of her painful tenure.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:03:15 +0000

Fair enough, but trust isn’t a quality you could attribute to the PLP is it?

By: Nasty n true

Nasty n true — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:27:27 +0000

They are all parasites and political hoes, them oba un-elected party members of parliament.

Dunkley states that he would of won if he ran for leadership? Does that make me feel that Craig and Bob are the right people for the job if the OBA would prefer Dunkley but are settling for the 2nd string quaterbacks?

Craig enjoy the ride, you will be NEXT, those nasty power hungry political hoes will sell their mother to regain power.

By: Advocating for Truth

Advocating for Truth — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:21:39 +0000

@VOt – the oba wants us to believe that they are the way forward and will do things differently, so why not do it the right way and resign and have byelections?

What’s amazing is that John Barritt has said that he will resign his seat if Craig wins leadership and then cause a by election, but they all don’t want to do the right thing and resign. They are all untrustworthy!

By: PEPPER

PEPPER — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:42:16 +0000

Wayne Furbert needs to retire we have had enough of his #$%^ he is a looser..

By: PEPPER

PEPPER — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:39:12 +0000

The O.B.A. are playing the same old game ,it’s all about race…so they think the can get the black vote by putting in the two black candidates!!!! HELLO we voters are not stupid ,the best man for the job is Michael Dunkley…but he is white …….when are we going to grow the hell uo ? enough of black versus whites !!!!!!!!!!!! we need Jamel Hartman and young people like him to be in charge….not these old cronies that have a vendetta…we need to move forward.

By: VoT!!! says..

VoT!!! says.. — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:43:48 +0000

“Thoughts of a local says” is probably a paid PLP operative.

@ Guilden, I cannot think of one MP in Bermuda’s political history who has decided to walk across the floor between election cycles in order to join an opposing party and then resigned his or her seat thereby forcing a bi-election in order to be re-elected under the banner of their new party. In all of Bermuda’s history it has never happened and it never will. If it has please enlighten me. Politics is Politics.

And oh yeah…the PLP sucks….period. They have driven Bermuda into the ground. Facts are facts. All that rhetoric about tourism being up and international business being up is Bull!! Stop with that nonsense “Thoughts of a local says”. You should change your handle to “Thoughts of an imbecile says.”

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:48:16 +0000

Got to agree with Guilden on this one. And let me tell you, that doesn’t happen very often.

By: JCS

JCS — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:16:42 +0000

Well said, Guilden

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:14:24 +0000

Difference is, now the country really is f*cked. In 1998 he was scaremongering, now it looks like we were all proved right. I think that’a what must really hurt eh? Knowing the beloved PLP failed spectactularly. Incapable, incompetant and corrupt.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:05:49 +0000

Funny, I was going to ask you the same question!

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:04:40 +0000

LMAO!! I was hoping someone else would say that before I had to!

By: bermyshotta

bermyshotta — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:57:02 +0000

@ imposter – change ya name…der can only be one.

By: bermyshotta

bermyshotta — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:56:37 +0000

@ thoughts – um maybe because dey made der $$$ from de jump i.e started der own businesses from de ground up…and did it well! AND dey kno how to run a BUSINESS/s…one example which de PLP maybe should look at. also back den properties weren’t worth half as much as dey are now so dunno wat ya gettin at. ya sayin dey took $$…jus claims and bs opinions….ain’t no truth.

By: LaVerne Furbert

LaVerne Furbert — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:35:00 +0000

“I will sell my house,…. and I will out because….” That’s what Bob Richards said in 1998 and he’s still here, and now he’s hoping to be the Opposition Leader (again).

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:34:09 +0000

Clueless.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:33:36 +0000

You’re joking right? This has to be a wind up.

I mean, you’d have to be beyond stupid to think that the economy is fine, i mean how do you walk and breathe at the same time?

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:31:30 +0000

54.x% occupancy rate. Well that’s piss poor in my book, especially since the number of total hotel rooms has gone down.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:24:27 +0000

Though the same can be said about certain PLP members as well.

By: Guilden

Guilden — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:11:38 +0000

Clinton, why is it assumed they would be voted out? I thought the OBA had the solutions to Bermuda’s problems and on that basis why would anyone vote them out? When the OBA members presented that argument I was amazed because many of them were very vocal that the BDA MPs, upon leaving the UBP should have fought by-elections and were calling them cowardice and saying they were undermining democracy.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:07:47 +0000

Thats just one hotel. The guys at Princess hotels are not singing that tune. Theirs is much different, as they have had several weeks during this yea,r on seperate occasions might I add, where all the rooms were sold out.

By: Guilden

Guilden — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:05:04 +0000

Eastern,

I did say “…anyone who resigns from a party under which he/she was elected should find a by-election.” So yes, that includes Wayne Furbert, it includes ANYONE who resigns from the party under which he was elected between election cycles.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:57:08 +0000

Thoughts of a local…explains everything.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:54:15 +0000

Want more facts?

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:53:52 +0000

Nah, don’t think it will go that far. This island has seen worse times and has bounced back, just look at history. It will be fine. If you sell and move adnthe nsee that the island is ok, you’ll be kicking yourself. But hey, we all know ya both not serious about moving.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:50:28 +0000

OK then, I will.

Define how several members of the then UBP/OBA have afforded such lavish house in much sort after neighborhoods during their inception into government? Define how, based on the salaries at the time they were able to afford such properties that compeletley surpassed their monetary worth? Answer just those two questions and you will find several examples.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:44:21 +0000

Yes I do. I’ve been to several meetings where CEO’s of various corproations have openly said that this island should be thanking Premier Paula Cox for her new found direction. And I quote them, “she is taking this business very seriously.”

Exxamples are:
A total of 585,266 visitors arrived in 2010, up from 559,048 visitors in 2009 (proof). This was a direct result of an active year on the cruise and yacht front (proof). Hotel occupancy rates averaged 54.0% in 2010, which represents an increase of 5.7% from 2009 (proof). Visitors contributed an estimated $383.9 million to the economy in 2010, up from $331.3 million in 2009. This compares to $475 million in 1996. (more proof).
In 2010, 15,078 international companies were registered in Bermuda, many U.S.-owned. They spent an estimated $2 billion in Bermuda in 2009. This sector provided $1.5 billion in total output (current market prices), representing 26.1% of total GDP, or a 3.7% decrease compared to 2008. International business is no longer the island’s largest employer, with 4,293 jobs in 2009, down from 4,761 in 2008. Provisional estimates for 2009 state that there were 4,758 jobs in wholesale and retail and repair services and 4,680 jobs in hotels and restaurants.

Need I say more.

By: Eastern

Eastern — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:39:54 +0000

And What about Wayne Furbert or does he not count?

By: Eastern

Eastern — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:35:06 +0000

And what planet did you say you were from?

By: Eastern

Eastern — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:33:19 +0000

@ Bermyman
Regarding your last paragraph: I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Can’t wait for the next election, but I will give up my island that I love so much if things don’t change.

I can visualize Bermuda turning into a horrible place to be if our economy continues to collapse. You’ll be up all night, every night, just trying to protect what belongs to you.

By: Thoughts of a local

Thoughts of a local — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:27:23 +0000

They would be fighting to earn their seats the right way. Under the OBA banner, not the UBP banner.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:25:57 +0000

Hotelier’s Dire Warning – Bemruda Sun Today

http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=54003

The Platinum Era huh?

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:09:41 +0000

You don’t actually believe what you’re saying, right? If you do then it’s really a shame that people with your level of intelligence are allowed to vote.

By: 80s Sonesta Kid

80s Sonesta Kid — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:53:46 +0000

hummmm I like that Emeka!

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:52:16 +0000

Obvious troll is obviosu troll. Unless you are breathtakingly stupid.

By: Guilden

Guilden — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:42:41 +0000

I firmly agree that the PLP has mismanaged the economy, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.

What I want to address is Clinton’s comment, “To all be voted out and let the PLP run roughshod all over the land? Sounds foolhardy to me….”

Clinton, are you saying that the electorate should not have a choice in who its representatives are? I believe anyone who resigns from a party under which he/she was elected should find a by-election. I also find it very amusing that when the BDA was started you, like me were calling for the former UBP MPs to do just that, step down and fight by-elections. Yet now you have changed your tune…..is that selective democracy?

By: Clinton J. A. Paynter OBA Affiliated

Clinton J. A. Paynter OBA Affiliated — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:59:21 +0000

So let me get this start… It would be better to have a fresh party with a bunch of political neophytes that have to “learn on the job” like Patrice Minors is doing? Bermuda needs the new and the old…let’s be real.. You currently see the old (experienced) but the new is coming… Sept 10th is not far off.

By: Clinton J. A. Paynter OBA Affiliated

Clinton J. A. Paynter OBA Affiliated — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:55:02 +0000

Ok… So they should all resign and fight in a bye election for what? To all be voted out and let the PLP run roughshod all over the land? Sounds foolhardy to me…. I’m just sayin…

By: bermyshotta

bermyshotta — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:35:15 +0000

@ bulldog and thoughts – DON’T look at dem as de same faces…who gives a f#$%! dats de problem hur in bermy…guys jus think dem guys are de same…but LOOK AT DER SUGGESTIONS/PROPOSALS/TOPICS/WAT THEY ACTUALLY ABOUT/WHAT DEM GUYS R OFFERIN instead of jus sayin oh it’s Dunkley again…well it’s been flippin well de same faces in de PLP for de past 12 yrs….n wats happenin?? u tell me…