OBA: 35% Duty Not Temporary
In a statement released last night, Bob Richards and Dr. Grant Gibbons said, “Premier Cox revealed during the House of Assembly debate on Friday the Customs Tariff Amendment Act that the “temporary” 35 percent airport duty on goods declared by people returning from overseas has now become permanent.
“The Premier’s decision imposes yet another penalty on everyday people for her mishandling of the public purse,” the statement continued on to say.
“The change in policy became clear when OBA Members asked why there was no expiration date or ‘sunset clause’ in legislation addressing the temporary aspect of the 35% duty and the reduced $100 personal exemption changes.
“Premier Cox admitted she planned to remove the $100 exemption changes in the 2012 Budget, but had no intention of reversing the 35 percent duty measure — effectively making it a permanent increase.
“The decision contradicts her intentions when she introduced the “temporary emergency measures” in September to assist Bermuda retailers and “discourage personal spending abroad”.
“At the time, the Premier noted “the continuing economic malaise and the possible social consequences” to say that her Government would “immediately institute several temporary emergency measures to assist businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief.”
Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards said: “The Premier should not make people pay for her financial mismanagement by making this duty change permanent.
“The OBA was quite prepared to accept the need for the Premier to offset the six-month payroll tax relief through temporary duty increases, but this has turned into a stealth tax on Bermudians to pay for Ms Cox’s $1.2 billion debt, now costing her Government at least $70 million a year in interest payments.
“After three and a half years of decline in overall retail sales numbers, it is clear the retail sector is really hurting financially in spite of their efforts to be competitive. While the temporary six-month payroll tax holiday will reduce the short-term tax burden on retailers and has been welcomed, it’s really just a band aid.
“In fact, it’s a gross overstatement to suggest, as was claimed by Government members during the debate, that it will save 4,000 retail jobs.”
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Grant Gibbons said the Government “doesn’t seem to appreciate that, like the hospitality industry, the real problem for retail is fewer customers on the island.
“We have heard from the retail sector that the average purchase by residents has not changed very much — it is the number of people purchasing that has changed dramatically.
“This number has been significantly reduced by the number of people who have left the island because of downsizing and expatriation by international business and other sectors — a direct consequence of Government’s term limit policy and unwelcoming attitude toward those who create jobs and capital to Bermuda.”
Dr. Gibbons continued: “I hope that when returning residents discover that the $150 item they purchased overseas has suddenly become $200 thanks to the 35% airport duty, they will remember who was responsible.”
The corrupt PLP has been mishandling our finances since 1998.
Finally the nest egg they inherited from UBP has been wiped out. They will find new ways to make US pay for THEIR mistakes and keep them in a lavish lifestyle they have become accustomed to!
Of course duty has gone up. How else will PLP look after PLP. PLP is broke and now needs more money. Is there anyone else kind enough to “adopt” one of their schools?…cuz PLP don’t have money for that. Plenty though for 1st class trips to useless “conferences”. Say,did Terry Lister get some nice pics from the space shuttle blast off?
You people, are ridiculous it’s fair.(the 35% tax)
Common sense will pre-vail, at first Craig and Bob you had my vote……now you just seem Scandalous, to say the least.
To think, I had much respect for you both.
Everbody I spoke with today, thought the 35% was a temporary measure as part of a package of temporary measures. Why wasn’t this stated clearly. Once again instead of an apology, we have a denial. Cox the cog mislead us, just like Brown. Please don’t try and justify the maths. Eat this one… Myself and wife go away and spend $200 each. Previously we would have paid 25 + 25 = $50. Now we pay.. $105 on the same goods.(400-100)x 35%. A 110% increase. OK fair enough, we all have to feed the COG to pay the interest on debt she saddled us with. Problem I have is that this discriminates against families and marriage. An unmarried couple who are living together get 100 + 100 in allowances as the can fill out forms separately, a married couple will only get the single 100 allowance. Discrimination Once Again from the PLP. Lovely!
Nil I agree with you, and they claim Family Values ya right.
WHAT!!!! Are you serious?
When was the last time ANY Government retracted a tax of ANY type?
Bermudians should be hitting the roof over what amounts to no duty free at all. Our neighbours to the west get $400.00 duty free EACH.
A Bermuda family of four gets $25.00. BIG DEAL!
How about an annual allowance of something realistic like $500 each? Most would use that up in one trip.
How many times does it have to be said – this premier does not know what she’s doing. She also does not understand the hardships of the bermudian people- with her large salary!
O.K.
So all you that were justifying this move as a “Saves jobs incentive” to offset the relief for Retail on payroll tax that was put on hold until March 31st 2012; can now WAKE UP!!!!!
Totally ridiculous. This no longer becomes an argument to restrict shopping overseas; it now restricts you from enjoying your vacation. Go to Disney with a few kids who want to bring back a few memories of their trip. “Sorry kids, you have to put that back on the shelf”.
This has become a disgraceful decision thought up over night by a bunch of clueless individuals. When will you understand you are NO LONGER targeting the rich who only shop overseas? You are restricting the common people who have planned and saved for years, from enjoying a family vacation.
Threw it in with the “short term payroll tax relief, and short term family limit on declaration” to get it accepted by your short sighted followers who believe all you say has a reason and just cause. Can’t wait to see who comes running to your defense on this one with garbage reasoning.
This harsh measure will affect mostly the so-called individuals Government represent, the rich will pay to give their kids that keepsake, not so much the common guy who is budgeting the next evening’s dinner.
Yet another failure this Government can chalk up.
YOU HAVE LOST MY VOTE!!!!!
Just priced an Apple IPAD in Hamilton $699. On-line $499 and up.
That’s why we shop abroad.
The retailers still don’t get it. The prices here are way too high.
What’s the cost with shipping and duty?
$499.00 + 35% TAX = $673.65
Not a bad price in Bermuda!
Are you kidding me, we know most people take the tags off clothes and or go through customs and don’t declare half of what they buy abroad, this will just make people take more tags off.
SUPERDAVE – There will be US GST on the iPad upon purchase at the store; with that, the price will be about equitable with what you would pay on-island.
And along with the sales tax that price doesn’t include shipping.
thats not a bad price! they have to add shipping an duty plus a mark up. and u get a warranty. if something happens to it u take it back to them. if u get overseas and have to ship it back it wont be worth it. so now u have no ipad.
Youre the one that doesnt get it!
I don’t get what all the fuss is about. We are a consumption based tax system. Anyone that can afford to go abroad to SHOP! can pay the exta 10% duty as far as I’m concerned. This guy is worried that an iPad in Hamilton costs $200 more than in a shop abroad.. well factor in your airline tk, your hotel, taxis, food… you’re not saving that much. Let’s face it… who among us can afford to travel this year? I know I can’t. Any extra cash I do have is going to my Belco bill! So, if you want to SHOP and fly to another country just to SHOP then you pay the price.
Exactly,and with that online iPad they:
a) only save $50 or so depending on shipping and duty
b) will have to wait the week or so for it to get here and
c) lose the apple warantee once it leaves the states (or they will have to mail it back to the original seller)
Not everything on the island is that far off from the US. Groceries and utilities can be excessive in Bermuda, but I find electronics (after shipping and duty) and clothing to be about on par.
i agree! there is a MYTH that EVERYTHING is too expensive here
Have to agree with DND there. You simply do what you can with what you have. Too bad gover(n)ment all over the planet can’t be paid their worth, and if they don’t perform the job they were elected for (not necessarily qualified for), they don’t get paid.
It’s not a 10 percent increase, actually. It’s a 40 percent increase over the original 25 percent. (Forty percent of 25 is ten.) That’s a whopping increase, and I don’t recall it ever being raised that much in one go.
And BTW, the retailers DO GET it that they’re prices are high… Why do you think Trims and Smiths had to close? They could not afford to pay Bdians salary, plus payroll tax, plus 5% pension, plus plus plus and still make a profit after wharfage etc. The retailers get shafted from all sides! The one thing I can say about local retailers is: They do not get customer service. I don’t need to be waiting around while some sales person finishes chatting to her girlfriend or texting. Perhaps if all the retail staff were paid solely on commission the public may get better service.
Agree with the customer service point. Whilst most sales staff are friendly and helpful, I’ve recently had some very negative experiences in only a few days; staff who clearly don’t want to be there, being surly and rude, slow and extremely unhelpful. One Hamilton shoe shop had one member of staff chatting to her friend who was trying on shoes and declaring to the whole shop that she wasn’t going to buy the shoes anyway, and the other member of staff, standing around staring into space despite being asked for help. Another shop within that week had staff too busy chatting to her friend despite the big queue, and then being rude to the customers. I put down the $150 of merchandise that I had and walked out. Want to buy in Bermuda but with these attitudes, knowing I can get what I wanted abroad for about $100, happy to pay the 35%.
If any of you read the Premier’s statement when this was announced, it never said this was for 6 months only. You may have gotten the idea that it was temporary due to slack reporting by different media sources, but nothing in the Premier’s statement identified it as being temporary.
Instead of complaining about you having to pay more for duty, why don’t you focus on spending money in our OWN economy, saving our friends, sisters, brothers, etc jobs instead of worrying only about self.
For your information “Sigh”, I have cut out the following excerpts from The Premier’s statement of September 30th, regarding the proposed TEMPORARY measures to help the economy and specifically the retail sector which is supposedly in a crisis, and I quote,
“Therefore, in taking note of this continuing economic malaise and the possible social consequences, Government will immediately institute several temporary emergency measures to assist businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief.”
She even concluded her statement with the following,and I quote again,
“That is the aim of the temporary rescue measures announced today.”
See full statement here: http://bernews.com/2011/09/change-in-duty-retailers-payroll-tax/
So tell me “Sigh”, exactly what part of this statement am I misreading?????? No one should be forced to shop in Bermuda. When shopping in Bermuda becomes affordable and when variety becomes available, then we can consider whether we want to spend hard earned dollars here. But don’t bloody well force people to shop here, with such riduculous duty rates, and then to add insult to injury, try to make it effective immediately????????? The Premier flat out mislead the people of Bermuda and that is wrong on so many levels.
I for one was in support of the TEMPORARY measures, because that’s just what I was made to believe. That they would be TEMPORARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now, in trying to twist your words, and failing to directly mention in a subsequent statement, whether or not the duty hike had a cut off date like the two other temporary measures, that automatically translates to the fact that you never said it would be temporary?????? Only that you did!!!!!!!!! Yes you did Premier Cox, you said it and now you are trying to say you didn’t. That is very unbecoming of a Country’s leader, and I am starting to lose all the respect I once had for you. This is sad for Bermuda!!!!!!!!!!!
@ Another World. I see you’re very selective with what the Premier said on September 30th. I too read the ariticle and here is what she said:
Therefore, with effect from October 1, 2011, the following measures will be instituted:
■Payroll tax will be set at a zero rate for the retail sector for a six month period ending on 31st March 2012
■Travelers’ allowances for returning residents will be restricted to one person per household for a six month period ending on 31st March 2012
■The duty on accompanied goods declared by returning residents will be increased from 25% to 35%
If you read Sigh’s comment carefully you would know they were talking about the increase in duty…which is not temporary!
Thank you Selective.
As I mentioned in my comment, IT IS MISLEADING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was mentioned under a statement that said the measures were TEMPORARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fact that she did not give a cut off time or explicitly say the the 25% to 35% is permanent, should not translate to the 10% increase is permanent! She needed to say it so people would not form their own conclusion hence all the subsequent CONFUSION!!!!!!!!!!! I for one read and concluded that the measures, ALL OF THEM, were temporary. If that is how the government of the day is going to lead the people, based on deception and ambiguity, don’t expect to have the respect and support of the people.
You obviously can read, but perhaps you cannot comprehend.
My point exactly!!!!! I just read the facts…..
Therefore, in taking note of this continuing economic malaise and the possible social consequences, Government will immediately institute “several temporary emergency measures to assist businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief”.
The retail sector has been particularly hard hit by the continuous decline in sales volume over the last several years. Discussions with industry leaders have been bleak but sobering.
Therefore, with effect from October 1, 2011, the following measures will be instituted:
Payroll tax will be set at a zero rate for the retail sector for a six month period ending
on 31st March 2012
Those that are saying they thought that the one part of the temporary emergency measures was never temporary are telling fibs, or they would have pointed this out in previous news stories and blogs in this publication. It was discussed and discussed and nowhere did anyone note that this was permanent. PLP lies and liars.
Travelers’ allowances for returning residents will be restricted to one person per household for a six month period ending on 31st March 2012
The duty on accompanied goods declared by returning residents will be increased from 25% to 35%
I believe the beginning of the article:
This morning [Sept.30] Premier and Minister of Finance Paula Cox said “In taking note of this continuing economic malaise and the possible social consequences, Government will immediately institute several emergency measures to assist businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief.”
Payroll tax will be set at zero for the retail sector, while duty payable at the airport for returning residents will jump by 10% and only one person per household can claim the duty free allowance. The new policies take effect tomorrow [Oct.1] and end in six months.
The last sentence is key… It did appear that the measures were temporary, a date was not stated on the 25-35% jump… but I can see were the masses thought it would be a temporary measure.
You edited out temporary, are you intending to decieve us too. Read the transcript.
http://bernews.com/2011/09/change-in-duty-retailers-payroll-tax/
I support Buy Bermuda campaign. In conjuction with BUY BERMUDA I propose the SERVE BERMUDA campaign too – that’s where I as a customer gets greeted and served whenever I walk into a store. I went into 3 stores in Dockyard this week – 2 of stores them failed to acknowledge me, stop their conversations or even look at me for that matter. Did the clerks know I was Bermudian, or didn’t care who the hell I was? Do I feel like paying their wages for their worthless service…no!
Do sales staff care whether you are Bermudian or not, and neither should they. Service should be good for all people coming into their stores. I also believe you should buy locally, but recently have had too many rude and uninterested sales staff. That kind of attitude makes me think I’ll buy the stuff abroad.
@Joann, maybe you need a math lesson. $499 abroad, plus 35% duty if you bring it back with you is $673.75. If you order it on line you are going to pay $499 plus 25% duty, plus shipping (say around $50) comes to about $673.75 as well. So basically by shopping locally you are paying an extra 25 bucks. Tell me again what part the retailers “don’t get”……..
ditto what he said
You missed the fact that a 499 item here would likely be 300 elsewhere… And you would have many to choose from and you would be served by someone who really appreciated your business!
u missed the fact!! they said it was $499 overseas and $699 here!
If it is the only thing you have brought abroad, you still have the $100, so it is 35% on $399
I am by no means a fan of this latest increase in taxation to compensate for gross financial mismanagement. However, can someone please tell me if the OBA will pledge to remove this tax if they win the next election? Dr Gibbons, will the OBA promise to remove this excess tax, or will you ask us merely to remember who instigated it whilst perpetuating the 35%? Just asking…
the real winner is my bank account. In the end we just thought, do we really need the latest fashion, latest gadgets etc – Not at all, so we are spending less, saving more and customs are loosing more, which is good. And we are not going to spend in Bermuda either, unless their prices come down
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there “real winner”… Making the cost of purchasing abroad more equal (or greater than) purchasing locally wont necessarily make people buy here, but will stop them buying altogether if they are budget conscious. And before some one says “Oh well all those people who fly to shop are still buying.” The fact is most people who shop while abroad are off island anyway and shop because they are away, a much smaller number actually travel to shop.
In essence the prices for everything has gone up (to buy away) or stayed the same (to buy locally), the result will probably be a marginal, if any, increase in local spending. In the end the stats over the next year or two will tell the story. [($spent/$gross national income)/#population]
Worry only about self?! Truth is with my earnings I can’t afford to buy clothes in Bermuda for 4 young children… So I have to order things online from The GAP, Old Navy etc. I’m sure there are many people in the same boat as me that simply can’t cope with Bermuda’s prices. I can order $5 shirts and $10 jackets on line and pay 6% duty and shipping and still come out much cheaper than buying Bermuda… and for much better quality clothes too.
So get it straight some of us have no choice.
Mr. Paynter i agree with you 110%, What really needs to be done now is the 100 duty free needs to be put to at least 300 per person returning. Yes prices do go up around the wolrd too not just Bermuda and we to reflict this every so much years. Im had enough of this Country’s so-called polictics. OBA you have my vote and if i dont seee a change i will be leaving, alone with many in my Generation we are fed up. Feeling like we done belong here anymore, we get treated better esle easy. Duty Goes up Belco most likely is going up, gas, food, everything but our pay to match. im not gready i just want to live comfortable. Have a good one all, and don’t vote for a party just cause. Make sure they have a good platform. Peace.
Thank you this is my point right here, yes we are spending more money some times buying a plane ticket and hotel and all the other things but last time i shopped in BDA i was at Gibbons Company and got like 6 items DO YOU SEE THAT 6 ITEMS for $450 i can get way more then that while shopping away i can go walmart or any other place for that matter and get more then 6 items for that price so yeah BUY BERMUDA will not happen for me. Just yesterday i said to my friend that we are not really shopping aboard for the price but for the variety of things we can get
I sincerely hope that you are not representative of the views of the OBA! Retail in Bermuda is truly suffering and 4000 jobs hang in the balance. I don’t know what you do for a living but I’m guessing if retail goes under you won’t be able to afford to shop for 4 children at the Gap too often.
The point is I can’t afford to clothe 4 children by “Buying Bermuda”… that is a fact. That is MY view.
im with you there Walmart, Target, JC Pennys are my friend Better selection, service and not to mention proce even with shipping and duty. Its just the way it is.
So what will YOU do to try and help the retail community as an OBA affiliate?? Im not saying your wrong, but the bottom line is that when dollars leave Bermuda, it only hurts the Bermuda economy and as a potential OBA voter, I would like to hear some thoughts from you to how you can help…
I don’t anyone can cite where the Premier said that the 35% Customs duty was temporary.
However you will have read where “Bernews reported the following on November 2, 2011
“Announced by Premier Cox in the summer, the tariff changes are a part of a basket of temporary measures to assist local businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief due to the ongoing global recession.”
Nowhere did she say the Customs Duty would be temporary, however she did say the payroll tax relief would be temporary.
The OBA is continuing to grasp at straws.
Actually, it was broadly reported at the time that the tax increase was temporary. Premier Cox did not correct that at the time.
It’s logical to assume that she was content to allow the public to have incorrect information.
“We had to deceive you…”
So apparently something that is “…part of a basket of temporary measures …” is not really part of the temporary measures after all.
I guess this is the Pee el Pee’s equivalent of Gover()ment in()action.
That’s pretty rich. You accusing the OBA of grasping at straws.
You do understand what the words “basket of temporary measures” means don’t you, sweetheart?
Yes sweetheart, I do understand what a “basket of temporary measures” mean, but the point is those were not the Premier’s words, those were the words of the person who wrote the story for Bernews. Unfortunately there are no by-lines on Bernews.
So what you’re saying is the story carried on Bernews was inaccurate and false. Yet in your reference above you didn’t cite that, but said “nowhere did she say it would be temporary”. You are quoting the Premier in respect of a story that you now say is inaccurate.
So, help me out here. If, under the umbrella of “Temporary Measures”, the increase in duty is listed (which it was), why would it be reasonable to assume that the intent of the Government was to make this increase a temporary measure? It couldn’t be the case that so many in Bermuda just had it wrong. I think that even you would have to admit Mrs. Furbert that if it was the Governments intent to make the change permanent, our eloquent and articulate Premier could have done so quite easily. It is not sufficient to hang our hats on what she didn’t say when she she clearly failed to make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that the increase was to be permanent. That wording is missing in the statement that was released by the Govt. I have to interpret that as an intentional deception from a lady who is practically a walking dictionary.
Correction ..why would it be UNreasonable to assume etc.etc”
Oh come on Princess, even by your standards this is a stretch. At best Cog wasn’t clear, at worst she was deliberately misleading, but the inference of the first statement was that all of these measure would be temporary. And that’s how most people saw the statement.
She might not have actually said it, but it was implied, as you well know
The idea of 70 million being paid in interest a year, really bothers me. That money could have gone towards many jobs, programs, fixing our roads, buses etc etc. It really is bad for future generations. PLP will really need a miracle to pull this next election off. OBA could run the Litter Critter, BELCO Kite Bird and win.
@ Jus’ Askin’
The funds that gave rise to the current debt were used as you describe – investments in schools, roads, housing, buses, ferries, cruise terminal etc etc. Thus the investments are to benefit future generations and it is entirely appropriate for them to repay some of the debt.
“schools, roads, housing, buses, ferries, cruise terminal”
I don’t see how these improvements add up to $1.2B, especially when considering that up until 2007 the Government was operating at a surplus and in the years prior all of these capital costs were covered by the corresponding budgets without the need to borrow to such a significant degree.
The vast majority of the debt has been incurred because the PLP have tremendously increased the size of Government but we, as taxpayers, have not reaped any commensurate incremental gains for the money spent.
The PLP Government can’t even cover current expenditures and has to borrow just to pay civil servant salaries. Their inability to even manage simple cash flow requirements is just the type of the inexperience iceberg.
Vote for me: That is the biggest load of disingenuous bollocks you have ever written.
I agree with sandgrownan. You are talking complete garbage.
Schools. Which one, exactly? Cedarbridge and Berkeley were pre-2003, when the debt was at its historical norm of $100-$150m. So when you say schools, what you’re saying is garbage.
Roads. Upkeep, do you mean? That’s a few $m a year at most. It’s the equivalent of being groceries. It’s not capital investment. So that’s garbage too.
Buses. Have you been on a bus lately? They are old, falling apart. There were a few wheelchair-accesible ones bought in the mid-2000′s. Total cost was about $2.5m.
Ferries. 4 ferries, $4m each. $16m. Nil spent on maintenance since then.
Cruise terminal. $2m.
Grand total: about $21m.
So what happened to the other $1,200,000,000?
Come on, give us more garbage.
@ Vote For Me- This is the type of Non-Analysis that prepetuates this nonsense of a Government.
SCHOOLS- What investment? The only school building that has been built was The Berkeley and I don’t have to delve into that debacle do I?
Students are failing at an alarming rate. What is the money being spent on in Education exactly?
HOUSING- By housing you mean the Government COMPETING with regular Bermudian homeowners with their own tax dollars?! Meanwhile, the contracts are still circled amongst the same familiar bunch and you have no problem with that? Consider this, when that monstrosity of a project being constructed on SouthShore fails (and it will), the only people being left holding the bag WILL BE THE TAXPAYERS ! The contractor has made his money and whoever else is making money on the transaction via a private trust. Members of our Govt wouldn’t do such a thing would they?? …or would they?
BUSES- There are a record number of buses OUT OF COMMISSION because there is no money in the budget to maintain them. Where is the investment exactly?
FERRIES- They have cut ferry routes serving various parts of the island. Where is the investment exactly?
CRUISE TERMINAL- That project ran massively overbudget and stinks of corruption. Not only that but it is struggling with “wear and tear” and it is still early days ! Where is the investment exactly?
Not only that but what good is having a “new” cruise ship pier with NO CRUISE SHIPS ?! Where is the investment exactly?
etc. etc.- Your child will be paying back a kings ransome for what exactly? They are inheriting a crap education system, a bankrupt public transportation system, A dead tourism industry, an infrastructure that is in need of a overhaul (no money though), and still no affordable housing after tons of money has been spent !
You are blind but your child will see the light after they are crushed under the weight of this incompetence.
Wonder how long it will be before the duty on items being shipped in goes up! If they can burn me at the airport what’s stopping them from giving me licks at the Post Office too! What I don’t get is why they are punishing those coming into the island with a duty tax hike instead of giving the retailers a break by charging them less duty on their incoming goods. Government still gets ‘richer’. I’m pretty sure they are not sharing the 10% difference they are making with the local retailers! Once again I pose the question: WHY IS THERE NOT MORE OF A STINK THAT THE PREMIER ALSO HANDLES THE COUNTRY’S PURSE!!! IT’S UNETHICAL!!!! If she’s not made to give up both hats, she should at least be made to take one of them off!
Kind of like the BIU books. There’s no way she’s going to let anyone else see how bad things really are.
I wonder if when they travel off of taxpayers money do the still pay duty? But surely why not after we have paid $5000.00 for airfare and accommodation they surely should have enough left over to pay there part. But what seems to be so unclear hear is that Bermuda has become a CONTROL SYSTEM why is is that this is the only country in the world the has a law on how much money you take out ofe Bermuda. When you come home you have to declare every thing purchased as well as duty. I have seen tourist ask that question on numerous occasion when the stewardess gives you the form on the airplane and the first thing they say is OMG!!! Also if you have kids overseas and they want to come home think about the extra baggage fees one has to pay come on Bermuda stop being so greedy and look out for the people that is making little as it is still trying to help family and friends and still bein burnt by the G>>>>>>>>>>!!!
At Relax – the question is – Does the premier get paid double the MP’s salary for the two posts that she holds and if so why in the name of greed, would she give it up?
@ Minor Matters,
The Premier receives a fixed salary that does not increase if they also hold a Ministerial post. This has been consistent with prior administrations when a UBP Premier also held the post of Finance Minister.
Thanks for the clarification. When the former Premier held two Ministries – did he get paid for only one ministry and how much was he paid?
I refer to Dr. Brown in particular.
As stated previously, the Premier receives a fix salary. It doesn’t matter who is Premier. And it doesn’t matter how many Ministerial post they hold. MPs, Ministers and the Premier’s slaries are all public knowledge.
Oh really? The ability of some politicians to get very rich is a short period of time is sometimes remarkable.
One salary…. what I have a major problem with is that the Premier should not also be the person controlling the public strings. That is way too much power in the hands of one person. And, I believe Sir David Gibbons held that distinction too( Sir David Saul too?). In all cases, I don’t think it’s right.
“the clueless premier”!
They have no choice but to tax us more (Income tax is coming) they have no more money………………………..
LOL
Well you know that! For all those naive people out there that don’t realise it, that is exactly what will eventually have to happen in Bermuda. They will have no choice is CORRECT! They are desperate for money, and it has to come from somewhere. They don’t see a need to downsize their oversized government with a million and one representatives or MP’s in each constituency. Each of whom receives a salary as I understand it. I mean, why does such a small island need to have so many reps? “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Ever gave that some thought? Get rid of all the unnecessary MP’s and see how much money you save then, instead of punishing your people with those heavy tax burdens. The very people you’re hurting may very well be the ones that would vote for you.
Ok ‘another world’ u have proven your ignorance. No need to respond to you anymore because you obviously know nothing about what you are talking about. Sad.
Here’s a way the government can get money: Over a sustained period of time, breathalyse everyone coming out of Hamilton on a Friday or Saturday night. Have a police car outside the Robin Hood, or Harbour Front. First offence for drinking and driving, extortionate fines. Driving ban for second offense. Expats will pay or their work permit will be threatened. Bonus is increased safety on the roads
Yeah, and you have the added bonus of discriminating against expats too. And we all know Bermudians think that’s an acceptable form of hate. Idiots.
And they wonder why no-one trusts them.
So the premier basically put the permanent increase in duty at the end of a shopping list of temporary measures. Draw a fuzzy line so that you don’t get the masses upset thinking it’s only “for a while” and the minority that do understand it aren’t a vocal enough bunch to cause much fuss. Then push it through the system and before anyone notices – permanent raise in duty rates.
Then government can (at their leisure) come to the rescue just before an election is called touting the “experiment” as a success and decrease the duty rates, give away free education, transportation and maybe some fabulous cash and prizes in the meantime.
Welcome to the world of politics…
“We had to deceive you”
Most of you folks are more negative than the deficit we currently have. Isn’t there anyone thankful that despite worldwide economic struggles Bermuda remains economically stable when many countries are falling apart… check the ratings. Most any decision made to help improve a situation is bombarded with criticism… mostly by people who are largely uninformed, unreasonable or just striaght up ignorant. Sometimes we have to sacrifice in order to move forward. I’ve yet to hear any reasonable argument as to how the public purse has been mismanaged by the finance minister. Stop mismanaging your mouths… speak of facts, truth and if you have legitimate criticism bring proof.
Bermuda is not economically stable.
That’s because your ears are closed.
“If you have legitimate criticism bring proof”…?
How about the qualified audits by the Auditor General, year in and year out? Any company managed like that would have fired its management team years ago, the first in line being the CFO.
The present Premier, and Minister of Finance since 2003, has admitted to what she describes as the unethical but not illegal goings on over the past 5 – 7 years. She has even tabled new laws to try and ensure it isn’t repeated. She pretends that the PLP Government only took power in November 2010. However she was Minister of Finance for all the years when the debt ballooned, and this when revenue was way above budget. Not only was Bermuda awash with more money that expected, that money that was wasted, and money was borrowed at the same time. But of course it is the Global recession that is to blame.
Whilst Bermuda maybe “economically stable” within the world ratings, are you not aware of the increasing poverty within ordinary working families? Increasingly charities are being asked to feed families and children where money is not available to buy food
@Fred Binns
Bermuda is not economically stable and true evidence of this in the rapidly increasing social instability.
The monstrous cost of living ($6.50 for a loaf of bread) with grossly under matched salaries in the lower socio-economic brackets put heavy pressure on public and private social services. Government funding of these recently has been drastically cut back with extremely noticeable effect due to the government’s record setting debt incurred over the Brown administration (with Cox writing the cheques).
The one “out” that these people have is education but the state of public education is abysmal at the middle and senior school levels. Further, additional cuts in teaching staff and facilities maintenance and management have hit public education further adding to its woes. Yes, there are notable exceptions of excellence in the system. However, if a country wants its citizens to prosper it cannot measure its education systems success on exceptions of excellence. Excellence must be the norm in today’s global environment. The majority cannot compete and fall in low paying and extended hours employment that creates significant downward social pressure.
Another known “out” is a career in hospitality. However, there has been a switch in focus from air arrivals to cruise arrivals and, as much as any visitor is appreciated, cruise arrivals have spend significantly less than air arrivals. Compound this with draconian “Christian” legislation the limits business from opening on Sundays and selling alcohol on Christian holidays (of which Sundays are included) and there is little opportunity for cruise visitors to spend money on one of their two (maybe three) days on the island. Their spending potential is reduced by half or a third.
The social fabric is unravelling because the islands finances are in a horrific state. Bermuda is neither economically nor socially stable.
Ride
You apparently have all the facts – please enlighten me, please. Specifically, how has our island IMPROVED in 13 years, on a financial, social, tourism, educational level?
oh, I forgot CRIME and Punishment…
It will be interesting to see how much this helps retail and additionally how much revenue is generated for government through this scheme. The only way this will stimulate local spending is if they have sales similar to Black Friday.
Otherwise most people, myself included, just won’t be spending at all this year. Between the retail sector blaming locals for their problems, the government raising duty and lowering duty allowance; people are feeling gutted and ripped off at every angle. Bermuda has officially taken all of the fun out of shopping and made us feel like pawns in a game. Congrats to all involved, may you reap what you sew.
Agreed and this will result in contracting the economy further as people will not be spending……….
LOL
If they need $$$ so bad why not open up the tax bracket for the RICH. Wouldn’t they make more on payroll tax on $500k versus $50k? Just a thought…This is making the divide between the Poor & the Rich even greater. This Island is full of greed from the top down! Can’t wait for them (Politrickers)come to my house to sell their b%llsh*t I’ve got my questions ready – hope you have the right answers – C28
Agree
Seriously Laverne, even you can’t defend this deceptive move by Paula…
The PLP is at war with the people of Bermuda. The 50% airport duty hike will hit the average local, who only travels once or twice a year much harder than the frequent traveler who gets the pitance of an allowance everytime they travel.
For those with challenged math skills that 10% raise is almost 50% more than it was before.
The people hit the hardest are those who most likley voted PLP in the past. The blue collar worker. Wonder if they realize what is being done to them.
No, because they’re dumb enough to have voted PLP before….
As long as it is done by “people who look like me” they’ll go along with it.
Fred binns doesn’t know what he’s talking about! Another PLP supporter with his head burried deep in the sand.
I voted PLP before and was proud to do so. Now 13 years on I have taken so much licks my bacside is sore. I won’t be voting PLP again. I mean just how much tricks and doublespeak can the govt continue to pull out of their hat? People are HURTING out here! The premier better call the election soon cause if people think 2011 was bad 2012 is going to be even worse. Mark my words. More layoffs, more hotel closings, less cruise ships, more retail shops teetering on the edge menas that things do not look good for the PLP. The PLP is going to find itself between “De Rock” and a hard hard place.
“We had to deceive you…”
Get use to it. It’s going to get a lot worse. You’ve seen nothing yet.
I must say that I understood from the outset that the duty hike was permanent. Not because of what she said, but rather what she didn’t. That no date was given for the duty hike to end( like the other two measures were given of March 31 2012) led me to believe that it was a permanent move. The Premier could have actually STATED that it was permanent from the outset to avoid any confusion, but I suspect she knew how controversial this would be( as has been proven).
Hemorrhoids are rarely a temporary condition.
She said “Government will immediately institute several temporary emergency measures” then listed 3 things 2 with end dates, one without, but it was still listed with the temporary measures.
I guess they had to deceive us, again…
Indeed…the question is, since there was no date given for the duty hike to end, isn’t that suggestive that it was intended to be permanent? And I agree, it was ‘slipped in’ at the end of a list of ‘temporary measures’. I caught on right away that the hike was permanent.
Hitler would march into a town one day, bring the soldiers back that night and march the same soldiers into the same town the next day. He did this over and over to make his numbers seem larger than they actually were. The handful of anti PLP, many who don’t even live in bermuda and can’t even vote, do something similar by having a handful of people post under several names to make it seem that their numbers are larger than they really are. This lose group has been whining for at least 2 elections but had no success, the PLP continues to win, the PLPs % of the popular vote keeps increasing, the UBP, BDA and MON have folded. Keep up the good work gentleman. Bwaahaahaaa.
Oh stop it Laverne .
You are right. The same people keep voting the same way expecting a different result. It’s called insanity and congrats as you are one of them. Keep up the good work. The small minority of us that understand insanity isn’t doing us any favors will have to go down with the sinking ship. Sad but true:( Good day to all!
Fact is everyone that leaves Bermuda doesnt get a hotel room. So for those people to say “factor” in this and that is just wrong.
I know what you are saying! It’s as if their isn’t any possible way that anyone in Bermuda has family or friends in the US that they stay with. They must be staying in $200 per night hotels… RIGHT As a matter of fact, MOST people that go to the states go to visit family/friends and have a free place to stay and shopping is merely a part of their visit versus the only reason for leaving Bermuda. ASS U ME is such a bad habit.