Richards Expecting ‘Election Budget’
In advance of tomorrow’s budget, Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards questioned whether the budget “will address key factors, or will it be an election budget.”
“My guess is that it is going to be an election budget,” said Mr Richards. “Because if there is anything we have learned about this PLP Government, is that they always put politics before the country. They put politics before policy.
“What we are going to see, I believe, is an election budget. A budget filled with not a whole lot, with empty promises, with platitudes…” said Mr Richards.
“We are going to see a pie in the sky type of approach that does not address those issues. The issues of job growth, the issues of debt, the issues of unemployment, the issues of falling retail sales. All of those key issues are going to be glossed over, or at least there will be an attempt to gloss them over.”
In a statement released, Mr Richards said, “I think all of us are waiting for the upcoming Budget with real concern. It may well be the most important Budget in our modern history, because Bermuda, economically speaking, is at a tipping point.
“The year-to-year growth we have enjoyed for so many decades has come to a halt. The promise that all of us enjoyed for so long – that things would continue to get better – is no longer the case. Where there was full employment there is now joblessness, where there was confidence, there is now real doubt.
“The question Bermudians need to ask themselves on Friday when the Premier reads her Budget Statement is “Will this Budget turn things around? Will it return us to prosperity? Will it create jobs? Will it grow opportunity for my children? Will this Budget give us a safer, more secure future than the one that’s been taking shape?
“From my perch, I have watched and warned that the Government was moving us down a bad path, where we were blindly forfeiting future strength for questionable immediate gains. And now the chickens have come home to roost. The Premier has backed Bermuda into a corner where we now have few options and less control over our destiny.
“So my colleagues and I will be looking to see if this Budget can at the very least put the Island onto a more promising path. Can it restore confidence in the Island and the Economic Miracle that made us great?
“That will be the key. Confidence is the lubricant Bermuda needs to get this Island working again. That’s what I will be watching for,” concluded Mr Richards.
This is the problem with party politics in this country. Mr. Richards has not seen the budget; however, he has an opinion already created and ready?! It is this type of rhetoric that makes me uneasy about the OBA and their political aspirations. They seem bent on becoming the government by any means necessary, without actually providing any logical reasons to support them.
In addition, the language used by Mr. Richards is nothing more than that of a spoiled child with a God complex – - listen – - these are quotes – “From my perch, I have watched and warned . . ” and “And now the chickens have come home to roost.”
That is nothing more than election talk – - we are smarter than that, Mr. Richards. To the OBA Leader, I beg of you – - please speak to your shadow ministers and members – - get them to understand to win this election you need to ENDEAR your party to the young vote – - without us, you can not win and everytime you have your little pittbull Bob bark, it doesn’t make us wanna support you – seriously.
Give us your solutions to the issues of the country – - speak to the Bermuda we can envision with the OBA as government – - INSTEAD of playign the same old game with the PLP – - we are sick of it. YOU WILL LOSE THIS ELECTION IF YOU CONTINUE – plain and simple.
To all those persons who believe this is a post in support of the Government and the PLP – you are seriously mistaken. I would love for the OBA to win the next election – however, they can not be naive about the challenge they face – - plus, they need to get rid of some of that UBP baggage they are still carrying (i.e. Richards, Moinz, Crockwell, Dunkley, Simmons, – did I miss one? lol).
To Mr. Richards – - I understand what your motives are – - and I can accept that’s how you feel; however, let me explain something to you. You will never be Premier of Bermuda – - You are too much about yourself to be placed in that office where a humble servant should stand – - we have already experienced what can happen when we have a self-serving Premier – we are not going back.
So I again ask from the OBA – - a plan to take Bermuda forward – - a clear and concise plan of suggestions and ideas – - they all don’t have to work – - but they should exist – - IF NOT, we can not vote for a group of people who are upset about how things are when they don’t have a clear idea of how to fix it – - that’s like voting for the Devil I don’t know versus the Devil I can see – -understand?
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Nobody who can do a little thinking for themselves needs to even see the budget to have a good idea of what it will be all about. The PLP have established a very predictable track record.
The budget presentation will be filled with many fluffy words & phrases that only the presenter might have an understanding of what she is saying. To the blind followers it will sound good.
The reality is that a few months into the financial year budgets will be exceeded. Supplements will be sought. Vote seeking freebees will be repealed.
PLP business as usual. SNAFU.
to be continualy suggesting that people who don’t agree with you are blind is very disrespectful. You seem to feel that people should accept what you say just because you said it. The truth is an incumbent government anywhere will produce a buget that suits their needs, that is just common sense and will be no different i fthe OBA wins. For Bob to be implying otherwise is just dishonest.
The Pee el Pee needs votes and will be making a nice easy to swallow budget so people will like them, like the free childcare (it isn’t free, all of us are paying for it) and free TCD for granny’s blinged out Tucson with the $5000 rims and big box in it. Anyone with any measure of common sense and minimal knowledge of how political parties operate knows that in election years governments the world over introduce budgets that make people think the government gives a sh!t about them. Just ask yourself if the country is broke, how will the free childcare and similar services be paid for? the answer is simple, a huge loan. Now ask yourself how will that loan be paid off. By taxing people, import duties and fees like TCD and stamp duties and departure tax. The PLoP have been very busy scaring IB companies off of the island. When they leave, the money they spend in our restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and landscaping services goes with them. If the grocery store sells less groceries then cashiers get fired, when the garage has less cars to fix, mechanics get fired. When people have no work they need free government social services. Remember how social services are paid for?
@Yng Black Mind – You are right. The OBA at this point is failing to connect with the very people they need to attract to win the Election. To all members of the OBA – Start trying to really connect with Bermudians instead of just focusing on winning the next political debate.
There is an old saying, “you cannot offer what you do not possess”! Well said YBM!
@ Young Black Mind….You have put into words many of my feelings and concerns, As a swing black voter, I finding it more difficult to give my vote to the OBA. More and More the OBA is acting, sounding like the old UBP, and like many of its bloggers. This kind of behaviour from the OBA bloggers is expected, but not from a season politician. So what really has changed? I am concern about the behaviours of MR Richard, and more sad is that he is not even aware of his own behaviours. His presentations are weak, and use of language is poor. He did not even understand his behaviours in regards to the Caymans. That alone speaks volumes. But instead he comes out with a spin, rather than admitting it was wrong. The OBA is looking more weaker as time goes on. I am listening and watching…….
Jack, what would be more difficult for you (and the rest of us) to bear?
A new government with new ideas and approaches, or more of your dollars going down the drain? Are you content with this government’s incompetence? Are you ready for more of the ‘same ole’ for the next few years? Do you really think we can take any more jabs? The real ‘concern’ is attitudes like this….God help help us..
PLP Sheep. Enjoy your dismal future.
@Not a puppet:
Did you read any of the post here? I do not believe that anyone is a mindless PLP sheep here. I believe they have serious concerns about the state of this country and hope that the OBA realize they are playing into the hands of the PLP with their rhetoric – plain and simple.
We want to feel the change that “HE” believes he is talking about – - not feel that he is just aruging for the sake of discourse.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
How can you feel the change if we are not in power? Bob was explainging to the public what his speech was about in the first instance, because the Premier told Bermuda he was being unpatriotic.
@Young OBA Member:
Did you read his statement? I am referring to the “election” budget statement. I am not talking about his statement with regards to the Cayman island, nor the Premier’s rebuttal statement about Mr. Richards being unpatriotic.
The tone of his pre-budget statement is “more PLP doom and gloom.” I want him to speak about the hope and possibilities of the OBA Government – - that is the purpose of my statement above. He is simply playing the old tune, believing that it will get him elected – - he is mistaken. We don’t want the old way – - and he should know better than that – - I have told him and the OBA Leader on more than one occasion that these tactics will not work to persuade the young vote – - negative begets negativity – plain and simple.
I feel you, but none of the OBA supporters want to talk about that stuff. Sad but true.
Maybe Bob and his wife can now move to the Cayman Island. They threatened to leave the island in 1998 if the PLP won the election but they’re still here. We all know that the PLP will win the next election so that follow through with their threat.
Certainly Premier Bush will welcome another expatriate, even if he’s from Bermuda. Bob could even offer himself for public service in the Cayman Island. I’m sure Premier Bush could use his intelligence.
Why don’t you go. I’ll pay for the ticket.
You could use a little bit of his intelligence too – he knows how to PROOFREAD!!! Do you not read the drivel you write before you post it????
Again, you attack the messenger! Again, you have totally skirted the issue! Nothing new here – this is what we expect of you now. Nothing more.
Why should I PROOFREAD when you do it? Do you not read the driver you write before you post it???? Give me a facking break!!
Don’t you attack this messenger on a daily basis? Get over yourselfw hoever you are!!
To Laverneee Furbert
Do you not have a job to tend to. Oh I forgot u work for them. That do nothing all day, get paid.
Lady seriously get a life.
I think you spilled kool-aid on your keyboard.
Uh oh she’s mad….watch out…
Nice language LaVerne. You truly have no class whatsoever. None! Pathetic.
LaVerne, it’s surprising you’re allowed to use that kind of obscene language. Standards aren’t what they were I guess.
You need to take it down a thousand, your real personality is showing.
Bob and the Mrs. will have lots of company on planes flying one-way trips if this government continues in the downward spiral! I can see it now, planes filled with expats and the companies they work for heading for much greener pastures. Good work! Who needs ‘em anyway, right?!
@Furbert: a least you put your real name. i can’t side with you all the time but these people who call you names should stop being anonymous.
on another note, doesn’t bob’s face just get on your nerves. i hate when that man is on tv.
YAWN to the whole article!
Yng black mind, an apparent swing voter, offered a thoughtful comment, the response by the the oba “supporter” was “PLP Sheep. Enjoy your dismal future.”. That in a nutshell is why the UBP, once great is now gone (kinda) why the oba cant win. The PLP won because even when LBE was the lone PLP MP in the house surrounded by mad men like harry viera, there was a level of hope, even in the apartheid like social settings of 1970s bermuda, the PLP offered ideas for all (various suffargist policies, fair wages), but take a look at the OBA online community, bitterness, anger, name calling, siding with your competition. Horrible. South africa is drastically “poorer” than it was under the heyday of apartheid but even in these rough times there, no one wants to go backwards.
better yet you could head south as I’m sure they need whatever it is you do….
As usual, rather than consider the hard cold facts, the PLP loyalist attack the OBA messenger displaying a complete lack of of political maturity. Sadly, their worlds are driven by emotion.
13 years of poor governance has cost the faithful huge amounts of money with very little to show for it. The bill will be passed to their children & grandchildren but that seems to matter very little to them.
With an OBA Government a magic wand will not be waved & all will be well. The wounds inflicted by the PLP are too deep. At least within the OBA there are professional people who understand what it takes to run a successful business.
Look around the ranks of the PLP. What do you see? For the most part a bunch of people who have never run a business of any size themselves. How can efficient management of Bermuda be expected of them?
The PLP experiment has failed & it has failed miserably.
Tiangle drifter, stop exposing yourself please! OBA’ers continue to refer to themselves as “successful business people”. lets get this straight….. economic power is REAL power, most would agree, and political power is secondary. So the question is why are “successful business persons” so keen to regain political power when they already have the real economic power? Note that REAL, free-market business people would not touch politics with a 100ft pole, as they know that all governments are a hinderence to successful, free-market orientated business persuits.
To awnser my question as to why those with economic power seek to regain political power is because these so-called business people depend on controlling government to enhance their “business”(today, we call it cronyism and corruption, smh). They are NOT capitalist, they are CORPORTIST aka Oligarchs(research the term)! Need an example? Sir David Gibbons, paymaster-general of the OBA and the UBP, was the Premier, Minister of Finance, AND the Chairman of Butterfield Bank AT THE SAME TIME! On that note, lest we forget, it was Butterfield bank and their gambling(the OBA calls it financial wizardry), that caused the lost of millions of dollars of inherited old-Bermuda wealth, and their grieved shareholders know this to be true, yet they would try and blame the Governmnet for their woes. OH, BTW, during this time period, Bob’s CLOSE family member was a director of the same Bank. I guess she didnt listen to his “sage economic advice” either. Right Bob, the people know the truth, you are not that sharp of an economist the way your supporters make you out to be.
lastly, for the last few years,Stephen Todd was a successful businessman, but then he joined the PLP, and now…………. oh please!
Nailed it straight and true!
@ Young Black Mind – I hear you loud and clear. If you do not like what you see then PLEASE get involved. I did not like what I saw when I returned to Bermuda almost 40 years ago so I joined the UBP and worked from the inside to effect changes that I felt were important at that time. The UBP are now dead and gone (and rightly so) but the UBP in its day – unlike the present day PLP – was always open to criticism from within and from the outside. Today in Bermuda people are afraid to speak out…. Bermuda needs constructive thought and criticism (and certainly NOT LaVern’s poisonous ‘move to Caymen if you don’t like it here’ attitude): like many I hope that the OBA can provide a forum for change and Bermuda’s future. If you care then PLEASE GET INVOLVED!!!!
Totally agree ‘Get involved”
I think you have it backwards……..people of today are no where afraid to speak out, have a look at the paper, the net, and just talk to people in general. Now hte people of yesterday beung afaird to speak out, that is a more correct statment.
And thats why we all have fake names ……………………
LOL! Who’s on the phone, boss? LF and her son sayin I posted what during working hours?…… Honey, people are outside waiting for you to come out … And they know where I work ……………..
@ Yng Black Mind
Your comments represent the essence of the dilemma for the PLP and OBA. The PLP has a record to stand on for the past 13 years (the good, the bad and the ugly)and the OBA realistically have the UBP record to stand on whilst they were the government from 1964 to 1998 (spare me the OBA/UBP comments – the majority of OBA MPs were ardent UBP supporters in the recent past). The challenge for each is to demonstrate a sense of hope for the electorate, that is consistent with what they did while they were the government.
The current OBA tactic of opposing the PLP for opposing sake will not do the job. YBM is also correct about the recent utterances regarding Caymans. It is absolutely incredulous that MP Richards can make comments in support of Caymans. This is clearly an example of ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’.
If Bermuda fails, we all fail. I have a similar concern about the loose banding about of ‘corruption’. There has been no evidence of corruption in Bermuda and certainly not by either governing PARTY. Even if we had evidence of a single politician being corrupt, that is a far cry from claiming the GOVERNMENT is corrupt. Remember that the electorate, both young and old, are listening to what is being said and we must be more factual and less emotive.
In summary YBM, I applaud you for taking the time to articulate your thoughts – they hold true for all voters. Substance over style will win the day.
I look forward to the budget statement on Friday and anticipate that Premier Cox will offer a mix of solutions for Bermuda – clearly we will all have to bear some pain but the key is to make sure we are moving in the right direction as Bermuda make a slow but steady recovery.
@Vote for Me:
Thank you – - I completely agree with you statement. We are in snyc.
Are you interested in getting involved with changing the country? are you interested in meeting members of the OBA to hear our views? if you are let me know, because both can be arranged.
Balls. She’s going to offer solutions for Bermuda? She hasn’t yet, why will this year be different…oh yeah…it’s an election year.
The race card is so yesterday, the new race card.
No evidence of corruption?
No matter what Bob says and the way he say’s it, the undeniable truth at present is that the Government have failed to run their ministries and spend public funds in the correct manner. They have been unable to construct a budget or policies that actually do what they are supposed to do. At the end of the day, We the people will pay the price through civil service and public job cuts and increased taxes. If this sort of financial malpractice continues our infrastructure as a nation will begin to crumble . We are loosing money year on year under the PLP and they continue to drive fancy cars, take trips, collect large pay cheques , wine and dine on our public hard earned tax paying dollars. Say what you like but I would say vote for the lesser of two evils. I dislike party politics, but I dislike the way that the present government is running the country more. The hike in Payroll tax I can assure you had a negative impact on both local and international business costs. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is fine in the PLP’s eyes to let the public sector pay or go bankrupt as long as they are collecting taxes to fund the highly inefficient civil service. Why? because that is where their voters are. The government is so power hungry that they only take care of those they know will vote for them. By being this single minded, the economic interrelationships of this island continue to fall apart as international businesses leave and tourism fails to reach any sort of progressive level. The money has to be spent wisely and the policies need to help turn this nation around. This has not happened under the present Government.
@ t drifter – at present there are no women, black or hispanic ceos of any fortune 500 companies. Is that because blacks, women and hispanics cannot run these business? There has never been a female, jewish or greek US president. There has never been a black major movie studio head. etc. Your point about having run business’ is kinda pointless, carter, reagan, bush sr., clinton, bush jr, obama. Out of the last 6 US presidents (most powerful political leader in the world) only carter was a successful businessman and apparently the worst president. Ther have in fact been business leaders in the PLP but for the most part in a small country like bermuda with a history of economic racism yes of course those who choose to join the labour party are doing so to right inequities, most successful bdan business’ (goslings, dunkleys, gibbons, triminghams, cdp) are like plantations built on nepotism and racism.
Then there is Oprah, the wealthiest woman on earth. She started with nothing. She did not get where she is by being stupid.
Bil Cosby, once the highest paid entertainer.
There are a whole slew of successful minority people. Please keep in mind that Afro Americans only consist of something like 18% of the total population. The hispanic population is much larger.
It is taking time but at some point there will be so much mixing the whole population will be mush.
Trident, there are definitely women and minorities who are CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. You need to do your homework a bit better.
In fact, there is a black woman in Bermuda who was Managing Director of a Fortune 1000 company. You might know her. Her name is Linda Merritt and she is a PLP candidate.
I notice that in Italy there are no English men or women who are CEO’s of any of the top 100 Italian companies. I guess that must mean there is an undercurrent of racism in Italy against English people? Or would that be an absurd and ridiculous conclusion?
Carol Bartz CEO of Yahoo, female
Kenneth Chenault CEO of America Express, black
Antonio Perez CEO of Eastman Kodak, Latino
Ursula Burns CEO of Xerox, black female
I hope that the non cyber bullies here realize that the barrage of anti govt hared that is spewed here all day every day is not organic, it is a mostly conscious effort by the same mostly ex pat angry hateful group who post on bermudaisanotherworld. They have an agreement with each other to troll bermuda’s blogs and post as many hateful things as they can. Many of them don’t live here and cant vote and have a problem with this govt. mostly based on old racist ideals. It is why they can easily shift their anger from jennifer smith, to alex scot, to brown to cox. no matter who or how well the govt. is doing they will attack. for every one pro govt. post, you will see 10 angry responses. It is very coordinated and destructive. One common retort that speaks volumes is that “bda has been horrible since 1998″ meaning that even before the PLP had a chance to put any policies into place they were seething, you see it has nothing to do with governance. If you remember, going back to jennifer there have been accusations of corruption but nothing proven legally. When it comes to financial and govt.corruption even someone as powerful as the US president will be found out (see clinton, nixon) the reason why nothing is ever proven here is that there is nothing. Political power cannot be won by old bermuda anymore so they will cry corruption and smear, that is all they can do. It is something that actually predates party politics. Remember how cathartic it was when the UBP was voted out, if the OBA gets voted in it will be the UBP all over again.
…oh…back to the plantation card….
Tell, does everything frighten you?
longtail, i too lived in bermuda 40 years ago, for you to say you joined the UBP to try and solve the problem makes no sense, they were the problem, to say that people were not afraid to speak out, surely you jest. Your whole post seems to be based on fantasy, I actually thought you were joking. Fix it from the inside? If you knew it was broken then why join in the first place. Funny all around.
So in the imperfect wold of Bermuda politics 2012 you would advise Yng Black Mind NOT to speak out, Not to get involved. How negative, how sad……
“at present there are no women, black or hispanic ceos of any fortune 500 companies.”
Completely untrue.
I’ll add that I too am disappointed with the OBA’s pre-budget comments. I was expecting something more along the lines of what Mr Burchall produced for the Bermuda Sun [ http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=56975 ].
This gives good information on what to look for and why. It equips individuals with the ability to form their own opinion on the budget. The OBA could have taken a format similar to this and added highlights for each section on how previous budgets have given unsustainable benefits, how previous policy changes have impacted the economy, and so on. This would have been an educated analysis of previous budgets coupled with clear paths to today’s economic predicament. The OBA could have then followed up on Friday or Monday with a response to the budget while giving detail on how they would have budgeted and what they believed the PLP had gotten correct and incorrect while referencing their pre-budget statement. This would have built the community’s confidence in the OBA as they would have demonstrated a position with a follow-up analysis of that position relative to the PLP.
Instead, we get this list of hypothetical clairvoyant readings of the budget tomorrow. I’m really disappointed. I’m intelligent enough to draw my own conclusions on the budget. However, if you want to sway me to see it your way then give me some looking-glass to analyse the budget from your perspective. Mr. Richards, your pre-budget statements are like childish bantering when compared to Mr. Burchall’s statements. Surely you and your team could do better than this. Mr. Burchall is doing it all on his own and is, literally, decades ahead of you in content, context, and communication.
Sort yourselves out. Do some work in the kitchen before you set the table. Get some codfish and potatoes in these press releases. Show us that you are researching, analysing, and intelligently personalising the issues and current state. The swing voter is an educated and intelligent individual with a healthy dose of common sense. Get some of these people on your writing team or something.
This release is grossly awful. Turn it around.
Ride
well said however you must remember that Bob is doing the best he can. He wants badly to be the leader of this country – but he has failed to convince his own party members of his GREAT leadership abilities on at least two occasions. If his own people don’t want him and they know him best why would anyone else??
I certainly appreciate the work that Mr. Burchell has produced. while some may not like his writings(read, some PLP supporters), I certainly do, as I can respect a rational, thinking mind whose intent is only to educate people on the facts. Bob Richards would do well to listen and learn from Mr. Burchell, and for that matter, a economic commentator that i hold in high regard, Mr. Bob Stewart.
r u seriously trying use oprah and cosby to disprove racism? they r the exceptions that prove the rule. re; female, blk and hispanic ceos – even if their are 30 of them – they r the exceptions that prove the point. we have seen this movie b4 – in the 70s bought black faces but it was superficial, when those black faces left, grew old that was it. here we go again. does anyone really think that the oba is run by craig. craig himself said that he only joined the oba because fahy asked him to. translation, craig we need a black face w/ pseudo distinquishing features to pretend to be the leader.
Oh why bother? Nice deflection from the topic though. You must have had some coaching from Laverne.
The topic is the budget. The budget is made public tomorrow. We shall see if the speculations of Bob Richards, or anyone else, are correct tomorrow. Meanwhile Trident, if you are too lazy to even attempt to type properly you are not worth the time responding to.
well wiegh in later on this
Afro Americans.
I dont understand why in every thread the OBA supporters divert their attentions from the topic to berate and attack Ms. Furbert personally. Is it really that necessary. You don’t have to agree with what she posts but are you all so full of hatred for the PLP and Ms. Furbert that you just have to constantly berate her and attack her. I hope some of you have some very sleepless nights due to your behaviors on here.
OBA say they want change and one Bermuda. When I read the post of those who claim to be OBA supporters I see nothing but hate and disrespect for those who should have the freedom to have their own opinion. This is not attractive, it does not help the OBA cause, and it just shows that the things the OBA says they stand for are not true. Its like I am reading the post of little children who do not know any better. If this is a taste of what the new party is about as a party is made up of its people, why would I want to be a part of this mess??? You all talk about a new way,show it in how you address people and maybe, you will be more attractive as a party of choice. Right now I just have a bad taste in my mouth……..
@Itsaboutallofus sadly the anger brigade often do not have the backbone to say this to who they are truly mad at, the thousands of everyday bdans who vote the plp in every election, like true cowards they smile in their faces an then come home and rage on their keyboards. absurd.
Trident , your hatred for white is very obvious, sadly when the PLP totally ruin bda you will still blame the white man.
Looks to me like Bob Richards was spot on…
OBA this is just like going to Ford Motors for a old Ford car and trying to put a Peugeot motor in and paint it up to make it look brand new.It will not work. You all haven’t change Go back to the last election that cost you all to lost . This election you all are doing the same thing. This is why i say UBP & OBA same mind set no change . You should have stayed UBP this is still the heart of your party. I don’t see any change. Sheep in wool clothing.
Say it LOUD UBP