Gordon-Pamplin: ‘Infrastructure Is Crumbling’
[Updated] “The infrastructure that exists to make this Island work is crumbling,” Shadow Transport Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin said yesterday [June 20] following news that there would be interruptions for the afternoon as 18 buses are out of service waiting for new tires.
Ms Gordon-Pamplin said, “News that Bermuda’s bus fleet is hobbled by a lack of spare tires raises one more question about the Government’s ability to mind the store.
“Make no mistake, this is not a one-off. Lack of spare parts, whether with ferries, the incinerator or buses, has become a regular feature of Island life. There is, clearly, a systemic problem at work.
“One would have hoped that the priority before the tourist season would have been to ensure Bermuda’s infrastructure was ready to handle increased demand.
“But having just spent a cool million on a tourism plan and having to acknowledge there are too few buses to meet visitor demand is just one more sign of a government asleep at the wheel. The fact that local commuters also have to suffer inconvenience, adds fuel to the fire.
“Our underlying concern is this: The Government fails to see that it’s in the service business – the customer service business.
“What’s even more disappointing is that it will not take heed. When the Opposition pointed out that the Government must take more care with the public purse, we were laughed at with scorn. When we pointed out that millions in cost overruns on nearly every project it had undertaken would leave the people wanting, we were dismissed as being the purveyors of gloom and doom.
“How much longer will the Government make people suffer from its failure to pay attention to the job they gave them? Reckless spending, poor planning and lack of leadership is catching up with the government and the people of this country are paying, and will continue to pay the price.
“The infrastructure that exists to make this Island work is crumbling. The people of Bermuda deserve better.,” concluded Ms Gordon-Pamplin.
Update 9.48am: The PLP responded to the statement above, saying: “There they go again! Lots of criticism, but, no ideas and no policies to address the problem! This is so typical of both the UBP before them and now the OBA. They either have no real ideas for moving the country forward or they’re hiding their real agenda to bring radical change to Bermuda.”
“The OBA can’t have it both ways. They can’t decry debt out of one side of their mouth and then call for greater investment out of the other. Which is it? Do you agree with us that during times of global economic uncertainty we should be investing in Bermudians?
“Or, do you agree with the rest of your party, the Republicans in the United States and the Conservative Party in the UK that now is the time for savage cuts and austerity? This is your opportunity to finally take a stand on an issue and stop being known as the No Ideas Party.”
This is very, very poor planning by someone, either at the PTB or at Government level. It is both embarrassing and upsetting. And who suffers for this ineptitude – Joe Public and our visitors. Someone in Government has to take charge and make sure that our public transportation system is efficient and reliable. If necessary, heads need to roll.
So tried of pompa$$ Pamplinizing,OBA superbrower uni brow. Only speak to hear herself.
The PLP are so full of crap. They spend like idiots and still can’t get anything done. And moronic fools vote for them.
By the way, tyres wear out predictably over time. Not overnight. Having buses off the road due to lack of tyres is freakin ridiculous.
But, but, but they said they INVESTED in infrastructure.
Mrs. Pamplin whilst i appreciate that you have to cry wolf, because that’s what an opposition does. Would you have preferred that the buses continue on and God forbid, a tire blow causing an accident.
Did one stop to ask, why are the new tyres not here. Maybe its because just the other day, the Government choose some new business to import tyres for all Government Vehicles.
Maybe the new local suppliers, had to ensure that they could get the proper recommended tyres to ensure the safety of the passengers that ride the buses daily.
Maybe its because the payment for the new suppliers had to imputed into the new E1 payment system.
Whatever the reason or reasons, i am satisfied, that they sought to remove the buses from service for the short term.
Only hole in your plot is that the tyers that are late are coming from Island Construction.
LOL I know these small facts don’t mean anything to some people but lying about it (or lying due to lack of knowledge is still lying) does not help and is an atempt to mislead Bermuda. PLP M.O. really.
should be “tyres”
forget it tires tyres………tomatos, tomatos…..
ahhhhh ahhhh
LOL
No, don’t forget it! – ‘tyres’ is as ‘tyres’ was – Bermuda is not an American state. If you insist on the american system, then why persist with your ridiculous metric miles system on all the signposts, they are ‘foreign to both the Americans and the British. “Culture my man, culture.”
Always full of excuses. It’s almost funny now an excuse for EVERYTHING.
@maninthemirror. Take it from one who knows first hand.
The problem has been caused by the ineptitude of those in charge of PTB. They insisted in honoring an order from Island Construction (no tender done) rather than order the tyres from the new supplier (proper tender done). Then when IC let them down they placed a very late order – perhaps only two weeks ago, with the new supplier. If they had placed the order on time there would be no problem. The persons to blame are the Director of PTB and his Store Keeper. This is fact!
This however is my opinion – I suspect this is a deliberate ploy to undermine the new contract so they can continue to pay overinflated prices to their previous supplier, and tell Premier Cox that her policies on transparency and fairness are stopping buses running!
Bernews…can you please check your sources. I am hearing through jungle telegraph that it is not an issue with tires alone. Due to all the rain we had last weekend there was water on the inside seats of the buses caused by leaks and that is also why the buses were taken out of service!?
Need to replace the existing buses with Hybrid buses that costs $230,000 each and for the government to lease it from an investor.
That will upgrade buses, significantly reduce fuel costs, no capital outlay.
@ LOL (original TM*) i will refresh your memory
Read the below article
http://bernews.com/2012/05/government-awards-1-million-tyre-contract/
Thanks for the reply. no where in that story does it say one important thing….. ready…
What is the effective date of the start of the contract.. So what are you proving…
LOL respectfully.
“The OBA can’t have it both ways. They can’t decry debt out of one side of their mouth and then call for greater investment out of the other. Which is it? Do you agree with us that during times of global economic uncertainty we should be investing in Bermudians?”
This statement shows the real issue with the government’s attitude towards the problem. I do not have a problem with investment in infrastructure. What is clear and apparent from this situation, is that there is a lack of management and that the Ministry of Transport is economically and logistically inefficient. It is not managed properly! If this were a private company that ran the bus service, no way in hell would they have an outage like this from a tire contract. It is a poorly managed situation, plain and simple the people in charge either don’t care or they don’t know what they are doing.
If I were the OBA, my solution to the problem that the PLP called for is quite simple: Run the bus service like you would run business. Sound financial management and be aware of the logistical issues of getting the Tires to the Island and on the Buses on time. You can’t blame the supplier, if you had half a brain it would be in your contract for them to ensure timely delivery, it would be in the contract that the payment terms are made clear. Why are you having issues with payment?? it is simple contractual supplier business. The only answer is that you don’t know what you are doing!! THE PLP HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO RUN A MINISTRY!
A comment was made this morning by a driver that four buses had been involved in accidents this week while this driver and another bus driver manouver their buses through a tight situation on a corner in the West End area of St. David’s. Please Please Please schedule buses in through Southside and out on Main Road, those responsible for scheduling.
So what is the truth – tires or accidents???? I am sure there is great concern amongst many of our bus drivers about the future of their employment. Less buses – less drivers – less many other persons, same thing for Marine and Ports and the list goes on!! YET government continues to pay out, pay out, pay out, travel, travel and more travelling – them or us and we all now it is US,our Seniors and our Children.
Why should the OBA offer any suggestions! They are not the Government in charge. You are. The balance should be saving money while maintaining what you have. How simple is that!
The country is broke,busted,pennyless,milked clean.
The police can’t even get a repair done to a police boat and have been put on cash only for fuel.
That’s when you know the gigs up.
The government trying now to beg for millions from lenders to pay back other lender.It’s like some big Ponzie scheme.
When I tried that years ago by getting cash advances on one credit card to pay the minimum payment on another credit card I soon found out that I was really officially Bankrupt!
Wow. PLP’s response is disgusting. So many exclamation marks and saying they are known as the No Ideas Party. Do they know what their nickname is? Why should OBA offer ideas? PLP needs to sort it out or move over and let someone else drive the bus. This island is in a financial mess! Comments 9 & 10 are spot on.
“Or, do you agree with the rest of your party, the Republicans in the United States and the Conservative Party in the UK that now is the time for savage cuts and austerity? This is your opportunity to finally take a stand on an issue and stop being known as the No Ideas Party.” (PLP statement)
There you go GC .
The root of our cost problems is a hugely bloated an innefficient civil service . But because our PLP government is always running in ‘election mode’ they’d rather come out with crap like this instead.
Well , you wanna know the truth ? Yeah , let’s have some serious austerity here. It’s long overdue and the only way we’re ever going to ‘reset the dial’ . Remember that little cliche expression designed to get votes too ?
They can suffer like the rest of us who’ve lost our jobs while saving the taxpers tons of money at the same time.
But how do you execute much needed and overdue austerity without pissing off a whole load of your ‘supporters’ ?
Simple , wait ’till after the election ! It’s gotta happen , just a matter of when not if . The current situation is totally unsustainable. It MUST come to an end .
Get rid of all the incompetant people and replace them with some of these young, highly educated minds who can turn our island around. Right now they cannot get jobs anywhere and are leaving to go and build OTHER countries when they should be able to work and build here in Bermuda.
How difficult is it for a competent person to have an proper supply of tyres is the storeroom at all times? (foward planning) How difficult is it for a garage supervisor/manager to schedule the fitting of tires on our very small fleet of buses on a regulas basis?
Does the Director meet with his staff on a regular basis, to get a better idea of their problems?
buses are falling apart…..ferries too…..roads with pot holes….old derelict buidings…….supplies for schools are being purchased by school staff because of lack of funds…..public assistance sky high and going higher…..Government encouraging welfare cases go to the UK what else am I missing as further examples of crumbling infrastructure? fiddle de dee lets all go on a trip to Morocco or Peru or Belgium….never ending spiral
I hear that the police marine Section were refused gas at PW’s at the weekend as they had not paid their bill.
Lack of planning there too.
Shipping company’s fault
Why don’t the PLP cronies attack the issues and not the messenger. “Lots of criticism and no ideas” the say. The structure is in place what ideas are they talking about. Ordering spare parts does not require a rocket scientist. I don’t think the OBA are gonna show all their cards yet. We have a government who right now are slowly destroying this island because they don’t have a clue as to what the H-E double hockey stick they are doing. Its time for them and there wise a##, name calling butts to GO!! It goes to show you, their lack of intelligence by calling the OBA the ‘No Ideas Party’ these are the people running our country. Lord help us one & all.
NIP…that’s catchy…I might run with that…bet I’ll get more than 8 votes…
We all know we have a vacuous government that needs to go.
Our country is in so bad shape has anyone noticed the third world roads we are driving on the potholes and uneven patch jobs like the flints tones!
Yea its not a cool feeling on a bike when your back tire slips off the edge of the uneven tarmac, botan stretch is pretty bad. How um spose to do numbaz don de stretch like dat?
But, but, but we INVESTED in infrastructure. Roads aren’t part of infrastructure, oh wait they are a CRUCIAL part of the infrastructure. More important than say an overpriced pier, an overpriced courthouse, or an overpriced TCD building don’t ya think? Think about this before you start the infrastructure crap cause its bs!
All you have to do is take away the Government funded cars and let them ride the Ferries and the Buses like the rest of “working” Bermuda. Tell the GP drivers that there fuel will have to be paid for out of pocket and they have to use government transport and you will see a change. When was the last time dear Paula drove a car, or had to get up at 6am to wait for the ferries to get to town from Somerset for a 8:50am start.
I feel for all the hard working Bermudians trying so desperately to pay for necessities (let lone a home)and all of our Bermudian retirees (that made this country unique and beautiful) pushed to the side and told “you wanna get to town” call a taxi they will eventually pick you up.
It is amazing what a bit of power can do to some people …. always remember your roots.. take care of your house and you will be loved….