In any case, the lowest paid assistant in the Civil Service starts at $56,000 or thereabouts, based on the Help Wanted ads in the Sun. So, I would bet Ms. Davis, and civil service workers (who are just about the only people still employed nowadays), would not be getting any Day Care benefits. Also, the OBA has, I believe, already stated more than once that they will not cut Future Care, Day Care, or seniors’ public travel privileges.

Yes… Legalize cannabis. It could be the “magic bullet” to turn tourism around. Real quick!!

And just yesterday there was an article in the Bda Sun showing the government has been unable or unwilling to pay their electric bill for the docks.

The list of examples of government scrambling to pay their bills when they come due is growing by the week. All because of the lavish spending on friends and family during the reign of the great doctor and his finance minister Paula Cox. Did we ever get that $160k ‘consulting’ fee back from the Pastor?

Re the PLP’s plan, there is the Throne Speech of November 9th. which is a public document, a Ten Point Plan which is a public document, the PLP Accomplishments ( which will help to see how debt was incurred).
I hope this helps. Otherwise, stay tuned for the Party election platform which will show it’s plan for the upcoming term. The OBA no doubt will do the same. I hope this helps.

A simple example. Ms. Davis refers to her status as having a young son. Under the PLP she would benefit from the daycare benefit which would ensure she has access to appropriate daycare for her child. On the basis of the assistance, she would be able to ensure that her child is as best prepared as possible to enter primary school. The benefit is because it is generally accepted that the better our children are prepared when they enter primary school, the better their education experience will be for their entire school experience.

To add to the daycare benefit, Ms. Davis would be free to either work or seek employment if she is not employed because her child is in safe daycare. Thus the full benefit to residents is the ability to have safe daycare but also to have the freedom to work or seek employment.

Is the OBA going to cancel the daycare benefit – they must start to answer these questions because voters want to know!!

Ms. Davis is clearly unprepared for a discussion about the economics of Bermuda since she was unable to answer the first question about the relevance of the private $5b debt. I accept that as a new candidate, she will not know all the answers but the inability to answer the first question shows her lack of preparedness.

Thanks for the speech OBA but please include your plan to reduce the debt next time that would really be appreciated.

Billions of dollars (!) will be freed up for investment in Bermuda once a responsible government is put in place.

The plp have to admit that they have a problem before they can fix it

And we all know the plp are not mature enough to admit to their serious shortcomings.

And seeing that everything is tickety-boo according to the plp, nothing will change if they regain power.

Vote widely. If you want change.

DEBATE!!!!!!!

So what was the other $1.2bn spent on? If you add up all of Vote For Me’s list it’s about $350m. What happened to the rest?

It was wasted. First class Travel. Cars. Parties. Hundreds of millions on consultants who were friends of Ewart. Security teams and luxury travel for Ewart. Lucrative overpriced deals for select contractors. Trips to Paris. Trips o China. tTrips to the Caribbean. All with entourages and hangers on.

You can’t blame the $1.4bn on projects that were bought and paid for prior to 2003.

The PLP has no idea how to grow the economy. Dawn Simmons doesn’t even understand the concept of inflation. And you think they have any chance of containing expenditure? They can’t even think in those terms. Two weeks ago they announced a slush fund for the PLP. All they can think about is where to give away money.

What I want to see is the PLP plan, especially with regard to tackling the debt. If there isn’t one, I wish they’d say so instead of trying to deflect and redirect.

I mean if you and mates were so outraged by this young lady’s supposed reaction to your oh so civil demeanor, then you lot must’ve been outraged at the numerous examples of pure disrespect that various PLPs MPs, senators, members, supporters et al. I am assuming you guys also believe that this isn’t acceptable behaviour and that in no way should such individuals should be in any seat of power.

I mean you must, right?

We need answers , and Your party leader is just the person to ask the hard questions . Now more then ever we need the absolute best people to lead us . Step up to the plate OBA leader , and convince the undecided that clearly , you are the best person for the job . Do it for yourself , Do it for your party . Do it for Bermuda . End this horrible recession . Put Bermudians and the world back to work .

One more thing Paster Syl , please direct me on the charity I should give to this year ? I don’t have much , but I’m willing to share what I can .

Above I made an error i mean to say did i mention how ATTRACTIVE you are

are you having any town hall meetings where i can come and meet you formally you dont have to answer any difficult questions just smile and sip your champagne

The above link should help clear up some misconceptions about the true level of capital spending that has occurred for the past decade. Still doesn’t come close to $1.5 billion of debt.

Hope this helps.

You are beautiful and I will vote for you on 17 December, I like your new professional look and that Tiffany chain you had on today at the press conference.

Dont take these comments to heart honey, you are hot and actually one of the hottest Politicians we have on the market right now between the two parties

Many of us dont give two hoots about the issues for me its about the Candidates and for me you are my one and only

have a great career and dont follow these stupid rude posts or any blog

by the way, did I mention how arrteactive you are

Love
Constituency 2 Voter

OBA all the way, give us some Nandi any day!!!!!!!!!

Actually, speaking of investment, perhaps the Premier/Minister of Finance could give us a summary of Government’s investments along with the corresponding depreciation schedules, projected returns on investment, amortization schedules, etc.

Maybe during this election (prior to or shortly thereafter) there needs to be a polling of the public via a referendum to ascertain their views on revenue generating options / opportunities for BERMUDA and its (our) future!

For Example:
1) Gambling (locals cannot participate, but this may provide many with jobs – card dealers, servers / bartending, security, etc.)

2) Create income tax brackets: Payroll tax based on level of income. Higher income = increased tax rate / lower incomes, lower tax rate. One cap does not fit all. Increased payroll tax on incomes of more than $350k.

3) Implement Cost Control for staple food items; add a tax for non-essentials / nice to have items. To encourage healthier eating. I know many people that want to eat better but find the cost for such items more expensive than pre-package / unhealthy options.

4) Create incentives for foreign businesses to come to our shores (i.e. immigration policies, term limit extensions, a 50/50 rule, Gov’t tax breaks, etc.). For Companies that cultivate local talent – Succession Planning – employers who hire foreign professionals (ex-pats) who then train locals in relevant fields (accounting, medical / health services, insurance, teaching, elder care), to gain experience, know-how to transition into those management/administrative positions currently held by ex-pats (new college graduates/ young professionals can gain the experience needed this way). Regenerate our workforce with the resources we have (our knowledgeable, experienced guest workers – that is why they are here, right? For their experience or is it to make money and send it off our shores?). Those businesses can create incentives for their employees involved in succession planning. Let us work together for the betterment of all residents, locals and those blessed to have the opportunity to work and reside on our shores.

5) Use Government owned land for produce cultivation – grow our own fruits and veggies – less import, run and managed appropriately by Ag & Fish; produce sold to local markets/grocers; inclusion with local farmers. More job opportunities.

6) Decriminalization of Marijuana (for small possession) – less people turned into criminals/have a criminal record (which reduces educational opportunities); Potential cultivation (coffee shops, cafes regulated and managed responsibly, Gov’t taxed re: Amsterdam) Take the money out of the drug dealers hands. Look at our liquor licence policies. In my opinion, Alcohol, which is legal (a very popular pastime amongst locals) is more destructive to our social fabric than anything else.

IDK? I’m just throwing out ideas to help move blogging into a more constructive form of usefulness. For goodness sakes, there does not seem to be anyone with any formidable ideas these days just a whole lot of distractions like who is to blame.

Look at where we are at, look at what is happening all around us on this little damn rock in the middle of the Atlantic. We were once a great place (another world), a leader that other Caribbean countries admired. Look at what we have become.

Speaking of cars, here is a suggestion that might drum up a few more tourists – I am utterly convinced that many families do not holiday here because they cannot rent a car. Let’s let our tourists rent a car and maybe we will get a few more. Perhaps the Government fleet could be sold off to one of the cycle liveries for this purpose.

Nobody at the moment as far as anyone can tell. Silence.

Secondly, why everytime anyone, not just PLP supporters (and FYI to challenge the OBA does not make me a PLP supporter), challenges the PLAN to decrease debt, and which capital project would have been cancelled? which in the future will not be undertaken? why the OBA think civil servants do not have families to support and are steadily throw out CUTTING their jobs like its okay….. you supporters Quickly jump in to attack the PLP. I want answers to those important questions. Give the people of Bermuda the truth, since the steady claims of lies and non-transperancy.

I’m waiting……and I haven’t voted before so no party affliation. Just want to know both sides, sometimes you know the Devil you have but can be burned twice by the Devil you dont know. Like my parents without a job after December because they are civil servants.

If good behaviour is so important to you, I suggest you give your PLP MPs a stern talking to. I remember the fight that broke out between Burgess and Michael Scott back in June. And that was in the HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY of all places, not the streets of Hamilton! Very unprofessional, childish behaviour! They can’t even respect one another, how I am supposed to believe they can respect the average person on the street?

I also remember a certain Health Minister, not too long ago, feeling threatened when a man approached him in public asking questions – and he had that guy arrested! Why is it acceptable that a grown man should be protected from harrassment, but not a young woman from a group of men she doesn’t know, and she is just being labelled as rude?

Man, get a life.

I may post later about the public comments on how the PLP prposes to reduce the debt but in summary it is a combination of containing expenditure and growing the economy

This young women is new to the public arena and shows great talent and potential. She is the future- she gets it. You do not.

NONE of those items had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with the current $1.4bn+ of debt.

So let’s add up the rest. The capital projects you list come to about $350m. So what happened to the other $1.1bn or so?

On to the more important subject. When are the current leaders of the country going to state their financial plans? Are they going to let debt fester, or are they going to address it? If they are planning to address debt, what does that mean, exactly? The PLP has said NOTHING about its plans to address the economy and debt.

Or the $160,000 “investment” backhanded to Pastor Leroy Bean in return for a secret ‘report’ that he wrote to provide advice to himself?

Or the $10m+ “invested” in overruns at TCD.

That kind of thing.