OBA Poll: 70% Think Bermuda On Wrong Track

December 4, 2012

[Updated] A recent poll commissioned by the One Bermuda Alliance showed that 70% of locals thought the island is on the wrong track.

When asked what one issue or problem is the most important for the next government to address, 46% of people surveyed said the economy, 10% said gang warfare, 9% said crime and 8% said youth unemployment.

A statement from the OBA said: “With the serious economic and public safety challenges facing Bermuda, the One Bermuda Alliance felt it important to reach out to one of the world’s top global strategic research firms to assist us in our efforts to turn Bermuda’s economy around. And to begin that process, the following is from a recent poll conducted for the One Bermuda Alliance by the Benenson Strategy Group.

“The Benenson Strategy Group has a long and distinguished record of polling on behalf of prominent Democratic leaders such Senator Tim Kaine and President Barack Obama.

“The numbers we are sharing with you today are from a report on their findings regarding the mood of the country, the top issues of concern for Bermudians and whether Bermuda’s voters want to continue the current government’s economic policies.

“The poll shows that economy, gang warfare, crime and youth unemployment are the dominant issues in the minds of voters, and this past week’s news of more job layoffs and a shooting in Pembroke on Saturday underscore the seriousness of the current problems we all face.

“With respect to the mood of the country and the need for change, the Benenson Group reported “70% (of Bermudian voters) say the country is on the wrong track. In addition, 75% of voters say the country should not continue the economic policies of the last five years.”

“Each week tells us Bermuda needs change, not more of the same; and these findings clearly reflect that. The One Bermuda Alliance will continue to focus its efforts on addressing the real problems facing Bermudians today so together we can restore the security and prosperity Bermuda families need.”

BSG conducted 400 interviews across the island of Bermuda between November 20-23, 2012. The margin of error for overall results is ±4.90%. Additional information is available here [PDF].

Update 10.36pm: A PLP spokesperson said: “It seems that the OBA has spent thousands to bring in yet another consultant to tell them how to relate to Bermudians.

“We hope that this consultant gave them better advice than the authors of the secret plan who told them to use ‘black surrogates’ and who insulted Bermudians by calling some of us ‘downscale’ and ‘less educated’.

“It is important to note that this poll was taken well before the UBP/OBA’s secret re-branding plan was revealed and their current leadership was caught in an attempted cover up.”

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  1. status! says:

    I find it amazing that this Group brought in was able to conduct 400 interviews within four days!!!And how can this information turn Bermuda around? Bermuda is run by Bermudians regardless of political affiliation, our problems will not disappear or even change because the same Bermudians will still be running the country and the same ideas will be floating. If there was any magic bullet it would have been produced! The OBA seems to be following in the present ruling party footsteps ;already hiring a consultant ,for what they consider a mammoth task ! If the OBA is going door to door,than I’m sure they can gather their own data! wasting money before they even have political power!Why haven’t we heard from Trevor Moniz, Michael Dunkley lately? Are the surrogates doing all the frontlining?

    • Black Soil says:

      Why haven’t we heard from the Premier? She’s been MIA since she called the election. And who is the new Premier in waiting?

      • navin johnson says:

        in San Francisco picking up a hero award in Atlanta picking up another hero award….in London visiting the students who are not allowed to vote….you know the usual meaningless fluff…out of sight since the election was called….that is part of her secret plan…too much exposure so she is told to keep a low profile…

      • Argosy says:

        It’s the BIU!!

      • Judge Dredd says:

        We have heard from the Premier, she issued an invitation for a debate to the black surrogate Craig Cannothear and he hasn’t responded yet.

    • LMAO2012 says:

      I too think that way and took the poll but after yesterday’s revelation and the leader of the OBA unprofessional outburst along with proposed deputy leader walking off and not maintaining order. Will be casting my vote else where. My granny use to say

      “better the devil you know than the one you don’t”

      • Zombie Apocalypse says:

        Better the devil you know? There are 3,500 people unemployed, there is $1.5bn in debt, the economy is in freefall, crime is through the roof, and there are no plans at all from the PLP to address anything.

        And you want to stick with that?

      • Y-Gurl says:

        I would rather have an rookie goverment than a corrupt one, at least you can teach the rookies!

        • OnlyTheTruth says:

          Thats a really scary perspective to have on the folks running your country…

  2. Justice not Peace says:

    No amount of poll data will put the runaway train, which is the OBA, under control right now. Regardless of how poorly the PLP have managed the public purse and numerous scandals which have rocked the party, they are on course for another term of office. Mr. Cannonier’s inept handling of the “secret report” issue and tantrum throwing at his recent press conference has all but hammered in the nail to the coffin of the OBA’s chances of winning the next election. The PLP have too broad of a support by it’s members and a now resounding base of support from the undecided black voter out there who can now rightly claim that the OBA is a rebranded version of the UBP. While I would have hoped to see a change in the government I will have to wait until the following general election or the total meltdown of the PLP in the next couple of days.

  3. We care says:

    To the Gil Tucker’s, Patrick Tannock’s, Darren Johnson’s who are definitely not surrogates of anybody….why aren’t you guys commenting on all this nonsense that is going on! Although it’s too late for you too stand don’t you care about this country and it’s future?

    Bermudians both black and white are looking for leadership and a real moral compass of integrity and credibility to make informed decisions about the issues and a REAL plan to move this country forward!

    We all know that you guys are self made and would not be subject to corruption or bribes as your reputations are priceless and could be counted on to do what is right for Bermuda and Bermudians both black or white.

    Can you imagine that if any of the above individuals were confronted with the situation that Craig finds himself in that they wouldn’t be decisive and call Gibbons, Dunkley, Smith to the carpet to demand accountability or if they were leading the PLP would never tolerate a Leroy Bean, Rolf or a David Burch? This country needs real decisive leadership and unfourtunately our brightest and best for whatever reason are not standing up!

    You guys have real leadership qualities , are involved in your communities and proven success in your respective fields, people respect your intellect and the fact that you have not forgotten where you came from and people both black and white really like you guys and we especially at this time need to hear from you and people like you black or white who sincerely have Bermuda’s best interests at heart and who have the intellect and credibility to move this country forward!

    It’s a sad state of affairs when the OBA has the young lady Alexis Swan out front who although dripped in passion does not at this stage have the depth or credibility and the PLP has a polarizing campaign emphazing what most black Bermudians suspected and probably knew already as respects black ‘surrogates’ rather than how we are going to get this country back on track! SAD!!! It’s a real CIRCUS right now.

    THe OBA keeps telling us what the problems are with no real solutions or than we will tell you when we get in and the PLP is spending precious time telling us that the OBA is the UBP reincarnated! The Bermudian public deserves better!!

    So to the Gil’s, Patrick’s and Darren’s and others like you this country is at a pivotal point how much more money do you need to make before you stand up? You guys have the moral authority and trust us people will listen to what you have to say!!

    What are you going to do… You can’t just sit back and do nothing!!

    • do your homework... says:

      @We care: You should ask Gil Tucker how many black Bermudians or Bermudians in general, work as Managers or Officers outside of administrative roles for the hundreds of people who work under him..

    • Kathy says:

      Yes, Darren for Premier…step up to the plate!!! We need you!!!

  4. Amazed says:

    Although i agree with your sentiments we will never get the best and the brightest in politics because it is simply not worth it. If any one of the people you mentioned decided to get involved they would have to choose a side which will automatically put them at odds with everyone on the other side. Before they could do anything half the population would be against them that is simply how it is in our present system.

  5. Well I have to agree with the O.B.A that we are and have been on the wrong track for sometime and the good thing about being in the wrong position is that there is always room to get on the right track from learning from the error of our ways but I dont know how the heck the O.B.A expect to put us back on the right track as they have now derailed their own train through lies and deception and here we thought everything white is right and everything black is slack.

    We have to be more accountable as a people toward each other and not just rely on a case study from a ploitical party that is bias in their dealings with the real issue,most of what we are face with in Bermuda is the responsibility of us all and the private sector has to take their share of the blame for bleeding this country for years and living lashvishly off of the working class population and robbing us blind for centuries,before 1998 and after.so the real jackasses is not them for doing it to us but us for letting them do it for so long.

    I am convinced that the same O.B.A that claim we are in crisis is the same U.B.P that put us there and that does not let the P.L.P off the hook for the crap they allowed to happen and especially under the last administration of Dr Ewart Brown.Bermuda we know why we are were we are but who you think really at this hour has your best interest at heart.it is certainly not the O.B.A,my mother and grandmother had the oppurtunity to both work in some of the wealthiest homes in this Island and I would say that those families were good to my family for the time that my mother and grandmother worked for them but look around you and see who is working in these homes today and I can assure you very few Bermudians if any at all.so is this what the O.B.A represents because it is all of them that can afford the nannys and helps in their homes and needless to say in some and most cases slaving them like dogs.

    So why dont someone stand and fight hard from the O.B.A for the injustice being done toward our own foreign workers,they cant because they are the ones abusing them the most.so if they are doing it to the foreign worker what chance does the average Bermudian have.take your poll and smoke it unto you come up with something we dont know.

    • Family Man says:

      A vote for the plp is vote to bring back Ewart and his cronies.

      • Judge Dredd says:

        You forgot that we never accepted your smear attempts against him. The only reason you hate him is because he made the Queen’s face small on the money, put a black slave statue on parliament grounds, named the airport after L.F. Wade and didn’t kiss the Governor’s @$$ like the obsequious colonised slave surrogate you prefer. He’s an iconoclastic genius! All I know is, I can’t ever show my children a black Governor or a banknote with a black face on it. All the symbols of power and governance were disproportionately white and Dreb as you racists call him saw that, made steps toward equality in that respect, and that simply enrages you. There’s really not more to it than that. Better Dreb than a surrogate horse pulling a carriage of elites hiding behind the curtains peeking out. I see you Glen, Grant, Dunkley, and friends. Hahaha de wheels fell off and Craig CannotHear is just dragging that busted carriage lol. Vote Vooote PLP

  6. OBA Supporter says:

    I was going to vote OBA, but this pinpointing is so childish.

  7. Bermudican says:

    a rubber mallet would go nice with the rubber room decor lol…

    Wellness center has renovated spaces for UBP / PLP
    “i seen it with my OWN EYES!”
    lol……

  8. Winnie Dread says:

    I will be voting for change, I have seen where we are and are going under the PLP and it is not pretty. If the OBA is elected and fails us then God help us, as what would be the alternative. I don’t care about no secret plan, just as I did not care for the supposed bullet that was sent to the good Dr. I care about my neighbour who just lost her job last week, the future of my job and that of my wife, the future of our children, who by the way will be paying for things the did not purchase well into thier adulthood, I care about the general safety aspect of all concerned. Thats why on Dec 18 come what may,my conscience will be free.

  9. smh says:

    once everyone gets over this whole “black and white” issue and focus on who’s going to do right by the people as a whole the island would be a much better place!!! its really getting old and soo boring. Bermuda has never been in dept used to be thee 3rd richest place in the world….so i ask how come now under this gov we are in billions of dollars in dept, no jobs, crime out of control, and some of you want to keep this party in why? what have they done for you, have they put money in your pocket when you lost your job or food on the table? i just don’t get it they have robbed us blind of our own money and its so sad. Bermuda used to be a paradise now its just a rock!!! such a shame…i vote for a gov that’s for ALL THE PEOPLE!!!! and stop pulling this race crap it getting so played out…. also with all politic there is always lies and scandal thats just how it goes…thats why is called “pile of tricks” think about it!!

  10. C.B.A says:

    LOL!!! They keep repeating the “secret plan” for everything! So obviousss they can’t stick to the issues that they have failed on! And they have nerve to talk about paying overseas consultants…at least this one didn’t cost the taxpayer thousands of dollars!!!

  11. Kathy says:

    So, who are the 30% that think we are on the RIGHT track?????

  12. Real Supporter says:

    OBA Stop telling us the stuff we already know!!! You have to come better than this. As a traditionally white party from the UBP, you really have to come better than this. People have high expectations these days since our economy has fallen.

  13. Triangle Drifter says:

    The pollsters are having a field day. Got one last night. Got another, different questions, tonight.

    Neither one was interested in what I had for dinner or what I watch on TV. Both wanted to know my views on who is who in the political partys & the general state of Bermuda.

    Doubt if the same party commissioned both polls. One of them has PLP connections. Thats the one I lied to. Gave Paula Cox the highest rating possible.

  14. GOD 1st says:

    PLP has a very weak Defence their time is up.

    • Judge Dredd says:

      I don’t usually point out typos but you spelled OBA wrong. No thanks necessary.

  15. GOD 1st says:

    Bermuda sure is on the wrong track so lets get on the right track the sea level is rising as is the…….