PLP Questions Government On Term Limit Plans
The Opposition Shadow Minister For Home Affairs Walter Roban and Senator Marc Daniels are questioning the Government’s stance on term limits and asking for details on job growth plans.
Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy recently spoke to the Bermuda Sun about the plans to scrap term limits for two years and streamline the work permit process. Minister Fahy said that the moves were designed to spark economic growth and create employment opportunities for Bermudians.
“The intent is to increase economic activity and make it easier for job makers to work in Bermuda and create jobs for Bermudians,” the Minister told the Sun. “Bermuda is open for business and we need to put out the red carpet to attract business back to Bermuda and keep it here. But that is not at the expense of jobs for Bermudians…”
A statement issued by the PLP said: “We are concerned about the OBA’s pledge for a 2-year Term Limit suspension without making clear what measures will be put into place to ensure the protection and equal opportunity for Bermudians.”
The PLP said the government needs to “immediately outline, a comprehensive Jobs Plan for Bermuda, detailing what steps they are going to take to ensure that jobs are created, or at least 400 jobs in 2013 alone to fit in line with their target goals.”
“The Minister needs to make clear the status of existing programmes such as the Dry Waller Training Programme, Nail Tech programme, Hospitality Training Programme and the Job Corps Initiative that was slated for rollout this year.”
“These are areas of importance to Bermudians and their job prospects and the government has already made substantial investment in creating these programmes. Will they be scrapped like term limits or continued to benefit local job opportunities?”
The full statement from the PLP follows below:
We have reflected upon the new Minister for Home Affair’s statements in Friday’s, 4 January 2013 edition of the Bermuda Sun which attempts to set out his Party’s plans to address Term Limits in order to spark economic growth and a more efficient work permit process.
The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) once again calls on this particular Minister to move beyond the “bullet-point approach” of his Party’s recent election platform and provide clarity on their policies going forward. The Bermudian public is so far no better informed as to how the OBA plans will improve our current economic challenges.
More attention should be focused on ensuring Bermudians secure work as the top priority for the Minister and the new Government; rather just policy announcements and focusing on opening Bermuda up for new business with a view to creating a ‘trickle down’ effect.
We are concerned about the OBA’s pledge for a 2-Year Term Limit suspension without making clear what measures will be put into place to ensure the protection and equal opportunity for Bermudians.
The Minister cites that “Term limits are not about protecting Bermudian jobs because more often than not when the term limit expires the guest worker is simply replaced by another guest worker”.
While this is often true, the Minister should have acknowledged the true purpose of Term Limits was to not only reduce the number of individuals who may seek to lay claim to rights to remain on the island indefinitely, but also to encourage businesses over time to look within the local talent market to replace such permit holders, whether it be through additional educational training or greater work experience, in order to supplement a local workforce.
The Minister’s comments appear somewhat disingenuous at face value, as they leave the impression that Term Limits have no place in Bermudian society for the protection of Bermudian people. This is not spin or fear mongering, but fact.
Term Limits were created in 2001 during the incline of our economic prosperity. They were created in consultation with our International Business Industry partners, in order to remove the legitimate expectation upon arrival of work-permit holders to permanent residency in Bermuda after working here for a number of years.
We therefore consider it necessary to query what safeguards will the new government establish during the 2-Year suspension period as an alternative to term limits?
Bermudians need to know that if they will be faced with a loose immigration framework without enforcement or necessary safeguards and restrictions. It appears the government is already moving to satisfy the requests of a minority interest group rather than the majority of citizens who actually supported the Term Limit policy.
The removal of term limits as described by the government will likely benefit those persons already here. If the government is linking the removal of term limits to increased economic activity one has to ask the question, was this the price of certain employers to begin creating jobs?
Does the government have evidence to suggest that companies will set up operations here if there is no term limit policy in place at all? The government needs to make clear how the suspension of the policy is going to generate economic growth and activity and specifically which sectors shall stand to benefit.
The new government is not only responsible for protecting jobs but they made an election pledge to create 2000 jobs over the next 5 years. We believe that getting Bermudians back to work should be at the top priority for any administration in our current economic climate.
The government needs to immediately outline, a comprehensive Jobs Plan for Bermuda, detailing what steps they are going to take to ensure that jobs are created, or at least 400 jobs in 2013 alone to fit in line with their target goals.
The government also needs to identify, for the public’s benefit, which industries and sectors will be targeted for job growth as priority. Will this government facilitate new economic streams and industries to incorporate in Bermuda in order to ensure more Bermudians are hired back to work, or improve their current work opportunities? What further policy changes are being contemplated which might impact Bermudian employment?
The Minister highlighted that his second priority will be: “streamlining the work permit process and making it easier to understand”. The Work Permit process was already the subject of extensive review under the PLP government late last year with changes to be implemented at the end of 2012.
Is the Minister familiar with these changes, which also was to include a ‘Global Permit scheme’? We should know if the Minister followed through with these plans or will there be another review conducted which will inevitably cause delay and increase further costs on to the taxpayer?
Although vital to our country’s success, the Minister appears to be solely focused on International Business as if that is the only industry that requires his attention under this review process.
The Minister needs to make clear the status of existing programmes such as the Dry Waller Training Programme, Nail Tech programme, Hospitality Training Programme and the Job Corps Initiative that was slated for rollout this year.
These are areas of importance to Bermudians and their job prospects and the government has already made substantial investment in creating these programmes. Will they be scrapped like term limits or continued to benefit local job opportunities?
The public confidence will erode quickly if the new government fails to answer these key questions and make job creation the number one issue for the OBA administration.
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We dont need to give you any explanation on Term Limits, we dont need to talk to people who look like you.
looking for Minister Col D Burch’s famous quote, above.
we dont care what you think
@ Quote We Dont Care What You Think, now is not the time for tit-for-tat childish behavior. While I think the PLP has a lot of nerve asking about job growth when they did nothing themselves, I would hope the OBA is above resorting to those sort of quotes. Please don’t stoop to the PLP’s level. We are better than that!!!
Dunkley and Fahy when you going to tell Bermuda the real truth? That you can do anything until the economy improves in the US and you can’t fix the crime! Ask Shawn Crockwell how nice Hotel West Gate was he spent time up there for stealing drugs from the Government safe. You want to be serious take the TVs & Radios out. That’s something you can do today as Minister, Dunkley.
Agree, but we all must care. The truth is we as Bermudians will never be as fast paced as Americans. Why is it such an urgent matter for the plp to know? Did they welcome input from the people? Did they raise their own paychecks? Do they care about what every bermudian owes to this islands debt, which they put us in? “Did you have a plan”? If so, Did you share?
the world economy put us in debt jack a$$!
fyi, 60 percent of our economic dept is household debt (coming from and economic major). bermudians need to focus on personal finances
Obviously you don’t have a clue….
I agree. Dear PLP, you are not in Government anymore becuase you spectacularly screwed it up. So go back to your day jobs, and let the smart boys do theirs.
Suarez you seem like the Old Boy Association,they better answer the questions from PLP…remember you all by the skin of ya teeth…clown
grow up you HILL BILLY
Atta boy tell him like it is m8. Nice handball the other night you cheeky devil!
Oh look I see a banana boat coming through St.George’s cut now!!!!
@ dthtoo You have such a haughty spirit
PLP is at it once again being confrontational like dthtoo/laverne furbert/C.F. .
The solution is so easy. Open the flood gates to financial professionals and their families to move here. Apartments, office space, and airplanes will be full to capacity again. The service industry will thrive again, tax revenue will grow which means government can service the debt and keep the island running. So sit down and shut the fu& up. Be happy that the new government has money to pay yur azzes for just showing up
damn straight
some one should shut your crazy a==s up we have to be real about this we can,t just let any fools in here other islands are succesful because they use their own people if you are not going to have bermudians in the hotels and resturants you can close up i don,t see the new oba in for to long 1/6/13
“….other islands are succesful because they use their own people…”
You mean like Jamaica?
That’ll work we’ll……
@Swing Voter: Your idea is far too obvious for most people to grasp ☺
So let’s get this story straight. Walt “The Resigner” Roban wants to know how many nail technician jobs will be created this year?
Interesting how the PLP, who never told us anything about what was going on, now wants “immediate” answers to everything.
It took 14 years to screw everything up boys, and we voted against the PLP (the “idea of the day” party).
Ya time is up PLP, get over it and mind ya own business. This is why u lost, always worrying bout the next man instead of upping your own game.
Lets all face the facts that the O.B.A will undo anything they can that the P.L.P put in place,after all they dont like the fact the Victoria park was renamed,along with the City hall theatre and to name a street after Mr Nelson Bascome,just to name a few.
I think the only thing they can do in response now to make it look like they are sincere is give Mr. Clarence Hill a cheque for $100,000.00 instead of a statue,now that I think Mr Hill deserves and may be a bitter pill for the P.L.P to swallow, as for term limits the Island is already owned by mostly paper Bermudians so why not open the loop hole again.
On a serious note we have guest workers that are here that need to be here to help make this country run and then there are those that should be kept on term limits like the restaurants,hotels etc. which in my view most can be sent back now and jobs given to Bermudians and were to dumb to see some of them are marrying Bermudians to secure themselves anyway.
Thankfully I have my european passport to atleast go somewhere when these people finish raping our country bare.
Agree
The plp already “finished raping our country bare.”
The questions being raised shows why the PLP is correctly no longer in power and running the Island. In 14 years they had the opportunity to diversfy the economy and create jobs. Instead they sat back and destroyed jobs. Remember Minister Burch saying the equivalent of “I have the power to give 10 year works permits, but I won’t”. The PLP never understood International Business which is responsible for 95% of the Islands economy.
Nail Technicians and pot washers will never create the revenue needed to support the legacy of the PLP. The OBA have only been elected for 2 weeks. Watch and see, then criticize if warranted.
Instead of just rolling out “programs”, perhaps there will acually be jobs for people.
It amazes me the the PLP think that by creating nail technician training schemes or drywall training schemes or the job corps actually gets Bermudians employed. People, we need clients to return to Bermuda so we can do their nails or put up drywall. The PLP litterally kicked out our clients who actually used these services. Then they have the audacity to ask us to “retrain” in order to get work. We didn’t need retraining in 2001 or 2005 when we had 40,000 people working in Bermuda.
However, when you disrespected our guest workers, pulled their permits and expelled them from our island, we all suffered because they no longer needed nail technicians, drywalling done or to rent our apartments.
The PLP didn’t get it because they received their paycheques every week regardless because they taxed us and their cheques were guaranteed. How sad that our cheques were dependent on the very people that they kicked out. I cant imagine a more anti business government than the PLP. How sad what they have done to our country.
Agree. It’s so sad that the plp just don’t get it. Col Burch, brown etc ruined the island and they still can’t see it. Hopefully the oba can fix their mistakes but it will take a long time. At the end of the day the xenophpbic attitudes that the plp enforced will be in place for a long time.
Step right up , hurry , hurry let the show begin … The clowns about to give the show away . Paper Onions ready to make tears come to your eyes . Never heard that name before in the Bermudian roll call . Must be Canadian . Hmmm . And guess what Sir Johnny backs this crap 100% while Cannons Ear will be deaf to the hue and cry .
What is sad about the PLP/Roban/Daniels statement is that it perpetuates the myth that term limits somehow protects Bermudians and ensures equal opportunity for Bermudians. It is really, really bad when you think that Roban was a goverment Minister so he knows this not to be the case. People, work permit policy protects Bermudians, NOT the term limits policy. Even if one of the 70% of expats that the PLP exempted from term limits came to the end of there permit term and a qualified Bermudian applies for their job, they would have to leave the island. So with or without term limits we are protected. I like you Walter, but I am not stupid. The Opposition leader had better real you in because he said you should not be opposing for the sake of opposing!!!!
On paper that sounds great but its not what happens. Employers increase the requirements for the jobs so that no Bermudian would ever qualify. It is also a known fact that guest workers don’t teach Bermudians so they can remain here and cash in.
Term Limits won’t increase economic activity. There’s other jurisdictions that provide tax exemptions that are more feasible than Bermuda. We need not make International Business our main industry and at least try to bring back Tourism.
Yes expAts teach locals but if the locals are as ignorant as they have been acting over the last ten years, they will learn nothing.
“Yes expAts teach locals but if the locals are as ignorant as they have been acting over the last ten years, they will learn nothing.”
Isn’t that a tad bit prejudice?
I’ve taught expats a far lot more in my profession then they have taught me. Even helped them move up the ladder. Guess What!?!?! I’m fourth generation Bermudian & have been working here for the past 10 years & then some.
The fact is that IB accounts for 85% of all economic activity in Bermuda. So it is our main industry whether you want it to be or not. The tourism product can become a bigger part of Bermuda’s economy, just don’t expect it to be the main one.
This is the problem. We historically tend to put all our eggs in one basket. We don’t know what the future holds & should not just look towards IB especially now since it has come under fire for eluding national taxes on both sides of the pond. I’m not stating we should look towards veering from IB but we should think outside the box & find ways to reinvent our old industries or invent new ones. We have always took a haute view of our island over others but in reality many island would mop the floor with us in tourism, IB & other industries if they were as economically stable. Then again are we really economically stable? I’m sure many know this answer without having to see the government books that I’m sure by now have shocked & scared the OBA.
Just some food for thought. When Hurricane Sandy was approaching Cuba the news reported that they had to evacuate FIVE THOUSAND tourist from their hotels. FIVE THOUSAND!!!!! Imagine that!
Worst case scenario: If the IB bring in talent at the expense of the Bermudian worker – this means more money for the Bermuda Government in Payroll tax, there is much more money circulating in the economy – rents, restaurants, transportation, household services (that Bermudians provide)to name a few. Taking the scenario further, that means more money for the Bermuda government to properly train Bermudians for meaningful jobs…nail technicians? How about promoting graduates from the Bermuda Insurance Institute? How about training people for Administrative Assistants so that they get their foot in the door and prove themselves for further career growth? What about assisting Bermudians with obtaining their CA, CPA’s and CMA’s and really any designation that assists the IB model.
Suspending term limits is not a bad thing when you can think things through and not stop at the zenophobic short sighted juncture in the road.
Haters gonna hate…. Lol..
The PLP might do well just to keep quiet, at least till March sometime. Their dismal performance from 1998 till just a few weeks ago leaves them & their followers in no position to complain about anything the OBA is doing.
Thousands of jobs have been lost with the term limit policy in place. Are we supposed to believe that thousands more jobs would have been lost if there was no term limit policy in place? We will have to endure the ill informed outburst from the PLP while the Government tries to rescue Bermuda from the ill conceived policies the PLP put in place that helped lead us to where we find ourselves now. I am not surprised by Walter Roban but I am disappointed to see Marc Daniels joining the PLP chorus. He knows better. Marc if you want to raise the level, start raising it. The PLP’s track record for job creation is atrocious. However good intentioned the policy, the consequences of it make it a failed policy that needs to be suspended. In fact many their own supporters made it quite clear to them by not voting for them that their position was not working for them either, never mind the anybody else. If I were the leader of the PLP I would be trying at this point to change the general thinking that the PLP has no grasp of how the business works and how jobs are created. That would begin with not making statements like that above.
Suspending term limits wont create 400 jobs in 2013. Stop focusing just on Bermuda. Think about the world economy and how we fit in.
@Red Lion
Your continuing comments about term limits only confirm that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.
Actually, I know what term limits are do you?
Only the PLP have said that 400 jobs will be created in 2013. The OBA have said that they will help create 2000 in the next 5 years. That is different.
Please direct us to any publication where a CEO of any IB has stated they moved their company out of Bermuda due to term limits. Term limits have been in place even before plp became government in the height of the Bermudian economy under ubp. THERE IS NO DEVELOPED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT DOESN’T HAVE TERM LIMITS OF SOME SORT! Thousands of jobs have been lost here because it’s way too expensive to run a business in Bermuda. This business expense is why many IB has moved out to cheaper jurisdictions to set up shop. PLP never address this high cost of living but I hope OBA does or else the only thing suspension of term limits will do is allow some of the greedy employers to abuse it while IB will still keep moving to inexpensive pastures.
Tommy,
Other sophisticated first world countries have immigration policies with pathways to citizenship. Why in goodness name don’t we?
We ask people who have skills, and/or are in demand due to low or no Bermudian applications, to leave their lives in the country of origin and participate in our economy and society. They do, participating in church, social causes, charity work, and generally make Bermuda better place with more opportunities for all.
Then we ask them to get the hell out. If you ask me, we are really not as sophisticated a country as we brag to be.
I have no problem whatsoever with pathways to citizenship & think that is a great idea under certain conditions. This pathway is beside the point of term limits & is not in place of term limits in the other countries. These other countries do offer citizenship but requirements are in place in order to obtain it like having a large sum of money in an account in the country usually a minimum of $30,000, residing in that country for a certain amount of months in a year & having proof of some physical place you reside in the country. I think these requirements are the only way something like allowing citizenship will work & are fair.
I agree that we are not as developed or as sophisticated as a country as perceived to be but neither are many other countries that perceive the same. Many countries lost much of their sophistication by being lax on their immigration laws & allowing too many into their country as citizens when there was not enough employment for those already there. We do not want to make the same mistake but I fear we already have. I guess the saying is true, “who feels it knows it.” & this is probably the reason why you & I will never share the same views unless for some ironic reason those with the silver spoon switch places with the average joe.
@ Tommy Chong,
I have disagreed with you on some topic’s, but I have to admit you are spot on. I hope people wake up one day and realize that businesses will always move, if there is an opportunity to save more money. Term limits have been around for some time now, so people who believe this is the reason most of the businesses left are really not in touch with reality. IB will go around the world looking for places to exploit, until laws and regulation catches up with them (e.g. taxes). I can admit the PLP have had their highs and lows, but please really understand the real reason why businesses are leaving for greener pastures (it’s about the paper)!
Agree that Term Limits are not the straw that broke the camel’s back: try the stinking attitude the PLP had towards International Business, try the fact that crime has risen and the PLP could not staunch it, thus making one of Bermuda’s attraction ie. low crime – a detraction. How about the high cost to do business here, the slowness with which things get done, the sloppy workmanship and work efforts in the office and out…these things were our downfall. Couple that with external forces where other jurisdictions are things better and more economically, the wasteful spending that the PLP did and you find us where we are…a sad state.
Yet again, the PLP are premature with their questions.
The opposition sound like such idiots.
Surely they should prefer the OBA to take as long as humanly possible to implement ANY changes, thereby continuing the rubbish PLP plans until such a time as they are changed for the better?
By pushing the OBA hard to quickly respond on these things and to share / implement their own plans, the PLP are accelerating any changes away from their own policies and initiatives.
How OBA of them!
How dare the PLP pretend to show concern for Bermudians when I know for a fact that in some cases they bent over backwards to ensure their foreign friends stayed employed at the expense of Bermudians….as I said, I know for a fact and have documentation to prove it…good bye PLP! those of you that were involved…beware, your turn is coming as you will be exposed.
@ Watching,
I have to ask you, where were you before the PLP came to power, because alot of what you just described has been happening for many years. There is plenty documentation proving that as well, so what is your point? You acting like this is something new. Show me a GOV in Bermuda who hasn’t done exactly what you are speaking of.
We need to stop thinking of those in power as “our party” and as the ruling government. we should hold them just as accountable for their decisions as we did the former government and be just as demanding for as much information as possible. Remember the opposition still speaks for their supporters who are also Bermudian. Everyone expected the PLP to answer questions from their shadow party so I would expect that this government will be more than willing to answer questions from we the people. People need to start standing up for Bermudians and not their party or coroprate interest. A government success cant be measured by the reversal of policies of a former government but by the progress it makes on behalf of its citizens. The first action to be placed before the cabinet is an effort to make expats feel more secure in comming to work in Bermuda…
the plp have NO say in anything…they are FINISHED!
Actually PLP have a big say since they have 17 seats in the House.
But not the majority. Big difference.
I wish the media would realize that the plp are done… so how about focusing on the Government of the Day, for a change. And they are the One Bermuda Alliance, last time I looked.
It is amazing to see all the plantation comments by the OBA supporters.
Okay, I knew about the so called plantation question, but not plantation comments. Can you explain what that is so we can all try to understand where you are coming from a little better?
Bermudians have always been protected by the work permit policy and, regardless of what happens, that policy will continue to protect them.
Term limits were introduced to ensure that we didn’t end up with another group of long term residents (the PLP made that very clear). Unfortunately it’s had a secondary effect which is to drive jobs off island.
I don’t care what the hasbeen PLP have to say.
Exactly.
The arrogance of you OBA supporters will be short lived, trust me! Do what you can to fatten your pockets because it will not last long. Good questions from Roban and Daniels, just look at the comments above. I smell fear…….
… in the plp ranks, cuz they know they are finished. Imagine appointing a Brown sock puppet as their new “leader!” Dumb move.
Term Limits should only be suspended for International Business Employees anything else would be abused. If it’s suspended for any other foreign workers I will think twice about putting my X in the box I did on this election for the next. I already have qualms about our new premier’s business partner’s hiring practices & this made me hesitant about my vote hopefully my hesitation will be proved wrong.
Wow I can’t believe how stupid almost everyone sound on here commenting. Does anyone that comments know how politics work? A good opposition challenges the governing party on their stance on issues so that they can do right by the country. They have all right to question every aspect of this possible decision so they get all facts before they vote on any laws. You really want them to vote on anything without full facts. Be forreal and stop with the passive aggressive and out right ignorant racist comments. Remember the PLP has a big say In government they have 17 seats to the OBA’s 19 and they might lose a seat to be the speaker of the house. Therefore the PLP can block specific legislation if they wanted to but like Marc Bean said they will not. Basically they want to know everything before it comes to a vote. So before you comment about political issues learn all your facts before you just start ranting. FYI you train Bermudians you get jobs and little did you know Bermudians get their nails down and get their houses refurbished all the time so we need people to do those jobs that are fully trained. GROW UP and BECOME EDUCATED!!!
I agree with smh,
The PLP has a big say (due to the thin OBA majority) and let’s not forget the voter turnout, in the recent election, was relatively low. It has been speculated significant numbers of folks who would normally have voted PLP did not vote.
Next time, those folks who stayed on the sidelines may turn out in full force. So the OBA and their supports must understand the need to answer the PLP’s questions and convince Bermuda (especially those ‘PLP folks’ who stayed away from the polls) they are doing the right thing, otherwise they will be a one term government.
PLP questions are okay but premature. Give the OBA a chance to get their act together, will ya?!
It is a Pity that the PLP never chose to run business the way they want it run, now that they are the OPPOSITION AGAIN!!!!
@ Smh,
I was waiting for someone to explain to these people that the PLP are actually being a good opposition by questioning the Gov’s moves. This is called politics, and this is how the game is played. And for all the people who are looking for fairness, and Transparency, this can only help to benefit all Bermudians, becuase they are raising issues for people to see. Is this not what we want?
From many of the comments on here, it seems many of the OBA supporters would rather the PLP just sit back and shut up. However I hope this is just hot air, as I would assume most Bermudians would like a Gov to be held accoutable, and questioned. It’s call democracy.
The PLP said the government needs to “immediately outline, a comprehensive Jobs Plan for Bermuda, detailing what steps they are going to take to ensure that jobs are created, or at least 400 jobs in 2013 alone to fit in line with their target goals.”
So the PLP are calling for a jobs plan etc… from the OBA?? Nothing wrong with that really I guess as the opposition they must be seen to be doing their jobs right?? However it is a bit rich to expect the OBA to formulate an ‘immediate comprehensive job plan …’ after only a few weeks as Govt. Having said that I’m sure the OBA are working towards that very end as there certainly needs to be a clear plan to move Bermuda forwards unlike the Siege Mentality and Deer In The Headlights Approach of the former PLP Govt..
What’s rich about the PLP demanding and ‘immediate plan’ is that when you consider while they where the Govt and recession had been biting hard for over 3 1/2 + years, countless people where/being made unemployed and all the then Govt could say was that they where Standing Strong For Us LOL. They had no Clue of how, what and where to turn, even after 14 years at the helm they had no Jobs Plan of any worth if at all. I might add the PLP to this day couldn’t accurately (or wouldn’t) say how many Bermudians where unemployed or underemployed, that would be helpful to know when formulating all of the things that they are requesting of the OBA would it not?
It’s a pity for us all that the PLP didn’t realize that for 14 years they actually where the Govt and not the opposition. That it really wasn’t important to the average Bermudian that they be seen as the new masters enjoying the trapping of position and privelege! Unfortunately we never saw any sensible approach to the work permit policy, nor a jobs strategy. What we did see was the PLP hierarchy and their connected mates gorge themselves at the alter of absolute power, self importance, self enrichment and a belief that no matter the costs of their many mistakes it was all ok … it wasn’t.
If only they had removed the huge chip on their shoulders to any and every opinion from the opposition parties and many others that was counter to their brand of false self pity where all criticism is dismissed as ‘its only because we’re black, coupled with the we don’t need your advice nor help’ governance we wouldn’t be in such a state. Had they simply thought through prior to hasty implementation what would actually happen once many of their ill thought out, vote gathering, and sometimes well meaning policies would actually do in the long run things would definitely be much better for us all. Sadly they didn’t and we now have what we have.
Luckily the people of Bermuda decided that the PLP’s Comprehensive Poverty Plan had gone on long enough and was only going to lead to greater hardships so on the 17th of December 2012 they threw them out of power. To the OBA while I will not support nor do I want you to take the PLP’s approach to Governing which was “we are all knowing so keep quiet” on this occasion I would forgive the OBA if they where to tell the PLP to Shut To Hell Up!!… Nuff Said!!
PLP taking OBA to task on Term Limits Policy is nothing more than laughable. If the PLP hadn’t screwed this up in the first place there would be no issue.
Note to PLP: The OBA is busy trying to fix what you screwed up with your rash, uninformed decisions.
Enjoy PLP’s retirement (I know I will) and let somebody competent run the country. PLP – your day is done.
We need to stop thinking of those in power as “our party” and as the ruling government. we should hold them just as accountable for their decisions as we did the former government and be just as demanding for as much information as possible. Remember the opposition still speaks for their supporters who are also Bermudian. Everyone expected the PLP to answer questions from their shadow party so I would expect that this government will be more than willing to answer questions from we the people. People need to start standing up for Bermudians and not their party or coroprate interest. A government success cant be measured by the reversal of policies of a former government but by the progress it makes on behalf of its citizens. The first action to be placed before the cabinet is an effort to make expats feel more secure in comming to work in Bermuda…
To the OBA – you have been elected to get on with the people’s business and you appear to be doing so. PLEASE do not get distracted with these nonsensical questions from the party who squandered the opportunity to get it right in the last (14) – Fourteen years.
The more time you spend acknowledging the PLP the less time you are spending doing the electorate and taxpayer’s business.
Forward on…
Let’s face it. The introduction of Term Limits is one of the most IGNORANT policies EVER. It has affected each and every one of us whether we want to admit it or not. Those who deny it always live with their heads buried in the sand anyway…no sense trying to get them to understand! All of this “hiring Bermudians to replace foreigners” is a bunch of hogwash. I’m all for hiring Bermudians, especially those who WANT to work, who SHOW UP TO WORK, who DON’T call in sick every 5 minutes, who PERFORM, who RESPECT the employer and fellow employees, etc.
I am inclined to say that though well meaning and all, PLP’s idea that Bermudians can sheetrock and paint their fingernails to financial freedom is somewhat out of touch with reality.
Plus were these newly “Educated Professionals” so inclined , they would go where the work is . I can train you to be a rocket scientist in an intensive 3 month course , for eleventeen thousand dollars in Kluckstranglestan , buh , when finished , it is up to you to run down a livelihood …
Ever hear of “Educate the masses” ? Thats a project to divorce hard working people from their savings and to give up their work to do what the government wants them to do….
PLP should take their brand of government on the road , to some country that needs that kind of help , because , if it is Hot as they think , they should make beacoup money wherever they are hired … I think there will not be many people from anywhere ringing their phones off the hook nor breaking down their doors to announce the new job, on bated breath , any time soon….
@ flikel how do you know those that stayed home would vote PLP? I didn’t vote but i will vote for the OBA
If the PLP had their way we would have widespread inbreading because they wouldn’t allow anyone else here.
Maybe that’s why they are so dumb, too much inbreeding. BWAA-HA-HA-Ha-Ha-Ha!!