Don Grearson Appointed Advisor To Premier
[Updated w/PLP comment] Former One Bermuda Alliance communications director Don Grearson has been appointed as an Advisor to Premier Craig Cannonier, and will be working out of the Cabinet Office.
The Premier’s Press Secretary said that Mr. Grearson will “primarily be responsible for providing the Premier with advice and assistance on government planning, research for special projects and speech writing, when required.”
Mr. Grearson served as the Communications Director for the OBA through the 2012 election. Prior to that he worked with the United Bermuda Party, as a news editor at The Royal Gazette, as a member of the Bermuda Government Military Bases Transition office, and an officer in the Bermuda Land Development Company from its inception in 1996. Mr. Grearson is the author of “USS Bermuda, The Rise and Fall of an American Base.”
Premier Cannonier said: “I am delighted to have Don on board. He and I have worked closely together from the formation of the One Bermuda Alliance through the 2012 election campaign. He is highly respected in the community, deeply committed to the success of the Island, enjoys close working relationships with every minister in the new government and works hard to get things done.
“Working with my colleagues, Don will help advance the Government’s goal of national renewal, which is focused on reviving the economy for the thousands who remain without a job and the many who need to earn more to recover diminished incomes.”
Update 11.18pm: Opposition Leader Marc Bean said, “The news that the OBA is extending the Premier’s support staff with the hiring of former UBP/OBA Public Relations officer Don Grearson as a consultant is not surprising. Since taking office, the OBA has broken promises, broken the rules and broken the hearts of many Bermudians who voted for change.
“In Opposition, the OBA described moves such as these as part of a, ‘friends and family plan’ or as, ‘jobs for the boys.’ It appears that they no longer hold those beliefs.
“As the Premier rewards his political supporters, financial backers, the elite and the privileged; his government is trampling on our youth, our seniors and leaving the poor and the unemployed behind.
“For the OBA to ask civil servants to take pay cuts while consultant jobs are created for OBA insiders, speaks volumes about who they represent and what they stand for,” concluded Mr. Bean.
Update July 12: Government has confirmed that Mr Grearson will be paid $105,000 annually.
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- Video: Premier Hiring Advisor “Makes No Sense” | Bernews.com | July 13, 2013
You can’t f#@king be serious!
This man flies to Bahamas and hires a consultant who used to do all his stuff for the OBA.
When is the next election!?!?!
Ridiculous comment. This is a public hire, and entirely normal. Every Premier in the world has advisors, the issue is whether it is disclosed, they are reimbursed appropriately and they add value.
And Marc Bean, please shut up. So now you have a moral stance on this? Your party has to earn that, and you are a long way from there.
This is an outrage, the government is asking CS to take a cut, where some do not make much monies at all , and now he hires another Consultant. This Premier is incapable of doing anything, should be there in the first place. He can speak, can not write and whats worst takes advice from a bad AG.
Advisor..!!! Doesn’t he have an entire party to help him make a decision. Ya telling me he can’t handle 21.6sq miles?? Oh lord my faith in the premier is declining…
BANANA REPUBLIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is it to late for us to get John Barritt back??
Interesting how the OBA supporters who said they would speak out if the OBA Govt ever did such things….are BIG hypocrites and are running away from the truth. The OBA said they would stop it ,and now like animal Farm they are doing it. Friends and family plan. Not one OBA minion from Jr to a pat ferguson has said a single word. Not even Bo. They will all probably say they missed it. We expected more from them.This is sad no matter how you look at it.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
I remember when it was such a big fuss over a certain premier for just having a press secretary. This one takes it to a whole other level by also having someone to tell him how to do his job?? Those old poppet jokes don’t seem too far fetched now, but then what do you expect when have someone with zero previous political background running the island (scary)….
So I guess this is what change looks like.
The term ‘Friends and Family Plan’ comes to mind when reading this. Oh wait, I forgot… the OBA says it’s only wrong if the PLP does it.
Regardless of what party you support you have to admit that the decisions the Premier has been making and allowing his cabinet to make leave us to wonder when the change his party promised is going to come!
Appointments that are sketchy, ministers that are allowed to say what they want and are not held accountable and a Premier who seems to travel very often (quite a lot on our dime) since winning the election… Sounds a lot like what we got pre Dec. 17th to me!
I’m wondering if I’m in a time Warp.
Premier jetting around the world with his entourage, while hiring multiple consultants in his office.
Is it 2008 or 2013
This is ridiculous when this government continues to spend money we don’t have. Not to mention, take from the people monthly. Enough is enough…when is the OBA going to do as they say they will do. Start from cutting your pay 1st before you want to cut others. Very disappointed!
So I thought Leah Scott was being paid to do Special Projects?
She’s only part time. There are too many special projects for her to handle. She’s got to keep up appearances so her drop top beamer is always shiny.
Leah scott and now Greason. The OBA is being seen for what it is….the UBP. It is all slowly coming out.
Isn’t Leah Scott an elected MP?
I don’t agree with this appointment one bit.
But to say they are emulating the UBP is a bit strange. Strange considering the facts that numerous PLP insiders (including MPs) were revealed as having very lucrative, no bid consultancy contracts from the Government.
Does that mean the PLP was acting like the UBP and that they were seen as “for what it is?” Or is somehow paying Mr. Bean and Mr. Brown over $1 million of taxpayers monies somehow different (and that is only two examples, by the way)?
Anyone doubt that the UBP is in control of the OBA?
Believe it or not Mr. Famous, it is ultimately the people,(independently of party/gang affiliation) who control the country, and they vote for whomever looks the most competent at the time of an election. The ‘PLP’ was one choice last time around on the Dec 17th, 2012 ballot and the electorate made a choice for ‘not the PLP’.
Blow your party trumpet all you like, but until your party starts coming up with actual ideas to move this country forward you will simply sounds like an empty vessel. Trust me when I tell you as just one of a multitude of middle class, educated Bermudians; we vote for whomever has the best ideas, and right now we’re listening… wow us, like the OBA did 6 months ago. Please.
The petty, hypocritical, nit-picking we’ve seen from the opposition over the last 6 months isn’t enough by the way, just in case you were wondering.
@ Moojun
Yours is an interesting post. How do you grade the OBA ‘ideas to move the country forward’ since Dec 17?
I am especially interested to hear your evaluation about the recent decision to borrow an additional $800m!!
I also posted a longer comment since I genuinely believe you are correct about who ultimately controls the country.
It was not nit-picking, it was holding the government accountable for lots of their wrong doing and over-riding the LAWS. The problem is OBA does not want the people or Opposition to point out their blunders and many many mis-steps. I want an Opposition that is working for me and the people, after all they too get paid to do the people’s business. IF you call this nit-picking well guess you do not respect TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY that the OBA sang so loud about pre-election, yet now failing to do just that. Talk about hypocritical if ever. The PLP does have ideas, and always did, the problem is your OBA is not willing to listen or accept them, because of fear they lack any ideas. WOW all that talk Pre-election and nothing to show for it.
I agree, we the people need to rise up and vote the OBA out if they don’t respond to our demands. We voted them in and they should be accountable to us. Politicians will only be accountable when we the people make them, at the polls!
Silly. You won’t face the facts and are the perfect example of saying it was WRONG when the PLP did it but now the OBA is doing it, it is okay. Hypocrite.
I think everyone here (including you) are acting a seriously hypocritical manner.
It is a good example you provided to the above poster.
But one can say to you is that why did you stay so silent, and/or defended, when the PLP was given lucrative, no-bid consultancy contracts to their inner circle and why now is it all of a sudden a major issue to you? Like the ones revealed last week in the House (that you would have never known about unless it was revealed by this administration).
Amazing the difference an election makes, huh?
PS: I still think this was a dumb move by the Premier and one that should be rescinded.
@ Double Standards, how can it be seen as hypocritical when the last government was voted out for these very reasons. At the same time this present government got into power under the promise of “Change”? I guess this brings that old saying to mind, a promise is comfort to a fool….
Chris, do you think that writing silly comments here makes you a ‘journalist’?
vote for me next time this guy is an a** for accepting and invitation to celebrate what most of us bermudians are against of. Independence!!!
like the old js he smiles and controls people that way dunkley ask how he got Pepsi?
this is worst than the pee l pee… o dear. bermuda mann your life boats cause we’re sinking.
Too late, we’ve already sunk…..
SMH,, Well, what can I say, I dont want to sound like a hypocrite, yeah, he certainly needs advise, but this is becoming funnier by the day.. A Press Secretary and Advisor and he doesnt even have a Ministry.. This shows me one thing, The OBA party know that their Leader (or cosmetic leader) is not up to scratch, they are just having trouble allowing us the public to know that they know, and that they made a bad choice, so we have to foot the bill for the side show for the time being,, niiice, I have my popcorn ready.
You are right Impressive. The skill sets required to run a country and an economy is not in everyone and it does certainly appear not with the Premier. I think everyone knew from day one. I think the Premier should be one who runs a Ministry as well since the workload for being just the Premier is very light.
For every local consultant they hire, they should reduce the Department or Ministry’s staff by 1 or 2. That should be adopted as a policy.
Technically the office of the Premier is also a Ministry.
He is in charge of/responsible for (at least) the Central Policy Unit, the Department of Statistics, the Department of Communication & Information, Human Resources, the DC and London Offices and the office of Public Access To Information (PATI) (albeit a severely under-resourced office, PATI).
So let’s get this correct . . . Bermudians voted for change . . .what change!!!! We are in a DEFICIT . . .how the hell does a premier have a whole cabinet, one minister who is a lawyer with no portfolio and hires an advisor to “give advice and assistance on government planning, research for special projects and speech writing, when required.”
So in essence what Craig is saying is that I don’t have the skills or expertise to lead this country and I don’t value or trust my cabinet.
This is just as bad as a tourism minister needing to hire his own consultant!!!
Welcome to the change you voted for!!!!!
I voted for OBA in the last election because Bermuda couldn’t afford another PLP management. To be honest I wasn’t really that confident in either party. However, I had seen that PLP obviously couldn’t fix it and voted for the one that hadn’t had a chance to fix it. They had some good ideas in their election platform. I like the changes to Financial assistance, bringing a charter ferry from overseas for the summer made economic sense, ridding the island of term limits will help, and I like that they put to gether a realistic budget. They took a paycut for themselves (however insignificant the money was), something that the PLP talked about and never did. They cut down drastically on the use of GP vehicles. They gave homosexuals protection from discrimination. And they are realistic about the need for downsizing the civil service but they are working with the unions which I believe is necessary to do. I also like that they are cracking down on work permit violations. I like that they care what the public thinks and are willing to make a change that the majority see as not good, like when the bill originally said that non-Bermudian children on International business don’t need a work permit for employment. I think that, yes, they should have a work permit especially in current economic conditions. I like that they were willing to admit that they were wrong and change it.
However, I disagree with this hiring. Whether or not it is a “reward” for a supporter or not, it looks very suspicious and I disagree with the hiring in general regardless of who was hired, supporter or not. We can’t go back to the friends and family plans of the PLP and before that the UBP. So while they have far exceeded the PLP on many levels, stuff like this is the same as PLP and the, now defunct, UBP. I am not Okay with that.
I also disagree with “Jetgate” to an extent. I have no problem with the fact that they accepted the free trip but I think they should have covered their bases better. Possibly writing up a contract with the prospective developer to make sure that both sides understand that the developer will have no unfair advantage over any other developer.
And while I think they have taken steps to be transparent, I think they still have a long way to go on that regard. Again, better than the PLP, but more improvement needed. I understand jobs creation is number one priority so I can’t harp to much on the fact that they haven’t put a solid system of transparency in place, but honestly, what exactly is Grearson responsible for. Don’t just follow the corruption of UBP and PLP.
Seperate yourself.
I voted OBA because the PLP did many great things but forgot that we the people are in charge and they became to arrogant.
The PLP: 2. The PLP made our democracy stronger through one man, one vote, single seat constituencies , reduced the voting age to 18 years of age, provided the first programme of affordable health care and daycare. They also established the EEZs for small business owners, provided affordable housing units and rent geared to income, introduced fast ferries, andimplemented the Cambridge Curriculum. These are just off the top of my head.
If the OBA continues to pull tricks like these, I will be voting them out and there will be others who will join me. We need a party that listens and stays in touch with the voters.
I never voted for UBP and will never vote OBA because of their their deeply rooted Oligarchy ways and for what my ancestors fought and died for and to see how PLP lost the vision was a disgrace to their founders but hopefully Mark Bean and the younger generation can get the vision back and our ancestors can smile again!!!!!!!
The Premier inherited a lot of senior civil servants who are essentially PLP political appointees. Legally (for now anyway), he cannot get rid them cheaply and therefore has to work around them, enter Don Grearson… The problem is Greatson is not a hatchet man, he is mainly a mouth piece – the real solution is to get rid of the PLP Fifth Columns regardless of the consequences, that is call their bluff.
None of this excuses the dumb trip to the former Narco state now a Chinese protectorate called the Bahamas.
@ Victor
If you believe the OBA inherited a lot of senior civil servants who are essentially PLP political appointees, what do you think the PLP inherited in 1998? In fact, if you check the records, most of the Permanent Secretaries were Civil Servants (in some cases at lower levels) since 1998 (i.e. before the PLP came to power).
And even then mainly PLP supporters. By the way, the PLP early on moved out or sideways a lot of civil servants not thought sympathetic to their programs, just ask John P former senior immigration and labour civil servant…
Victor stop with your nonsense it is clear you have no understanding of the CS. Minister do not appoint any CS to a post. It is done by the Public Service Commission. SO stop with your attempt to suggest other wise. What we have here is an incompetent Premier who lacks any skills. As your friend Mr Richard’s put is so well “HE IS A COLT”…now is incapable of doing anything. He is needs someone event to take him to the bathroom. This is costing the tax payers more money, especially during this time when the government is asking persons to take a lower wage. How can he or you justified such a decision. Have you forgotten the pledge pre-election by this party called OBA? Guess you have selective memory problems. Mr Bean is correct on this one.
Your righteous indignation is palpable though regrettably misdirected. It is a real shame that individuals such as you chose not to vent during the heydays of Champagne Jennifer, Ewart the Usurper, and the Cog…
Moving on, I do think it unfortunate that Grearson’s appointment coincides with the trip to the Chinese Narco State Protectorate (formerly the Bahamas) but I think it would be unreasonable for anybody to suggest that Premiers should not be allowed to appoint their closest advisors.
Government of Bermuda: Civil Service Executive
Secretary To The Cabinet – Donald Scott – $204,774.82
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Rosemary Tyrrell – $179,572.88
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Judith Hall-Bean – $187,606.18
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Majiedah Azhar – $179,572.88
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Florence O’Brien – $179,572.88
Financial Secretary – Anthony Manders – $204,774.82
National Security Secretary – Marc Telemaque – $204,774.82
Permanent Secretary – Warren Jones – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Kevin Monkman – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Randolph Rochester – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Francis Richardson – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Derrick Binns – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Wayne Carey – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Kathy Lightbourne-Simmons – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Cherie-Lynn Whitter – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Ross Webber – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – William Francis – $179,572.88
17 Secretaries
Cost to the Civil Service: $ 2,956,805.20
My new party every day I feel silly for even voting for change. Every time we look we have a new consultant for this man we elected as Premier. We need to open and correct about this in these times. We asked the civil servants to take a big cut on their pay, why so we can just go around and hire another consultant to help a man who we all know is not cut out for the position.
All I can say is, who ever is running the OBA, don’t be stupid and take the swing voters for granted. Take a close look at what happened to the PLP. In some areas they did good and in some areas they did poorly. As you can see it wasn’t good enough to get my vote December 2012.
I’m going to go on my morning walk with my friends, this will be the topic of conversation on the talk shows.
That’s what you get for SWINGING. LOL
@ Mazumbo ….LMAO
I never will be a swing voter….my mind is made up….PLP l the way…OBA does not care about the people…just their pockets. Enought already, we need to stand up and show them we r tired of their lies and we r not going to take it anymore….
@Moojun 1:39am
I agree with your post. Middle class and working class Bermudians are the ones that ultimately decide who will govern Bermuda after each election.
When we consider December 17, many middle class Bermudians voted for OBA and many working class Bermudians stayed away from the polls. Their collective decision caused the PLP to lose.
The challenge now is for the electorate to really consider the actions of the OBA government and how they will affect average Bermudians. A few quick examples.
1 – The OBA seriously considered allowing the children of expats to work during the summer without work permits!!
2 – The OBA eliminated term limits with the caveat that work permit holders would sign a waiver and several thousand have failed to do so. This will have an extended negative impact on the career aspirations of middle class Bermudians as there will be no incentive for training and upward mobility.
3 – the current quest for public service salary reductions. This is a necessary step but you can not do so against the backdrop of significant increases for Senators (in some cases increases of more than $50,000)
4 – the ongoing hiring of various obvious political friends of the OBA – Louise Jackson, Corey Butterfield, Don Grearson and others that we do not know about
5 – removal of free licensing for seniors over 65. This is a major blow to seniors!!
6 – allowing staff in the financial assistance dept to evaluate whether or not applicants need parenting classes!!
7 – talk to any objective observer and you will find that Premier Cannonier is not demonstrating competence as a Leader of the country. To validate, look at his participation in Parliamentary debates, his lack of presence in leading comments about national issues, is demonstrated lack of influence over his parliamentary colleagues and poll results that he is not the most favoured Leader of the OBA
Despite the naysayers, if you objectively examine the written comments from PLP Leader Marc Bean and listen to his comments in the House of Assembly, they are very sound philosophically and theoretically and he does take the lead on national issues. There are the obvious detractors but if you consider the ‘sense of presence’ of each Leader, MP Bean would win hands down. To take it further, which Leader do you think would ‘win’ a national debate on any issue??
Finally, Bermuda’s social and financial status is in a very dire state and we need to forget petty political comments and get on with the business of getting back on track. From what I and other’s have observed the OBA have not delivered the change that they campaigned on. We will all have to wait and see what comes next. Perhaps we should all tune in to todays House of Assembly debate.
Thanks VOTE FOR ME…EXCELLENT COMMENTS…I love it… WELL SAID and thoughtful.
@Vote For Me – I don’t nec. agree with all your points, but well said. I must admit to letting out a long sigh and shaking my head when I saw this article.
@ vote for me:
I will go through your points 1 by one
“1 – The OBA seriously considered allowing the children of expats to work during the summer without work permits!!”
—-I completely agree, a ludicrous idea. However, I am glad that they have enough grace to accept it as such and change it.
“2 – The OBA eliminated term limits with the caveat that work permit holders would sign a waiver and several thousand have failed to do so. This will have an extended negative impact on the career aspirations of middle class Bermudians as there will be no incentive for training and upward mobility.”
—-I commend the OBA on eliminating term limits. The waiver really just shows that the person understands the conditions. However, regardless of whether they sign it or not, they do not have the right to the job if there is a qualified Bermudian available and they do not have claim to permanent residency. Although I agree that the other 30% or so should still be followed up with and signatures obtained.
“3 – the current quest for public service salary reductions. This is a necessary step but you can not do so against the backdrop of significant increases for Senators (in some cases increases of more than $50,000)”
—-The personnel expenses are too high. They had 2 options, laying people off, or pay cuts. As hard as it is for the people getting the paycuts, including my wife, I would much rather she get a paycut instead of getting her job cut. Some income is better than none. As far as the increases for some senators, I agree none should have had increases, I can appreciate that the combined spending on all ministers and senators is less than in the previous administration it is still not necessary for any increases there. I also disagree with the “Minister without portfolio post” She could either be paid on an as-needed basis or a consultant hired as-needed in her place.
4 – the ongoing hiring of various obvious political friends of the OBA – Louise Jackson, Corey Butterfield, Don Grearson and others that we do not know about
—-I agree with you completely here. That is why I voted against PLP. PLP did it and that is no excuse. I voted for OBA because I wanted change, and although I appreciate they are doing better on some levels, on this matter they are just like the, now defunct,UBP and the PLP. Neither of which is acceptable.They need to be called out on this. The opposition spends too much time opposing almost anything the OBA say and nitpicking. But this and the jetgate, which I don’t entirely disagree with (see mty post above), these are the things that the opposition needs to make noise about. These are the things that people who voted, them in, like myself, need to make noise about. It wasn’t acceptable when the UBP did it; it wasn’t acceptable when the PLP did it; and it isn’t acceptable when the OBA did it. All of Bermuda needs to commend and support them on things they do well (regardless of political affiliation) and make noise and stand up when they go off course and lose vision (regardless of affiliation)
“5 – removal of free licensing for seniors over 65. This is a major blow to seniors!!”
—-This is a controversial topic. I agree with their stance on this. I understand that seniors may be low on funds. However, owning a car is a privelage and not a right. If you don’t have the money you don’t license a car. They have free public transp[ortation, which I agree isn’t pleasant or convenient but if you don’t have the money that is the choice. The smallest class is less than $400 a year. I understand that is not cheap with limited income. However, everyone is sacrificing. A car is not a need, it is a want.
“6 – allowing staff in the financial assistance dept to evaluate whether or not applicants need parenting classes!!”
—-I agree with the changes to financial assistance for the most part. I agree with the fact that if able-bodied recipients don’t find a job in 3 months you are required to do 15 hours of community service per week. Everyone has to work for their money. There are two scenarios for able-bodied financial assistance recipients: They want work or they don’t. If they want work then they won’t mind working 15 hours per week to get the fin. Assistance paycheck. If they don’t want work, then they shouldn’t be in receipt of it at all. I agree with you completely, I don’t believe that they should force parenting classes at the discretion of Financial assistance, I think that is demeaning, that should be up to Child and Family services and is completely unrelated to financial assistance and income. I do feel that ALL financial assistance recipients should have to take Financial manage ment classes. This does not mean that I feel that People are on Financial assistance because of a lack of financial management, but I think some are, and I think that unfair discrimination may occur if it is left to discretion. It does no harm, and can be considered part of the “job” of receiving financial assistance.
“7 – talk to any objective observer and you will find that Premier Cannonier is not demonstrating competence as a Leader of the country. To validate, look at his participation in Parliamentary debates, his lack of presence in leading comments about national issues, is demonstrated lack of influence over his parliamentary colleagues and poll results that he is not the most favoured Leader of the OBA”
—-I am mixed on this one, I do think he has great potential as a leader and I do think he wants what is best for this country. I have talked to him personally, and I have seen it in his eyes. I know that he genuinely cares about Bermuda and her people. I think part of the problem is that he wants to please everyone every time and nobody can do that. I also think part of the problem is that the opposition criticizes every move instead of the ones that deserve it. Examples of “jetgate, these consultants, the initial position in point 1 before amendment, the 30% who have not signed the waiver; These are all legitimate concerns, and that should be brought up and discussed and solutions put forward. I think both parties need to work together. To get this island back on track. OBA need to work with PLP and PLP need to work with OBA. They need to discuss pros and cons of decisions and they need to collaborate. He (CC) needs to ask for the oppositions input, and the opposition needs to support good decisions, offer suggestions for ones that could be made better, and point out potential shortcomings of others. So far for the most part the opposition just criticizes but offers no solutions.
Vote For Me is Marc Bean, trying to make it appear that he is popular.
the P.L.P.with their present leader….are finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to strike…
Why didn’t you strike when the PLP requested a pay cut for Government workers and were still paying hundreds of thousands in consultancy fees to its chosen consultants?
I disagree with the above appointment, but I am a little confused as to why the levels of outrage this seems to be attracting.
It is not as if this is some precedent being set.
Craig Cannonier’s decision to funnel more taxpayer’s money into Don Grearson’s pocket is a bad decision for the OBA and a poor decision by a Premier. It shows that just seven months into the job,Craig Cannonier thinks that:
a. he can do no wrong
b. he is worth far more than any other person in the OBA
c. what he does is far more important than what anybody else in the Cabinet does
d. adding more expense to the Premier’s office is a good idea just after the Finance Minister has had to go out and borrow another $800m
e. adding another flunkey is a good idea even while he is asking Civil Servants to take pay cuts
f. if he makes lots of speeches, he, and he alone will make things better
g. he has become indispensable
h. he doesn’t need to listen to anybody – except himself.
i. what he does cannot hurt the OBA
Adding another tax-eater at this time is an unnecessary act of political stupidity.
Same old plp/OBA.
Please Cannonier, call an election, if you even know how to do that.
Cannonier wouldn’t dare call an election because it would certainly spell DEATH to the Undervaluing Black People/One Bad Ass government.
GREAT NEWS!
I am absolutely delighted to report that one of their own old Black guards has confided that there is a lot of bitter in-fighting going on in the UBP/OBA camp. The UBP/OBA enemies have been made to sit next to each other in the House on the Hill. This arrangement was done deliberately in the hope that they would learn to get on with each other. The UBP/OBA gang war continues. I’ve a gut feeling that it is a Black and white thang–history repeating itself. After all, the Black MPs outnumber the white ones whom you can count on one finger.
As long as the PLP is not on charge most (70%) are happy…..he most likely needs help dealing with the endless barrage of nonsense from the so called opposition…Marc Bean is the guy who took two large entourages to Miami to attend SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPEMENT Conferences and then gave out SDO’s and did nothing to block the Grand Atlantic project…….why would anyone object to a visit to the Bahamas if we are going to institute gaming in Bermuda?
You spew way to much garbage bra.. shut your igorant and racist a#$ up man. you don’t get tired?!?! there is no infighting and whoever told u dat is a liar. lay down or somethin ya brain is off
Hey Bra, you saying you know more then an actual insider to say there’s no infighting??? Lay down, your brain needs a rest…..
Premier Craig Cannonier is so inept that he needs two press secretaries.
You are absolutely spot on LaVerne. It is clear why he remains invisible. He simply doesn’t have what it takes to man-up. Remember, he never desired that office and politics was not on his life’s itinerary/agenda. He was handpicked, as were the other Blacks, by white hands who needed a Black puppet to satisfy their socio/economic/political aims–to regain the reigns of government in order to get their filthy, itching hands on the public pur$e. Though they succeeded, success will not be theirs.
PLP ALL THE WAY, ALL THE WAY PLP!
Yep, if you think they are out to get you, they probably are. Guys like you are really going someplace in life…Except Pal, it was Ewart and Paula who spent all the money.
Just like the white puppets were hand picked by the blacks to join the plp. shut ur mouth it goes both ways ya hypocritical a$%!!
But not an armed bodyguard like you know who…
It’s because death threats are only made to PLP !!!!!!
Or (more likely IMHO) because they wish it were that way because of their inflated egos…Think Ewart and his ridiculous ill tempered episodes – accusing a guy giving him a piece of mind at the airport of assault and the removal of the Elbow Beach chef for joking about the contents of his meal – all sick, deluded, paranoid, narcissistic stuff by a wannabe…
Like Dame Lois, Kingsley Tweed and others who we don’t know about. The same as America and other jurisdictions that threatend or killed Black leaders or activist . I guess they where sick, deluded, narcissistic or where the people who inflicted these things????????
A very learned scholar once said that the PLP was out UBPing the UBP. I say that the OBA is out PLPing the PLP .Sad state of affairs all around
OBA come on now, I supported you and wanted change. I am not seeing it. every time we turn around you open mouth and insert foot. Please get it right we do not need to go back to what we just got rid of. I know your new and will make mistakes at first but get real. La Verne no more inept than half of your party, Flip Flop Wayne Furby or the ex minister of W & E for example.
You are seeing it. The Resurrected Oligarchy, UBP. !!!!!!!! lol
Thats why party politics suck. Both or all parties past, present, and future.
Change you can believe in…shaking my head…
Marc Bean said “Since taking office, the OBA has broken promises, broken the rules and broken the hearts of many Bermudians who voted for change.”
Really Marc.. how bout when the PLP broke the Bermuda bank account?? How bout at least admitting AND apologising for THAT before commenting an ANYTHING!
But, Craig will get spanked for this one for sure tho.
Aint Bermuda politrix grand?
Maybe Cannonier realizes the end is near and he just wants to live it up until September…
Now I know where all the cuts pertaining to scholarships went. Thanks UBP/OBA.
This is so frustrating, both these parties are trash!!
If this new advisor is so qualified, should he be the Premier? Why pay 2 ppl to do the job that Mr. Cannonier should be qualified to do?, and if not, find and pay the 1 person who is. Is this where the CS paycut money is going? Why o why is Mr. Cannonier in the position as Premier? He should not need an advisor/speech writer/govt planner/special projects researcher, if he is “qualified” enough to be Premier. How much it gone cost for all this man gotta do?
OBA Reply to the Throne Speech (Nov.2011):
“We would cut consultants and frequent travel”
Oh. Ok.
Consultancy posts for OBA Clan?
what is the shock factor here?
oh he has been hired since May?
What is the shock factor here?
Mr. Famous,
I just read your Bermuda Sun column where you praised the paper for probing this matter.
Well I want to praise the OBA for revealing the million plus in consultancy contracts paid to Mr. Walton Brown and Mr. Marc Bean over the last several years or so.
That doesn’t mean that I agree with Cannonier’s decision, but I disagree with your hypocritical stance on everything political in this island.
If it hadn’t been for the OBA the public would’ve never known.
“Revealing”? Just because you didn’t know doesn’t make it a secret. Walton Brown’s and Marc Bean’s contracts are old old news from many years ago. But for you its new everytime you hear it I guess.
It is new because the former administration never made it public. Unless you can prove me wrong of course.
That shows the lack of transparency from the previous administration and how poor the former Opposition was in revealing such contracts.
NOT TRUE. Check House records. As has been said, old news.
PLP Published contracts in the gazette aswell.
Also, Walton’s contracts were from 1990.. THe UBP were in charge then.
So in the House it was stated that Mr. Bean will receive $450k worth of contracts freely? Or did the Opposition, via Parliamentary questions, request this information?
Ahh, so the UBP also gave contracts to PLPers during their reign is what you are saying? Someone dropped the ball on that one I guess, as the UBP was a downright cronyistic and racist organization, and considering the fact that Mr. Brown was still a PLPer and black at the time. Interesting indeed.
So now the question to you is, did the awarding of millions of dollars of Government contracts to, Mr. Bean, Mr. Commissiong, Mr. Brown, Ms. Wade and Ms. Webb (to name a few)result in the same anger and outrage as this particular Cannonier appointment? Don’t forget the fact that these guys were still receiving taxpayer monies when the PLP requested that the civil service take a pay cut.
If not, why not?
Are you serious? There is no contract under the previous PLP government that hasn’t been vetted and juggled about in the public domain. Not one. Think about that for a moment.
The UBP and then the OBA used Parliamentary Questions to ask about every single consultant contract in the entire Government regularly in the PLP’s term. The answers are a matter of public record. Its just that they and their media friends chose to focus on certain people and their contracts and not others. From 2009, the PLP published every contract awarded by Cabinet in the Official Gazette, again a matter of public record there for everyone to see.
Unlike the OBA who in each and every instance with their consultant contracts have had to release details AFTER the media or the public ask questions about a story that’s making the rounds.
Corey Butterfiled – confirmed AFTER the Gazette broke it
Louise Jackson – confirmed after it was raised in the House of Assembly
Don Grearson – late night press release after the Bermuda Sun was running the story on its front page this morning.
You choose who is more open and transparent. Just because they told you it’s so, doesn’t make it so. Do some independent research and some independent thinking might come about.\
Also, did you or do you have a problem with the granting of these millions of dollars worth of contracts back then?
I cant believe this you asked a lo of civil servants and I mean all of them and looks like you will get what you wanted now you are hiring people as consultants. By the way you just hired two ate Port Royal Golf Course. Come On OBA if the premier cant talk, think or write get rid Of him.
It seems that OBA is now morphing into the PLP…
Different names, same stupidity…
Come on Prem. Cannonier. You need to do much better than this mate.
Why did you hire Charmaine? Get the money flowing. Get the trickle down working again. Then I’ll overlook this double purchase of services, akin to hiring a landscaper to cut the lawn the day after you’ve cut it the day before
Way to go Craig,making sure you lose the next election!
If there is any infighting going on its one group who want to aggressively pursue the former Government over missing funds and another group who want to focus more on the issues at hand….both groups are correct…..
@wth 10:34 am
My post and your response is an example of constructive engagement without childish and inefficetive name calling. In summary, you and I do not agreee on all points but we have taken the time to expalin our reasoning.
After reading some of the posts today, I am of the view that to some degree, the current post of Premier has been rendered entirely meaningless. The Premier is hiring an increasing number of Cabinet office assistants but he seemingly has no real authority over his Cabinet colleagues. In response they seem happy for him to ‘frolic all over’ while they get on with the real work.
If I am correct, it is no wonder none of the Ministers vehemently opposed the appointment of Grearson. I can see absolutely no benefit in doing so and the only result is permanent embarassment (and a potential lack of support) for the Premier. We need not be reminded of the OBA timetable for selecting a Leader later this year. Some of Cannonier’s recent mistakes might give many pause to consider whether he should continue as Leader.
On a more controversial note, the Premier had some very strong comments about the racial imbalance in Bermuda as part of his response to the Throne Speech in November. Since that time, he has not been at all forceful as our new Premier. Has been advised to scale bakc his comments??
With respect to his ‘public visibility’, he seems to have given much more prominence to Dunkley, Richards and Fahy – this is a fundamental mistake by any political analysis. Your references to Jetgate, Minister without portfolio etc only add to my analysis.
I will not comment on ‘what you can see in his eyes’. What you interpret as a genuine desire to do good may be seen by others as absolute fear and confusion – commonly referred to as a deer caught in headlights.
Questions that are relevant to the issue as it relates to the hiring of another consultant:
- where does government stand with hired consultants as it relates to how many were in the government last year, is the OBA striving to reduce the number of consultants on the books? Before I criticize the current government for hiring another consultant, have they already reduced the number that the previous administration had. The myth the PLP like to perpetrate is that the OBA promised to not use consultants, this is false, they promised that they would reduce the reliance and make sure the ones they did hire had clear and defined roles and goals.
- what is the pay rates right now, this is public money, so it should be public knowledge about who has been hired for how much and how long. In fact, I believe it should be the responsibility of government to publish this regularly
- what are the consultants doing, their job descriptions, roles and goals need to be public records and should be gazetted at the time of hiring.
Before I jump on the PLP coat tails of criticizing another government hire, I would like to have more facts. After all, the PLP have shown that they will take every opportunity to criticize and spin whatever they can to make the OBA look bad. Their mandate since the election is to do all they can to win the next election, and they have no intention of letting facts get in their way. Their tactics and speeches have shown that the betterment of Bermuda is taking a backseat to the betterment of the PLP.
No, the PLP rhetoric is getting quite tired and broken record, the OBA needs capable and intelligent people helping them and believe it or not, but they do have some of those in their rank and file. The true measure will come if they can show us that we are getting our monies worth and not from the rantings and word spins from the party that helped create this gargantuan work load.
Great post from the RG:
So the chickens have come home to roost. The UBP (aka the 93% of whites who think the OBA is doing a great job) need an overseer in the Cabinet Office and Grearson is it. So let’s see now, the Cabinet Office is better stacked than a hotel mini-bar. We have:
1. The Secretary to the Cabinet/Head of the Civil Service
2. Assistant Cabinet Secretary/Deputy Head of the Civil Service
3. Four (4) other Assistant Cabinet Secretaries
4. The Central Policy Unit
5. The Protocol Office
6. The Chief of Staff
7. The Press Secretary
8. The Executive Assistant to the Premier
9. The special advisor to the Premier
Twelve (12) people employed in support of the Premier at the executive level, not to mention the army of admin assistants over there.
To quote Sarah Palin circa 2009: “How’s that hope-y, change-y stuff working out for yah?”.
pay cuts, pay cuts, pay cuts. When the poor takes a stand thats when they wanna pay up. 8 to 5 im a Robot. Thank god i say my prayers, if it wasnt for him alot of rich folk would be layed up.
Key advisors are essential to run a Government and it is not in our interests to confine this Government to the numerous hires of the PLP Government if their credentials are suspect. But for every hire there should be two fires. The size and productivity of the civil service in Bermuda is INSANE.
However, I am concerned that the Premier has taken 2 months to announce Grearson’s appointment. This is another example of the OBA not living up to its promise of transparent Government. I had hoped that jetgate would be a one off
Pull it togther OBA !!!!
Its funny when PLP where doing a pack of ignorance the verbal context was raw now OBA/ubp. Are doing a pack of ignorance it’s (come on OBA/ubp let’s pull it together) Talk about a warped and biased society. LMAO !!!!!!!!!!
Really disappointing AGAIN by the OBA. Right on the heels of wasting tax payers money on golf gate, Brooks and Carr we see yet another consultant…and to make matters worse, the OBA who were given the keys to make a change, what do they do?, hire the mentality of a former UBP supporter!!
I voted and support the OBA for the change they promised and all I am seeing is the same.
When will this political nightmare stop? Bermuda it is time to put independents in the house and rid ourselves of these self serving, greedy politicians. Remember we put them in and can take them out!
The only transparency I am seeing is the lies!
And before all of the supporters go crazy, I assure you, I am no supporter of the PLP either and am disgusted at how they have left this island financially but I voted change and am not seeing it through this action.
Time for the OBA to go, I don’t see anything getting better for any Bermudian only for family and friends of the OBA. We need an election NOW!!
I really don’t understand why people are so surprised. You voted in a man with ZERO political background to lead an untested party with the task of pulling the country out of one of the toughest positions we have ever been in. All this on nothing more then a promise of change????
Once again I have to say, stop voting along party lines. We need to do away with party politics & make each politician accountable for their contribution to the country as a whole. This rather then voting in people along party lines that on their own merit don’t contribute much to the improvement of anything other then their own personal gains.
More Leaks to come