Premier Attends Independence Celebrations

July 11, 2013

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas Perry Christie, Premier Craig Cannonier is in attendance for the country’s celebration of their 40th anniversary of Independence.

Premier Cannonier and Prime Minister Christie:

Premier and Prime Minister of Bahamas

The Premier will attend official ceremonies hosted by the Prime Minister. The Premier has also been in preliminary discussions with the Prime Minister regarding the successes and challenges of their financial model, gaming and concierge services as it relates to the tourism product and business services as well as foreign investment. Additionally, the Premier has met with stakeholders from various countries regarding possible business opportunities in India, China and North America.

Premier and Prime Minister 2

Premier Cannonier said: “It was good to see many Bermudians in attendance such as the Opposition Leader, Dame Jennifer Smith and other members of the House of Assembly. Bermuda has close blood ties with Bahamas. It’s important that we recognize our friends and relatives and the commonalities of where we have come. It’s also important that we share strategies for our successes as we chart the way forward.”

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Comments (49)

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  1. frank says:

    hope he learns something by visiting some of the hotels and sights

    • RME says:

      He needs to learn how to stay home and take care of business here. Oh that’s right, I forgot Dunkley and Richards are the ones really running the show.

      • What a joke says:

        They sent the puppet on a trip after his speech of nothing!!

        • E$ says:

          Funny how ya Bean is down der vacationing!! Say somethin…

        • Robert says:

          That is all this premier is good for, photo opps !!! I hope you didn’t embarrass us down there.

    • Out of flight says:

      A clear waste of money. These diplomatic social gatherings end up with a nice chit chat and no real deals taking place. It all sounds good but is a waste of money from a Govt who said they were going to save us money. What a joke. In fact another example of a let down by the OBA. as one writer stated, they need to be home. Bermuda is seen as the wealthy colony who should stand up. Those islands have no time for Bermuda when they have so many problems of their own.

  2. Wow are you serious, voted for a change but i see oba is just like the plp, wasting money on trips on so called i.e stakeholders from various countries regarding possible business opportunities in India, China and North America.
    are you serious?/if you was invited by the government of Bahamas, i hope they paid for a plane ticket and all hotel fees..Bermudians have great ideas of there own ..no need to go south for any ideas…IS it just me or is there any one else out there that thinks all governments are truly for them self first and the people second??

    • Impressive says:

      man,, where are you living?? Its not just you, its the way it is. For the oba to keep this man as the Premier shows they don’t give a damm about the people. Secondly, can you imagine the rhetoric if that was a PLP premier traveling to the caribbean for a celebrations,, smdh

      • Impressive says:

        you see that look on the Prime Minister’s face?? He must be like, how could such a successful country put such an idiot in charge, probably feels he should of been Bermudian.. #dropsmic

        • What a joke says:

          Let him enjoy his perks, it will end when they realize he’s the dumb rabbit. Of wait a minute they already know this.

          Craig take all the free trips you can and tell the civil servants to cut back on their pay you need to fly.

        • Robert says:

          Lol, we will become the laughing stock of the region if this man continues as our leader!

          • Where ya been says:

            Where ya been? We already are.

            Gas man in parliament for 1 year “running” country.

    • Robert says:

      What, he spoke with the Chinese and the Indians !!! How dare he, doesnt he know his support base is against speaking to those people ?!

      • Where ya been says:

        nah, its cool for him.. just now Ewart.

        Dude is a clown! Doesn’t have a clue!

  3. Charter says:

    Joy ride. Waste of public funds.

  4. Can't Belive It! says:

    How much will this cost?
    Good thing this is a payroll tax month!
    Winning an election in Bermuda is the same as
    winning the lottery.

  5. mixitup says:

    LOL – Isn’t Prime Minister Christie’s party the named PLP? Interesting. Nonetheless congrats to our Bahamian brothers on 40 years!

  6. d.o. says:

    Mr Premier. Stay at home and get us out of the s**t, stop the photo ops and joy rides and lets concentrate on what you and the party were elected for.

    • Impressive says:

      yeah,, why don’t you take up a Ministry and give yourself real responsibility?? “dropsmic

      • Hum says:

        The premier taking on a ministry worked so well under the PLP…NOT !!!!

        • Robert says:

          At least the plp premiers were intelligent people, this man is completely incompetent !!!

    • Where ya been says:

      He was elected for Photo-ops. That’s what he does, take pictures.

      He’s off meeting with these “leaders” I wonder what civil servant who actually has a clue is with him???

  7. Opressed says:

    Holy S**T! He’s DREB reincarnated!

    Please call an election, you can all vote for me. I need a trip, as I’m too poor to travel out of my pocket.

  8. Vulpes says:

    If one considers the past 40 years in the Bahamas, it is not a pleasant history nor one to which we should in any way aspire. When I worked there, the corruption at every level of their government was mind boggling – nothing got done without somebody in government taking a cut and it was right out in the open, no pretence whatsoever… Then about all the narco business, a whole other sordid mess to Uncle Sam read them the riot act. Now the place has basically been sold to the Chinese (which is why there are no fish left – all the new infrastructure and hotels are being constructed by mainland Chinese labourers, no local involvement whatsoever – the Chinese eat all the fish). Premier Cannonier should know better than to lower himself to this level.

  9. Seriously.... says:

    Marc Bean and Jennifer Smith are there, I’m sure the gov didn’t pay for their tickets. As for Cannonier….. Pure Joyride.

    Inaugural Ball, Private Jet, Camera Out in London, Quick stop in LA for RIMS, another trip back to London, oh lets go to the Bahamas to research gaming!

    Not to fear though, he’s not really in charge, so he can joyride as he doesn’t do anything while he’s here.

    • RME says:

      Haha funny. But I know what you mean.

      Marc Bean’s wife is Bahamian, so if he went I hope it was to accompany her. Otherwise he doesn’t need to be there either.

      Dame Jennifer’s no longer a Parliamentarian so she can do what she wants in my opinion.

  10. Next says:

    Unnecessary trip. So much for change.

  11. Time Shall Tell says:

    Change?? Ha ha ha ha…. suckers…..

  12. campervan says:

    Isn’t it time the UK eased out of this uneven relationship?
    Whats in it for the people of the UK?
    Old French territories are “departments of France” with reciprocal privileges. Now thats fair a swap.
    Bermuda should become a department of the UK or go independent and sail her own ship.
    I respect my Bermudian brethren but its just not right to ponce.

  13. Unjrust Realities says:

    Unbelievable . . .did I just pay for this trip?????? But wait didn’t you all just ask the government employees to take a paycut????????

    Just another “change” huh??????

    • Seriously.... says:

      You are right. You paid for it. Craig and his entourage chilling in the Bahamas.

  14. Unjrust Realities says:

    Wait a minute . . .what other members of House of Assembly are there???? And who is paying for this?????

    • Seriously.... says:

      Only people on the Government Dime are the Premier and his Entourage. Everyone else paid their own way. Not Jet Set Craig though!

  15. E$ says:

    Damn Bermudians love to hate….we’re probably d best in d world at it! Get a f**kin life. So worried bout d next man.

    • Unjrust Realities says:

      @E$ I’m not at all worried about the next man . . .I’m worried about my damn country that is supposed to be so far in debt . . .I’m worried about my ability to take care of and educate my damn children with government demanding pay cuts . . .and I’m worried about my damn tax dollars flying out the friggin window why yyou all tell me we as a country are in trouble financially!!! That’s what I’m worried about.

      If the premier and his entourage want to go to the Bahamas to celebrate their 40 years of independence on their first or second salaries, out of their own pockets, I could give a Damn . . .but if it’s coming out of the taxpayers money . . .guess what IT IS MY DAMN BUSINESS!!!!

      • bun out says:

        So where were u d last 14 years?! Didn’t hear nuttin from u. Exactly….

  16. Robert says:

    This man will go in history as bermudas most ineffective premier, ever !!!

  17. SoMuchMore says:

    Cannioner is Dr. Brown Jr. smdh

  18. God 1st says:

    Craig is a surrogate for the oba/ubp and the supporters of the organization are growing tired of him ….He has worn out his welcome in the camp.

    When the OBA/UBP won the election, the oligarchy asked for the premier to be driven around whilst they attend a meeting.

  19. YoungBermudian says:

    Hypocrisy at it’s finest! I just hope all those who criticized Dr. Brown are as willing to criticize Premier CC!!

    • Victor says:

      I do not approve of this trip, but Craig is so far removed from Ewart’s level of shenanigans that it is plainly absurd to try and link them…This is petty stuff compared to what went down with Ewart.

      • Mazumbo says:

        He could never walk in Brown’s shoes even though I’m not a big fan of him. Dr. Brown’s credentials vs Cannnonair PLEASE!!!!!!

        • Victor says:

          Everything Brown has ever touched has turned into crap

  20. Kiskadee says:

    Craig Cannonier needs to grow up . He has a country to run and he has more important issues to deal with than to run off to the Bahamas to celebrate their Independence. Since the Bahamas got their independence the place has gone downhill fast.We are told we are in huge financial trouble yet he is always going off on taxpayers money and hiring consultants and advisors we don’t need. I voted OBA because the PLP was such a disaster but this one is proving no better. Wake up before it is too late

  21. relax says:

    Everyone needs to chill out. Have any of you thought that perhaps this may be a very strategic move on the premiers part. Atlantis is about to go into receivership. New Providence is the closest thing to Bermuda as a demographic and we can learn a lot about how to run and manage casinos from our Bahamian cousins. You need to spend money to make money. The OBA are moving the country forward. We need to give our leaders the chance to show us something. It has been six months people. You are all being very impetuous.

    • Um Jus Sayin' says:

      OK all well and good, but when you are talking about pay cuts from the people how can a trip like this be justified? He should have gone on his own dime. I have not been on a trip in 5 yrs., due to tightening of my budget. But, I seem to be paying for everybody (PLP included) elses. Impetuous, maybe, but We The People need to see something more than photo ops and budget cuts!

  22. Mazumbo says:

    Six months is enough. GET EM OUT!!!!!!!

  23. relax says:

    Um Jus Sayin – That is a fair point and I dont know what you do for work but I am sure you work hard as do I. The Premier has to show his face at events like this. We have an extremely long history with the Bahamas and we need to show them our support. Networking and rubbing shoulders with the most successful tourism destination in the region is not a bad thing. When you get an invite to something like this, you go. This was no surprise, there has been no extravagant spending and if the leader of our country cant fly to our neighboring island to show support without being scrutinized then we have a bigger problem on our hands than we thought. You know as well as I do that there are a list of questions that need to be answered about the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent so frivolously in the past. On a tangent- why aren’t works and engineering scrutinized so harshly if we want to get real about saving money? Why has it become a tolerated thing or a joke around a dinner table that it takes 4 guys to dig a hole. Lets look where the money is really being wasted.

  24. god1st says:

    The oba/ubp will be voted out at the next general election.