Premier Reduces Cabinet, 3 Ministers Eliminated
[Updated with video/info] Premier Craig Cannonier is holding a press conference this morning [Dec 11], and while the topic was not officially released, it is widely speculated that the Premier may be announcing changes to his Cabinet.
The recent SAGE Commission report suggested cutting back Cabinet from 12 to 8 Ministers, and while everything remains speculative at this stage, suggestions are being made that the Premier may be planning to reduce Cabinet by 2 or 3 Ministers.
Update: The Premier reduced his Cabinet size by three, with Nalton Brangman [Education], Sylvan Richards [Minister of Environment & Planning] & Leah Scott [Minister Without Portfolio] all eliminated.
Update: 12 minute video of the press conference:
Although three Ministers were cut, one was without portfolio, leaving two Ministries to be combined.
Education & Economic Development are now combined under Dr Grant Gibbons, and Health & Environment are now combined under Trevor Moniz.
Dr Grant Gibbons will take on Education as an added responsibility, Pat Gordon Pamplin moves from Health to Public Works, while Environment & Health were given to Mr Moniz, the former Public Works Minister.
Chart of the of old and new Cabinet, click to enlarge:
Update: The Premier’s full statement follows below:
Good morning everyone,
It’s been just under a year since I’ve had the privilege of serving as your Premier. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to assess the very formidable challenges facing this country and formulate strategies for a better Bermuda and a more efficient government.
As you know, we’ve been busy and have made significant headway in:
- • rebuilding the economic foundation to grow jobs and opportunities
- • fortifying police operations to make safer neighbourhoods
- • passing legislation to eliminate discrimination and expand fair treatment
- • moving towards a Tourism Authority to revive that great industry
To name a few of our many accomplishments, but there’s still much more to do and a longer way to go before we are out of the woods.
How we get there is through a term you’ve heard me mention many times – ‘Shared Sacrifice’. I’ve also stated that tough decisions will have to be made to place Bermuda on the right trajectory.
As Premier, it is my responsibility to lead by example and make some tough decisions from the top down. Today, I will announce a decision that will produce a leaner, more effective and efficient Cabinet.
The changes reflect recommendations made by the UK National School of Government from 2011, my own observations over the past twelve months and indeed it will fulfill part of our platform promise.
We are making the tough decisions that the previous administration would not make. Today, this OBA government is fulfilling our promise.
These Cabinet changes are part of a process toward better governing and greater efficiency. We’ve got a very busy legislative year ahead of us.
We started the process of shared sacrifice and change earlier in the year when my Cabinet Ministers all took a 10% pay cut, effectively saving the Government hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Today, I would like to announce further changes for the Cabinet that will reduce the Cabinet from 13 to 10 and will take place with immediate effect and deliver further savings.
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, the Cabinet Ministers for this legislative year will be:
- • Minister of National Security, Deputy Premier The Hon, Michael Dunkley, JP, MP
- • Minister of Finance, the Hon. E.T. (Bob) Richards, JP, MP
- • Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon. Mark Pettingill, JP, MP
- • Minister of Health & the Environment, the Hon. Trevor Moniz, JP, MP
- • Minister of Education and Economic Development, the Hon. Dr. Grant Gibbons, JP, MP
- • Minister of Works and Engineering, the Hon. Pat Gordon-Pamplin, JP, MP
- • Minister of Tourism and Transport, the Hon. Shawn Crockwell, JP, MP
- • Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Michael Fahy, JP
- • Minister of Community and Cultural Development, the Hon. R. Wayne Scott, JP, MP
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly say “Thank You’ to the following dedicated Members of Parliament, who will not be serving in the Cabinet at this time, but will serve in the following positions:.
- • Sylvan Richards will now assume the role of Junior Minister for Home Affairs in the House of Assembly,
- • Leah Scott who will assume the Junior. Minister for Education
- • and Senator Nalton Brangman will continue to sit in the Senate and take on responsibilities as the Junior Minister for Tourism & Transport
These members have proven to be team players. I’m proud to say that their commitment to the government and the people of Bermuda remains unwavering and intact. I welcome their continued assistance and representation in their new roles.
It is important to understand that the process of identifying efficiencies will be an ongoing initiative for this Government. I want people to understand that we need to get better, that we need to face up to our challenges and make the required changes.
Each one of us has to also commit to making sure we do all we can to make Bermuda succeed, because the challenges confronting Bermuda are serious and real, and there should be no doubt about that.
Today’s Cabinet announcement is a further demonstration of our commitment and respect to the prudent management of the public purse.
-
Live coverage is over, and the updates are below starting from the beginning:
Read More About
Comments (247)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
Articles that link to this one:
- Boater’s Dead Body Found At Shelly Bay Beach | Bernews.com | December 11, 2013
- PLP Respond To Premier’s Cabinet Changes | Bernews.com | December 11, 2013
- Chris Famous: “Cabinet Is All UBP Born & Bred” | Bernews.com | December 12, 2013
Leah Scott should have never been there in the first place. Collected over $140,000 for doing NOTHING.
If Trevor treats Health and Environment the way he treated the tenants of Victoria Row when he shut their water off, then this island is in a whole heap of trouble.
If the people of Bermuda refuse to live up to their financial obligations just like the tenants of Victoria Row, then we will quickly find ourselves becoming a third-world backwater. Bermuda will not move forward until we start to call out bad behavior. People need to pull their own weight and stop making excuses.
do it again. you don’t pay you don;t play. Simple. I have to pay my bills and I am NOT working!
What, you mean he asked them to try to pay their water bill? That puts us in a heap of trouble?
UBP
Dr Grant Gibbons: Minister of Economic Development & Education
BDA
Shawn Crockwell: Minister of Tourism & Transport [same]
UBP
Patricia Gordon-Pamplin: Minister of Public Works
UBP
Michael Dunkley: Minister of Public Safety [same]
UBP
Wayne Scott: Minister of Community, Culture & Sport [same]
BDA
Mark Pettingill: Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs
[same]
UBP
Trevor Moniz: Minister of Health and Environment
UBP
Bob Richards: Minister of Finance [same]
BDA
Senator Michael Fahy: Minister for Home Affairs [same]
Confused
The Premier
Now we have 3 BDA, 6 UBP & one confused leader.
Which of the six are telling him what to do?
Lets not forget that Crockwell, Pettingill and Fahy originally were UBP!
Yes but they left the racist party! Without the originals from the BDA the UBP would have never have one the election.
So should is the PLP going to disown its ex-UBP members?
@ Suzie Quattro.
Ooops! Some people have very selective memories.
Wayne Furbert comes to mind, along with others.
If they learned a lesson from the 1998 election and can get us back on our feet – who cares? If the PLP are re-elected in 4 years time do you think they will have learned anything about governance and fiscal responsibility and will have something new to offer?
We all know that Grant is the grand wizard! Why did not he give the Ministry to Sylvan Richards and leave Micheal Fahy in the Senate?
You’ve been watching too much Harry Potter.
Why do you say that? Do you think that he does not have significant influence on the decisions made in cabinet? Lol! Foolish one…you took the bait…perhaps you Do you have some other fears lurking in your guilty conscience.
Vile choice of words…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Wizard
Welcome to Good Governance and Accountability! The UBP was an honourable party whose leaders did not loot the Government coffers for their own vulgar, new money pretensions. Presumably the OBA will measure up to that legacy rather than the issues at the expense of mainly the working class of this country from 1998 to 2013.
no the UBP just robbed working class Bermudians out of job opportunities, their homes and property.
Both parties did that…
Evidence
Take a look around.
That’s evidence enough.
Job Opportunities – How many people’s jobs were lost due to mismanagement? How many work permits were issued in the past 14 years, for jobs that Bermudians could have done?
Homes and Properties – How many people have lost their homes and property due to mismanagement of Bermuda?
Funny that YOU should be interested in evidence now, after all the tantrums you’ve thrown when asked to back up YOUR claims.
I Love it, I love it @welcomebackubp preach the truth and nothing but the truth…. LMFAO @ One confused leader
Education should be seen as THE most important ministry. Why are we asking one MP to manage education and improve business Bermuda? It just doesn’t make any sense for the next generation. I see no positive education changes on the horizon.
in they improve education than they won’t be able to stop are progress da
Explain the PLP’s abysmal record with education?
See you didn’t go to school. I think you meant OUR not are ( they do sound a little alike ) and if you did your statement is a load of s**t
They are asking one minister to take on the role of education and their other ministry because the present administration is quite confident and comfortable that holding back the majority our society makes it much easier to have their own and their kind return to the status and affluence they once enjoyed as being privileged enough to become who they once was under the old regime.
Hatred is a sickness but truth is revelation and true freedom, it is about power and control and regaining what they feel was lost under the P.L.P administration.
The Premeir forgot to sack himself and 2 of the 5 staff he has employed under him.
“Premier”
Best comment all day!
I am in total agreement with your comments but the biggest joke to me is how the Premier could take the advice of the sage commission, but would refuse the comments of countless others who have given credible advice on cuts that is needed, it all comes down to who you are and the color of your skin regardless of what others think.
Sage commission has many great points and ideas but are behind the 8 ball in some cases because the very things we now see this Premier doing and standing in agreement with by the reducing of ministers is not the first time it was suggested, long before the sage commission the proposal was suggested along with the reduction of hours for all government workers.
unfortunately we don’t see the bigger picture of how this administration is playing games with the lives of the majority of us that are Bermudians that are in need of help, but they are to busy concentrating on saving their own behinds and the foreign workers,
the present suffering in this country will get worse and the likes of Craig Cannonier will not last much longer but God forbid the one who will follow after him, lets also recommend that we no longer play this waiting game and get rid of the present Premier who is a puppet on a string that is only filling time for the one who is sitting in the back drop waiting for their opportunity to come to power to do worst then we are presently experience.
On a positive note all is not lost because out of the ashes will arise a powerful people who will not succumb to the evil plots of so call few who claim to have our best interest at heart as all Bermudians.
You’re gloriously insane and hyperbolic…I wish you would comment more!
Gloriously insane is a good position to be in, because being this way means I don’t have to explain a darn thing I do or say to such high esteem jacka**es that think the same as you have.
I am glad you are at least honest enough to share your feelings as many don’t.
I will say my feelings with no problem a… Hole, the only people that were behind the 8 ball, was your plp except when it came to enriching themselves!!! How did all that work out for you??? You are the poster child, of when I always say, the plp dumbed down their support base!!!!
Not you again with your racist ranting! Go away already…
Complete gibberish…
you are full of **** with your diatribe of misinformation
Now looks more like I will have to call this government UBPoba, rather than OBAubp. Just what I had anticipated from day 1. Great comments. Folks stay awake and alert. I am down under for the Xmas and New Year, but will follow from time to time.
look out for kangaroos
why do we have this stupid woman still getting paid there should be no jr. ministers in the house if the minister needs help there are enough back benchers sitting on their a** doing nothing not saying nothing and getting paid
the premier should have taken on a ministry himself
like what does he realy do he can’t even speak to the people
unless a speech writer puts two words on paper a joker
he should remove his dam self
Hmm… not to state the obvious.. But premier fires 3 black people and gives their responsibilities to 2 white men…
Change indeed, more like UBP is BACK!
Look at the bigger picture ***hole. Those named where the weakest players so shut up.
Perhaps these people worked very hard and will be dissapointed. Perhaps they discovered they were in over their heads and asked to be moved, pehaps they did the right thing and stepped aside for someone with more experience to get things done, whilst being available for future opportunities to grow in the party.
By being a member of the OBA, they want Bermuda to prosper for Bermudians. It’s not about any one individual, it’s about all of us.
On what basis do you judge them as the weakest? I mean with your cussing and arrogance your post is the weakest!
Why are you so offended??? Did the comment hurt you personally???
typical…because you say it all of a sudden it becomes a fact with no need of evidence to support your prejudicial statements….typical!
What does race have to do with it? He gave the portfolios to the most experienced persons available who can manage them in the most efficient way! When are we going to stop letting race get in the way of progress (for all!).
Only fools trip on things behind them.
i agree with that rationale entirely,, why doesnt that same philosophy work for the premier himself though????? “birds chirping from here to russia” ho hum, ho hum.
Sadly, there are those who will NEVER give up the race card. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela would say :”Shame on you”
We can never give up the race card until the day that race is a thing of the past that only can be truly done and proven through equality.
We are often told without words to accept what we are handed in way of unfairness and accept our state of being as being not privilege enough to enjoy the greater things in life as our counter parts, do your homework and see that many Bermudians in the black race have done well for themselves but the majority still struggle to survive, while very few in the white community have to struggle at all.
When a man is denied the basic necessities in life in a country as Bermuda that is a travesty. so to the joker that will say I don’t know what I am talking about, the same has his or her foot stuck in their backside and their mouth.
Says the man who has spoken out regularly in support of denying Bermudians rights and privileges on a regular basis…
You are a real brilliant activist, Bermudians always come first in my book and it is jokers like you that we need to be aware of, I will go head to head with my fellow Bermudian when the need arises but I would never vote for those who put the foreign worker in the basic work force before it’s own people, so next time come with facts but pull your foot out of your ox before you do.
Well done, changing the topic.
Here is a fact:
You have, as I mentioned, regularly spoken out, rather vehemently, against equal rights for Bermudians, based on your religious views.
Do you deny it?
“Jokers like me”? Meaning what? Please explain.
And not once did I mention a political party or foreign workers. You’re moving goalposts.
moving the goal post is illiterate folk like you that would take the subject matter which is the premier removing three ministers and the fact that cuts are being made to try and show that the O.B.A is pretending to better the economy and the national debt, but your small mindedness wants to bring the topic of homosexuality into a topic where it don’t belong, so get back on track and just maybe it is not your foot stuck in the ox but something totally different.
Now you’re just stringing insults together without a single care as to whether they’re true or even based in reality.
How can I, who is typing this, be illiterate?
Oh, and nice thinly veiled accusation of bestiality.
You are a truly, truly vile and ridiculous individual.
MY small mindedness? From you? That is a laugh, after all the small minded, hateful nonsense you’ve posted.
I will come with the facts!!! You are a liar!! You voted for the plp over and over while they continuously allowed foreign workers into the basic work force!!! Your type of nonsense is SO YESTERYEAR!!!!!! The plp presided over the biggest increase of these foreign workers that Bermudians could have easily have done!!! But in all their incompetence were chasing the high end workers that were giving many Bermudians a much better standard of living out here!!! You are nothing short of miss informed and I for one would much prefer that you keep your opinions to yourself and spare the rest of us your nonsense!!!!
And this is one of the reasons they are no longer in power but it don’t make these jokers in the O.B.A look any greater or less then the foolishness we have endured down through the last 20 years dating all the way back to the U.B.P before we removed them.
get real and look at the bigger picture and see who is really suffering in this country and we would see that we have a bunch of politicians that is for themselves.
I guess if I was white it would be pretty embarrassing if I kept hearing about the race issue too but its been around for centuries and its been only about 60 years since white people stopped lynching us so its gonna take time.
Not embarrassing at all. I had nothing to do with the lynching and, unlike you, I don’t hold all people in one group responsible for the actions of other members of that group.
Personally, I’d like to hear more about the race issue, with an aim to help move towards equality.
Sadly, that can’t happen with people who continue to base their negative views on the colour of someone’s skin.
Are you going to be a force for good and a move towards equality, or will you prove me right and continue your divisive, racist, hateful agenda, solely so that your political party can win an election almost half a decade away?
I know you had nothing to do with the lynching but you cant deny that you did and still do benefit from an undeserved privilege in society, even though we’ve improved its more subliminal .
I’m the first to admit white privilege. Believe that. I’ve never denied it.
But how does YOUR approach help fix it?
How does your approach move us towards equality?
Will I get an answer? We’ll see.
Par for the course
Interesting….
Clearly you are rewriting history. Stop putting words in the mouth of Mandela and King. Why would they stop attacking institutionalized racism. Its like saying you stab a person in the back and only pulled the knife out half-way and demand that they be quiet and be grateful. What you and your ilk disdain is our demand to be treated as human and equals. We will not remain morphed into what makes you comfortable or what you deem acceptable. We will never stop fighting against this pernicious evil of racism and white supremacy even in its refined state! OBA ran on this platform of justice social and economic for all and we demand that they deliver!
If I am playing with a deck of cards and I remove the joker and throw it in the trash, as long as I am playing with that deck of cards, the joker card can never be played. The fact that the race card still exists is the reason why people will never give up the race card.
What Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela would do is challenge us to address the racial inequality and injustices that still do exists.
So let’s do that.
We now have a cabinet that are all former members of the United Bermuda Party. Over the last five years we have had a number of people leave the UBP solely because of racism or racial inequality that existed within the UBP. The same people are now members of the OBA.
Then we have the ‘Secret Report’ that came our prior to the last general election. In that report stated the EXACT things we see occurring today. Which is, younger members of the UBP split from the party and start a new party, then have the other members of the UBP join up with the new party – to regain power. This has happened.
Also in that ‘Secret Report’ was the use of the phrase the ‘Black Surrogate.’ Surrogate meaning – substitute, stand-in, proxy, deputy, – translates into the “Black” not being ready, qualified, or good enough to be the real deal. Within the political content of the ‘Secret Report’ the use of ‘Black Surrogate’ is racist at it’s very core. If a political party could unashamedly, follow a report that is racist or has racial undertone, then why can’t members of the community use the ‘race card’ to address, call out, bring attention to what seems to be a well-orchestrated scheme by the UBP.
If I am playing with a deck of cards and I remove the joker and throw it in the trash, as long as I am playing with that deck of cards, the joker card can never be played. The fact that the race card still exists is the reason why people will never give up the race card, and rightfully so
What Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela would do is challenge us to address the racial inequality and injustices that still do exists.
So let’s do that.
We now have a cabinet that is all former members of the United Bermuda Party. Over the last five years we have had a number of people leave the UBP solely because of racism or racial inequality that existed within the UBP. The same people are now members of the OBA. Disbanding the UBP, creating a new party, and rejoining your old colleagues in the new party does not get rid of the racism that clearly existed within the former UBP. It only covers it up!! It has not forced the members to address it, but it allows them to act like it doesn’t even exist.
Then we have the ‘Secret Report’ that came out prior to the last general election. In that report stated the EXACT things we see occurring today. Which was, younger members of the UBP split from the party and start a new party, then have the other members of the UBP join up with the new party – to regain power. This has happened.
Also in that ‘Secret Report’ was the use of the phrase the ‘Black Surrogate.’ Surrogate meaning – substitute, stand-in, proxy deputy, – translates into the “Black” not being ready, qualified, or good enough to be the real deal. Within the political content of the ‘Secret Report’ the use of ‘Black Surrogate’ is racist at it’s very core. If a political party could use the race card unashamedly, follow a report that is racist or has racial undertone, then why can’t members of the community use the ‘race card’ to address, call out, bring attention to what seems to be a well-orchestrated scheme by the UBP who clearly used race to gain an advantage.
“UBP who clearly used race to gain an advantage.”
Might be true but really what is the difference in the two parties here as both do this. Race is after all a political stratigy, after all its a numbers game.
LOL note I do not condone any use of the race card. Lets start to keep score on who uses it the most and to what extent.
one word, NELSON MANDELA ! MOVE ON
That’s two words.
that was 4 words…
That is not one word.
Why do people like you always bring up the colour of a person’s skin?
PLP have programmed them to, because it suits their power hungry agenda perhaps?
Because its people that look like you that remind us everyday that we have a different skin color!!!Its been happening for centuries!!!!!
Lots of assumptions here…
Are you white then??????????????????
LOL
Don’t forget: during the 14 years of PLP rule, there were only ever two white Ministers and never more than one serving at any given time. There were several years when there were no non-black Ministers at all.
As a white person I thought oh oh. There is Gona be a race issue. Sure enough.
30% Anglo
10% Portuguese
50% Black
10% Mohawk
That’s not too far off the status quo.
Ha! Good one.
The three removed were all part of the original BDA crew. That’s a fact!!!! Forget the color issue.
@LR Like any ‘boss’ the Premier has to make the most of his more efficient workers, and weed out the not so good. He interacts with them on a regular basis and has first-hand info we are not privy to. Therefore, he knows who is the best man for the job and has obviously acted accordingly.
I am not saying the Ministers removed were underperforming, but if they were, would you rather have the Premier keep them on the payroll simply because of the color of their skin?
Exactly! And this is what is going to be happening in the CS soon too! If you are just showing up and collecting your paycheck then you better dust off your resume skills because you are getting axed next. And rightfully so! I want my tax dollars to go to better use than carrying your lazy butts. Don’t get comfy people! This Gov’t is LEADING BY EXAMPLE!
what an a**, race, race, race, all you lot can ever use. If I said the moon is white what color would you call it. Get on with it.
There is only one race people belong to and it’s called the HUMAN RACE
Why then did white statisticians, social scientist and anthropologists historically classify all non-white people otherwise?
Because they were racist a-holes, looking for reasons to oppress and suppress.
Haven’t we grown since then? Haven’t we learned that they were wrong?
Can’t we figure out a way that the lessons they taught can be unlearned and the wounds caused by those awful lessons healed?
No it is not the social scientist that created the problem. They reflect the consciousness of the larger society and simply report and discuss the matters in language that they have been given and has been approved of by the larger society. If that language disturbed the larger white community social scientist would cease. There fore it is not the social scientist that are racist it is perhaps the society!
Wow. Lots of high falutin’ nonsense here.
So, society is racist, but its members aren’t? Those that created the ‘language’ that allowed racism to continue weren’t racist?
I never said that they created the problem. But they, and their construct, allowed for the problem to continue.
You seem to be attributing arguments and positions to me that I don’t have.
They were racists. But that doesn’t mean that all white people in perpetuity are racists. In fact, times have changed a lot.
thank you my point exactly. My skin is **********, all mankind’s blood is red.
Yes all mankind’s blood is red but back to reality you cant run from the black and white issue
We are not talking about what you can’t see (blood) we are talking about what can be seen. Moreover many white people are still infected by their racist heritage and do not fight openly against it. Just read the blogs! They really have a problem with justice.
Point is who gives a cr** about the skin tone, isn’t it what is in the HUMAN sole that counts? Seems Mr Mandela got the picture correct, why can’t we small, narrow minded Bermudians get it?
For example?
I was waiting to hear color yet again…
And precisely why does it matter what the colour of their skin is?
Bermuda is in no shape to be placing people in positions based on the colour of their skin. We have been there, done that & it does not work. Put the best available in the jobs no matter their race, age or gender.
Sectarian Hater.
The Premier gave the better qualified people the jobs. The others should never have been in there in the first place . It’s not a matter of colour but who is best for the job.
Downsizing the cabinet is a start to cutting the costs. I agree with the changes so far.
Very interesting. The three removed were all part of the BDA crew. Cabinet changes must be strategic as well. I hope the Premier hasn’t caused himself to become an internal target.
Who would you have remived then?
I would have removed Leah Scott, Nalton brangman, Patricia Gordon Pamplin, Trevor Moniz, Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell. I would have pulled Jeanne Atherden in for Education, and shuffled/consolidated some others.
So you advocate 6 members of cabinet plus the Premier moving forward.
Crockwell I agree with – let the Tourism Authority take care of business.
Bangman, Scott I agree with – didn’t show much.
What are your reasons for Pamplin, Moniz and Pettingill and how would you account for the oversite of those ministries utilizing the remaining ministers?
Why do you feel Richards should have been kept?
Your support for Fahy is noted.
learn to spell or proof read.
That’s why ‘watching’ would have put in Jeanne Atherden. He/she might learn how to spell
You also begin a sentence with a capital letter.
Wayne Scott needed to go…his arrogant stance is sickening. He does nothing to engender community with these hustle truck jobs and attack on the poor!
Here we go again with the black and white crap!
Judging on the comments above, here come the conspiracy theories!
@ Unbelievable,
Yes, it is fun reading them though.
Shouldn’t the Min. of Tourism be eliminated as it is no longer a Ministry? We could have kept Mr. Richards. Who gets Environment and Planning?
Pat Gordon Pamplin clearly got punished for the Urgent Care Center debacle. Was Sylvan Richards penalized for having the dog put down?
I am not feeling Grant Gibbons as Minister of Education. He does not relate to 95% of Bermuda and I cannot see him at Berkeley or Cedarbridge feeling comfortable.
Glad that Premier cannonier made some changes but I dont think they went far enough. However, he is new to the game and likely didnt want to piss everyone off at once.
Gibbons went to Harvard, has a PhD, has made a lot of money and is no dumb fella. I think it may be safe to say he knows a little something about education. Maybe he can help bring the public system up to scratch.
Just because he has a PhD doesn’t mean he will do what is best for our children. A PhD doesn’t equate to common sense – which is what will be needed to handle the education ministry. However, I do feel that Grant Gibbons is the better choice over Brangman.
No one is denying his intellect…but will it translate is the question? This is a man who in his lifetime has had little involvement if any in the public schools of Bermuda.
n how u kno dat?!
I think you missed what ‘watching’ meant. In order to truly improve the educational system you have to understand the people who are a part of it, which Dr. Gibbons does not for the most part!
The PLP had 14 years and how many Education Ministers?
Either they didn’t see it as important or could not deliver.
Perhaps they didn’t understand the people in the Public School System.
As of now the OBA looks set to challenge the current record.
The PLP had 11 Education Ministers in 14 years. One of them had two goes at it.
Thank you, thats an average of 1.2 years per replacement, so the OBA may actually be leading.
Education doesn’t need a Minister either having a Commissioner of Education. Think about the money saved.
@Guy Carri…you state that maybe Dr. Gibbons can bring the public system up to scratch…do you forget it all went to hell when the UBP created middle schools. How quickly we forget!
I agree, adopting the middle school system and implementing only 2 senior schools has set Bermudian public education way back.
he does not relate to 95% of bermuda because he white. shut up already bra. dats what you wanted to say. he’s smarter than you and all of us. know’s what he’s doing. he’s here to help EVERYBODY! Even ya children, hope you ain’t got none, but still. stop de childish petty s***! He feels comfortable everywhere lol. stop de BS
Especially considering he and the UBP initiated the Middle School model that was being phased out by the American schools.
Now… Would pointing out that the PLP did nothing to fix that over 14 years mean anything to you?
Or would there be yet another call to “let go of the past 14 years”?
MIke Hind you are so arrogant and tired. It is old now…let George Bush Go and Deal with Obama! get it?
No. I don’t get it. You’re lashing out blindly, speaking nonsense.
I am an EXTREMELY left-wing liberal who spoke out and marched against George Bush repeatedly.
But I guess that’ shard for you to understand, ‘cuz I’m white.
What IS old is folks like you making completely false personal, ad hominem attacks on people instead of addressing what they are saying.
It’s getting really tired. On the upside, it DOES expose you as the partisan demagogue that you are, so… There’s that.
Yet one could readily link what Bush did to the US handing the “bag” to Obama with what the PLP did to Bermuda handing the OBA the “bag”..
LOL yet the PLP will never see it that way.
Well I guess one could say that the UBP handed the PLP a bag of garbage after their 30 year reign too huh????
In Education? Absolutely.
But surely a decade and a half is enough to, if not fix the problem, make an inroads, no?
That was also approved at the time of the decision by Jennifer Smith.
Yes that is correct the destruction of the school system had support from both sides of the isle what does that tell us about the political parties here.
LOL
I guess Hershey won after all!!
And the threatened closure of the Urgent Care Center has created a new patient.
In unison with other posters, are these changes strategic??
They should be strategic but I dont see the strategy. I would have viewed Leah Scott, Sylvan Richards and Nalton Brangman as Cannonier supporters. Now with their removal, and their positions taken by members of the old UBP guard – Gibbons and Moniz – it really begs the question of what is going on?
The Premier has chosen those he feels are most capable of doing the job(s) – that’s what’s going on. Don’t forget that Bermuda was at it’s very best and most prosperous when the UBP was in power — thank heavens we now have a few of those intelligent brains in the OBA.
LOL . . . now the true identities will reveal themselves!!!!! That was simply dumb of them to think that they were a part of the “in crowd.” They placed them in those specified roles to make us as a people feel they kept their promises, and now the no longer have the need for their lackies!!!! This is just as plain ans simple to see, and you don’t need a doctorate to see that!!!
I don’t know how you can “win” after being killed, and I don’t expect anything different from Trevor Moniz ,still two more (at least) heads should have rolled, Crockwell has been rendered redundant by the Tourism Authority anyway lets follow S.A.G.E. and cut two more. Enjoy your demotion.
These are fair and sensible changes. Although these people are talented and have my best wishes for the future, Brangman, Richards and Scott were inexperienced and IMO ineffective.
Good changes. I support them. Will salaries also be reflective asap? How are salaries reflected for those taking additional portfolios? How much will this save Bermuda for the fiscal year?
Ministers do not get ‘extra’ or ‘less’. The savings will come from those who are no longer Ministers. Their pay will drop by approximately $100k. Therefore the changes will save about $300k per year.
Im disappointed they didn’t remove Shawn Crockwell – with a Tourism Authority why do we even need a Minister of Tourism Development? And surely Transport could be moved to Home Affairs?? Dead weight in my opinion.
I don’t recall your critic of the PLP quantity?
man, let’s deal with the here and now, you sound so childish.. “little son, why did you push the little boy down, because he pushed me first mommy” enough already.
Cmbba maybe because its not fully integrated yet and the dept of tourism is still the department of tourism. ReMake that comment after the authority is up and running okay.
Great start. Great statement. Keep cutting by example, it’s the best course today. Well done.
TO ALL YOU NEGATIVE A$$ PEOPLE…DO YOU WANT THIS ISLAND TO FLOURISH OR SINK LIKE A ROCK!?
most people have been calling for these reductions for a year now. Yes its great he finally has done something, but he is a bit late in my opinion.
@ watching – Rome wasn’t built in a day !
Most people called on the last government to take paycuts. I don’t think they got round to it.
They took steps to save the tax payers money, well done
Cabinet changes by definition are bound to be criticised, albeit for a variety of reasons.
However, the Premier has made what appears to be wise decisions. Only time will tell.
Let’s move on!
Nice clean up! I am impressed! Now let’s get back to work!
now all he has to do is get rid of the so called special adviser and speech writer
That would be a smart move.
frank, nice to see that you agree we should downsize any unneeded employees to save money. By Marc Bean’s count there are about 1,500 unneeded public employees. That should save some money.
Well done OBA.
Now make cuts in pay to The Civil Sevice,before we become the “Haiti” of the Atlantic.
Now to cut the jobs for the Special Advisor and Press Secretary…
You can’t please all the people all the time. And you can’t please some people ANY of the time.
The mudslinging here is just sad.
So true Mike and its ALWAYS the SAME people doing the slinging…….same S#%T….different day……
Well done Mr. Premier but now you need to reduce your staff at the cabinet office which is ridiculously overstaffed and costing us far too much money that we cannot afford!
Yes, just like the Post Office. Let’s downsize places that are ridiculously overstaffed and costing too much money that we can’t afford. Great idea.
So let’s understand this, the Premier cuts from the top, something we have ALL PLP and OBA have been saying for some time now and then the PLP supporters (I assume could be some OBA people as well) are now yammering on about conspiracy theories because of whom he cut? Question how much will we save on Government expenditure? Will Dr. Grant Gibbons have the real time needed for Education as this to me is the most important Ministry on the island next to business development? Can’t see how putting these together aren’t going to make whom ever in charge of the hairless and sick but emm. Can we hear from the party or the ministers cut as too weather or not this was asked of them for the betterment of the country as to avoid “sour grapes” nonsense I’m sure the opposition will generate soon? Also how does this change the vote in the house or does it?
LOL just some questions. Anyone can take a crack at it. Next will we see top civil servants be cut, maybe a need to get new people and ideas there and this could generate some succession for those underneath the top brass, not sure.
The Premier has chosen who he thinks is capable? That is hilarious! Is he capable? the jury is out on that one.
Obviously so.
Why would you say he isn’t?
Fun and games for sure. How ever you wish to spin this, it is a political minefield for the Premier. He turfs out three obvious supporters and consolidates the power base of the old UBP right wing. That alone is a mistake. Add to that the obvious race piece manifested by the changes and this must be seen as a further weakening of an already weak Premier. Pat and Trevor both gave him cause to fire them also but they were allowed to remain and the “bait and switch” of their swap is pathetic. So they don’t get fired but three folks on “his team” do? For all those who consistently deny who is in fact in control of this Government and this Premier, here’s your proof.
What a ridiculous load of nonsense.
The only one spinning here is, in fact, you.
So what then are the implications of these changes from your usual astute political analysis? Or, like everything in OBA land, this is a colour-blind, team effort, done only to save money……
How can you be taken seriously, when the basis of your post is that I am an OBA supporter, something that is patently false?
Your entire post, both of them – if not most of them – are based on falsehoods and fabrications.
Try honesty and maybe we could have a discussion. Until then, it’ll just be the same back and forth, with you making baseless ad hominems and me pointing out your misinformation.
I think the “likes & dislikes” on our respective posts tell the story. But oh great superior being, as I genuflect to your obvious greater intellect, will you ever attempt to provide any form of political analysis or will you simply brush away, with a wave of your sceptre, any inferior being who dares do more than take at face value that which is presented to them by their leaders, the media and the likes of you? All you have done, and always do, is critique the posts of others. Tell us what YOU think is meant by these changes in the Cabinet. That is if you care to enlighten us with your obviously enhanced reasoning and powers of deduction. Speak oh great sage……
No. The likes and dislikes don’t mean anything.
Your rather dismissive and ridiculous post, based, yet again, on a false premise, does, however, “tell the story”.
Makes one wonder what your problem is that you can’t engage with even a modicum of honesty. Your agenda is obvious. It’s blatantly transparent. But the way you go about pushing it is just bizarre. Do you think that pushing lies and misinformation is going to work out in the long run? Is dishonesty going to be successful down the road? I think you’ll find that it won’t.
As for what I think about this?
“About bloody time. Now let’s get some more of those SAGE recommendations in place.”
Succinct enough for you?
Sonny, I watched lies and misinformation win an election in December and after a year of under hood looking by these clowns they’ve found nothing to remotely validate their wild claims of a year ago. Don’t confuse opinions or analysis with lies. Your disagreement with something doesn’t make it untrue; unless of course there’s another difference between us that accounts for that level of arrogance?
No, my disagreement with something doesn’t make it true.
But it being not true? That does.
The stuff you post on a regular basis? Usually not true.
And this whole “You’re arrogant” attack of yours?
More baseless nonsense from you.
You keep ignoring the things I post and reply to things I didn’t say. Why is that?
Yesterday the PLP lot were braying for L Scott and N Brangman to be fired. Now that it’s actually happened you want to look for some kind of sinister implication.
The fact that these changes are going to be well-received just eats you up doesn’t it.
But didn’t the three who were removed simply added as juniors in other ministries? So in fact, there are still 13 “ministers” and they continue to draw a pay check????!!! The whole process seems pretty pointless to me.
Research what a Junior Minter gets paid and then comment. You are misinformed.
As if it were peanuts? I’m sure there’s many who’d have no qualms of earning around ten grand a year for a side gig. Although I do see where you’re coming from. Earning around fifty grand more as a minister or even a hundred grand more as AG or Premier sure beats a JMs rainy day star.
Why did it take the Premier so long to figure out that in this time of economic hardship, he should not have had one of the largest (if not the largest) Cabinets in history from the onset? Did he really need the SAGE Commission to figure that one out? Whether the changes were race related or not, only he will know. Unfortunately, perception is most people’s reality so he should have definitely taken that potential criticism into consideration and be frank in addressing it.
The PLP still haven’t figured it out. Changes had nothing to do with race. No he didn’t need the SAGE commission to figure it out. Needed time to assess what needed to be done, to review how things currently worked and then to make informed decisions. Jumping onto a rope bridge and randomly cutting ropes without looking at the bridge and what each of the ropes is doing is not a wise move. I think your statement has further proven the Premier’s worth.
Why do we need Minister and Junior Minister of Education in the House.
We don’t. He just wanted to give Leah an extra 10K!
Back that up with facts…
Mike STFU will you. You are the worst, biased, dishonest blogger on here. It’s a simple question which obviously is above your pay grade. FYI, you do not supposed to have the jr minister and the minister in the same house. Do you understand that or are you just ignorant?
Amazing. A HUGE personal attack, a complete flip out, over a simple comment, asking someone to back up a claim that has rather serious implications.
I wonder why that is. Hm.
Not a single thing in this post is real or true or even makes sense. It’s just an out of control screaming rant of nonsense.
Hey, Concerned Citizen. How ’bout YOU back up your claims?
How can I be the “worst, biased, dishonest blogger on here” when folks like you are here? Let’s break it down.
Worst: Nope. You are worse than me. This post, for example. It’s nonsense.
Biased: Nope. You, for example, are FAR more biased than me.
Dishonest: Not even close. You, for example, with this ridiculous post, have proven yourself more dishonest than me. Would you care to prove my dishonesty, or is this just another lashing-out attack from you, to be followed with you running away with your tail between your legs, as usual?
Blogger: Well, I am a blogger, but not on here. On here, I’m a commenter. If you’re going to use words, learn what they mean.
And ignorant? Nah. That’d be you.
TROLL.
Says the guy who popped up from under his rock to make a personal attack.
It’s not true. Saying it, over and over, isn’t going to make it true.
Care to actually join in the conversation, or is that unacceptable to you?
Why are you just thinking about what happens in the House? Why don’t you think about what happens when Ministers/Junior Ministers actually run their ministries, actually govern? There is a longstanding tradition in the UK of having Senior Cabinet Ministers delegate to Junior Ministers. The combination of Education and Economic Development presents a huge workload. Perhaps the junior minister will be effective in taking up some of that. Michael Dunkley gives Jeff Baron significant responsibility as junior minister. Perhaps Dr. Gibbons will do the same with Leah Scott. There is nothing to say that a junior minister has to be in the Senate.
More ignorance
My granny always said “There’s two arguements you should never find yourself in…one is over religion and the other is over politics!” Fools will argue over both till the cows come home.
My grandfather told me about those two, plus a third…Sex. lol.
Why the three people axed have to be junior Ministers? I’ve never heard of L. Scott engaged in community events or even the cabinet actively. The money cut from all three would’ve been wonderful news. What next? I don’t this is what the Sage Report meant by cutting the cabinet.
Maybe if a certain Minister had been a Dog Lover and listened to the outcry from many people that Minister might still have a job…as it is,I’m laughing my head off…soon that Minister might have to start counting pennies like many others do…
What goes around comes around!
So the Premier moves these three to the House and the Senate (so they are still getting paid). If we are serious about cuts and savings, how can he justifiable keep his $418,000 useless team of Dale Jackson, Charmaine Burgess and Don Grayson.
This is what you call shared sacrifice and leading by example???? Let’s shut down a hospital, treatment centres, outsource and privatize government to cut cost and keep my stellar “personal team” at a cost of $418,000.
Makes sense!
Justify your labeling of ‘useless’ staff? By justification, you would need to provide factually based examples not just your own opinion or hearsay. Which seems to be the bedrock of PLP criticism.
What is obvious is that any leader of any country requires personal staff. More importantly a press secretary is required to respond to the constant knit picking by the PLP. case in point.
What is more of an issue is that the Post office is 80% overstaffed and has been for about 10 years. That is just a small example of why we are in a massive amount of debt.
To put things in perspective , the salary of the Premier’s personal staff is close to the amount that Andre Curtis swindled out of the faith based tourism initiative and the PLP wanted him to sit in Parliament!
Don’t turn this into PLP/UBP/OBA…..Waste is waste on both sides! You have DCI to write his “press releases” and arrange photo opps. Utilize the staff that you have as oppose to paying them and then paying the “extra baggage” an additional $418,000. The mate who won the SAGE Submission Award seems like he can write a better and more accurate press release than the personal staff.
And the PLP are out….continue to compare and justify ridiculous and unnecessary spending to that of the PLP and this government may have the same fate as the PLP.
the PLP wanted Andre Curtis to sit in Parliament? That is a totally false statement. Andre Curtis has never been an approved candidate for the PLP.
Great to see that so many are right behind the idea of getting rid of people who are, as you put it, “useless”.
Already happened in Cabinet. Let’s do it at the Post Office, Civil Service, public employees. Getting rid of all the “useless” (your word) employees will save a TON of money.
Yet the premier keeps his $418,000 extra baggage.
Define why it is extra baggage. Working professionals doing their jobs and being paid properly for them?
Because it’s been many decades since Bermuda was a corporate colony & the british monarchy is only a figurehead that is represented by QE2 not our premier. The premier’s job is to serve the people not to be served. If the premier needs, “Working professionals” to do his job then one of them should be premier not him.
Although Time Shall Tell statement is not that exact since it’s $168,068.81 that the premier keeps while, “Working professionals” keep $418,000 while we lose the total of both plus much more.
Please spare me the PLP did this & that garble because PLP is not at present. Now is the government that promised a change.
Hey one of the Premier’s extra baggage positions voted LIKE (1).
(4) more votes would make his extra baggage staff.
It is really too bad,the PLP messed up Bermuda.
They’re still laughing all the way to the bank (in Cayman no doubt).
The decision to cut ministries will only result in significant reductions if he gets rid of the Permanent secretaries as well. Additionally, he needs to reduce the staff around him who are paid to do his job! I don’t think Nalton had enough time to develop and to cut him like this without him doing anything significantly wrong is cruel and leaves more questions than answers. If you put him there please have a long range plan for him. Grant Gibbons is taking care of the 2 most important things in the entire country. Economic Development to attract white money and Education to redeem the black student population. I think he still runs a very demanding business. Harvard or No Harvard this is not wise!
Moreover the large chasm between his pedigree and those whom he seeks to educate is so huge I wonder if he will really get that it has little to do with reading writing or arithmetic it has to do with restoration of black dysfunctional family. That will require him to look at Canada and Britain who are failing to accomplish the same thing. We have a global problem with the dysfunctional black family which is in crisis because of the legacy of global apartheid which was in effect for hundreds of years. Just look at the planet and you will see that bermuda is not another world.
Shaw Crockwell should have been put to rest or put somewhere else where he could have been more useful. I think that the transport ministry could have been absorbed by another mega ministry and Tourism is should have come under economic development.
Wayne Scott is going to be a liability in the long run and his contributions have done little to address the root issues in the community.
Finally, the decision to cut Sylvan was the right thing to do. He shot himself in the foot a long time ago when he spoke like the house slave seen in Jango! Put him down like that dog was the right thing todo. I don’t see why the removed Pamplin. She was good for health and Moniz just does not convince me that he has the sensitivity or the know how to deal with that monster. She was being a female who is sensitive to seniors and the plight of the sick, an accountant and a down to earth person all worked well in health. Sad to see her go!
Minister Crockwell was left in Transport so he would allow those dumpsters to continue putting small truckers out of business.
What those dumpsters that came in under the PLP watch?
Wasn’t it Grant Gibbons who ruined the education system in the first place when he changed the structure!
If that is the case, surely any of the five PLP education ministers (including one former and one future Premier) from 1998 to 2013 might have fixed it? Or were they too busy dealing with the new Berkely Construction?
Actually, it was 11 PLP Education Minsters.
No. Reread your history books.
um no lmao…both the PLP and the UBP had a hand in it, yet the PLP did nothing over their 14 years to change the “failing system.” What happend der?! exactly…you can’t say s***!
no it was Clarence Teceira and Gerald Simons working in tandem.. lol
…working in tandem with Jennifer Smith, actually.
Am I supposed to put lol at the end? is that what the cool kids do?
is your sarcasm suppose to be an insult?? the reason i put the lol was because the blogger was way off the mark with his comment, nothing more, nothing less..
$168069 out of $7.6 million is merely a semblance & I find it very patronising when it comes to showing what this government is willing to do or more suiting not do to put the island back on track. It would have been more significant to our economy if all of cabinet’s pay plus the rest of their team was cut by a quarter. I can assure you non would starve or lose their lodging if this happened & in fact they would still be alright even if their pay was cut by half.
Again if you missed it in my previous comment. Please spare me the PLP did this & that garble because PLP is not at present. Now is the government that promised a change.
So you don’t consider the paycut enacted earlier this year for all MPs plus the reduction in cabinet to be a change from the previous administration?
They promised it and they have delivered both. The previoous promised one and delivered none.
But yet the zealots still complain and refuse to want to listen about the massive screw-ups by their “team” that has resulted in the need for such expenditure cuts. I can picture you with your fingers in your ears saying, “if I can’t hear it it can’t be true.”
You zealots are funnnnnnnyyyyy….
What makes it even more funnnnnyyyy is that in the run up to the 2012 election the PLP and their zealot supporters constantly blamed the UBP and their actions and/or inactions for the explosion in both the budget deficits and rocketing debt levels under the PLP reign.
Yes, they blamed a Party that hadn’t been in power for a decade and a half, but now the PLP is aboslved of any and all responsibility for the state of our Government finances after less than a year in Opposition.
Can you see the hypocrisy? Nah, zealots rarely do…
I guess you missed the part where I typed please spare me the PLP did this & that garble?
I’m neither a PLP or OBA supporter so if you’re calling me a zealot your way off.
You’re more of a zealot or actually a naive zealot if you believe that ten percent & three ministers out of the millions the government’s members earn in total will make a dent in our debt. There are CEOs that don’t even rake in as much as our government ministers.
Whatever the PLP did doesn’t excuse the current government from going an eighth of the way & then claiming victory. Crying over spilt milk won’t do jack but making sure the cows udders aren’t pumped dry AGAIN will. Th premier should know this already since he pays someone THOUSANDS to notify him on the history of governing in Bermuda plus more THOUSANDS on an extra ADVISOR.
I really like your style. Please continue to speak for many of us.
Frankly, OBA, UBP, who cares as long as it is not the two-faced people answering to the Godfather in the PLP.
OK so what name is Betty Trump using today, Shwe has to be in the mix somewhere?
F*** it! Let the PLP back in “power” and let them finish us off! Bermuda and its people white, black, portuguese whatever WE are ALL finished games over! But before “if” u GO OBA just show all US where de money went! Thanks!
The PLP ministers travelled around the world.China,India and Argentina wasting taxpayers money.it is so refreshing seeing a govt that listens to the people.The OBA will need at least a decade to start to clean up the crap,left to them.
Your one of the dumb ones in the oba. China just built a large hotel in the islands. What do you think they went there for.
I think u better change ya name you far from being real… Just sayn cause if you think that we are in debit just from that you ain’t being real to ya self…
See above.
Betty at el comes from different ISP#’.
Emails/phone calls/texted.
Ask Famouss.
Sylvan, Hershey gets his revenge!!
The former leaders bankrupted Bermuda.
UBPoba now showing their true colors of who they truly are, too bad folks fell for the hype and allowed themselves to be hoodwinked pre-election. Wake up folks the Political spin and strategy that the UBPoba uses to gain favor. KEEP your eyes open over the next several years to come.
Hi,HalfBlackHalfWhite…… I see your missing me, NO need for me to comment today. I am down under, enjoying my Xmas and New Year as it comes forward. I do not have to tell folks how to think and speak, this has been the growing feelings of folks for a while. More so they now see the real UBPoba following thur on their Secret Plan. REALLY !!
OkI have had enough, it has to be said Craig Cannonier is a Big Joker!!! He don’t have a clue on what he is doing and those in his party know it too… They all know that he don’t know that’s why they all make sure that he remains without portfolio and remains as the OBA puppet.(Dunkley you can disagree if want it don’t matter just leaves your credibility in the balance as well).He thinks or excuse me they think they are fooling people but the only ones they are fooling are them selves. UBP or OBA which ever you want to refer to your selves makes no difference to me just know your reign will soon be over. Unless my fellow Bermudians want to remain blind and continue to have these comedians represent us. Cannonier not once have I seen you be genuine in anything you have done or had to say. You surely are no Obama or Mandela. I once thought that people who were in your position or want to be in your position were there to fight for a cause of the people of this country. In my short time here on this earth I have seen a lot different type of people take role as the Premier of this country and I will definitely have to admit maybe one or 2, hell I’m just going to keep it 1000 none of you have seen fit to this responsibility of running this country just your bank accounts. What is the point of you being in these positions if you don’t have a clue of why you are there. You made this lady Leah who ever she is nobody cares in charge of our education system. How can you do that when she has never had a portfolio. Does she even know anything about education, Does she even have any back ground experience in this field? But yet I’m sure there are some qualified Bermudians who would do well in this position. But yet here we go again we have someone who has no clue as if the education system isn’t F’ed up enough excuse my language. But this man wants me to take him serious, like get out of here I’ve had enough of you and your grey patch of stupidity…. The children deserve better and so do the rest of us… Also please stop the finger pointing we are all aware that the PLP government made its share of mistakes. How long are you going to beat that drum, lets move on and work for the better of this country. You wanted to take over leadership well here u go start to lead the people being that you claim you got the answers to all the questions the ppl have asked. But do me a favor once you make your mistakes own up to them, start a new trend….
“soon be over”
Like… in 4 years?
well we kno ya a moron jus by sayin Leah Scott in charge of education. lay down bra u had too many drinks…lmfao
lol, the UBP is back in full flow.
People will regret letting them back in soon enough.
If he just downsized the cabinet then its just a matter of time before he hits some other SAGE report jobs.
So sorry for you ,next time get off your a** and vote.
They are and always have been evil.
They’re two ministers & six House of Assembly seats short of following the report.
Why didn’t they vote again ?
while we may not like it the fact remains that indeed the UBP had political strategist who advised them on how to rebrand themselves and redeem power. Even if this is conspiracy theory it is exactly what we have. That being the case, what is wrong with it? Is it the letters UBP or is it the historical design to have black oppression or is it an unrealistic fear of conservative business practices which does not tolerate socialist ideas? what is wrong with the UBP? Right now we are talking about growing an economy, controlling violence, creating eliminating debt and inspiring a collective consciousness of community and character development. If that is what the new UBP is up to doing…what is wrong with that? I have come to deal with the reality that racism is here live and kicking, as I read the blind bloggers who spill blood on the web I can hear the undertones of thoughts and overtones of values these stem from their culture of privilege and prejudice against black people. It is clear yet right now we need to survive and it may take a racist regime under new legislation to do it. It was the sacrifices of the E.F. Gordon’s, MLKing and Mandela (both of whom were hated by the majority of white people) created a more level playing field for blacks to eat and compete. Yet we are still needing to eat and compete and it may require a UBP to help us do that as long as we don’t roll back the wheels of time with a refined racism which is as destructive but just more silent and hiding in blind sight…if that is the new UBP than something is definitely wrong with that!
Propose a new party called the B .C. P. Bermuda Clueless Party. No shortage of candidates or supporters. For a country that professes to be so advanced WE have a very long road to travel. Welcome to the ever shrinking REAL world people.
We already got two of those! Do we need a third?
So – - – I have sat quietly, listened, and reviewed all information I could find regarding the Cabinet shuffle and would like to share the following opinion:
It is a good thing for the Premier to reduce his Cabinet to save on tax dollars – - appreciate that point.
It is a good thing for the Premier to allow those previous Ministers to still assist with the running of the government in different roles – i.e. Junior Ministers – nothing wrong with that.
I do, however, have some suggestions about them:
I feel that it is wrong to place Leah Scott as the Junior Minister of Education as a sitting MP with the Lead Minister in the House as well – - with Mr. S Richards being the Junior Minister for Home Affairs and the Lead Minister (Fahy) being in the Senate – that makes sense.
Switching Minister Moniz and Minister Gordon-Pamplin, I believe, will be a bad move in the long run as Mr. Moniz and his style of leadership will not work in the Health section nor in the Environment Ministry.
The only other comment to be made in this post is in regards to the comments from the opposition to these appointments:
The role of the Opposition is to provide a contrast to the government – - to provide feedback and criticism where needed (warranted or not) – - to challenge and to provide support when necessary — THUS the level of disgust and hatred towards the opposition for their comments are unwarranted and incorrect. THEY ARE THE OPPOSITION – IT IS THEIR DUTY TO PROVIDE THEIR OPINION – if you don’t like it, you have every right to vote – - wait, you did that already – right?
Stop trying to deflect whatever issues you have with the current government onto the opposition – - this is a new day, new government – - allow them to stand on their own feet and if necessary, hold them accountable – - the previous government have paid for their mistakes by losing their position as government – - it is time to realize that and move forward.
Q
I thought I heard the Premier state that the reduction was not due to the SAGE report. I may have misheard, never the less. He refers to shared sacrifice but in reality, that is not what is happening.
1. The change from Opposition to Government resulted in a substantial pay increase, so to take a 10% pay cut translates into nothing – as they are reducing what they had not yet received so no impact felt. That is like your boss saying I am going to give you a bonus but I am also going to reduce it by 10% – you cannot miss what you never had. Likewise, the change of government resulted in a substantial pay decrease for the now Opposition.
2. The reduction of Ministers is no big deal considering, the number was increased when the OBA took over.
3. If the Government is serious about shared sacrifice then decrease the pay to the same leave as Opposition MPs making exceptions for any Cabinet Member who holds a full-time post.
While this is slightly off topic, here is a recommendation for RAGE commission should it ever be formed;
1. School age children are to pay bus / ferry fare on weekends, during summer break and after 5 pm if not accompanied by their parent / guardian.
Well they have finally completed their take over to officially form the New, New ! New? UBP government . Complete with has beens and political knock-offs. What they bring to the table. Absolutely nothing but blame for all their failings and dumb ideas cut and pasted from a report from losers the UK Govt. themselves no longer use . Bravo, Bravo, UBP you have come full circle. Last piece to this messed up puzzle is to get rid of the leader and the tasked will have been completed, NOT ONE FORMER BDA MEMBER IN DA HOOUUSSE!!! (Shawn and petty wereUBP first so don’t go there)
Where are the surrogates now. TOOLS!!!!!
Wonder how all those folks riding the Bermuda Democratic Alliance train feel now. From where I stand I only see a TRAIN WRECK.
The funny thing is they are still better than the alternative .