Furbert & Crockwell On Tourism Authority Staffing
Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert has questioned the Government’s commitment to keeping Bermudians employed as it relates to the changeover to the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA], while Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell stated that all staff who are not employed with the BTA will be offered positions within the Civil Service.
Mr Furbert said, “In 2012 the OBA repeatedly promised that civil servant jobs would be secure. In 2014, Bermudians in the Tourism Department are beginning to see what an OBA promise is really worth – nothing.
“The PLP are very concerned that Bermudians who have worked tirelessly to promote our country and restore our economy are being callously pushed aside. What is particularly disturbing is that the do-nothing Minister of Tourism has been silent on protecting Bermudian jobs within BDOT.
“We ask the following questions:
- 1] Are Bermudians employed in BDOT being given the opportunity to apply for posts within the Tourism Authority?
- 2] Of those who applied, how many have been hired?
- 3] Of the people who applied, how many have been unsuccessful?
- 4] In keeping with the OBA’s promise that Bermudian civil servant jobs will be secure, where have the unsuccessful applicants been re-assigned within government?
“Promises should mean something and the OBA promise to protect Bermudian civil servant jobs is one that must be kept,” added Mr Furbert.
In reply, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell said: “The Government’s position on the job security of the staff at the Bermuda Department of Tourism [BDOT] has never changed.
“All staff who are not employed with the Bermuda Tourism Authority will be offered positions within the Civil Service.
“The application process for the BDOT staff to be employed at the Authority is complete and we are still notifying individuals of their status. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment on any specifics at this time.
“The Government and the Authority remain committed to this transition which we are confident is best for Bermuda. “
Flip Flop, take it easy, nobody is interested in what you have to say.
So those 4 questions mean nothing to you?
“Promises should mean something and the OBA promise to protect Bermudian civil servant jobs is one that must be kept,” added Mr. Furbert. This was a large one page AD pre-election. This is not something the Opposition is making up. This is a REAL ELECTION PROMISE THAT MANY BELIEVED AND VOTED ON.
NO one should have no difficulty with Any Questions that the Opposition are ASKING. After all the UBPoba did PROMISE US PRE-ELECTION they would be “TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE”.
THE questions put forward by Mr. Furbert should be asked of the government if we want “TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY.” They are not difficult questions, nor are they off the mark. NO ONE Should have a problem with this. The Opposition are doing just what is necessary, in the best interest of the people of Bermuda.
“We ask the following questions:
1] Are Bermudians employed in BDOT being given the opportunity to apply for posts within the Tourism Authority?
2] Of those who applied, how many have been hired?
3] Of the people who applied, how many have been unsuccessful?
4] In keeping with the OBA’s promise that Bermudian civil servant jobs will be secure, where have the unsuccessful applicants been re-assigned within government?
Fearmongering…………….
LOL
Where is Marc Bean???????????
Mark is in the Bahamas…. ya mon.
So you’ll rather listen to a Former Prisoner in charge of Tourism or Flip Flop?
the fact that he came from prison to one of the top leaders of this country speaks volumes about his drive and determination. You should get some “Questions”.
So you are you suggesting that people that have been to jail or are now in jail have no chance to reform? That is very UBP of you.
LOL
For those who know my post, the above post was not me.
Q (the original Question)
saying positions are safe should not mean you have a guaranteed job. Half the problem with this island is that no one gets fired. Do that for 20 years and o look you have what we have now, an over inflated, ineffective civil service that’s stuck in the last century.
Than what does the word “SAFE” actually mean, this word should not be used if that is not the true case. What if some one tells you your job or position is “SAFE”….I am sure you would feel a level of security in regards to your employment status. REALLY stop spinning and look at the facts here. No blindly defending the UBPoba and overlooking the real matters, and that is FOLKS WITH OUT A MEANS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY…REALLY
I think saying your position is safe would imply that that position will continue to exist and be filled by a person doing the job up to satisfactory results. Therefore if if you are doing your job diligently you are fine. In other works the position or job doesn’t go away. I think its silly when people interpret the term to mean this is your job period. If someone tells me that I would have no motivation to excel, or even work hard as you have effectively taken away the potential negative consequences of my actions (or in actions).
Guaranteeing jobs without a requirement for adequate performance is absolutely ludacris.
If you read the SAGE report you would’ve noticed how one particular Union, who represents a sizeable amount of CS employees, managed to negotiate with the Government that their members would be not subject to an annual performance appraisal.
Whoever agreed to that should be fired immediately and without any sort of appraisal beforehand.
Bitty Trump. Spinning ? your lot did that so much I am still dizzy
Get over it Betty!
Maybe you should pay more taxes to keep people employed.
If People are not needed, they get laid off regardless of family.
Welcome to the real world and the new Bermuda.
Ok Wayne …back to doing whatever it is you do between your turns to make useless PLP statements……say good bye now
OBAUbp promised us TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABLITY…why now are you not supporting this. After all Mr. Furbert is only asking key Questions that any working and good Opposition should be asking of the government of the day. WHY not ask these questions? WHY such FEAR and Flight. There should be no problem with the government addressing these key Questions, after all it was apart of their election promises. REALLY
And the questions were answered. What’s the problem?
The old boy alliance oba doesn’t care about anyone accept their own.
You mean the “Old Boy Alliance” is the Party, a few years ago, that fired a whole DoT team and replaced them with an foreing firm known as, Sales Focus? The same firm that was replaced not long after due to their inability to fulfill their contract obligations with the Dot?
You mean the “Old Boy Alliance” is the Party, a few years ago, that fired a whole DoT team and replaced them with a foreign firm known as, Sales Focus? The same firm that was replaced not long after due to their inability to fulfill their contract obligations with the Dot?
These individuals were all replaced by foreigners (you know the people that you guys hate so much) and were given no jobs in the CS to ensure they retained employment.
Funny that none of you objected to that move and stated how the PLP was all for “their own.” But now you claim that the Government only looks out for their “own” despite the fact that no ex-DoT employee will remain jobless.
Where is you guys’ logic?
That statement does not make any sense. Maybe the poster is another victim of the Bermuda education system.
HAY Mr FLIP-FLOP as you have been in the for front of politics for many years do tell us how we are going to pay for…………..
The 2.324(B)illion you helped to accumulate in “DEBT”
The 120(M)illion per year interest at the moment we have to pay.
The $300(M) per year you are borrowing to pay the civil service
the $750(M)illion payroll that you are on and the other 7,999 others.
The “SAGE COMMISION” said something has got to give and it will when our ECCONOMY collaspese
Hey Flip Flop found another thing to bleat about.No one listens to you and you failed in 2 attempts Get out of POLITRIKS.
There you go. Asked and answered.
Crockwell needs to come clean…the news report the other night laid the foundation that there is some messed up stuff going on with this transition.
Don’t take Gary’s word as gospel. Of course any major change will have challenges. The fact is that all former DOT staff will retain employment after the change. Maybe not their original job but a job non the less.
Really? I’m not sure that that is guaranteed, but it would be nice.
Keep in mind, this is Lois Frederick making the comment,, if the OBA said that, better believe she believes, but if anybody challenges the OBA, then they are not worthy..
Hey Lois, the OBA said it will not rain for 4 months,, so you can be sure you don’t have to carry an umbrella for 4 months..OBAISGOSPEL
We will see
He did. Questions asked and answered.
In my opinion the likes of Crockwell, and Rolf Commisiong should never hold the positions that they hold …. they were both convicted criminals !!!! and in my opinion these two should never have been allowed to represent we the people that pay their salary…PLP/OBA we do not these former crimnals to have any say in the future of Bermuda……
And they did their time and paid their debt to society.
They’re still citizens of our country and get to have a say.
So Wayne would like us to take all those people from the old Dept of Tourism who FAILED miserably at the job of actually getting tourists here, and hand them new jobs. Is this man for real?
Who did the PLP take care of? The people they help put on financial assistance? I wonder why?
ya created a welfare state instead of creating jobs….
‘A promise is a comfort to a fool’ ever heard that? And that is exactly why no one should have believed Shawn Crockelll’s promise. If one looks at the track record of the OBA/UBp we should have known that Crockwell could not promise anything obviously! Even Stevie Wonder could see this was going to happen to those employees in Tourism Dept. One would do better not to believe anything the OBA say. And this is why no one will believe ‘conscription’ will end until the ink touches the paper.
Stevie Wonder can not see and over 75-80% of the Tourism workers where transitioned over… The others will be given jobs within government… What exactly is the problem? At least NO ONE HAS LOSS A JOB… AS PROMISED!
The fact that Flip Flop Furbert has issued a statement makes it void. This is the same man that tells people that he stays relevant by trying to get in the press for anything. Please ask Flip Flop how many jobs has he created? It is so hypocritical for the PLP die hearts to comment about anything this government does. Attention seeking behavior…
And who does he have working for him Bermudians?
LOL
So let me get this straight. Wayne Furbert, the tourism minister that oversaw the greatest decline in visitor numbers, who advocated the use of foreigners over Bermudians for numerous tourism campaigns, who believe that hiring a foreigner to hire Bermudians is better than hiring a Bermudian. Wayne Furbert whose success in Tourism pales in comparision to a few teenagers with a GoPro and MovieMaker is questioning the Minister who said, planned and executed?
Since the TA has been in existance for a several weeks and we have seen the jobs that the TA have advertised and we have heard NOTHING from the Unions who “have been consulted” then one can determine that EVERY opportunity has been given all employees. You can be certain if such opportunity had not been given that all of Bermuda’s Senior Reporters would still be filling inches.
How is the Minister supposed to answer the question when the process is not even complete. Wayne Furbert simply needs to try and be heard. It is amazing that when you don’t have to do anything you have the ability to care about Bermudian Jobs. Someone ask Wayne Furbert how much money his campaigns took from Bermudians while he was singing at Fenway?
Not a single civil servant has been “let go” under the OBA Government, in fact they negotiated an agreement with ALL OF THE UNIONS to ensure that not a single civil servant lost their job even under the weight of a well orchestrated PLP economic plan.
I know that watching planning and execution is tough for you Wayne but watch as things get done properly.
Flip flop needs to take a break. It is apparent he likes media attention.
just like Betty Thump
Flip flop give it a break…go away!
Furbert misses his free ride as Tourism Minister!
Seems like flip flop Furbert thinks he is still the minister of tourism!! i as a crawl hill resident knows the only reason he changed partys was so he can keep his seat in the house..TIME for him and all others to go from both sides of the house who are there just to take the peoples money and talking out the wrong hole most of the time!!Same old faces with the same old ideas..
Mr. Wayne Furbert and all others that have no difficulty being critical of the O.B.A. who’ve been in “power” for only 13 months and may I say have turned many “wrongs” around that were neglected for nearly 14 years by the Opposition,(Progress Labour Party)who now, all of a sudden claim to have answers to Bermudas problems that they were unable to rectify for much of their control our Island purse strings.It’s because of “misappropriated” use of the publics monies we today are in this rut
So please Wayne, do stop the crap bie’ we’ve had enough of u’lots dealings for far too long!
The PLP are responsible for these people being laid off!