Opinion: Famous On Commercial Immigration
[Opinion Column written by Chris Famous]
Political Storytelling
In the House of Assembly on July 26th, the OBA vehemently denied that they had plans to sell status and accused the PLP of “inflaming passions” [MP Moniz] and “creating a strawman” [MP Grant] at the mere suggestion.
MP Grant Gibbons, “Nobody on this side has talked about basically allowing people to buy status or anything of that sort. But it suits their purpose to raise it. Raise the issue of a straw man, take some extreme example and then try and pin it on us. Yes, exactly. It is creating boogeymen.”
MP Trevor Moniz, “I find this quite amusing. I saw some of those comments and I, in fact, remarked to someone that I did not agree with them. There has been no statement from this party saying there is any agreement with any.”
Fast forward to commercial immigration.
The Pattern of Deceit
First, OBA abolished term limits making us vulnerable to the issue of long-term residents.
Quickly followed was OBA’s proposal to allow the children of non-Bermudians the right to employment; this was squashed following a united outcry by the PLP and the people.
Then came the revelation in November’s Throne Speech that OBA planned “to provide pathways to Bermuda status for persons born in Bermuda.”
And now this proposal.
Pick a Number, Any Number
Without a national immigration plan, how will OBA decide how many citizenships will be up for sale?
A publicly-staged talk on commercial immigration will be hosted by the Migration Policy Institute [a think-tank that advises on immigration-related issues]. Ironically, they tout that their recommendations “result from balanced analysis, solid data.”
What data will they use? MP Richards has stated that “Government does not do a good job at collecting such data” — Royal Gazette, August 23. MP Gibbons reiterated, “I have always been skeptical of census data.” HoA, December 6th, 2013.
Will statistics be created by the OBA to support the selling of Bermudian status?
The Value of Principles
The obligation of government is to serve the best interest of the people.
What OBA is proposing is morally reprehensible as it not only grants the winning bidder – and their off-spring for generations to come – lifetime access to Bermuda & her land but it also gives power to outsiders to determine Bermuda’s future via the right to vote.
Our power in exchange for money?
The Question of Security
Many critics state that the selling of passports undermines the integrity of national passports and poses an international security concern.
St Kitts was forced to stop selling passports to their biggest customers – the Iranians – following the Iranian storming the British Embassy in Tehran.
Both Canada and Britain imposed visa restrictions on Dominica citizens after concerns that suspected criminals had purchased Dominica passports.
Our passports’ credibility in exchange for money?
The Real Motivation
To retain power, the OBA will need to find more votes for the next election. OBA is creating a new loyal voter base by through the prostitution of status.
The red line has been drawn.
- Chris Famous
Regarding comments made in the house. Were they false on July 26th – 6 months ago? Things do evolve over time.
“Vulnerable to the issue of long term residents”,”Outsiders”, “pathways to Bermuda status for persons born in Bermuda” …..I think I understand you here….loud and clear….no mistaking.
“Which data will they use?” Go to the meetings and find out – but which data would you like them to use?
Security concerns….easy – screen them as part of the poilicy – I’m sure the U.S. will provide information if requested.
“Creating a loyal voter base”. Like increasing the size of the civil service to a level which the country cannot aford?
well said mate, famous is known for presenting an argument ever so boldly, and then running away from any solutions or recommendations.
Mr. Famous would have you believe Bermudians magically appeared on the island one morning, having never emigrated from somewhere else first. Is Jesus a middle or family name
?
His hand grenade arguments are a total bore – wilfully ambiguous, narrow minded and intended to incite rather than inform. Perhaps he should apply to become Fox News’ Bermuda correspondent?
JT – MP Moniz n MP Gibbons insisted in the HoA, at the end of July, that OBA wasn’t considering the selling status. Not only did they DENY it but they accused PLP of creating strawmen!
Then, a mere 3mos later (on Nov 9th) in their Throne Speech, they admitted that they were gonna explore this option. When do you think the Throne Speech was written? NOT in Nov that’s for sure!
How much THOUGHT did they put into the idea IF only 3 months prior they insisted that this wasn’t an option??
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE
What data used to formulate a policy is CRUCILE because without it our govt CAN’T make sound, FACT-based, forward-thinking plans. The independent immigration think-tank expert that was presenting last nite HIGHLIGHTED how her group’s recommendations n analysis is dependent on solid data!
Ironically, the quote you highlighted “pathways to Bdian status” was the terminology used by the OBA in their Throne Speech in Nov!!!
The threat of us losing our visa-free travel privilege is REAL. Apparently nearly every nation that has opted to sell status has had sercurity issues ie criminals n terrorists attempting to, or actually succeeding, to acquire citizenship
It would seem they are taking plenty of time to consider it. Please read the article on public meetings and Minister Fahy’s comments.
As to the security risk, this should be easy to deal with if the U.S. and U.K. are willing to assist. Any threat to visa-free travel should be a careful consideration, I agree.
I take it from your post you are not in favour of independence. On this we agree.
The FACT is that either MP Moniz and MP Gibbons LIED in the HoA in July OR that, lacking any REAL PLAN, scrambled at the last minute to throw in this lame suggestion of commercial immigration
I tend to think that this was a last minute, desperate inclusion in the Throne Speech as an attempt to project an image of having a well-thought out PLAN
You do understand the purpose of a Throne Speech, right?
Excellent piece Mr. famous. Min Fahy is not good for the OBA or Bermuda. To me, the BDA folk are the dangerous bunch, not Moniz and Grant per say….Fahy , Cannonaire, Crockwell, and Pettingill have been the source of 90 percent of the controversy over the last year. When will Dunkley and Bob stand up to these guys? They are draining your credibility!
Mr. Famous must be an OBA insider.
Because in no article thus far, concerning this issue, has it been stated the type of person to be targeted or wheter or not they will have the ability to vote or any other particulars for that matter.
So Mr. Famous’ “article” is simply full of emotional posturing and devoid of any real facts or substance and simply regurgitates a threat of violence that was included within the PLP’s “throne Speech reply.”
On top of that it would take the issuance of thousands of passports to stack the voting odds in favor of the incumbent Government. I mean Mr. Famous on numerous occassions likes to point out that the current Government only won because thousnads of faithful PLPers abstained from voting.
So without comprehensive information Mr. Famous’ “article” is simply an attempt to rile emotions despite there being no facts or figures to substantiate his erroneous claims. Actuallyall of his ‘articles’ seem to follow this lead (i.e. devoid of fact and lacks any solutions to our island’s issues).
I am neither here or there in terms of this issue as I do not have siginifcant information to make an INFORMED and RATIONAL decision. But apparently Mr. Famous and his PLP cohorts don’t need information to decide wheter or not they agree with any current Government initiatives. Just emotion is needed.
Pride always comes before the fall.
Famous is a BAG OF WIND that achieves nothing but plays Politcal chess for his own benefit…said it himself… Politics is a Chess game…I don’t know why anyone gives his words any credibility. Press should be ashamed to be his sock puppet.
what makes me laugh is when he quotes songs to start and end his articles! i am shocked he hasnt got some song lyric in this angry tirade of a letter!
Angry tirade??? where is the anger in displaying what was said. Wayyyy more anger in these posts.
I agree. I would not characterize the piece as an angry tirade.
It is, however, an effort to convince people to dismiss the potential benefits of the policy through deliberate misrepresentation and ommission and it does attempt to highten emotions through anti-foreign sentiments.
sorry, please disregard the word angry from my post.
I don’t always agree with Mr. Famous. However, you cannot not blame him for his “erroneous claims”. Where is the transparency that the OBA promised prior to their election? I have yet to see it.
Where is the transparency on what exactly “commercial immigration” is? They need to define for us what they mean when they use that term. What benefits/disadvantages does it afford for both Bermudians and foreigners.
You should be asking your government for more information so that you, I and we, can make informed and rational decisions.
That is the exact purpose of the public meeting, to have an open discussion about the subject of commercial immigration. This opinion piece is to stir up emotion before any real details have been laid out. Not surprising and just the kind of misinformation Min Fahy mentioned in his press statement yesterday. It contributes nothing to meaningful debate.
Emotional Rescue:
“devoid of any real facts or substance”
Quite contrary
All the cons highlighted in this column Mr. Chris Famous were validated by an independent, immigration expert last nite
“regurgitates a threat of violence that was included within the PLP’s “throne Speech reply.”
WHERE IS THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IN EITHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DANGEROUS posturing!
Mr famous and a few others like him,it must be very difficult for them as we live a very good life OFF THE WHITE MAN.As 15cents of every dollar we have comes from tourism and the other 85cents is derived from IB Companies
Or we could have a NON economy like Haiti or maybe a currency like
Jamaica at 119 to the US/Bda dollar last time I checked.And that would definitely buy you a lot of goods.
Mr. Famous are you an indigenous Bermudian? No, there are none! Get over it and understand Bermuda’s history of inward foreign investment. To deny this, is to deny our current standing of living.
Also, do me a favour: please enumerate all the PLP government’s lies, mismanagement (overspending) and non-accountability fiascos during its tenure that has led to our current sad state of affairs. Let’s then do a comparison to the list you provided above regarding the OBA (now only one year in office).
After we make this comparison, are you suggesting that the electorate should vote the PLP in again in the near future? What has changed? Please tell me how you come to this conclusion, except for blindly voting on the basis of race? Ask yourself, as so many of us did December 2012, who is best positioned to address our current state of affairs?
Also, please tell me where you (PLP) find the testicle fortitude to question whether we are on the right track to recovery or not, without honestly presenting or joining in the debate for a path to recovery? Frankly, it’s still too early to tell, but I mostly read and hear nothing of substance from the opposition; but merely complaints on the OBA’s style… “they lied, they lied,…” As new information is known, there should always be some scope for one to change one’s mind?
In this critical stage of our history, I challenge politicians and journalists (you) to substantively add to the debate of recovery tactics/strategies we should deploy rather than continually making political sound bites. We all need to fully recognize how serious our current status is! Sound bites only distract from much needed in-depth debate on issues. We, more than ever, need leadership in every corner!
As an aside, I really believe the best option for Bermuda at this juncture is to get rid of all political parties, so the important issues we are currently facing can be clearly debated without bias and, consequently, the best alternative(s) selected for implementation. I would vote for the abolishment of our current political system! It only breeds the winner take all and the loser objects to all syndrome, which leads to both divisiveness and little progress.
Concerned our focus is not on the deflated ball we currently own!
Smiths
4 years to turn this ship around….Famous and his bunch won’t ever understand …… or perhaps they just don’t want our state of affairs to improve before the next GE
Famous commenting on commrecial immigration? Way above his pay grade.
Never mind that we need more people here to solve the problems Famous’ buddies dropped us into….we need to make sure that the PLP don’t lose another election. That is the real concern, nothing to do with second class citizens or any other silliness. Just politics.
Stand strong.
This guy makes up a bunch of things he doesn’t like, out of nowhere, and then argues against them. It’s bizarre that someone would rely solely on straw man arguments.
I am always surprise that these issues are very emotional to some. Show me a native Bermudian like a Native American or Carib Indian and maybe I can understand the rational of my land, my vote, my woes. Like me every Bermudian family immigrated to Bermuda at some point in our history. Now there is a club of Bermudians who would like to preserve all that is good and true about Bermuda by excluding people who have been here for a couple of generations or may want to come here and provide jobs or investment into our failing economy. Would this club of real Bermudians be happier with no jobs, poor education and no prospects for their future generations?
The right to vote and who we vote for is a funny thing in Bermuda as we look back at our recent history, when the people of Bermuda found one political party shenanigan too much to stomach and voted their next choice. Anyone who observes Bermuda politicks at its finest would not vote for any party again in Bermuda. I highly doubt foreign investor are rubbing their hands together saying once we get to Bermuda we will change their political parties in some weird global conspiracy.
Is “Club Bermuda” saying that one political party cannot be attractive to others in the voter base? That politics in Bermuda is a racial divide and ethnic investor in the island would not find comfort in their social, economic agendas? Thank-you, Mr. Famous for confusing the heck out of me for which Bermuda I belong too and the real current and future problems that need addressing.
Who is Christopher Famous and why shpuld I care what he thinks?
I don’t care what this guy says,he’s a nobody as far as I am concerned.
After asking around a bunch of people I have known for many years,none of them care what he says either.
Thank You Mr. Famous
And those that disagree with the message are truly not for Bermudians!
Why is that?
If You were truly for the people of Bermuda, you would not have to ask
This will flush out all those that can not ‘Pay to Stay’
But hey it’s OBA’s master plan anyway
Get rid of the little people and maintain government.
Jokes on them, they’ll be flushed out with the rest of us.
“A Bermuda for All Bermudians” is all I want see. OBA has proven the lower income people mean nothing to them.
WHAT! WHY? Please tell me there aren’t more people like you who feel this way. What on earth would they do that for?
Bet you won’t try answer this question either…
They will do it because it is what they want to do
Are you Pro-OBA or Anti-PLP?
Pro Bermuda.
What does being ‘for Bermudians’ even mean? I challenge you to answer that question.
But using your brain may be a bit much to ask, I know…
That is the biggest load of nonsense I’ve read in a long time.
Grow up.
Do you read what you post?
Yep. And I read what you posted. And it was a load of nonsense.
Look, we get that you’re mad that your party didn’t win, but that doesn’t make it ok to post complete nonsense like this.
I have no party as OBA and PLP are not for “A Better Bermuda, for All Bermudians”
If you’ve followed my posts before, I was for BDA. I was a fool to believe change was coming and that a party will benefit all Bermudians.
Question Mike, ‘Are you Pro-OBA or Anti-PLP?’
Uh huh. Right.
As for your question, I’ve been very clear that, based on the attitudes, behaviours and statements from the past few PLP administrations, their supporters, demagogues and representatives, I am currently anti-PLP and will continue to speak out against hypocrisy and lies promoted by them
This does not make me, as so many of the aforementioned try to pretend, an OBA supporter. It’s just, faced with the two options, I feel that they are the better choice at this juncture.
In 1998, I voted PLP for the same reason.
Does that answer your question?
How does Belco even allow him (and his aliases) to goof off and comment all day long on Bernews and FB?
Because its belco and they get to do whatever they want with no consequences.
Good one. I suppose he has a lot of breaks.
Opinion piece, therefore no facts required.
FROM PLP WEB SITE http://www.plp.bm
Ms. Christopher Famous
Assistant Party Organizer (Central).
Not sure if this is a spelling mistake or Mr. Famous has had a sex change? Could someone in the know explain please?
“…but it also gives power to outsiders to determine Bermuda’s future via the right to vote”. One of the PLP’s founding members Dr Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon was a non Bermudian. Hence I see this as a positive move.
It should also be noted that Honorable Dame Lois Evans was what some have called Min. Fahy, which is a “paper Bermudian” (i.e. born in Bermuda to non-Bermudian parents).
So by this logic then the Green Fmaily would not be citizens/residents of Bermuda!?
If you are a major contributor to this Island economically you deserve to be granted citizenship. The criteria should be stringent but the long term benefits of granting this to such individuals is warranted. In the end we are talking about a handful of people that will qualify. The PLP seek to misdirect information onto the more gullible members of the public rather than looking at it for what it is.
Bermuda needs wealthy job creators and their children. We need their intellectual capacity, their social philanthropy and their money!
These people are not going to compete for jobs with the average Bermudian! they are more than likely to give them jobs!
Red meat for the masses that were left out in the cold by 14 years of spending the family silver with parties and trinkets.
I actually just read this “opinion piece” and it really is based on nothing. It’s just emotion and scare tactics. There is no data (except for some HoA and RG comments).
Look PLP supporters, you chose what you want to do but if you keep falling for this type of emotional, non-logical, anti-pragmaticism, you will suffer. Bermuda will suffer. Think with your head first.
Put it this way, in one year the OBA has not figured out all of BDA’s problems. There is no way to do that anyway. Impossible. So what makes you think the PLP all of a sudden have all the answers to fix BDA’s ills in one year too? Especially when the PLP still has most of the same players at the top?
WOW! all the comments here attacking Mr Famous and hardly even addressing his letter. Certainly shows the venom in the blood of some of these people. Sad.
There’s nothing to address in the “letter”. That’s the point.
Mr. Famouss, like you, has proved, time and again, to be willing to write anything, regardless of whether it’s true or not, in order to push his political agenda. Pointing that out isn’t an “attack”, it’s putting the source into perspective.
Mr Famous must be forgetting that the PLP created thousands of extra jobs in the civil service…unnecessary jobs that we will all be paying for. Commercial immigration brings a few people who foreign cash…another in a long list of trival columns by this man
Ironic that when someone like John Barritt takes a similar stance against the selling of status, there isn’t this response
I view John Barritt’s columns the same as Mr. Famous. once you try to sift through what they are trying to say you realize they are saying little but using a lot of words to do it.
Have a quick look at the Hotel Concessions Act and see if, in exchange for $20m tax breaks, there was the requirement to hire Bdians. HINT: besides hiring a few local musicians there is none
Have another look at the recently amended Job Makers Act and one would note the DECREASE in the required number of Bdian hires linked to benefits
Have a peek at how much residential zoned property we have and then compare it to the amount allocated for sale to non-Bdians.
Have a look at the call by SAGE to remove the 60/40 law as we look to privatize
Have a glance at the validity of work permit waver letters in light of the removal of term limits
Consider the implications of long-term residents and status request
View what happened in the 1960′s regarding tilting support via the granting of status
Then consider our limited resources left to our children; consider land, business opportunities, jobs and the ability to decide our future through voting
Then re-consider your positions
@sideliner, your points are excellent, so much so, that the resident “non OBA” supporter, Mike Hind, has just babbled on in high deflection mode. @Mike, what are your views on the above post?
I love the way you just make stuff up about me. It’s hilarious.
I hadn’t even read this post yet, but you pretend like it’s what made me post. Ridiculous.
There really is nothing you wouldn’t say to promote your agenda, is there.
You’re just sad.
As for the post? What did it say, other than trying to make some implications?
It didn’t really say anything.
And they got offended when someone called them xenophobic.
Maybe they just didn’t know what the word meant.
“How DARE you call us xenophobic!”
“It means you don’t like foreigners or “outsiders”…”
“Oh. My bad. Carry on.”
Said like only Mike Hind can:- focus on the partisan stuff & ignore the topic at hand, eh?
Accusations of xenophobia is a tired excuse given by persons who, when cornered by FACTS, have no meaningful,FACT based perspective.
Not focusing on partisan stuff at all! I know you want to denounce me, but just plain making stuff up and trying to pass it off as truth is just not on.
The FACTS are, demagogues like you and Mr. Famouss say nothing real at all, then, when someone points it out, you go on the attack and make up complete nonsense to try to defame the person pointing it out.
Nice attempt. Try honesty next time.
“The Pattern of Deceit” could be the title of Mr. Famouss’ autobiography…
People get a real job! Life is too short
If people coming to the island under commercial laws were black and going to vote PLP, this wouldn’t be a problem!!!! Cheezzzzzzz! How many people you think are going to come to this island anyway! If they do come and are given passports, that’s not gonna interfere with my birthrights.
Boy for someone that seems to be spewing such nonsense Famous sure has touched a nerve.
For what it’s worth, Famous has:
1. quoted the Government directly
2. Asked 3 open ended questions.
The most he has personally injected into this piece are his sub headlines and his final statement.
Yet he is attacked in these posts because he has opened up these points for discussion.
I am regularly amazed the venomous language spewed directly at individuals who hold a different opinion or political affiliation. Meanwhile, the content of the post is left virtually ignored.
For those of us that did attend, the cons linked to the selling of status that Mr. Famous highlighted in this opinion piece was confirmed by the INDEPENDANT immigration think-tank expert
In FACT, not only did she CONFIRM MR. Famous’s concerns she ADDED a list of additional issues!
One being that there is nothing to prevent an investor, once granted citizenship, to take their investment n LEAVE! This has happened in other jurisdicitions ie the business they started n jobs they created REMOVED
Another concern is that citizenships for sale is often linked to INCREASING local housing costs
Another is the fact that some countries have LOST their right to visa-free travel due to concerns about the security of the passports
What I find MOST troublesome is the FACT that OBA MPs, in the HoA, INSISTED that the sale of status was NOT an option that the were considering!!!
PATHETIC to see the blind attacks without the careful consideration of the FACTS
I assume you also listened to Minister Fahy’s comments. Why did you leave them out of your post?
Aren’t you glad the government are going about the process in the way they are. With time and consideration instead of a knee jerk policy decision like the previous government was accustomed to doing? The conscription issue is an example of this. PLP want to ram it thorugh, OBA want to make careful consideration and do it correctly.
I listened to the entire presentation including MP Fahy comments that followed. I didn’t include his comments as he didn’t say much, did he?
I personally believe that we can’t have a public conversation regarding the pros & cons related to selling status UNTIL our govt defines what they are considering including:-
1. How many status are to be up for sale?
2. How much we are willing to sell status for?
3. How are we going to mitigate against the threat to our visa-free travel status?
4. How will the sale of status be directly linked to Bda benefits including jobs?
5. How does this impact the outstanding issue of PRCs?
6. What is the UK’s perspective on this?
7. Are we targeting particular countries for status buyers? Currently the biggest buyers of status are China, followed by Russia then by Middle-East countries? Do we have concerns from a humanitarian perspective re: human rights violations committed by these countries?
PUT THE PLAN ON THE TABLE & LET’S DISCUSS
Your original post focused on NONE of these VALID concerns highlighted not only in this article but also by John Barritt in his opinion piece AND by readily available, researched data.
THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE BUT A BERMUDIAN ISSUE – remove the political biases and stick to the facts