PLP: No OBA Plans To Get People Back To Work
[Updated with Minister's response] “The statement by Minister of Community, Culture and Sport Wayne Scott about record financial assistance confirms that the OBA have no plan to get Bermudians back to work,” said Shadow Minister Michael Weeks.
Yesterday the Ministry said that “in an effort to curtail the misuse of Government’s subsidized financial support,” they established an “Anonymous Hotline to report misuse, abuse or fraud.”
Minister Scott said they have seen an “unprecedented increase in financial assistance and child day care relie,f” and between January and October 2013, the Government spent over $36 million on assistance.
In response, Mr Weeks said, “For months the Premier has claimed that jobs are being created, yet despite the OBA reducing benefits, 2013 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of Bermudians using Financial Assistance. It is obvious that the Premier’s words and reality are not in sync.
“Mr Weeks said that “Instead of blaming the victims of our recession,” the OBA should produce a real jobs plan, identify inadequacies within the system to ensure that fraud is prevented and swiftly caught, and increase the penalties for fraud.”
Mr Weeks full statement is below:
The statement by Minister of Community, Culture and Sport Wayne Scott about record financial assistance confirms that the OBA have no plan to get Bermudians back to work.
For months the Premier has claimed that jobs are being created, yet despite the OBA reducing benefits, 2013 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of Bermudians using Financial Assistance. It is obvious that the Premier’s words and reality are not in sync.
Many Bermudians who have worked, paid taxes, obeyed the law and contributed to our country for years are being forced to turn to Financial Assistance; Not because they are lazy, not because they want to sponge off the system, but because they are out of work and need to provide for their families.
In 2014 the OBA undoubtedly will continue to punish Bermudians whose only crime is not having a job and an OBA that has no plan to get them back to work. Expect those who need help the most to be pushed to the sidelines by the OBA in favor of those who need help the least.
Instead of blaming the victims of our recession, the OBA should:
- 1) Produce a real jobs plan for Bermudians
- 2) Identify inadequacies within the system to ensure that fraud is prevented and swiftly caught
- 3) Increase the penalties for Financial Assistance fraud
- 4) Ensure that there are consequences for malicious claims of Financial Assistance fraud.
Update 4.27pm: In response to Mr. Weeks comments, Minister Scott said: “It appears that Mr. Weeks is deliberately misleading and misrepresenting the Government’s intent here, which is to offer help to those most in need.
“There is fraud within the system and we cannot correct this situation without the help of the public. Fraudulent actions take away assistance from the most vulnerable.
“As I’ve stated in Parliament, during the first quarter of this year and for the first time ever, assistance payments exceeded $10 million dollars. During the second quarter, that number ballooned to over $12 million. This Government has provided unprecedented support to those in need.
“Historical data shows that persons seeking Financial Assistance for lack of work typically have been out of work from three to six months before they first seek assistance.
“Based on this fact and that this Government was only elected in December 2012, this rise statistically represents the state of affairs at the waning months of the now Oppositions’ tenure.
“This Government remains committed to getting Bermuda back on track, providing jobs for our people, and helping those in need.”
Hey Mike, yur cashing in a tonne of political capital with those comments…because I like you, I’ll leave it up to the regular bloggers to verbally bash you
I think Mike has it right. How can the OBA say there is a record amount of money being spend on financial assistance, and then say that jobs are increasing. That just doesn’t add up.
One is directly impacted by the other, unless all the jobs are being created for non-Bermudians, now that is a possibility.
It isn’t that hard people. Here is what could have happened
2006 – 25000 jobs, 1000 on financial assistance
2012 – 12000 jobs, 2000 on financial assistance
2013 – 15000 jobs, 3000 on financial assistance
Let’s use common sense ppl, it isn’t a zero sum game
Just making up numbers now?
You and the premier have something in common.
Thanks MR Week for speaking up on such a key Issue. The Public need to hear the Truth. WELL SAID MP WEEKS
“In response, Mr Weeks said, “For months the Premier has claimed that jobs are being created, yet despite the OBA reducing benefits, 2013 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of Bermudians using Financial Assistance. It is obvious that the Premier’s words and reality are not in sync.”
“Mr Weeks said that “Instead of blaming the victims of our recession,” the OBA should produce a real jobs plan, identify inadequacies within the system to ensure that fraud is prevented and swiftly caught, and increase the penalties for fraud.”
I know you will have many comments from the UBPoba Blogger Team”, this will ensure that you have hit the nail on the hammer and touched a nerve with them. This confirms you have make a valid point in regards to this issue. KEEP IT UP…..”THIS IS A POWERFUL OPPOSITION>>WELL DONE !!!” I loving it…
Click …click…
2) Identify inadequacies within the system to ensure that fraud is prevented and swiftly caught
I think the public did this when they voted
Where is the evidence of fraud? Please do not make statements like that without the benefit of factual information.
why don’t you read the post first or in this case again. ” to ensure fraud is prevented” Are you seriously saying there is no abuse?
Oh really, so then why is NOW after the OBA is in power a record number of people on financial assistance?
Wouldn’t that mean the election made the problems worse?
No….This is the result of the PLP. Please do not forget the OBA have not been power that long.
Too long.
Why too long Mazumbo, do you miss your friends and family benefits.
Because of fraud.
When things are not good for a business, they don’t immediately sack employees. They wait until financial results are done, forecasts are done, they then consider expectations of futute orders…It takes time. Businesses are not run by hire and fire. These redundancies are directly a result of the PLP tenure. If you think any different, then you are mistaken. Get savvy and understand some basic habits of business and economics.
Are you serious, Mr. Weeks??
There are abuses of the system going on. The minister is trying to curtail that. It’s such a simple idea. I swear the PLP have no idea how to fix anything much less the economy – we know that part already. Can you imagine if the Minister just let the abuses carry on? You lot would be all screaming bloody murder.
Now this confirms to me that the PLP really have nothing else to present on how to fix the parts of Bermuda they broke either.
I love how people say the PLP broke the economy! More money, higher GDP, higher standard of living, and tripled the size of the insurance industry all from 1998-2012, yet the PLP BROKE the economy.
OK people, carry on.
Where were you when businesses were closing down every week during 2012 and Bermudians were losing those jobs that you now expect the new government to re-create overnight?
Maybe you were with Paula at her awards ceremonies?
Did businesses not close all through 2013? Did companies not leave Bermuda during 2013? Do you think that no businesses will close during 2014???
Get real, the economic problems were not caused by the PLP or the UBP or the OBA, they were caused by an unbalanced economy that got screwed by the financial crisis.
Do you really think if there were no term limits companies would not have sent their back offices to India? Cut down on meetings, pare back expense budgets and perks?
Get real people!
Nope. The tide is turning. You hate to see it, I know. But less businesses are failing now, and more investment is coming in.
Not good for the PLP.
Yep, most of it destroyed by lavish spending and not being prudent with the Bermuda’s money. It’s a shame they were so naive to spend like there was no tomorrow. If they had only listened to their grandmothers, when they said save for a rainy day…but not they did the opposite and their reputation has been tarnished forever as a party that was loose with the purse strings.
Lois dear, if the aligarcy paid attention to the constitution and treaties related to Moors descendants we would not be begging for money we should already have what we need.. do your research this is before grandma and still relevant today! And yes it applies to us Bermudians indiginent to the land.Lots of it to with birthright inheritance still owed TODAY!! and they know it.. Stop blaming the plp this is way bigger than them, how they ran the country is what they were ALLOWED to do.
you have no clue what ya talking about lmfao….
OH No! The PLP didn’t break the economy….. it was all Wall Street’s fault. Wall Street was smarter than “The Cog” and they kept us in a downward economic spiral for the past five years, despite everything the daughter of the great Eugene Cox has attempted to do.
Well nice of you to pass on the main point of my post…that the Minister is actually doing something to fix a problem. It’s a problem that may not be specific to the PLP’s bungling but it’s a problem.
I would even go so far as to say there were people abusing this system under a PLP Givt. We’d be foolish to think not.
Insurance companies have always been growing since 1998 thats correct! But hold on here if we had “money” why did WE (bermuda) almost go bankrupt only last year? Why where WE (bermuda) 1.5B if we had a high GDP? How do WE (bermuda) have so much people on financial assistants? So what u are saying somewhere along those lines WE (bermuda) have been getting…since 1998! (
We had economic full employment, the PLP borrowed money for non income generating capital spends, they overheated the economy, that’s why so many folks in construction are now suffering. It was a govt fueled expansion, i.e people went into an industry expecting continuity, but it was govt funded (through debt)and not market driven. Similar with the civil service…it is too big for the islands needs, it was funded by debt. The worlds issues had very little impact on Bermuda. Bermuda problem was caused by the PLP. END OF. PLP were borrowing to pay expenses and the OBA have been forced to do the same, due to the commitments the PLP entered with the work force etc. Only way out of this is to cut expenditure, increase efficiency and effectiveness, and for the private sector to grow to create new jobs and opportunities. Things like Casinos will help Bermuda and Bermudians. It’ll help new investment and opportunity in the country.
Mr Weeks said, “For months the Premier has claimed that jobs are being created, yet despite the OBA reducing benefits, 2013 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of Bermudians using Financial Assistance. It is obvious that the Premier’s words and reality are not in sync.”
—- Forgetting for a moment the claims of rampant fraud/abuse (which by itself could account for the increase in #s of Bdians using financial assistance) why must the above two comments be mutually exclusive? By this I mean: why does the increase in jobs comment by our premier have to be a lie in the face of increased numbers of users of financial assistance? It doesn’t. So why can’t Michael Weeks see this? Surely he isn’t making s*** up just to make the OBA look bad… For instance… what if the 100 new IB jobs were created but they were all at executive levels. Jobs would have been created (premier telling the truth) but the retail clerk who lost her job at XYZ store might now need financial assistance. Times this retail clerk by 50 and we see an increase in the number of people claiming from financial assistance (Wayne Scott telling the truth). So wtf is Michael Weeks talking about?
NO offence, but wtf are you talking about?
who gives a c***. Abusers, and there would seem to be a few, need to face the music and be shamed, named and made to pay back any ill-gotten funds. I can’t see the connection if job cuts keep happening then the number will increase. The PlP have not come up with any solutions other than creating the problem in the first place.
Sometime ago it was in the paper that persons on financial assistance were buying groceries and selling them for liquor and cigs – this has not changed. How many people know people in government dept’s who slip their application forms in for nursery assistance and so on Abuse yes and next thing to stop is the number of government cars being used and abused make the drivers park them in a central parking area nights and on weekends so they use their own to transport children groceries pets and all the rest. Only heads of essential services should be allowed to keep their vehicles Where is the GP car heading East past airport going to the gym on southside
Bermuda already has the most expensive welfare system in the world, built by the PLP. It’s called the civil service!
The OBA are not punishing anyone for not having a job, how ludicrous a statement is that!? Bermuda is being punished for letting the PLP get away with Financial and Economic murder for so many years, that is the reality of the current situation.
And that is why, under the OBA, the number of people receiving financial assistance is going UP!….
Sure blame it on the PLP, if you can’t accept the blame yourself.
Yup, thats right, PLP – economic murder, like saving Butterfield after they Effed up! Or economic murder like tripling the size of the insurance industry in 14 years. Economic murder indeed!
The Insurance industry tripped in size due to hard market conditions post 9/11 and Katrina, the 2 largest Insurance losses in American history. This prompted a titanic influx of capital, nothing to do with the PLP. The marketplace was engineered long before that under the UBP, the regulatory framework was built independently and the tax structure under the UBP. You will recall that the Chamber of Commerce and the Monetary Authority were both outspoken critics of the PLP regime.
The economic murder took place when the Government swelled civil service ranks beyond sustainable levels and did not properly institute internal financial controls which fostered a circus of over spending, wastage, inefficiency and in the end personal greed. The PLP used Bermuda’s purse as their own personal credit card, running up debts with the peoples money. Debts that we cannot to pay, debts that only a fool would embellish themselves with.
So now we have an oversize government and no money to pay the workers, so we have to borrow in order to avoid social collapse, was this not part of the ‘platinum period’ grand design of the PLP administration? Which for 14 years lacked the economic diversity or foresight but was founded on a glut of spending and personal agenda? I think so, it is plain to see that the OBA are in a bind that the PLP created. You cannot cut jobs in the civil service because the people will suffer, but you need to borrow half a billion dollars a year to pay for them! Yet some how the PLP seem to think that they can do things better!
Unfortunately the die hard PLP supporters have to realize that there is no where to hide from failure, especially failure that is so blatant.
Very well said and also exactly what happened!! The likes of pants on fire, are not capable of understanding it?? They are exactly what the plp created ( their only achievement by the way ) a dumbed down support base!!! The likes of pants on fire is exactly why I believe everyone should be made to take an aptitude/ comprehension test and pass it before being allowed to vote!! Being all of our livelihoods depend on electing a responsible government!! Something we didn’t have since 1998!! And we sure are paying for it now!!!!
Wow, I can’t believe I just read that.
If you don’t agree with me you are dumb, too dumb to vote.
OK, OK, OK.
That is an interesting view…. So 2005, Insurance companies came here because of the UBP in 1998?
Yes they prospered because of Market conditions, but you can’t blame the PLP and not give them any credit.
And, are you serious, the “Monetary Authority” criticised the PLP??? The BMA is part of the government.
Did spending increase, Yes. Did overspending happen, some. Is their duplication in the civil service, youbetcha.
But if the government is OVERSIZED, then why do the OBA keep hiring people? If there were lack of financial controls, why hasn’t the OBA instituted new ones?
And then talk about debt, should the PLP not build Berkely, should they not have expanded the national sports centre, should they not have built the new dock, should they not have resurfaced the airport, should they have not bought new busses and ferries.
Yet you talk about lack of diversity in the economy, when the PLP was told they didn’t focus enough on IB.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Yes the PLP messed up, but please don’t think that the PLP did EVERYTHING wrong. Because if they did, the Insurance industry would have been gone, and we wouldn’t be the ILS leader.
I am a Bermudian Reinsurance professional and have been in the market since 2001. I know how the Bermuda market thrived post Katrina, I know how the ILS market is currently thriving and I can assure you it has and had nothing to do with the PLP government. I never once heard the PLP being praised by any high level executive, ever! Guess what! when the OBA came to power the market rejoiced! During the current recession I have watched countless companies re-domicile key individuals and staff to Zurich and other jurisdictions. They did this because of the aggressive and unfriendly policies of the PLP Government. They did it because of the outright loss of faith in the economic management of the country. Paula increased pay-roll tax and drove many large organizations off this Island at a time when we needed them to stay, she rescinded this decision once she realized her grave mistake- too late!
Bermuda would be in a much less dire state of affairs had the PLP had a clue and not spent us into a hole. Sure you can reference capital projects till the cows come home but we are talking 100′s of millions in cost overruns and back handed deals. We are talking about Government pensions that have not been audited in well over 5+ years, we are talking about complete disregard for public money. Now a days 100 million or so would not go amiss in funding financial assistance would it!?
The OBA formed the SAGE commission, financial controls and efficiency measures are on the way. In one year this is more than the PLP ever managed in their tenure. Real governance and fiscal responsibility. That is what the OBA are about.
As I said, the PLP used Bermuda as their own personal credit card, now we have to pay that bill.
So if the two parties are suppose to be working together for the good of Bermuda, PLP please tell what are your plans? Why don’t you be the bigger party and come up with a plan.
Maybe you have issue reading:
1) Produce a real jobs plan for Bermudians
2) Identify inadequacies within the system to ensure that fraud is prevented and swiftly caught
3) Increase the penalties for Financial Assistance fraud
4) Ensure that there are consequences for malicious claims of Financial Assistance fraud.
1 means nothing “a plan to have a plan”
2,3,4 are all the same thing really. Which is what Minister Scott is trying to fix now.
LOL
This theme of the PLP’s is getting a little repetitive. We are left in this dire situation based on conditions created by his former party. I put a whole lot more faith in the OBA rescuing Bermuda than the PLP being able to do anything better. My logic is based on their prior performance up until December 2012, where it was blatantly clear they had no answers or solutions to the mess they found themselves in. Even though the task is huge the OBA are aggressively dealing with issues and trying to turn this thing around. If they can’t see the plan they are lacking something up there. The OBA is opening up the markets to allow for job creation. The Govt in of itself cannot and should not create jobs. All they can do is create the right conditions for entrepreneurs to feel that their is an opportunity for them to make money doing whatever it is they do and thus hire people for that business.
OK, sounds good, but why are jobs being LOST under the OBA?
Would that not indicate that things are not going according to plan?
Just as Bob Richards said it is like turning a freighter around it takes time. Did you really have the expectation that the dire situation would resolve itself so quickly? That would be totally unrealistic. Green shoots are appearing though which is agood sign. It will take time though.
You are not going to explain the truth to those who refuse to see it .
Let us not forget why so many Bermudians are out of work to begin with, Mr. Weeks.
Just another PLP clown trying to get some headlines…
Someone PULLLLLEASE stop that broken record its driving fattin’ fullish!
What was the SUPERIOR “Jobs’s Program” under the PLP?
And how successful where they when the PLP went from ZERO PERCENT unemployment to more than 5,200 Bermudians being UNEMPLOYED?
OHH!! I remember, they were given Civil Service Jobs! And those who weren’t “special” enough are STILL unemployed and were encouraged to get on Financial Assistance.
Just so you get the facts.
1) Unemployment in Bermuda has never been 0%
2) Bermuda’s unemployment rate hit 8% under the PLP
3) Bermuda’s unemployment rate during our last recession was 6% in 1991 under the UBP.
4) There are not 5,200 Bermudians unemployed. Try to stop listening to Craig Cannonier, when he makes up numbers. You sound as stupid as him.
How many thousands became unemployed under the PLP then? Where did you get that 8% number from?
You sound as stupid as Roban. You’re not Bud are you?
Everyone can read for themselves. statistics.gov.bm try it out for a change.
Are you talking about the report that says the unemployment rate for Bermudians was 10% in May 2012?
Hundreds of jobs were lost after May 2012 during the rest of the year.
Try reading and then applying some common sense for a change.
Ahhh, the simple OBA response – Blame it on the PLP!
“Based on this fact and that this Government was only elected in December 2012, this rise statistically represents the state of affairs at the waning months of the now Oppositions’ tenure.
Its the PLP’s fault financial assistance is at record levels! Don’t blame us, we’re creating jobs, but yes, more people are coming to us for assistance!
You’re wrong there. The problems starting and will continue under the OBA.
May I suggest you look for another line of work?? You are obviously a new paid plp blogger and I can tell you that you are not doing them any justice!!! You sound like an ill informed idiot!!
Man, you lay insults everywhere, however you don’t seem to ever make any valid points. Is there a reason for this?
Oh wait, I’m not smart enough to comment because I don’t vote OBA… never mind.
PLP: No Plans To Get Bermudians Back To Work
Yes, we know.
The OBA do though and they should be allowed to get on with it.
Good thing the OBA is only the Govt for 1 term!!!
Good for who?
Here we go it’s the new year and the line of PLP drones come out with statements……yesterday Furbert and today this guy…..you mention the victims of the recession? That would be the people of Bermuda in the recession now depression caused by the 14 years of frivolous spending by the PLP……how about a fraud hotline with information about the previous Government?
100% agree don’t let them get away with it. they are only hopping time will erase the wrongdoings and people will forget. Cmon ombudsman or Accountant general. Who knows may be even able to recoup some off the missing funds
It’s as if the PLP need every press conference to spell out the entirety of the OBA’s turnaround program. Mr. Weeks needs to read things in context of the big picture of everything else that the OBA is doing instead of making out like this is the only action the OBA is taking to bail Bermuda out of the PLP’s mess.
Hmm… Translated — we don’t want anyone to think that the high financial assistance numbers are as a results of our mismanagement of Bermuda’s working class. So let’s blame it on fraud. And as usual let’s not back up our claims with any real and factual data.
I find it odd that you never asked your plp for any “real and factual data” when they were denying we even had a problem with the economy, in fact said we are doing just fine, hoping nobody would ever notice that people were being laid off in droves!!! Absolutely pathetic you plp supporters!! Haven’t felt enough pain yet I guess????
And people are not being laid off now in droves?
In droves? No, not like they were in 2012. Did you miss that?
It’s all down to the plp’s 14 years of friends n family only that we have the problems on this island now.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and the present government have started to repair damage caused by the plp,it will take time and people need to live,so it’s understandable that people are looking for help from the Government Purses.
Looking pretty stupid Mr. Weeks. Govt. doesn’t creat jobs directly (unless of course you mean like the PLP did by bloating the civil service to buy votes), what they do is create an environment in which business can thrive, which then leads naturally to jobs. What we’ve seen is increasing confidence, investment in the HP, Coral Beach investment, moves to allow hotel casinos(on this very page) and investment in SHP. It doesn’t happen overnight but there’s the green shoots of confidence.
Must suck to be in the PLP.
Coral Beach eh? Just like pink beach I guess…
Um, in case you forgot, that investment in HP happened under the PLP.
Are you really crowing about an 11 million refurbishing for SHP, the first after fabian.
Green shoots would be a new hotel, not firesales (coral beach) or non sales (pink beach).
Funny you don’t mention Tucker’s Point – or is that the PLPs fault?
.it’s about the environment. pink Beach is a tired old property, that’s not going anywhere soon. The others indicate a growing confidence. That’s all.
As soon as we can open up recidency / property ownership we’rei n better shape.
Firstly let me say i dont support party politics!I think bda is to small for party politics!
But i think Bermuda is in so much trouble,mostly,not all but most of it caused by the PLP!
Private jets,every project went way over budget,800 million UN ACCOUNTED for, etc.. The list is endless!And lets face it we will never get out of this debt,dont care which govt is in,it could be the Gombey Liberal party!There is nothing here for no one,all the exempt companies are alot smaller mainly do to the virtual world.You can sit in a conference room and have a meeting with a colleague in England and feel like your next to them.
So bicker all you want we will never be out of this mess….
You are actually making sense on the last part…. But help me out her “Private Jets”?? Only person I know on a private jet was the OBA.
As for $800 million unaccounted for, that’s as good as an old wives tail. If that money was stolen you’d know it. That was mainly pension funds with outstanding audits. Not $800 million stolen.
I agree, we won’t get out of debt, and you’ve hit the nail on the head, Bermuda’s problems are Global. It costs less to do things in other places and that is why we are struggling… That is the main essence of the problem!
Uou’re not aware of Zane travellung on private jets then?
Can the PLP not put forth suggestions to get our people back to work if the OBA has dropped the ball. Lets not point fingers, lets get us working. Show the OBA how easy it is, please.
MR. WEEKS……..I know you will have many comments from the UBPoba Blogger Team”, this will ensure that you have hit the nail on the hammer and touched a nerve with them. This confirms you have make a valid point in regards to this issue. KEEP IT UP…..”THIS IS A POWERFUL OPPOSITION>>WELL DONE !!!” I loving it…
Click …click… I was right…great stuff PLP are working in the best interest of the people..
CLICK CLICK…
It is a shame when Mr Weeks can’t even do what he is qualified in, but he will provide advise that he himself can’t do. Nice guy but clueless, I have worked with him.
Yeah, agree.
This is, after all, Michael “60 people are already applying for mortgages to buy Grand Atlantic condos” Weeks.
Clueless is about the most charitable word.
Get the saying right at least for gods sake. Your grammar, spelling and improper use of the language speaks volumes. Please note I did not say English language. If you stop and think why would you hit the nail on the hammer? If it were me I would hit the nail on the head with a hammer. No matter what your computer skills are pretty good at cut copy paste, must save you hours
I have not seen any Plan from the PLP to get people working again.
Please – PLP if you have such a Plan to solve our unemployment problems than unveil it.
X man I agree 100% An empty can makes the loudest noise…For far too long the former Govt. hoodwinked Bermudian voters and to say they are back at it once again would only be an understatement
As a matter of fact, hadn’t it been for the Progressive Labour Party to open the flood gates, and permitting far too many foreigners on the Island to do menial jobs that just about any damn Bermudian can do there wouldn’t be so many Bermudians out of work to begin with…Please lets call a spade a spade.
Wasn’t it the PTP that put us in this situation in the first place? NO JOBS 2.4 BILLION in debt!!!
they are so full of it and they are a bunch of i—-s
Oh! Dear,the lord must love stupid people as he left quite a few in Bermuda.