PLP Object To “Cash For Passports Scheme”
“The PLP is committed to defeating any effort to relegate Bermudians to second class citizenship status to anyone sneaked in under a cash for passports scheme,” Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Walter Roban said today [Jan 9].
This follows after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced it will host a public meeting at the Cathedral Hall next Tuesday to provide information on commercial immigration.
Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy said, “The structure of the conversation will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of commercial immigration as well as present ideas on what investors could receive in return for their investment.
“As I have previously said, while there are varying views regarding the solutions needed to grow the economy, the general consensus is that bold ideas need to be explored. Commercial immigration is one such initiative that we are exploring.”
In last November’s Throne Speech [PDF], Government announced its intention of exploring the concept of commercial immigration saying: “The Ministry will initiate community-wide consultation to encourage direct inward investment in the Island through a commercial immigration programme that supports business, job and career opportunities for Bermudians.”
In the response to the Throne Speech last year, Opposition Leader Marc Bean said the “attempt to grant status is modern day wickedness against one’s own people” and “has nothing to do with economics, and everything to do with the political sorcery of solidifying one’s power by altering Bermuda’s voting base.”
In a statement today, Mr Roban said, “The Progressive Labour Party today reaffirms our position that giving away Bermudian citizenship and the right to vote to hundreds of non-Bermudians is a red line we will not allow to be crossed.
“While we support efforts to increase revenue and to encourage investment in Bermuda, we do not and will not, support the OBA Commercial Immigration scheme.
“The PLP is committed to defeating any effort to relegate Bermudians to second class citizenship status to anyone sneaked in under a cash for passports scheme.
“The recent amendments to the Incentive For Jobmakers Act have already opened a doorway for a select few at the expense of Bermudian workers. The PLP will not be supporting any legislation or policies that continue this trend of disenfranchising Bermudians.
“We encourage Bermudians to contact the OBA MPs and let them know that like us, you won’t stand for any effort to push Bermudians to the back of the line for jobs and opportunities in our own country,” Mr Roban concluded.
*second class citizenship* …the plp are so full of the kool aid!
wonder what clown in the plp thought that up…
*is a red line we will not allow to be crossed*
PLP,ya NOT the Government!
“UBPoba SELLING THE BIRTHRIGHTS OF BERMUDIANS” A DANGEROUS MOVE BY THE UBPOBA.
In a statement today, Mr Roban said, “The Progressive Labour Party today reaffirms our position that giving away Bermudian citizenship and the right to vote to hundreds of non-Bermudians is a red line we will not allow to be crossed.
“While we support efforts to increase revenue and to encourage investment in Bermuda, we do not and will not, support the OBA Commercial Immigration scheme.
“The PLP is committed to defeating any effort to relegate Bermudians to second class citizenship status to anyone sneaked in under a cash for passports scheme.
‘Sneaked’ is an interesting choice of word by Mr. Roban don’t you think Betty? What is actually happening is that the Government is declaring their intention ahead of time, then seeking feedback from the public, and then possibly passing a law through the House of Assembly to make it law. And this process is, according to the PLP, one which amounts to it being ‘sneaked’?
If you want an example of how to sneak people onto the island, with no prospect of their ever being able to leave, even if they want to, look no further than the dead-of-night arrival of the 4 Uighars, and then their 4 wives, and now, I guess by extension, their unfortunately stateless children. That’s how you really ‘sneak’ people onto the Island.
Oh, and on Mr. Roban’s topic of creating a second-class of Bermudian; you’ll perhaps forgive me for forgetting to thank the PLP on Dec 17th 2012 for fining me $2,500 as a house owner,and not any other Bermudians, simply because I fell in love with, and married, a non-Bermudian. Way to win votes PLP!
This debate just underscores AGAIN that the PLP does not understand economics. They do NOT UNDERSTAND what a mess they left Bermuda in. And their suggestion that something “sneaky” is going on is a lie designed to work up emotion and exploit those who have not taken the time to understand the facts.
It’s frustrating that every time the OBA wants to try something to help the Island, the PLP want to stop it. The PLP need to be stopped. They caused enough problems when they were governemnt, we got rid of them for a reason.
I think what the PLP is really scared fo is that the OBA has some good ideas and they are scared that if the OBA make some positive changes, the PLP won’t get voted back in.
Sounds less to me like trying to help the Island and more like trying to pad the vote in their favor.
Vote in their favor???? They did win the last election, didn’t they so to me it seems like as long as they do a good job for Bermuda the vote will continue to be in their favor.
What exactly are you afraid of? Do you really believe there will be thousands lining up to buy a passport. Do you think they will even care to vote? History tells us that about 40% of those that were born in Bermuda and live in Bermuda don’t even vote!
I love it. From the group that created a whole new bunch of second-class citizens, discriminated against based on who they married.
“Marc Bean said the “attempt to grant status is modern day wickedness against one’s own people” and “has nothing to do with economics, and everything to do with the political sorcery of solidifying one’s power by altering Bermuda’s voting base.”
THe UBPoba are at it again, fooling the people and selling the Bermudian birthrights down the toilet. WOW, this speaks to their lack of alternative bold ideas to grow our economy. This is something people must speak out against and not allow this government to sell our souls for what? Another desperate move to gain political votes by the way of granting or selling passports, but making it look like it all for the development of our economy. What a bold face lie and move by this UBPoba party.
It looks like the aim of this government to give this country away, with out consideration of the long-term impacts. This will have major ramifications for our social development and future generations of children.
I believe the UBPoba are stepping on dangerous grounds with this bad idea, and seem to flushing Bermuda down the toilet once again. This must not be allowed.
I’m surprised any toilets in Bermuda still flush – after the cr4p they have had to swallow under the a$$ of the previous gummint…
You Guys in BDA are so dopey it is beyond belief.
So glad that I left your mindless little Island.
Really looking forward to you going Independent!!!
An stay the hell out.
Glad you left also, small island don’t need folk like you. Proud Bermudian born n raised.
Bi bye…
and there are 3 examples of idiots. bermuda is another world eh? with your 3 mentality you lot are so backward you won’t even make a 3rd world country. you all think your so better than everyone else, you will never find a place in the real world. backwards bunch. why have so many bermudians left and are planning go leave, because of stupid backwards xenophobic thinking like yours!
Do you know that one of the greatest mistakes the Americans made, was selling off so much of there property. If you do a research and see how much land in the United States is actually owned by foreign countries, it may shock you.
I have said it before that Bermuda is like a prostitute, that sells her most valuable assets, and then don’t have Jack to show for it,then you have foreign born nationals, that become paper Bermudians and forcing us out of our own birthright
Care to provide links to this “research”?
You don’t need research, it’s happening now. Just pay attention, you will see the snake in the grass.
Get off your lazy a** troll and look for yourself. China is in the process of buying millions of acres in the US as we speak. Fool Troll.
You know that ranting at me while calling me a troll… While hiding behind a fake name… Kind of weakens your point.
Asking someone to back up their claim isn’t trolling. You need to learn how words work.
http://www.usasurvival.org/ck02.22.09.html
2.3 seconds troll…
FOX NEWS Kool aid drinker!
Do you have any links that actually back up the claim?
That’s how it works. If you’re going to post a link as evidence if something, it kinda has to… you know… be evidence of that thing.
In actual fact there is streams of information online, just Google it, I think A.B.C network did one of the the best reporting I ever seen, they are in so much debt to the Chinese up the yin yang and that is just the beginning.
To tell you the truth America has a bright future ahead, keep in tune with the news, there is a whole lot about to happen, but there will be a serious shaken up first. many are about to be exposed, one of the greatest things to happen is the next election. i truly believe Hillary Clinton will be the next President and she will do well. I can say a lot on the topic because i like foreign research
So… no. You can’t point to anything?
If you could, why “Google it yourself”?
Being in debt to the Chinese does not equal “land in the United States is actually owned by foreign countries”.
You say a lot on the topic… yet don’t back it up.
Odd that.
** their **
oh shut up.
Face it , you are committed to defeating any effort from the OBA . Where were your plans????????????
What an insult to our Permanent Residents. These people have served this country for decades, they should receive status before anyone.
Im 21 years born and raised and not a hint of citizenship (Im a PRC) but I have older siblings who are Bermudian, something should be sorted out. I call myself Bermudian, but that doesn’t count.
Rock I totally agree with you, and there are far to many of these cases like yours. O.B.A you need to address this and put these folk ahead in your priority list
Let a war break out and you’ll see who fills the planes first…
Oh brother!! This nightmare never seems to end??? Can someone sit that irrelevant plp down and explain to them they lost the election because of the carnage they caused??? If they had actually listened when they were in power we probably would not be discussing how to get more foreign investment here!!! If they had worked as hard doing the correct thing when they were in power, as they are doing now spewing nothing of substance they might still have the power they so much enjoyed!!! By the way Roban!!!when will get any updates on your plp crusade of helping the Islands to the south of us??? I highly suspect very little was done by yourselves but it was nothing more than sounding like you wanted to do something!!!!updates please!!!!!
“UBPoba are attempting to sneaked in under a cash for passports scheme folks whom should not be granted status.” DANGEROUS MOVE BY THIS UBPoba government. DANGEROUS INDEED.
“The PLP is committed to defeating any effort to relegate Bermudians to second class citizenship status to anyone sneaked in under a cash for passports scheme.
“The recent amendments to the Incentive For Jobmakers Act have already opened a doorway for a select few at the expense of Bermudian workers. The PLP will not be supporting any legislation or policies that continue this trend of disenfranchising Bermudians.
This reveals the UBPoba lack any bold and keen plans to grow our economy, as a result they are now willing to sell our BIRTHRIGHTS to the HIGHEST BIDDER…..REALLY
They have a plan…sell off our assets,get fat off of the proceeds and let foreign investors rule our lives (what we have left of them anyways.) The Masonic branch, the Scottish Rite are largely behind these schemes – and are being instructed by their British counterparts overseas. Bermuda is actually in a seesaw battle between the UK and the US who both want us really badly…but once again people are focused on the puppets rather than the masters…
In short the Non Bermuda Aliance plan is the ECONOMIC GENOCIDE OF BLACK BERMUDIANS…and it is working quite well. Take a look around.
aMen….wake up everybody! Bermudians dont know their rights because they dont know that they are Right, they have birthrites to this island before any piece of paper and after any piece of paper! It is dangerous to leave our future in the hands of a few who dont care and never will. THE MAJORITY RULES!And if OBA has their way they will try to make Bermuda 50% black 50%white which will never be equal!
dinos***. what drugs are you on? May In suggestive you take some immodeum to contract your verbal Diao****.
It’s amazing how you guys make this stuff up and then scream at the sky for a few days about it, then forget you ever did it.
The “economic genocide of black Bermudians”?
You’re ridiculous.
You are a complete joke.
I love how you accuse me of adding nothing, then post complete nonsense like this.
I know you want your party back in, but at least try some honesty when you’re trying to make that happen.
You know I can’t even comment but say, now that puts it right were we are. only a damn joker and a fool would ignore the truth, but not to worry as my father would say, it has a way of coming around and biting you in the Ox. well said dinosaumedia
The PLP would have you believe Bermudians magically appeared on the island one morning having never emigrated from somewhere else first.
There is already an underclass in Bermuda and we have the PLP to thank for that as their regressive policies, horrendous economic and social management skills compounded by a narrowly focused goal of enriching friends and family to the direct detriment of taxpayers and voters have resulted in the current mess we’ve been saddled with.
Roban, Brown, Weeks, et al are loudly banging the xenophobic drum in the hope it’s beat will overwhelm reasoned and rational thought as they put politics over progress and emotion over collective success.
The PLP’s vocal and irrational commitment to defeat this effort serves only to confirm what 14 years has already proven … the PLP put politics before country every time.
And the O.B.A is doing exactly what to counter act what has been done, and the many hundreds or if not thousands of jobs they keep talking about is where.
Tell me what I am missing so I don’t stand in the wrong line, Bermudians are still being made to be raked over the coals, with high cost of living and trying to survive in this country, and it don’t matter if you have a job or not, we are in this boat together and more then 70% is feeling the grip of greed, from the former administration and the present. so talk truth and pull your full out of the hole you got it in, so you can stuff up the one you need to.
They blew a million dollars on Beyoncé go figure ? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFp2YFKFfj4
Think about it folks , look who is the the opposition leader….take a look at his back ground ….
Craig is a puppet……..there you go
Ok you caught me on the right day, so I will be nice. my pastor may be listen, but what the hell does a person past have to do with the contributions they bring to the table now.
Your tourism minister in the O.B.A is my cousin and a gentleman, but his past he admits to being directly involved with the drug trade, he did his time served his sentence, and now is serving Bermuda to the best of his ability, so what exactly is your point.
You want to rehash the past, do a research on some of the jokers that sit in the up in the house of assembly, and their family background and see just what they did to Bermudians in years gone by, and their children and grandchildren live lavishly because of their manipulative deeds.
Be ready for a real battle when you want to come up against the past,some skeletons are best left alone.
I guess the PLP is back to throwing around slogans. It’s pathetic.
“This reveals the UBPoba lack any bold and keen plans to grow our economy, as a result they are now willing to sell our BIRTHRIGHTS to the HIGHEST BIDDER”…..This what they are attempting to do, NO MATTER HOW THE UBPoba PAID BLOGGER TEAM SPIN IT !!
I recognize the UBPoba bloggers have a job to do, but this issue is serious one, and should not be overlooked and EXCUSED.
Thank you for confirming my point.
You, Bean and Roban are just trotting out slogans.
If this is all too complicated for you, why don’t you just stop.
another with verbal diaorreaha.
Here “she” goes again.
The hypocrisy of “Betty” railing about a “paid blogger team” would be hilarious, if it weren’t so scary that someone might believe “her”.
The PLP are experts on sneaking second class citizens into Bermuda.
There’s that red line again. Backing yourselves into a corner there I think. The Regressive Labour Party speaks again. Scaremongering at best. Just go to the meeting and participate in the discussion and have your say, rather than just repeating your predictable line once again.
I see the choice of drink in this convo is haterade. Lol:) lmao
lol now that was funny! This is the same ‘List’ of names who are paid to ‘monitor’ and respond to anything speaking against this OBA government. I actually feel sorry for them, because that’s got to be the most BORING way of life! Maybe not, because if this Government continues as is, they’ll be very very busy.
Are you so self righteous that you think people need to be paid to take a viewpoint different to your own?
Ignore all the people doing it on your side, right?
“It’s ok when we do it.”
As always.
Mike hind, do you think that it is a good idea to offer non Bermudians status in return for investments?
I think that anyone that loves Bermuda enough to want to live her permanently, for the rest of their lives, help our communities and country grow and add to our health and well-being as a country, anyone that shows that they truly, truly want to be a Bermudian because they love our country, should be allowed to be Bermudian.
Can someone remind the politicians that no one can get a Bermuda Passport unless the person fulfills all the requirements to become a UK citizen? Bermuda is not Independent and cannot sell Bermuda Passports, as can for example St Kitts, Jamaica or the Bahamas. There is a precedent – ask the Uighurs. Maybe PRC but not Bermuda status.
Exactly. Commercial Immigration does not necessarily need to involve “giving passports” to anyone.
It’s a commonly-used means to encourage long-term inward investment. It undoubtedly creates jobs. It encourages businesses which have a vested interest in being here for the long haul.
Roban and his paid commenters here throw around stupid slogans. They are stopping an initiatve that would create jobs for Bermudians.
The other irony of this is that Paula Cox already introduced some Commercial Immigration. She was offering PRC to some investors, in return for a fee. Roban seems to have forgotten that.
No one not even a British citizen can obtain a ” Bermuda Passport” unless they fulfill the requirements for becoming a British Overseas Territory Citizen hence BOTC which is what the passport actually states -not Bermudian but BOTC.
If people are going to argue at least argue with facts not fiction.
The response from the PLP is not surprising. They recall the influx of Portuguese which they feel was a strategy to minimize the impact of the influx of Caribbean groups who also immigrated to the island.
I do find the PLP disingenuous though as the policies of enforced color ratios was planned to and achieved the reduction of bermudians of a lighter color being hired while expats of a darker color were being hailed as a success’ all during their tenure as the government of the day. Being a Bermudian was less important then but I guess the end justifies the means but only if you get what you want.
All the comments on here are anti PLP but sometimes we have to look past party politics and actually discuss the issue.
Please can someone explain to me how on such a small island selling citizenship, obviously to the wealthy, would be a great thing for this island. Where historically and even up to today this island has been for the rich, the privilege, and forget about the others.
The main problem I have with this is allowing one to vote from simply purchasing citizenship.
To me selling citizenship for money because we have become desperate sounds like a county prostituting itself for cold, hard cash.
those passports equals votes disguised as foriegn capital !
Because money doesn’t grow on trees. It comes from… Wait for it… People with money. *GASP*
How are you not understanding this?
Some people think a bit deeper than that pal!
WELL SAID “WE THE PEOPLE”, this is a very serious issue that must be discussed in full. It can not be quickly sweep under the carpet and overlooked as being insignificant. It will have major impact upon Bermuda’s overall and it comes with major social implications.
I think a serious dialogue has to be had in this regards. This is something that the UBPOBA bloggers team are not willing to do. Their blindfaithfulness prevents them from engaging in mature dialogue.
PLPATHETIC
Why don’t you guys just go to the public forum and actually have to hear what the Minister has to say. He does say he will present the “benefits and drawbacks” of this policy that may not even happen. It’s something to look at, not approve.
Jesus, the PLP is uppity these days. Haterade is right.
The PLPbiu will do ANYTHING to prevent the electorate to expand with one more individual that would vote AGAINST THEM.
Hense THE VITRIOL BEING SPOUTED BY BETTY, the QUEEN of PROPAGANDA.
We need to create demand. Bermuda was for rent and now we have infrastructure that is not being used. It is a worthwhile experiment. People can always leave if they don’t like it here anymore.
I’m am an expat who works in Government. I work an average of 9 hours a day, and don’t take the morning and afternoon union-agreed breaks, and rarely take a lunch break. I work with Bermudians who would be fired in days anywhere else in the world for their lack of effort and skill, yet they get paid in excess of $100K each. Last year I saved Government in excess of $500K.
Tell me – would you rather have me saving your money, or them wasting it?
Tony, many people have not felt real life yet. It is coming thanks to their beloved PLP. We were the envy of the world, now we have become the laughing stock and slowly turning into a third world country. Many live day to day because they have never understood how to save and secrifice, they think the rich just became that way by chance and that Bermuda will continue to function and provide by chance. Soon come the mon say….
Secrifice ? Should probably learn how to spell before trying to sound like you know what your talking about… Just saying.
Your? Should probably learn grammar before trying to sound like you know what you’re talking about… Just saying.
You should probably learn to spell as well. What “your” talking about, or what “you’re” talking about.
the rich became rich through using other peoples hard earned money to manipulate a scheme to benefit only them.. If the so called rich knew anything about a conscious they would be ashamed of their wealth that they acheived by barking out commands.. They can start making thier own tea cause the party for them is gonna be a wrap soon! To abuse a group of people to achieve wealth is hardly applaudable, this unfair system only benefits the people using tricknology in the form of politics, and its a short rope to the end of this pathetic Big Shot mentality of keeping people ignorant by devising a system against them so that they don’t truly understand they do not have to acquiesce to the wills of others .. Oh! I forgot!! yes weapons of threat for non co operation in thier schemes, i.e if we don’t pay and display, being stopped while black, insurance schemes, unfair taxes without any returns..Bermuda is another world there is nowhere else like it and everyone wants to rule this world but the people that have the only true entitlement to it !!!What a shame , but good for the schemers that most people dont read their own history and simply dont care and would preferred to be ruled by a group of ignoramus, greedy, unconscionable minority who feed them lies and fabrication for a daily diet..
you are an a**. you wouldn’t want to be rich, no you would give your money away I guess. you and many like you are so backwards you don;t know how to progress.
I’m a Bermudian who works 10 hour days, then goes home and continues to work via my Blackberry! Laziness has no nationality Pal!
A great guy like you Tony, your own country needs you. Why are you waiting your time in a country where the natives take their breaks
Taking their breaks isn’t a problem Rhonda, it’s the fact they do absolutely no meaningful work for the rest of the time. Would you rather they carried on stealing from you, or would you rather give their jobs to Bermudians who could earn their money?
@Tony==I’d rather not have you here to monitor and complain about anything least alone, money that you are here taking out of mouths of Bermudians..What are you a detective? do your job quietly and remember most indigent people of this island and their ancestors are responsible for building economies in America and Bermuda and worked hard without reward so dont get started on us needing a break from this MAss Confusion that exists in the island and around the world from people like yourself who don’t know the history of the majority of people on this island who were made Slaves after they were invited/brought in to assist the island .. you jonny come lately need to zip it or get crackin!If any group of people deserve a break it is Black people!!!!No other group has laboured so long with blood sweat and tears without even a thank you from the no good oppressors who only want to party and talk about money, THIS IS OUR LIFe!!!!!
Hello smdh. Firstly, why do you assume that I’m not black, and secondly, if there was a Bermudian qualified to do my job, they’d be doing it.
another idiot statEment
OBA 1 term and done!!!
Yeah. We heard you the first 38 times you posted.
It’s no more true now than it was the 17th time.
Mike Hinds do you have a life…everytime I read bernews and go down the comments it’s always you fight on behalf of the “higher class folk” and never on the side of “common folk” it’s clearly obvious where you stand when it comes to how Bermuda stands. But seriously stop trolling the blog section of Bernews and do something with your life or better if you are really into debating Bermuda policy do it via Facebook or start your own blog somewhere.
Average Bermudian – Do you have a life? Surely if you go to all the blogs and see Mike Hinds name there you are doing the same thing accept you are a coward who hides behind a made up name.
Seriously stop trolling on an annoymous basis and do something better with your life rather han being ashamed of who you are and trying to make yourself feel better by belittling other who are not afraid to post their name.
I love it when people come on here to attack me while hiding behind pen names, saying outright lies, then accuse me of trolling. Especially when they have no idea whatsoever about the subject.
Hey, “average bermudian”… “Trolling” is when you come on, make some ridiculous, ignorant and false personal attack while being too cowardly to sign your real name, then run away. That’s what being a troll is.
Asking people to back up their claims and pointing out hypocrisy – which, sadly, is what I do mostly around here… all in the futile hope of a real, honest conversation – is not trolling.
As for my life? Yes. I have a great life. Check me out sometime and see what I’m up to.
Oh, and it’s easier to take you seriously when you… you know… show that you can actually read the stuff you’re pretending to know something about.
Look at the name on my post. Now look at the name you called me.
It’s not hard to get the name right.
Oh super, I can’t wait to go back to the glory years. The PLP were so good.
The PLP is going to object & find it appalling that the sun rises in the east & sets in the west next. What is worse, they will try to blame the OBA.
Can’t see how folk don’t see the method to OBA’s madness
Is there anything the PLP has not objected to?
Goes both ways…
Excuse me, but was it not the infamous Progressive Labour Party that put Bermuda and its citizens in a several Billion dollar debt? To talk about making someone a third world / second class Island is absolutely insane!It sounds like something Derrick would suggest
I may agree with some idea’s that the OBA has made since being voted in but this
is one I don”t agree with.
This scheme could be selling our souls to the Devil!
Going into debt as much as we are did that.
LOL
Bermuda is turning into another South Africa where the locals will be second class citizens for sure. This Govt needs to realize It can’t always be about the money what about the people. OBA is for profits over people and they don’t understand that countries don’t have a bottom line cause when people are in the equation it will always be a deficit. So saddened to see where all of this is going.
Thank you Mr. Weeks. Keep up the good work. We need an opposition party like the PLP to keep the OBA Government on the right track for the next 20 years.
Typical knee-jerk, negative, scare mongering, close-minded PLP thinking on a possible way to grow our economy. They created more unemployed 3rd & 4th class Bermudians in their xenophobic, self-centred 14 year reign of terror than any Government in Bermuda’s history. Why would anyone with even half a brain even listen to anything they have to say?
O.K OBA, Bermudians know they Owe a few billions $$$ in debt, But is it worthy selling the soul of the country for the sake of paying our debt?
The unborn will never forgive us, for this, maybe 20 yrs we would prefer to be still be paying the debt rather than Kim Jong, and Kavolzosky owing half the rock!, SAVE THE LAND FOR THE UNBORN! seriously
I wonder if and how many the PTP sold
I love how politicians throw around these phrases of initiatives to stimulate the economy. Yeah, we’ve been supporting initiatives for decades and all I can see is the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor. Good old Trickle Down Economics at work.
Perhaps they should read some of the recent comments made by the Pope. His perspective is enlightening.
Maybe we should do some research to see who has truly benefited from these “stimulating” policies. I highly doubt it will be the less fortunate, hence the phrase “Rich get richer, Poor get poorer”
Plp /BIU go away!!!!!!
Question for Woban and Bean:
If Bermuda *could* offer passports for cash…why can’t the Uighurs be issued passports?
Because they are stateless.
Isn’t that by choice? They are Chinese, no?
Regardless, I don’t think Bermuda *can* issue passports for cash without clearance from GB.
one word…..FARCICAL
i have noted a trend. The opposition will object to anything and virtually everything the ruling party says. We have seen the results of partisan politrics demonstrated in the US recently. It just does so much for the common man. Me thinks Fidel has it right.
The other trend is to falsely claim that they are the most co-operative , helpful and agreeable opposition ever so that their total obstructionism which delays and takes away from the real work that must be done makes them look like saints and ‘the government in waiting’ in the eyes of their supporters .
The PLP believe that ‘Real’ Bermudians should take all they can and benefit from foreigners investing in their shores but they don’t believe that these people should be given anything back in return. The majority of these people are living here already and spending money in our economy.
By PLP logic we should be rescinding the Bermudian Citizenship of the Green family should we not?
I think it’s a great idea either sell status or…
Either way it will help US the people and our children.
What’s sad is PLP were great at spending but they don’t like ideas of creating money to help pay the massive debt created by them, it’s a joke. Remember the government was practically bankrupt just a year ago. Cheers Brown the only PLP MP to keep his word.
Have any specifics been given on how this ‘citizenship’ would work? No. The broad concept has been put out. Nothing more.
It could be full voting citizenship. It could be nothing more than permanent residence but no voting rights. There are a host of variations to look at.
Do we get a ‘lets look at it’ from the PLP? Nope, we get flat out scaremongering aimed at the easily fooled who either cannot or do no not want to think for themselves. The bottom line is, the PLP are worried about diluting their already thin voting base.
Many sat on the wall in Dec 2012. It does not take much to see that the grass is greener on the OBA side. The PLP is deathly affraid of those wall sitters jumping off that wall & turning the next election into a landslide, as it should have been in 2012 given the epic failure that was 14 years of PLP government.
The most common model of commercial immigration is to grant some form of permanent residency in exchange for a certain level of foreign direct investment coming in and being direct towards starting up a business or supporting local enterprises with a minimum level of jobs for locals.
Very few such programmes are ‘cash for passports’ schemes. Very rarely is citizenship on offer, and even with permanent residency, there are conditions that apply, chief amongst them, demonstrable benefit to the local population by way of jobs and training.
Having said that, any such approach would have to be paired with strong anti-fraud measures to ensure that the provisions aren’t used to circumvent normal immigration channels.
Think about it. Whatever the price may be set as, let’s say it’s $250,000. Any Bermudian who even has that kind of money lying around is already part of the highest economic bracket. The only competitor that a foreigner who has the ability to pay that much money is that Bermudian I just mentioned. And that Bermudian, is probably a very wealthy and prominent Bermudian too and an established person in the community.
How can this affect a Bermudian with a much lower wage? They won’t be in the same economic bracket or even the same social circles! Come on, PLP give this up and do some math. This is political theatre on the part of the PLP….again. It’s just plain old emotional politics geared to prove the OBA doesn’t care about Bermudians.
To UpsetwithVerdict.
You say that “countries don’t have a bottom line”. Well they do. Over the past 10 years, Bermuda has borrowed $2 billion it cannot pay back.
It has an additional $3 billion in pension liabilities. This means that each of us Bermudian workers (tax payers) owes about $200,000 to our external lenders and our pensioners. This is our bottom line.
If we do not repay our debt, Government will need to cut services (i.e. eliminate a large amount of Bermudian civil servants) because at the end of the day, a country is like a business in that its revenues need to match its expenses.
We need to pay this money back (or go bankrupt) like Greece. Furthermore, we need foreign capital and “foreigners” investing and living in Bermuda.
This is not just how the Bermuda economy works, but how all economies work. It is also why countries such as the US and Canada offer incentives for the appropriate foreign investors who bring precious foreign capital into a country. Incentives include right to residency and in some cases passports. The idea of foreign investment is to create jobs for the “locals” and to improve an economy.
This is not an OBA or PLP issue nor should it be seen as a white black issue.
Using rhetoric such as “creating second class citizens” is emotive and political grand standing. When we let our economy become racked with debt and high levels of unemployment – that is when we all become second class citizens. If we don’t change our ways, eventually we will become third class citizens (i.e. a third world country).
The PLP and the OBA need to educate us voters on why these policies are being proposed. We need to be open minded to any and all policies that will help our situation, whether the ideas are from Government or the opposition.
Mindless…that’s what you are. Get out and stay out. If our country is so mindless your feelings won’t b hurt because you now have to accept that s*** you foreigners call a paycheck. Good riddins..and to the rest of to u making my money…get out my island! !!!
PLP spewing for the sake of spewing.
Do you really think the Bloomberg’s,Perot’s of the world with Bermuda citizenship will take housing and jobs from Bermudians????
They will spend money here,which will equate to jobs.In addition,they will introduce Bda to their circle of friends and before you know it we will have more affluent visitors and more spending and money circulating in the economy.
You cannot do better with such ambassadors,putting Bda on the map.
PLP doing exactly what they must do….opposing ideas that are flawed…yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, the PLP had many flawed ideas,however pointing out the potential problems associated with this concept is not one of them..
Im neither a OBA or PLP supporter but i feel that it could be a good thing if there are certain limits to what comes along with buying a passport or different levels that an individual can buy. The simple truth is that Bermuda population is too small to support the type of economy that we have gotten use to and our current population is getting smaller and older. In order for any economy to grow you need copious amounts of money and/or a large enough base of people where the money is spread over and put into the economy. We have neither so it makes sense to try and expand it by offering it to people who are worthy of it but first it should be offered to PRC’s and others that have lived here or have a claim for free. People need to stop being for or against things just because the opposing party is for or against. It could be a better thing than most think or are open enough to try an grasp.
Or you need to scale back the need and greed culture and live with less….OBA are overreaching and may pay dearly….elections are not won by blind loyalist….