Comments on: Govt. Considering Outsourcing & Privatization

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 07:17:02 +0000

Re: Tourism
You have to start somewhere to save; It costs much less to fly from New York to Hawaii for a 1 week stay than go to Bermuda for a 1 week stay in a comparable Hotel ! Think about it!!!

By: Video: BIU President Responds To 2014 Budget | Bernews.com

Video: BIU President Responds To 2014 Budget | Bernews.com — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:26:06 +0000

[...] Furbert mentioned the list of Government departments the Minister said they are considering for “mutualization, outsourcing, or privatization” which include Airport Operations/Causeway, Emissions and Vehicle Testing, Aircraft Registry, Ship [...]

By: JustAskin2

JustAskin2 — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:55:51 +0000

Stereotyping again are we?

By: JustAskin2

JustAskin2 — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:54:55 +0000

But then Richards won’t be able to continue to hold his ministerial office will he? I believe that was the major concern by some re the last Premier.

By: Coffee

Coffee — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 15:57:48 +0000

I think Independent MP Terry Lister has basically Summed up my interpretation of this non budget .

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:25:36 +0000

A quote that was shared with me and I thought you might like it – “War is when your government tells you who the enemy is. Revolution is when you figure it out for yourself.”

Bermudians Please, Please stand up for Yourselves

We rolled over with the UBP and the PLP and look where we have ended up. “Get Up, Stand Up…”

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:07:31 +0000

Be careful what you wish for :-

You are the proud owner of the N.T.S National Transport System where you have invested millions.

All it takes is a 7 day boycott to put you out of business.

Unions are great if they perform their intended services and can break a country and them selves when they walk.

Governments will win when they have more money than the unions

May be the answer could be for an entrepreneur to start up a luxury buss / coach the ones with the soft seats why should our visitors ride around in a pink school bus , why did the Bermuda Railway Company fail ? It was Maintenance costs

By: Terry Lister: Budget Puts Us In Holding Pattern | Bernews.com

Terry Lister: Budget Puts Us In Holding Pattern | Bernews.com — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 13:50:04 +0000

[...] gave a list of Government departments they are considering for “mutualization, outsourcing, or privatization” including Airport Operations/Causeway, Emissions and Vehicle Testing, Aircraft Registry, Ship [...]

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 13:13:49 +0000

Complaining is an Art Form, it starts from the cradle.

The complainer always expects some one else to do their bidding.

They are not happy with the house of straw they built for them selves.

Complaining will not get you a free lunch.

They complain because they think that Paradise is not good enough.

Complaining, wining, moaning, dose not solves problems.

Millionaires like you complain.

Here I am complaining about complaining it gets a little tiring after a while .

You can only be free when you wake up one day to the realization that the world in not perfect.

Be part of the solution.

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 23:24:48 +0000

I am not as good as I think I am, but! I am better than I was the day before yesterday.

Ladies: Gentlemen and young people, things will get better if we all pull together,and that is a promise, I will not tea break.

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 22:59:26 +0000

It is the same thing as seeing a ” DRY PAINT ” Sign on the hand rails in the mall.

By: Alvin Williams

Alvin Williams — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 22:48:12 +0000

The plan to create a Bermuda without the Bermudian is on course with this government.
They have not learn a thing about Bermuda’s history; you think that we are going to take this laying down; you better think again. Next time even grandma will hit the streets and than you will be running to Britain to once again convene a board of enquiry.

By: Ignorance is not bliss

Ignorance is not bliss — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 21:37:20 +0000

……….. And you didn’t get my joke !

By: Betty Dump

Betty Dump — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 21:25:05 +0000

Personally I don’t feel that Mr. Cannonier is the best choice for premier… However, I disagree with your position that the premier should hold a ministry to save a few bucks… Brown did it… Fail. Cox did it… Fail… The premier should be just that… The premier

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 20:34:48 +0000

I do not feel they need to be privatized. We can step into the 21st century and reduce operating costs.
Bermuda would be the perfect place for electric buses. The savings on fuel would be great alone. The upfront costs may be greater with the purchase and charging stations but will be offset in time.
With our current system of Dockyard, Hamilton, PTB HQ and St George’s we can manage quite well. Some electric buses have a range of 30 miles and need 5 minutes to recharge. Bermuda would be ideal for such a system, with it’s size and speed limit and bus schedule.
Electric vehicles require less maintenance than fuel vehicles. The carbon and noise pollution will be reduced as well. I personally would just like to be behind a bus and not feel like I am going to die.
As science advances, there will be a while before I can see electric ferries but I see it in the future.

By: somuchless

somuchless — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 19:55:24 +0000

You’re too dumb to get the joke. Read the sentence and you’ll get they really mean catch up but wrote ketchup as a joke.

Guess you’re a part of the failed school system. Dummy.

By: Ignorance is not Bliss

Ignorance is not Bliss — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:26:08 +0000

What does a condiment have to do with a short work week?

By: Ignorance is not Bliss

Ignorance is not Bliss — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 16:50:31 +0000

One problem with privatization of bus/ferry transport is that fares would have to increase substantially to offset the current subsidies. Unlike Government operations Private companies cannot run at a loss so that the costs of transport (equipment, maintenance, gas, insurance, employees salaries & benefits, license fees etc.) would then be from the pocket of users without a substantial portion from Tax Payers by way of subsidy.

By: Ignorance is not Bliss

Ignorance is not Bliss — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 16:28:59 +0000

@ Triangle Drifter — The plural of ‘company’ is ‘companies’.

Call me pedantic but sloppy use of the English language is annoying.

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:54:37 +0000

GOVERNMENT , TRY A SHORT 4 DAY WORKING WEEK HERE FIRST, PEOPLE WILL WORK TO KETCHUP! It is better than going home with NOTHING.

It is some what amusing to think that may be we all who contribute here could be blowing in the wind.

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:49:39 +0000

GOVERNMENT , TRY A SHORT 4 DAY WORKING WEEK HERE FIRST, PEOPLE WILL WORK HARDER TO KETCHUP! It is better than going home with NOTHING.

It is some what amusing to think that may be we all who contribute here could be blowing in the wind.

By: Lone Wolf

Lone Wolf — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 11:44:57 +0000

They should definitely privatize the bus and ferry services. They should be the first to go. And I agree with not adding those two services on the list just yet because the very second any of those employees read anything even remotely related to their jobs they will strike (again). So they should keep that idea quiet until it is ready to go. Then just FIRE them all with the same amount of notice they give the public before they down tools.

Not so sure I agree with privatizing the garbage collection / tynes bay employees. Unless there is an agreement to keep the staff already employed there. In my personal observations, those are the ONLY government employees who actually work hard and do a good job under rather unpleasant conditions. And the majority of them (in my experience) are friendly, pleasant people despite their working conditions.

By: Wake up Bermuda

Wake up Bermuda — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 06:43:21 +0000

Actually, unionization is closer to a socialist ideology than entrepreneurialism. Unionization is a collectivist based institution, where individualism, blazing your own trail and entrepreneurship are usually the antithesis.

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 04:08:59 +0000

“Bermuda, The Twenty First Century Plantation”
I will admit, it was fun while it lasted

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 02:57:26 +0000

$5,000,000, that is…

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 02:56:08 +0000

%5,000,000 travel budget, divided by 20 ministers, equals $250,00 each.
could you imagine how much traveling you could do in a year, with that much money? even a family of four could spend a good chunk of the year traveling on a budget of that size. is this not excessive?
this is not a fortune 500 company, where all the execs get free travel stipends and paid vacations, housing, ‘gifts’ and the like. this is one broke a%$ government sinking deeper into debt. stop parading around like you are the ceo’s of a successful multi billion dollar industry. reduce ministerial salaries by at least 50%(which would still be more $ than most people make), you can all afford that. also reduce all top civil servants pay significantly, and smaller reductions for the lower paid positions.keeping in mind cost of living. continued non performance on all levels should result in job loss. after all you are in charge of a failing buisiness, and find yourselves scrambling to get a grip.
cut the spending throughout, rumspringa is over.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 01:32:04 +0000

maybe we should outsource the parliamentary seats.
once every thing is privatized, what is left to do?
oh yeah, with a 48% rise in the travel budget, there will be a lot of globetrotting to cover. for ‘jobs for bermudians’ of course. that should keep the chaps busy.
how do you expect to privatize anything? are you going to provide the funds for the start up, like with the bta? or do you expect people to buy into the existing infrastructure?
i put it to you, that the cuts in hours and wages, from the top down should be the first of the sage recommendations to be instituted. then consideration should be given to privatization, and possible job losses being the last option.
i definitely do not think one of the recommendations was to increase the travel expenditure.
and this whole immigration must be viewed as economics crap. it would seem as if they have already lined 2000 foreign workers to come and take over these positions. with friends and family, with the infrastructure already in place to run tings.
put the travel budget towards strengthening what we have here. and keep your broke, and in debt a$$%$ here! or at least keep travel to a bare minimum.

By: And so?

And so? — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 01:25:42 +0000

I am convinced that the vast majority of people havent a clue about how the economy works never mind getting their heads around the concept of how we might get ourselves out from our present situation. All of this financial stress is building up and the unrest will only contiinue. I am coming to the conclusion that there is an organised effort to disrupt any attempt to make progress. Bob spoke about the dire effect of union unrest on attracting investment to create job creating projects. It is sabotage. I hope I am proved wrong.

By: And so?

And so? — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 01:11:50 +0000

I agree! Bob for Premier!

By: HeyBye

HeyBye — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:42:55 +0000

The will have to learn to wean themselves off of mama government and start to stand on their own two legs like the majority of non civil service working people,in society.
If one is not afraid to work and be responsible, there will be nothing to worry about.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:37:26 +0000

To many that plan sounds just fine. The consept that they actually really do owe all of that money & it really does cost each of them $28 per week just servicing the interest on the debt is beyond comprehension.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:29:47 +0000

Definitly a deal killer. Not under the current mentality of the BIU.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:27:23 +0000

Excellent idea. Since so many of them seem to know so much about running a business how can this possibly fail?

By: Really

Really — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:04:57 +0000

Bring back the PLP give everyone a pay rise and or a job and rack up billions of new debt we all will be happy then ahhhh

By: Take it Easy!

Take it Easy! — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:33:07 +0000

Thank u OBA for creating jobs for Bermudians! The PLP biggest fear! Now the lazy GOV workers have 2 work for there money! As a ‘real boss’ would say “come work late again i dear u!” They aint use to that!

By: Right Stuff

Right Stuff — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:24:53 +0000

Hey here is an Idea!!!! Everybody wins!!! The B.I.U. can start their own companies and bid for some of the contracts. They can hire the same workers and show us all how to make lots of money even while their staff get 100 sick days a years, refuse to work on days when it rains in the morning, come in late on all days ending in “y”, down tools whenever someone else strikes and leave the site.

By: Right Stuff

Right Stuff — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:17:14 +0000

There are small devices that garages can purchase themselves too get the same result.

By: Right Stuff

Right Stuff — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:14:57 +0000

The little man can make lots of money. The problem with many government departments is the staff!

Have you noticed how long it is taking for that wall to be built near Paget stop lights? The progress is disgusting. Why so long, because he workers don’t care and there is no accountability. A private firm could have done that wall in a month or two. Same with the sidewalk on Northshore.

In any company the staff will make or break you. Unfortunately, too many of the workers in most departments have this sense of entitlement, and bad attitudes. I’m tired feeling like I should apologize for bothering a civil servant from doing nothing.

Don’t expect me to stand up and feel sorry for them after bad service and bad attitudes everywhere.

By: Keepin' it Real...4Real!

Keepin' it Real...4Real! — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:58:48 +0000

Until you F****** realize that you were born to be on TEAM BERMUDA INTERNATIONAL…seems as though your content to be playing in the minor league lil’OBA’s n lil’PLP’s…tsk tsk tsk…BERMUDA will never win.

By: One up one down

One up one down — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:54:27 +0000

What does it mean when a person who says they are intelligent can not understand someone who they say is dumb?

By: Peso

Peso — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:20:52 +0000

Hey Betty Trump your comments on this. I am sure you of all people will be able to educate us on this.TRUTH again??

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:35:04 +0000

“…whose friends and family are benefiting by the sale of the entities being sold…”?

By: Impressive

Impressive — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:25:55 +0000

I will not sit here and say that there aren’t employees in the civil service that are unproductive, because contrary to what you believe we don’t live in a perfect world, but for you to make a broad statement against so many people is really not fair and smacks of stereotyping at the highest level.

By: Impressive

Impressive — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:22:44 +0000

You sound like a socialist, be done with all unions, lets leave the interest of all workers in the hands of the people that they work for.. We all know that all business owners have the highest integrity and will never do any thing that isnt the best interest of their employees..

By: Impressive

Impressive — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:19:12 +0000

How about paying an adviser to help an incompetent Premier do his job on a daily basis? How much is that causing us, and why can’t the Premier take on a Ministry to help save us a few bucks?? Nevermind, don’t answer the second question, I think anyone can tell you why.

By: Impressive

Impressive — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:15:56 +0000

I don’t thinks its a matter of PLP supporters being against privatization, but more a less an issue of many PLP supporters being uncomfortable with who are the persons who are going to receive these new contracts, Based on the actions of the past week and the anti-union sentiment amongst many OBA supporters, I think many are concerned about their futures as far as who they will be working for and are anticipating that they will not have a leg to stand on in this soon to come environment. All in my opinion ofcourse

By: Impressive

Impressive — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:10:14 +0000

Can you take a break on the stereotyping please, at least long enough for you to post a comment that is somewhat objective.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:56:46 +0000

So true. The productive people have nothing to fear. Those companys picking up the contracts will be looking for them.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:54:10 +0000

I don’t know which one is worse, Sherri J or trying to listen to The
house. The amount of ignorance is limitless.

By: HeyBye

HeyBye — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:41:31 +0000

Those that are afraid of out sourcing are the unproductive,those that spend their days under the radar,pretending to work or suck their teeth when asked to work and still collecting a pay cheque and benefits.

Those that scare monger that it will take away Bda jobs is a crock and they know it. Those who are currently employed in those jobs,who have a work ethic and the experience will be picked up immediately to fill those jobs. The lay abouts are the ones to be afraid.