Opinion Column: Chris Famous On SAGE, PGR
[Opinion column written by Chris Famous] “We will consult with the country…. We will explain.” Mr. Crockwell HoA December 13th, 2013
On February 4th, the Chamber of Commerce organized a SAGE Breakfast lunch for its membership. The panel discussion was facilitated by Chamber economist Peter Everson and included Finance Minister Bob Richards and SAGE Commission chairman Brian Duperreault.
The purpose of the event was so that Chamber of Commerce could discuss the commercial implications of the report as it relates to Chamber of Commerce’s members.
Given that the OBA had been promising public collaboration on the SAGE report since its release on October 31st, 2013, it is quite revealing that the first group that OBA engages in dialogue with is the business community. Seemingly to give them first dibs on privatization opportunities?
In sharp contrast, the PLP held three SAGE public town hall meetings in late November 2013, to provide information as well as to seek input from Bermudians regarding debt reduction.
More Broken Promises
“We want to be able to be methodical, to be able to have proper and effective public consultation” Ms. Gordon-Pamplin, HoA December 13th, 2013.
Both Mr. Richards and Brian Duperreault indicated that more election promises will be broken. Mr. Richards informed the group that decisions have already been made. Once again the OBA deliberately refuses to engage in public collaboration.
For example, he stated that cuts will be far “more aggressive” than SAGE. The public can expect to see these deep cuts reflective in the upcoming Budget.
In fact, some cuts have already been instituted.
Despite SAGE’s recommendation to have the Ministry of Education be a stand-alone Ministry with a dedicated Minister and its own Permanent Secretary, OBA made the contradicting decision to merge Education with Economic Development. Again, decisions made with no public consultation.
Difficult for Whom?
“….there are difficult decisions that need to be made here, and we do not want to do those without consultation, consultations with the public…” Dr. Grant Gibbons, Minister of both Education and Economic Development, HoA December 13th, 2013
During this event, it was revealed that the OBA had already concluded that the 60/40 rule guaranteeing that companies are majority Bermudian-owned will be relaxed.
This fits in with another decision that OBA has made without consulting the public’s opinion.
The decision to privatize and/or mutualize some government functions. The disbanding of the 60/40 rule was justified as a way for seeking capital and giving government services over to non-Bermudian interests.
It is fairly obvious why the OBA is not exploring the option of securing financing so that any opportunities resulting in privatization will be afforded to Bermudians.
Knives Sharpened
“the Government has promised to engage in a process of consultation” Premier Cannonier
The day before the SAGE Breakfast meeting was held, Premier Cannonier announced to the public that he had begun a Public Government Reform [PGR] initiative to “modernise and transform the public service”.
The purpose of both the SAGE Report and the PGR are strikingly similar. Was this new PGR initiative started so that action can be taken without public consultation?
Considering all these factors, the electorate now sees there is no evidence of public collaboration from the OBA. This meeting was essentially about “how to carve up Bermudian Government Workers”
The OBA is no friend of Bermudian Government Workers.
- Chris Famous
“Considering all these factors, the electorate now sees there is no evidence of public collaboration from the OBA. This meeting was essentially about “how to carve up Bermudian Government Workers”
I hope that the government will attempt to be Collaborative, and work with the Key Stakeholders. It is also hoped that government is working hard to create jobs in the private sector for folks as promised pre-election. The reality is taking away jobs, but not providing any, can be a dead-end of problems. It is likely to cost the government more in the long run, as folks seek government for financial support and assistance.
This must a measured approached with the consideration of children, whom need to taken care of by many families, or we will continue to see an increase in social issues in Bermuda.
“This must a measured approached with the consideration of children, whom need to taken care of by many families, or we will continue to see an increase in social issues in Bermuda.”
If you dont have a job and have 4 children already.. STOP HAVING THEM.
cheez man..
Genocide mentality.
It is stupid to have children when you can’t support them. Yes accidents can happen once or twice but 3,4,5 times in a Western society is really just ignorant.
in these modern times there is no need for an accident
if you can’t support your children don’t have them people stop others pay for your stupid mistakes
Ridiculous comment.
All of the above comments ridiculous.
Oh yeah thats right, you think the bogey man is out to get everyone. Its called responsible parenting and the lack of it what is causing most of our social ills.
You are a disgusting racist.
Say what you want statistics show your race will be a minority.
And that makes you feel superior?
i feel sorry fa ya children….
What does that have to do with anything?
I’ve grown up with my race being a minority. It’s not something that bothers me. I know you’re lashing out – again – because it makes you uncomfortable to be called on your racism, but you could at least TRY to make some sense.
The difference with me and you and your followers is I come out and say it raw unlike you and your followers who talk subliminal.
Couple of things…
1. I don’t have followers. I speak for myself. Your attempt to make it seem that there is some group working together is pathetic and completely wrong.
Try honesty.
2. “Saying it raw” means nothing if what you’re saying is just disgusting, racist filth.
You’re so proud of “saying it raw”. You SHOULD be saying it true. You don’t. Ever.
Try honesty.
Also, why can’t you ever respond to what people say? None of these responses make even the slightest lock of sense.
lick of sense
Then say it raw under your real name, you won’t, you get enough dislikes as it is. It’s easy to post you feelings of being one of lowest forms of human beings under the veil of secrecy. For the record, I’ve posted under my birth name to a certain individual who couldn’t respond…because I was raw. Your a b****, straight up. Followers? Does this look like twitter or Instagram to you? You post your BS because your an outright racist that would never post under their birth name, pu**.
Ay yo…your a b****. See my other response for details.
Ok Mazumbo, all you do is hide behind your pen name with horrible pro-black racism -really what is the difference ? Skin color is skin colour, yet you won’t let it go. I have never responded to your comments, although I watch your anger. I’m black and from Canada, my wife is white and from Bermuda, my 2 children were born here and are black/white, whatever you deem appropriate for your games.
This is 2014 my kids just have friends, it doesn’t matter what color they are, they just get on. Seriously Mazumbo you need to lose the anger and move on too, its a better place.
Ya kids just have friends and then they grow up and they experience the real world and having a white wife does not negate the fact that we still have a serious problem with racism and we bury our heads in the sand and hope it goes away
No one is denying we have a serious problem with racism… Well, except you and your ilk.
Racism is a scourge on this country, no matter what form it comes in, and IS a serious problem, as is White Privilege and White Supremacy (related, but different).
YOU, however, are part of the problem, as you a. Never offer solutions and b. Are a racist, spreading hate whenever you can.
(And before the fingers go up in an “AHA! Gotcha!” Moment, please not I said “part of the problem”. That is different from “you are the problem”…)
oh pleez…..yur killing me…consultation can only go so far. Let the government get on with managing the island back to prosperity instead of being sidetracked with superficial issues that plagued the previous administration.
“The OBA is no friend of Bermudian government workers.”
Who are/were the PLP friends of? Who are/were they not friends of?
From personal experience as an expat who has just lost their job to a Bermudian, I know this to be untrue.
Chris Famous is the person who tells everyone to go back to their desks when a plane strikes the building. LOL
“Considering all these factors, the electorate now sees there is no evidence of public collaboration from the OBA. This meeting was essentially about “how to carve up Bermudian Government Workers”
I hope that government are serious about working in Collaborative fashion with all the key stakeholders. This is very important moving forward. As this involves the family as a whole been impacted by this matter. Taking away jobs, without ensuring that other jobs are created within Bermuda by the government can be a real problem. There has to jobs created across all levels, and not just at the semi-skilled levels.
Without jobs this becomes a heavy burden on the government. Folks will seek out government assistance to help them. This because a bigger expense in the government pockets. It might be more effective to build opportunities for jobs first before taking away jobs. Everyone suffers within the family structure.
(OBA made the contradicting decision to merge Education with Economic Development. Again, decisions made with no public consultation.)
I would like the author to please indicate when in history there has been a cabinet shuffle, new government cabinet, new premier in the sitting government announcing a new cabinet where the people have been consulted prior. Even easier, when the actual civil service has been informed prior to the announcement after the election etc….
I will save you the research, never. I was a civil servant for 10 plus years and I heard about the new ministries, including where my own department was at the same time as every person on the island.
unless you now want to be consulted when the government decides to change the paint colour in the bathrooms, or maybe have a say in if the government should buy a new lawn mower……seems like collaboration is the new buzz word….
To be honest your quote I referenced is prof positive that the government is not implementing what SAGE recommends. Thank you for clearing it up for us, there is a lot of scaremongering out there that the Government is implementing every single sage recommendation. Apparently this is not the case, maybe, just maybe they commissioned the SAGE report to get feed back from experts in the field. I suppose they could have just done the old PLP (fyi, I separate the old and current) way and had the arrogant ministers decide they were the experts on everything and anything (see where that got the old guard PLP).
The Government buys new trucks so they don’t have to hire a local trucker.
Are you comparing a decision as vital as leaving the Ministry of Education WITHOUT its own minister n PS with the colour of paint for a bathroom?? Are you serious?
Getting Education right is vital for the future of this country and the fact that it was made without consultation contradicts EVERYTHING that OBA promised. Collaboration was a buzz created by the OBA!
Pre-election, OBA made huge promises about education reform and yet post-election this is what we get? A MoE without its own Minister n PS and in effect being run by the highly controversial American Dr Heatley?
Not only has the OBA defied recommendations made by SAGE with regards to Education, its actions also ignores recommendations in the Hopkins Report – the very same report that the OBA promised to implement as a part of their platform promise
Focus on paint swatches and totally ignore the KEY issues
I can’t wait for Budget Time. Might need to be off island for that
Who is Chris Famous?
He’s the guy that said that no member or representative of the PLP has ever made a racially hostile statement. Ever.
That’s the guy. Right there.
Ahhh Chris Famous. Who is JD would be a better question…
Says the guy hiding behind a fake name… That’s rich.
* * Considering all these factors, the electorate now sees there is no evidence of public collaboration from the OBA. This meeting was essentially about “how to carve up Bermudian Government Workers”
The OBA is no friend of Bermudian Government Workers. * *
That’s right Chris . Keep ‘em mad . Keep ‘em angry .
What is it you like to say ? ‘Tick tock , tick tock’
“Considering all these factors, I’m going to do my best to spin it and twist it so that the electorate thinks…”
There. Fixed it for him.
You’re all missing the point: Was Joanne Macphee at the event?
This guy is a PLP puppet.We know the state the PLP left Bermuda in.Most people do not want to go back to those 14 yrs of ruination and self grandiosment!
Mazumbo, more verbal trash. Who is this PLP / BIU puppet?
I have always said that the Sage commission is nothing more than a Trojan horse for the anti-Bermudian policies of the OBA government.
They are hoping to hide behind this mechanism as they set about dismantling the only area of stable Bermudian employment; the government workers which in term will plunge thousands of Bermudian families into economic peril. they have already begun this process by lowing the standard of living of Bermudian government workers. No matter what say about their role in solving the recent labour strife; they have in fact create the environment where the private sector has been comfortable in laying off hundreds of Bermudian workers while maintaining high levels of migrant workers. In fact without the high government employment levels under the former PLP government; Bermudian workers and their families would have suffered even more under this continuing recession.
There has been one great myth that has been pushed by the OBA government and that is that the foreign worker is the back bone of Bermuda’s economy when in fact it is the Bermudian that is the economic back bone of Bermuda’s economy. The money that we earn is spent right here in Bermuda; it does not go through the doors of the money shops. Yes there are now three one at each end of the island and one in the centre.
OBA political supporters can hardly wait for the chop to be carried out by their government on Bermudian government workers. There is no talk about an increased social assistance program; rather they state that Bermudians must have less children; a long time call by those elements that has been heard throughout Bermuda’s history; while at the same time calling for greater immigration of foreigners into the country. The latest ploy in this regard is the advent of the OBA government’s so-called commercial immigration. The influx of more immigration into Bermuda far from creating more jobs for Bermudians; will in fact reinforce the creation of two economies one for the foreign population and one the lowest for Bermudians. We already have a separate social and cultural divide between Bermudian and foreigner; but less studied is the economic divide and it’s impact in creating two economies. After all this is reflected in high Bermudian unemployment while it seems it is less of a crisis for Bermuda’s migrant workers.
You’re right about one thing – you do always say it.
OBA or ABO – ‘Anti Bermudian Organisation’
OBA will do a lot in their short term in office. Middle income and lower income Bermudians will take a lot of hits over the next four years. OBA is continuing their “UBP Agenda”. “If a ‘rat’ jumps off a sinking ship and gets on another….it is still a ‘rat’. Let’s not forget the legacy of UBP and why they had to change their name. They themselves know they were and are never going to be for ‘All Bermudians’. And for the young Bermudians that will feel it the most, WAKE UP.
It will take a lot to undo their damage. Real hard times are ahead of us but we can do this. BTA do not get to comfortable, as you will be the first to go, after the next election
Well said Mr. Williams, you have infact written a very clear summary of what and where we are today. Thanks for such an good comment.
We? I thought you weren’t Bermjdian…
Alvin. Simple fact. Bermuda can not afford to keep the civil service at the size it is. There is not enough revenue coming in. This is a simple fact. The more that Bermuda is forced to borrow the worse the inevitable cuts will need to be. We are now borrowing approx 1/3 of the money it takes to run government. That simply cannot continue.
There is little chance to grow the economy enough, fast enough to reach break even never mind start paying down the debt. We would need to grow at 33% annually! That is simply not possible. The other option would be to raise all taxes an average of 33%. What would that do to all the workers in the public and private sector, not to mention how much business would it drive out of Bermuda?
So please tell me what the all seeing, all knowing, all powerful BIU offers as a solution instead of job cuts? They sure don’t seem to be helping with the growth of tourism!
Well, if some of these OBA supporters had their way, thousands of governments workers will be out of a job, privatising will put riches in the pockets of the eagerly panting and confident OBA businessman who expects to get rich off the lucrative contracts, and who will of course hire non-unionised workers which they will proceed to overwork, lay-off and generally abuse as they see fit.
The OBA supporter base seem to be made up of a number of people that display an undercurrent of resentment with Bermudians who are living comfortably (nothwithstanding the fact that some of these hard working Bermudians had to work two and sometime three jobs to do so). So for these so-called privileged Bermudians the free gravy train of government jobs will be over and they will be reduced to their proper state of lower income or even abject poverty.
However, the influx of foreign workers OBA is sure to open up many jobs for Bermudians. After all they will need maids, nannies, and other servants. Haven’t we seen the ads already? And for the now jobless government worker there is the possibility of training in a new career. Minister Fahy has made available training in such lucrative positions as maids, butchers, plumbers, housekeepers, etc.
Of course there will still be career level opportunities for the jobless government worker who is blessed with the appropriate qualifications. However, amid calls for fair competition between Bermudians and foreign workers is the confident expectation that to the smooth talking savvy of the foreign worker Bermudian experience, skill and qualifications will not hold a candle. And of course to the biased hirer (or the ones holding the job for their BFF’s and cronies) this will be an open invitation for cronyism and corruption.
If the hidden agendas of some are what we believe it to be, in the end we may indeed have just two societies — the well-to-do foreign workers (with a few token Bermudians sprinkled in for appearance) and their servants.
The Government does not create wealth. It takes it from the private sector to fund their spending. If your theory was correct, then all we would have to do is have the Government hire more people after all if employing 25% of the work force is good certainly 50% would be better would it not?
Now since Mr. Famous has an opinion column maybe he can explain why he and the rest of those chip bags why they told the Caribbean region a bunch of lies and going behind the backs of Bermudians!?
Chris Famous is a puppet master, at the forum last week even the PLP MP’s were scurrying to him trying to find an angle on Minister Crockwell and A-G Pettingil and even with his help they couldn’t! He seems to have some intelligence but is also incapable of anything positive or even objective when it comes to the Government! That lack of critical thinking is why PLP bling followers get called Kool Aid Drinkers…worst of it is they are proud of it and thats whats scary !
There is one major flaw in this opinion piece. There have been ongoing meetings now with government, the CS, business and the unions as a group. Four articles down talks about a meeting with the BTUC on January 29th that talks about SAGE and PGR. If you’re going to accuse someone of lying, you should at least make it a little more difficult to refute.
Sometimes CF makes some interesting points that are worth discussing, sometimes he tries to discuss an emotional subject for him and it quickly goes off the rails. This one went off the rails.
Seriously, here we are on a sinking ship and CF and the rest of the PLP’ers wanted try discuss re-arranging the pictures and find a “bogeyman hiding in the hold”. It is time to man the pumps, and if you can’t, please just get out the way, you are holding up progress for the sake of a “bit of political correctness”….
De PLP putting everyone out of work!
“Given that the OBA had been promising public collaboration on the SAGE report since its release on October 31st, 2013, it is quite revealing that the first group that OBA engages in dialogue with is the business community. Seemingly to give them first dibs on privatization opportunities?”
Had the author actually been in attendance at the meeting he would have heard the Minister of Finance say that he had the same discussion with the Unions the week BEFORE meeting with the Chamber of Commerce.
I suppose though it’s much more convenient to rewrite the narrative to fit ones own agenda.
Sad.
I wonder if Chris Famous had the same passion for public consultation under the previous government. I’d bet you four Uighurs the answer is “No”.
Facts over Fiction
“We will consult with the country…. We will explain.” Mr. Crockwell HoA December 13th, 2013″
“Considering all these factors, the electorate now sees there is no evidence of public collaboration from the OBA. This meeting was essentially about “how to carve up Bermudian Government Workers”
“Given that the OBA had been promising public collaboration on the SAGE report since its release on October 31st, 2013, it is quite revealing that the first group that OBA engages in dialogue with is the business community. Seemingly to give them first dibs on privatization opportunities?”
Lol
When has the OBA had public consultation on SAGE?
Can anyone of these “hide behind a false name” critics kindly tell us when the OBA has had Public Meetings on their plans re SAGE?
You’re kidding right. In paragraph 3 you complain about a lack of collaboration and in paragraph 4 you repeat the same lie about the Chamber meeting being first and in the last paragraph you complain that plans re SAGE have not been released before collaboration with unions, the CS and business are complete.
Plans re SAGE will be complete when the collaboration with all relevant parties is complete. SAGE and the SAGE changes will take time to discuss and finalize. It will take the patience of Job to find a compromise that works for everyone and that everyone can live with.
Making demands that the OBA release plans before they have been discussed and agreed, especially with the unions is a sure way to ensure failure. Though I suspect you know that, and is why you want the OBA to go down that path.
Famous famouss famousss, which are you today!!!!!
We have a government “BUBBLE” (ie)8,000 out of a Bermudian working population of twenty five thousand 25,000 .
We are borrowing $300Million dollars of someone else’s money to pay these 8,000 government workers.
We have a financial “BUBBLE” caused by the Government employment “BUBBLE” creating a HUGE DEBT.
We are paying $120Million dollars in interest (like 410Million per month.
Look at it this way ,we are RENTING BERMUDA so we can live here at $10MIllion per month and the “RENT” keeps going up.