PLP To Host Town Hall Meeting [Cancelled]
[Updated] The Progressive Labour Party will be holding a Town Hall Meeting this coming Thursday [Feb 13] at 7:30pm at the Warwick Workman’s Club in Warwick.
The topic will be commercial immigration, and the panelists will be PLP MP Walter Roban, PLP MP Walton Brown and Eugene Johnston.
In last November’s Throne Speech [PDF], Government announced its intention of exploring the concept of commercial immigration, with the aim of creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy has stressed that the Government has not made any decisions on the matter, and is presently seeking input from the public.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs has been examining the concept of Commercial Immigration as a method of stimulating economic investment,” the Minister said last month at the Town Hall meeting.
“Various models are being used in close to 20 countries, including St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Malta, Mauritus, the US, the UK, Canada, Singapore, Monaco, Portugal, Latvia to name a few.”
Minister Fahy continued, “These countries use commercial Immigration to grow their economy and stimulate inward investment in areas such as jobs creation, financing for capital projects and improving their tourism products.
1 hr 20 minute video of the Government’s Town Hall meeting on commercial immigration last month:
The PLP has come out strongly against the concept, with Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Walter Roban previously saying the PLP “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.”
Update Feb.9th: A PLP spokesperson said, “Please be advised that the PLP Town Hall Meeting on Commercial Immigration originally scheduled for Thursday February 13th has been cancelled. A new date and time will be announced for this event in due course.”
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Sorry, but the PLP have this wrong. Why in the world would the OBA want to put Bermudians second when it comes to getting jobs? They know that they need to get us Bermudians employed in order to win at the next election. That’s why they are introducing this, in order to have new businesses set up and therefore employ more Bermudians. I swear the PLP are determined to try to stop the OBA from doing so, because they know it will make the PLP look bad.
OBA know they will not win the next election
All the people that would vote for them voted in the last election.
Since they have proven to be deceitful and have no problems breaking promises, the ‘unsure’ voters will go back to PLP. They will be the shortest ruling government in Bermuda’s history
Lmao…you again. Who in there rite mind would wanna go back to that mess that got us in the play we’re at now. So what have the PLP proven to be…answer me that please!
And more realistically, the unsure voters will not vote, because they would not wanted to vote the PLP back in again, who would lmao!
PLP have proven to be the exact same
Two sides of the same coin. Guess what, the majority prefer when the PLP is sticking it to them.
Sad when PLP is the lesser of two…..!
I wish the OBA was:-
the change they promised to be
transparent
for ALL Bermudians
the answer to our declining economy etc etc
If an election was called tomorrow, the OBA would lose..trust me.
Trust you… why?
DO you have ANYTHING that would back that up?
Anything at all?
I know at least ten ppl personally who are slapping themselves daily (who believed the hype).. And many more who are also terribly disappointed. And the numerous others who swear they won’t taking voting for grated any longer.
WOW Dude!
Ten?
That’s like TONS of people. Gosh, you’re soooo popular. Must be GREAT to be you.
Now why not go back under your bridge and join your ten friends.
Ten plus one equals Eleben.
So… No, then. Got it. You’re just talking out of your hat.
Boy do you sound naive… perhaps even delusional. Denial comes to mind also..
The only goal of the PLP right now is to become the next Government. Do you honestly think that the opposition are helping in any way?
Do you honestly think that the shadow PLP MP’S are for Bermudians first and foremost? remember they are Lawyers, accountants, Business owners, people living a comfortable life just like the OBA MP’S.
Stop the PLP putting Party first and country ( you & me) second. These people are the UPPER CLASS of Bermuda and they strive for more wealth and recognition.
I hope this meeting will be founded on economic realities, rather than hysteria and faux outrage. I continue to hear the Opposition rally against immigration, and claim that it “disenfranchises Bermudians,” but ignore the economic theory which contradicts these beliefs. If I were on-Island, I would challenge the Opposition to provide economic proof and research that their claims are anything more than myths designed to incite fear (even though I doubt they will, since no proof exists). Perhaps someone can ask for me.
Look at the panelists and you have your answer.
Those of us who have lived through the era of the former United Bermuda Party government with it’s race based immigration policies have no reason to believe or trust that this government is attempting the same thing although calling it by another name.
Just look at it’s so-called commercial immigration poll where everyone can vote and express an opinion on it even tourists when it should only be Bermudians having a say. Can you imagine the reaction of Americans if president Obama had conducted a poll on his health care policy and allowed
non-Americans including visitors to have a say on his policy? Non-Bermudians would have every reason to support this OBA policy which can only reinforce their population base; both economically and culturally not to mention politically. No we Bermudians who have lived through the former UBP government’s race based immigration policies have no reason not to believe that this thinly disguise knock off of the former UBP government’s race based immigration policies is nothing more than what it clearly shows that it is.
And there is absolutely nothing that anyone can say or show you that is going to change your mind. Anything else does not suit yours or the PLPs playbook.
According to Marc Bean this is the big issue that the PLP are really worried about, hence to numerous statements and now their own meeting to help their supporters work themselves into a state over. If it ever happens the people coming here would be very wealthy individuals probably not working and more likely creating jobs for us here. What is wrong with that? We want more jobs and money flowing into Bermuda. Limit the intake to the very wealthy and set the limit on the total number and we will benefit not become second class citizens.
if you bring in wealthy people who don’t work and you work for them then you will be by definition a second class citizen in your own country
on the other hand like in most developed countries if you encourage immigration of working class people and they work for you then they will be by definition second class citizens in your country
as many Bermudians are working class neither strategy is a tenable solution as they will either end up as second class citizens or altogether displaced
The definition of “second-class citizen” isn’t “someone that works for you”.
second-class citizen
n
1. (Sociology) a person whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of other people in the same society
This says nothing about employment.
Then we are already there as the OBA have made the rights and privileges of foreigners first priority for the most part. Take moment to itemize what they have done to benefit non-Bermudians DIRECTLY vs what they have done to DIRECTLY benefit Bermudians.
How ’bout YOU take a moment to do that, as it’s your premise.
And the key word here is “opportunities”.
Agreed Mike:
Your definition is quite sound and quite right. Hence, the concern expressed by some in our community about commercial immigration.
Based on your definition, with the introduction of commercial immigration, would that not place Bermudians in the category of of persons whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of others in the Bermudian society?
Just asking.
Q
How are Bermudian opportunities treated as less important if the main goal of allowing commercial immigration is to create more opportunities??
Opportunities for whom is the actual question. You are assuming that when these business persons are provided status through commercial immigration, even if it is part of the policy, that automatically this will provide opportunity for Bermudians. I don’t believe that to be automatically true.
That’s the difference and that’s the concern.
Q
So… You’re assuming the opposite. Why is he wrong?
I said it was a concern – - never said he was wrong.
Q
Not my definition. That’s from a dictionary.
And I,m not sure how commercial immigration treats anyone’s rights as less – even though, as you know, I was speaking to js’ post where he used an incorrect definition when he was using the phrase “by definition”
Agreed – his premise was faulty.
The concern is that the opportunities provided through commercial immigration to those individuals will far outweigh the knockoff opportunities to those locally – hence their opportunities and rights will be deemed as more important than those granted to locals. That is the fear and the concern – clearly stated.
Q
Not what he said.
That’s what I’m saying – -never said that was what he stated – - I agreed that he started with a faulty premise.
Q
Then why bring it up? It’s a separate argument.
you are rather pedantic about definitions
for your consumption
Wikipedia defines second class citizens as persons who have limited legal rights, civil rights and SOCIOECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES and are often subject to mistreatment or neglect at the hands of their putative superiors
by this definition I would say a significant portion of Bermuda’s working population may already neatly fit within it
no persons more so than the 4 bar porters who were recently made redundant
If working for someone esle makes you a second class citizen then 99.99% of the world’s population are second class citizens.
I’m not to sure about the rest of the world but I can say for some certainty that if you work for a living in Bermuda and that job is your only source of income than you probably have limited socioeconomic opportunities and may be subjected to mistreatment or neglect by your employer
the proof is in the pudding apart from Harold Darrell how many persons with means file complaints for discrimination with the Human Rights Commission
I can hazard a guess that more than 90% are working class Bermudians or to put it in context persons with limited rights and opportunities who have been aggrieved by a superior
if the vast majority of individuals filing Human Rights complaints are working class people its not to far an extension to say that if you are working class in Bermuda than you are probably a second class citizen
you can hazard a guess…
so… you don’t have any actual evidence, you’re just spreading something you made up as fact.
Got it.
Also… by “Working Class”, what do you mean?
Sounds like you’re skirting around saying something…
(Also, again, having a job doesn’t make you a second class citizen. You’re making that up…)
*Cue off topic personal attack.*
But you weren’t talking about that. You said that if we bring in people we work for, we become, by definition, second class citizens and I’d we bring in people to work for us, they will be, by definition, second class citizens.
It’s not “rather pedantic” to point out that you are using the phrase completely wrong. It’s simply pointing out that your premise is wrong, and that incorrectness is exacerbated by your repeated use of the phrase “by definition”.
you have far to much time on your hands
get a real job
So… Not going to respond to what I said? Just going to make a pathetic attack, instead?
Par for the course.
For the record, I have two “real” jobs. Not that this has anything to do with you being completely wrong…
@ Lois Frederick I agree 100% with all you’ve stated in your letter. “We want more money flowing into Bermuda”. Yes, limit the intake to the very wealthy and set the limits on the total number and we will benefit not becoming second class citizens”
Please P.L.P, cease playing that race card every chance you get and in time you’ll see the big picture and how it helps everyone:-( Remember this, the Bermuda dollars aren’t worth shiiitz anywhere in the world but here on the Island. The vast majority of we’lot “don’t have a pot to piss into nor a window to toss it out of” and u’lot want to squeeze our nuts even further…Get real want you!
Typo: won’t you
LOL! This will be a great meeting ! Two PLP Spinners singing to the Green Choir who will sing back and they can all go home feeling like they actually did something worthwhile…Give the PLP this though, they know how to whip up their own support by any means necessary !
unfortunately that meeting will end up being another propaganda tool to wind up their followers. Anyone with half a brain knows that this proposal is designed to attract the very rich. The old days of importing policemen and nurses from Liverpool are over folks….use your brains, not your emotions. This ain’t St Kitts
*This ain’t St Kitts*
Oh,really,look again!!!
Hence therefore, When you have most construction companies which are mostly Portuguese operated and only hire mostly Portuguese workers and Employers who only hire Jamaicans, Indians, Philippines and others because they are willing to work for sub-standard wages and work long drawn out hours with out extra compensation to show any appreciation (which goes against the I.L.O) kind of fits in there somewhere.
That, my friend, is what they call a market.
And sub-standard by which definition? Bermudians who want what they can’t have.
I’d like a mercedes, but I’m not gonna get one.
LMAO! And when did most of the construction workers come in?!? OVER the last 14 years.
You’re 100% right.
And down with the PLP who let them hire the foreigners for next to nothing to do our jobs!
Now “Onion”, that’s calling, “a spade a spade”. The P.L.P. are the Party that permitted all those same people they’re complaining about into the Island over the 14yrs. while they’d been the Govt. Party.(Geeezus, spare us the bull-crap)
What is a sub-standard wage?
Amusing to see that some think that the wealthy are out there banging on the door wanting to get into Bermuda. Dreamers. We have lots of competition for those dollars too.
The Bahamas makes it very easy to become a non voting fulltime citizen yet if you look around there are few areas like the Tuckers Town here. Spend some time on Google Earth. Yes there are some privatly owned islands. There are also some multi unit gated enclaves which operate like cruise ships, but on land. On Grand Bahama Island there is a huge area where canals have been cut with the expectation of development of homes for the wealthy. Virtually nothing has been built.
We think that we are something special. We are in for a rude awakening.
@triangle drifter, you have provided the most sensible statement to date, and it is worth repeating. Non-bias, and non-political. Respect to you sir/madam!
OMG Mike Hind has resurfaced. I guess all the OBA cockups this past week wasn’t something he and a fellow troll, decided not to comment on.
anyone can Google:
So here’s what I found M Hind
second-class citizen
n.
A person considered inferior in status or rights in comparison with some others
That’s different from what he posted how?
And here’s another coward taking inane and idiotic potshots while hiding behind a fake name. Always fun.
Go back and hide like a worm until you see another chance to embarrass yourself, little man.
How does the definition you found a. Differ from the one I posted and b. Do typing but prove my point.
Working for someone doesn’t make you a second class citizen,
I won’t hold my breath waiting for a lucid response.
The PLP will tell everyone lies,like the OBA wants to let them vote.I would not waste my precious time attending.
Wonder what M.Hind considers himself.
Nice try PLP, pot stirring. But too bad you aren’t in Govt. You can spout Town Hall hot air as much as you like, but you lost, and it won’t make a bit of difference.
the now defunct plp drove the foreigner businesses out of Bermuda during their 14 years of take away everything…
Jobs went missing when they left…
now the plp want to con you all again in the hope they can snatch what little remains and then clear off like many already have.
But hey,if you guys want to continue drinking their cool aid..it’s your funeral.
Yet business is still reluctant to invest in Bermuda. Maybe it’s because NOBODY can trust the Oba?
Or their afraid of the next election?
It is actually because even though investors do trust the OBA they know they are likely not going to get a 2nd term, or third term, …. – and not because they aren’t better for the job. The fact of the matter is that the welfare state that Bermie has become is too far down de trail, and there is no way ANY party can stop the derailment. The OBA also knows this, yet continue to try to set the table properly. Alas, it will be all for naught. The last chapter will be foreign capital leaving (read IB) – joining the smart local capital which has already bolted btw – and the island becoming a 21 square mile “Westgate” for all of us lot. Economics 101.
Very well put John, unfortunately it will sail rite over the plp heads as they just can’t or are unable too bring themselves to understand it??? What else can you expect from a group of supporters that are silent or see no wrong in their plp committing nothing less than treason on us for personal gain, with the Caribbean News paper!!! Our train really is derailing and it is sad, thankfully I am prepared for it and will simply watch their demise from afar when they vote that disaster plp back in!!!!! The oblivient obviously like licks????
Because investnent flows to stable, predictable environments. Bermuda used to appear that way. Our reputation is still being rebuilt.
The backstabbers at their treachery again…out to mislead,misinform,brainwash,deceive with more be to the gullible and mindless …
It is very sad and disheartening to see under educated, uninformed, impressionable people (plp supporters) being played fools by their own party. It is sad to see them taken advantage of by this lot. The plp should be ashamed of themselves. You know what you are doing to these people. Shame on you.
Walter roban is writing articles in Caribbean news network discrediting Bermuda with his defamation of OBA govt along with his buddies marc Daniels and robain. Can you still put your trust on these unsavoury characters??
You forgot about furball.
So the OBA is innocent?
The OBA never accused the PLP of things, which still have not been proven or brought to light in 14 months. How much time do they need to spend ‘under the hood’? OBA said repeatly they had investers waiting for them. ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY!’
I can remember Ewart boasting he had $3bn of hotel investment lined up. None if it was true of course.
The OBA never said they had “investors lined up”. They said they would create conditions that encourage the return of investment.
Unfortunately the PLP seem to want to attempt to stand in the way of any initiative that encourages inward investment.
The demonstration of solidarity last week was a good reminder of “win the battle but lose the war”. The BIU may have succeeded in their quest to help 4 workers get their jobs back but in the course probably lost several hundreds of jobs by causing potential hotel investors to have second thoughts. Not just new but to keep hotels such as Newstead and Tucker’s Point going. Hotels in administration cannot continue to lose money and if a buyer is not found they will close. There is also a lot of competition in the Caribbean area to attract investment – Spanish companies have built several new hotels in Jamaica for example. The BIU is not helping its members or Bermuda in such very public displays of disharmony. Why couldn’t the BIU have taken this issue behind closed doors and negotiated the same result?
PLP/BIU.. repeat after me. I am not the govt, I am not the govt… I am not the fn govt, then go away.
@ Mike Hind
Maybe this will help you see the light which isn’t shining bright on your beloved UBP/OBA friends n family party.
A second-class citizen is a person who is systematically discriminated against within a state or other political jurisdiction, despite their nominal status as a citizen or legal resident there. While not necessarily slaves, outlaws or criminals, second-class citizens have limited legal rights, civil rights and socioeconomic opportunities, and are often subject to mistreatment or neglect at the hands of their putative superiors. Instead of being protected by the law, the law disregards a second-class citizen, or it may actually be used to harass them (see police misconduct and racial profiling). Systems with de facto second-class citizenry are generally regarded as violating human rights. Typical impediments facing second-class citizens include, but are not limited to, disenfranchisement (a lack or loss of voting rights), limitations on civil or military service (not including conscription in every case), as well as restrictions on language, religion, education, freedom of movement and association, weapons ownership, marriage, gender identity and expression, housing and property ownership.
The category is normally unofficial, and the term itself is generally used as a pejorative and governments will typically deny the existence of a second class within the polity. As an informal category, second-class citizenship is not objectively measured; however, cases such as the American South under segregation, apartheid in South Africa, and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland during the parliamentary era are all examples of groups that have been historically described as having second-class citizenry
Wow, your copy and pasting skills are commendable. You’ve found another definition of ‘second-class citizen’. You win a gold star.
How is this relevant to the discussion in any way? Despite preposterous allegations and assumptions, no one has made a credible link between commercial immigration and the lowering of Bermudians to second class citizens.
This isn’t an argument, silly. Come back when you have formed a coherent and sensible idea on the subject.
Uh huh. And how is that different from what I said?
And how, in any way, does that mean “working for someone else”?
I know you’re desperate to paint me as this OBA puppet, but it’s you, yourself, that’s coming off as the puppet, using the PLPs “OBA/UBP” nonsense.
Address what was said. Making weak, cowardly personal attacks just makes you look like an idiot.
“The category is normally unofficial. . .” – Well under the PLP it was made official by form of PRC – Permanent Residence Certificate – Where people fall exactly under most of the comments you made in your first paragraph namely, “limited legal rights, civil rights and socioeconomic opportunities. . .”
You have just described the lhappy lot of an expat or a gay person living in Bermuda
So how EXACTLY would a commercial immigration plan remove existing “legal rights, civil rights and socioeconomic opportunities” that Bermudians currently enjoy? EXACTLY.
Just because the PLP hold a town hall meeting with close-minded presenters with ulterior motives and suggest this is going to happen in no way means their misinformed, biased and emotionally charged opinions are in any way accurate or factual.
The PLP would have us believe Bermudians magically appeared on the island one morning, having never emigrated from somewhere else first. If their position of exclusion and non-acceptance is correct, why do they take such pride in their St. Kitts roots as this would seem totally contradictory as it recognises Bermuda is in fact an amazing mini-melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and nationalities.
Or is it only ok to celebrate our differences when ‘they’ do it.
The PLP will use this issue as political wedge to inaccurately divide the country along racially emotive lines pitting the perceived ‘haves’ as the enemy and the ‘have-nots’ as the victim which is sadly ironic given how well the PLP ‘haves’ did under their 14 years in Government enjoying unfettered access to the public purse, dolling out no-bid contracts to their immediate friends and family leaving the politically unconnected ‘have-nots’ with … nothing.
I don’t remember Doc Hollywood posing for pictures at the Beyoncé concert with many Bermudian ‘have-nots’ but there certainly were a significant number of PLP and non-Bermudian ‘haves’ in attendance enjoying the show off the taxpayers’ over burdened backs. Talk about political hypocrites.
This continued faux outrage is just another example from the modern PLP political handbook which is rooted in division; finding, exploiting or creating differences in an attempt to paint their political opponents as the enemy. They don’t let truth get in the way of political opportunism.
Talk about immature and non-progressive. Fox News could spend a week on island doing daily specials on these guys and still have material left over for a made for TV movie.
The PLP put Bermudians out of work.
The OBA is trying to get Bermudians back to work,but the politically connected unions will try their hardest to stop progress.
End result,no middle class,social state,economic poverty,financial flight,increased crime,corruption and a fourth world country!
All this talk about non Bermudians, born Bermudians etc needs to be clarified. Could the PLP MPs and Senators each show their commitment to these statements and Bermuda by stating their own place of birth, place of birth of their spouse and place of birth of their children? I would expect that all will show Bermuda, but maybe not.
You forgot place of birth of their parents? You can be sure those parents arrived here on their own free will & for the same reasons that everyone else who came here from somewhere else arrived.
It is okay to bring undesirable uighers but it is blasphemous to consider commercial immigration so we can help pay for their obscene 4,billions this bunch of loiter pop left us!!!!
Brutus, you really can’t fix stupid!!!!
Bermuda needs wealthy investors !
Robert Stigwood (The Hollywood movie producer) was one such example of a wealthy successful person who lived in Bermuda for over 15 years. He spent a fortune on the island. Bermuda needs more Robert Stigwoods. When the PLP unleashed their real estate decree banning the sale of any property owned by a Bermudian to a foreigner we lost OPRAH WINFREY…..what a foolhardy dictatorial decree that was.
The OBA should open Bermuda up and invite a discreet amount of wealthy investors &/or retirees to settle in our island. Commercial Immigration “carefully vetted” would be a BOON for Bermuda. The focus should be on rewarding those who INVEST in BERMUDA…..
Thank you Tony for your excellent point about Stigwood!! But hunker down from the sure to come backlash from the plper’s and their protectionist ideas that have only led them to be poorer! It is sad that they because of the brainwashing from their plp can’t see the light of day anymore!!! Stigwood is a great example and I personally know more of the same types that have contributed greatly to Bermuda in so many ways, if the plper’s knew the real truth even they would look at this in the correct way!! It is a shame we still have the plp being a continuos hindrance to the recovery we so much need because of their policies!!!!
Please tell us the truth
There should be concerns about the wealthy being able to ‘Pay and Stay’. People should fear the cost of living going up and being squeezed out of their own country. If wealthier people move in, the little hope of ‘Owning a Piece of the Rock’ will be gone.
Who do most people blame for the high cost of living in Bermuda? We see the effect IB has had on our economy as well as our prices.
When the ‘wealthy people move in’, who do you think they rent from? Buy from? Hire to do renovations? Get their electricity from? Their groceries?
Or are you saying Bermudians shouldn’t be allowed to rent property to the evil foreigners, or sell anything or provide services because they might squeeze other Bermudians out of the market?
It’s a bit more difficult “owning a piece of the rock” without a job.
Thankfully we have now been spared the nonsense of the plp for a while being they had to postpone the night of miss information!!!!
LOL only in Bermuda do our self identified ‘second hand citizens’ do so on their smart phones while they sit at work…..
A Bermudian who can’t get tickets to the next superman movie because he showed up 10 minutes after the show time on opening night considers himself a second hand citizen…..
we really need to up the funding for programs such as Raleigh Bermuda, Overseas Missions etc. to get off this rock and realize that we have no clue about suffering.
Nobody wanted to go.
Everyone knows the reason why there are few jobs,the ex govt chased them away!