OBA, PLP Trade Words On Sewage, Propaganda
The OBA has accused the PLP of having their “propaganda machine in full swing over the issue of sewage being pumped out to sea,” while the PLP said that “instead of complaining about press releases the OBA should get on with solving the problem.”
The issue has been in the headlines recently following the U.S. Consulate issuing a “Security Message” entitled “Contaminated Beaches,” citing the “ongoing dumping of raw sewage off Bermuda’s south coast.”
Two weeks after that message was issued, ”greaseballs” washed up on the South Shore, with small unpleasant smelling grayish lumps scattered over beaches including Grape Bay.
OBA’s Comments
A OBA spokesperson said, “The Progressive Labour Party’s propaganda machine is in full swing over the issue of sewage being pumped out to sea, and occasionally blown back onto our beaches.
“Former Health Minister Zane Desilva issued a statement yesterday, saying that the One Bermuda Alliance has been exposed as lying and covering up the extent of the problem.
“In fact and in truth, our sewage problem has been known about for years. If Mr DeSilva and his colleagues had been so concerned about it, they could easily have done something to fix the problem during the 13 years they spent in Government.
“This is not a problem the OBA created, and it’s not a problem the PLP created. It is a Bermuda problem, caused by the growing inability of some parts of our infrastructure to cope with the demands of life in the 21st Century.
“The reckless way Mr DeSilva has jumped on board this “beat up the OBA” bandwagon should indicate very clearly that he cares more about political gain than he does about service to his country. His attempts to transform this from a national problem into a vehicle for cheap political tricks are reckless in the extreme.
“But Bermudians should know that this is not just Zane DeSilva acting on his own. The PLP’s propaganda writers, who write these statements for shadow ministers and others to release, seem to have become more and more virulent recently. One hopes that saner PLP heads persuade them to moderate their tone and their language a little.
“The Government has clearly indicated its strong commitment to fixing this problem by working with those involved. Perhaps the Opposition should jump on board to help, not harm, our future.”
PLP’s Comments
PLP Leader Marc Bean said, “The OBA’s mishandling of this issue landed Bermuda on a US Travel Advisory. Their attempt to redirect attention from their dishonesty and incompetence does nothing to remove the sewage balls from our beaches or remove the negative US Travel Advisory issued for Bermuda.
“While the OBA continues to deflect attention from their mishandling of this serious issue, the PLP have offered solutions that include:
- Substantial increases to fines and increased monitoring of grease in the corporation of Hamilton
- Requiring all restaurants and others who handle organic waste to have a proper waste disposal policy in place
- Consideration by the City of Hamilton and the government to identify a suitable site for a proper waste treatment facility to bring an end to the disposal of sewage on the South Shore (the facility at Wedco is an appropriate model to follow)
- Immediately and regularly make public all the results of all testing done on the South Shore area to rebuild public confidence.
“This is a problem that all Bermudians must face and we must recognize affects all of us. The OBA are the elected government of the day it is under their watch that this negative Travel Warning was issued so the OBA need to stop the attempts to evade blame.
Mr. Bean concluded, “Bermudians aren’t buying it and are demanding solutions and leadership on this pressing environmental issue – instead of complaining about press releases the OBA should get on with solving the problem!”
Worse than children. Pathetic.
Like the majority of the voting public many people are getting tired of all the” Political in fighting” and this absolutely does not have any thing to do with young children either,It is mature People face slapping; butt kicking and name calling politicians have no place in our society.
What is that they hope to gain ?
Is it self serving gratification ?
The entire Bermuda Governments has a responsibility managing the affairs of this country in an efficient business like manner, we the voting public expect nothing less.
“Flash in the pan” ill conceived, experimental concepts costs money along with our astronomical debt gamble away money we the tax payers don’t have.
Give the debt bill to the United Kingdom ,they want a British Overseas Paradise Territory then they have to pay for it.
The Government is creating hardship and discontentment the general public are barely surviving.
Many antiquated laws and policies along with our burdensome tax system need to be revised.
The time has come for the positions to ” Buck up!”
This issue has remained unchanged for decades. It has never been a concern of the u.s….likely because they were not aware. I wonder how they became tuned in.
Regardless…time to man up and fix it. No government to this point has deemed it important….not that it would be to the oba if it hadn’t been made an issue likely to have such impact to tourism.
How is this under the OBA watch as Bean states? The US conducted tests 6 months into their leadership. Bermuda has been dumping sewage for decades. IF anything, if the PLP or UBP knew they are just as guilty!
The OBA is the UBP! All they did was change the name. The party has the same idiots.
OMG! Why are you STILL repeating this line? We are so far past that now… or certainly should be.
Zane has lied. This BIOS report was presented to the Government (PLP) in 2009 http://www.bios.edu/research/projects/sewagepollution/
Honorable Zane Desilva! Oxymoron????
Thanks “OKAYMAN”, for pointing the arrow in the correct direction…The P.L.P. are attempting to convince the public that they had no knowledge of this “mess” washing up on our shores:-(
Wow, I love the way the OBA pundits try to point every single thing at the PLP’s door. Can you imagine the outcry if this had come under the PLP’s watch? Poor OBA!
The difference is the PLP did not inherit a hot mess like the OBA did.
I still haven’t seen a press release about what the OBA are going to do to deal with the sewage. Nice that they have spent their time instead trading blows with the equally useless PLP.
I’ll agree with that. The OBA would be far more effective just ignoring the PLP. They rise to the bait far too often.
There’s no place to put this sewage. What can be done about it? Nothing.
The OBA has been testing the water at various beaches. There have been several updates saying so. As far as I’m concerned, the Govt has been quick to respond.
Keep up, will you.
Err Yes there is quite a lot they could be doing.
1. They could immediately begin an extension of the pipe. (Which is currently only about 400 meters long). This would be a cheap and quick adjustment.
2. They could buy a UV light screening system which easily treats the sewage and removes harmful bacteria and viruses.
3. They could stop restaurants disposing of kitchen grease into drains. (Many cities ban this and the grease can be collected). Some places actually process the grease so it can be reused.
4. They can immediately look at sewage processes used by other overcrowded islands (Singapore).
5. Publish a costed plan. This is not a partisan issue.
Have you at all been reading the press releases?
They talked to it yesterday morning.
Yes, it is criminal that the people who are so-called representatives of the people waste so much time on this nonsense. I think it’s high time we look into whether they can be charged with mismanagement or something like that for wasting taxpayer dollars… not to mention patience!
Just to clarify, by nonsense I am referring to the back and forth bickering between the government and opposition versus working on the many issues that require our focused attention and resolution.
The bickering Kim is cheap psychology to waste time and it’s an insult towards, “public’s intelligence”. The P.L.P. will continue doing what they are known for, that be blaming and promising while doing absolutely nothing…
When you see a whole lottah people argueing about a problem that is best solved rather than passing blame ,aspusrsion,and rhetoric…you have to shake yah head!At this moment…it doesn’t matter who or why!….your bickering is wasting our tax dollars ship…or get away from the pot!….Solve the issue!that is why you are paid!
Accidental dislike. Small buttons versus big fingers. : )
What an interpretive…propaganda….it is poop…let’s face it….call it what it is….it’s poop!
Forget what the PLP are saying , it’s what the OBA are doing that matters in the minds of Bermudians. So OBA , what are you doing to arrest this $&it ?
What’s that ? Tree frogs …
THey talked to it yesterday
Really? Are you not reading the stories at all?
Not a small project. When there is something concrete in place they will release details. Nothing premature or half as*. Pleasant change. Not just talk for sake of hearing yourself.
I agree 100% with your first sentence. A good rule of thumb.
Ok let me have my few cents who goes swiming at Grape Bay last I heard its private tell them that own houses along there and who dont allow the public to swim there clean it up. The resturants that are putting the grease in the lines should be fined its easy to trace as the grease clogs up in the lines so you can identify resturants between manhole covers. Also why are we in this day and age still pumping raw ship in the sea,where is Stewart Hayward and Best on this or is it hitting to close to home and his people.
I walk my dog on the beach and it is very popular with swimmers from all over the island. Also there are several holiday cottages on the beach for rent. They are very popular and contrary to the big old dated hotels they are occupied year round.
The PLP are only good at complaining in press releases, and then complaining when the government responds to the press release.
OBA will solve the problem. PLP never even tried.
talking S as usual!
The government can’t keep blaming the plp for everything. The plp didn’t make the US consulate, hanbury or the american press say what they did. Are these other spreading propaganda also? The sewage is a FACT not propaganda & it’s been a fact for long time & neither the ubp or plp planned to deal with it. Now it seems the oba had planned to ignore it also but are getting hot under the collar because they can’t anymore. As the saying goes, “If you can’t take the heat…
Exactly!
I find it very concerning that this issue is getting so much attention now that it has been brought to light by the US Consulate. What else is hiding in the bushes that we don’t know about? This corals all political parties as this is not a new problem. Bermudians should be thanking the US Consulate for his honesty and transparency which non of our political parties have exercised through the years. Bermudians lets not be sheepeople that blindly follow these lot that we waste time and energy voting in to do our business. We need a full investigation into this problem and not the hairsplitting responses that we are getting from the Minister. This an issue that affects the world due to the fact that the ocean does not reside in Bermuda. The amount of garbage that has been and continues to be dumped into the ocean was bound to cause problems at some point in our lives. It makes you wonder if the high rates of cancer can be attributed to our environment. We are fighting the battle tooth and nail with money being raised to assist with the treatment of this and other deadly diseases but could it be that the biggest contributor could be right in our own back yard? Just because the waters are tested and considered safe by a standard does not mean that there maybe chemicals that could make someone sick. Our present government needs to take swift action to protect our people as well as visitors. Thank you Mr. US Consulate for forcing Bermuda to acknowledge what can potentially be a serious health problem to human life.
it should be pointed out that if the PLP had remained in power for another 10 years the sewage problem would have been corrected….they drove enough people out that if given more time they would have driven everyone out and corrected the sewage problem so it is the OBA’s fault after all…
Sir:
How is your comment contributing to the solutions needed for our country? I am amazed that someone as intelligent as you could speak such nonsense.
The current government says they are working on the problem, but have not provided the information on HOW they are going about it . . .
The opposition has pointed out that fact, and provided 4 suggestions to assist the government – - but no one wants to admit that.
Be a part of the solution or you are simply part of the problem – - – and at this point, we need to get rid of our problems.
Q
All this complaining would triple if the OBA decided that there will be a tax increase for the next five years to pay for a new plant to solve this problem.
‘Bermudians – Entitled since 1998′.
No… they would just find a way to blame the PLP for it.
Ok’ Childen! end it ‘ and Fix it and get on to more important things.
The general public has been informed and would like the chilren from the PLP and OBA it behave themselves.
Why doesn’t the OBA just sit back and let the fools (PTP)confirm just how stupid they really and NOT lower themselves to their low standards.
You know what say it’s better to let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and prove it. LOL
I’d like to give all MP’s a dunk in a greaseball bath. BOTH PARTIES!
Everyone:
Please re-read the entire article above. This is what I got from it –
The OBA have complained that the PLP is playing “politics” – fine.
However, the PLP provided 4 recommendations/suggestions to the actual problem – correct?!
So how is the PLP not trying to assist/help?
Explain anyone?
(crickets)
That’s what I thought.
Q
All those slimy smelly globs washing up on the beaches are actually all the garbage the PLP has been spouting from their mouths for over a decade.
The sewage in our oceans is actually the PLP’s efforts over the last decade.
The flattened dried out toads in the road are the hopes and dreams of the future generations at ever having a good life in their own country thanks to the wonderous effect the PLP had upon our island.
The pink on our buses is actually the embarassment of our island for ever voting in such a racially-motivated and inept party.
And get rid of that stupid word, “Bermy”. It is an ugly, idiotic word that brings shame upon those of intelligence. UGH!
I think you have it wrong, the sewage is the 2000 jobs the pink oba fools promised.
Maybe its time to start working back from the outflow pipe to find out where the problem really lies. The Hamilton treatment plant (opposite The Supermart on Front Street)would be a good place to start to ensure that all the correct processes are in place to treat the grease that does flow through the system. THIS is the place to breakdown and treat/filter/flush/brerakdown the grease and city sewage BEFORE it gets to South Shore.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there are shortcuts being taken to reduce operating costs. Doesn’t the CoH operate this treatment plant…hmmmmm?
OH and BTW, its not raw floating poops and toilet paper being hurled out the end of the pipe by the way like what happens in “Paradise Lakes EVERY weekend in the summer…. That area is dirtier that the South Shore right at the outflow pipe.
Why can’t the OBA & PLP understand that the same thing being pumped out into the South Shore is the same thing that spews out if their mouths on a daily basis.