Comments on: Opinion: Commissiong On Black Unemployment

By: Fed Up Bermudian

Fed Up Bermudian — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 11:23:57 +0000

Does anyone know what the actual figures are, percentage-wise per race? So in other words, what percentage of the black population is unemployed, and what percent of the white (and Portuguese) population is unemployed? We also need to re-think the whole ‘underemployed’ statistic, who determines that and what are the criteria? Because I think I should be earning more kind of isn’t good enough, needs to be non-subjective metrics.

Not criticizing, just want to know.

By: Part II Opinion: Commissiong On Unemployment - Bernews.com : Bernews.com

Part II Opinion: Commissiong On Unemployment - Bernews.com : Bernews.com — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:26:03 +0000

[...] [Opinion column by PLP MP Rolfe Commissiong, a follow on from Part I which can be read here] [...]

By: Alvin Williams

Alvin Williams — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:40:16 +0000

Any one who thinks that they can live off the social assistance benefits that this government hands out is living in a cloud-cuckoo-land and so is those who think that Bermudians are benefiting from living off social assistance. Of course increased numbers of Bermudians who can’t make it financially in this country are fleeing to England where the financial assistance benefits are a little better; although the citizens of Britain are getting tried of all those economic refuges who are flooding across their border including Bermudians; all consider that Britain is a soft touch. Governments like Bermuda are also to blame; for the more they are able to off load to England for their failure to create the conditions so that their people can live and earn a living in their own country; the less they will have to pay out. But if Britain continues to threaten the rest of the EU about what it will do and not do to remain a member of the European Community; may find itself on the outside may be force to consider it can no longer take in all those economic refugees? At that point the bottom would have fallen out and Bermuda’s unemployment rate would take a further jump from all those returning Bermudians.

By: Varied

Varied — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:33:45 +0000

I think things like the Buzz situation have encouraged the suggestion of a minimal wage in some quarters.

Remember too, some jobs may not offer enough to locals to cover costs of e.g. daycare for children, so they may not even be able to apply for those positions.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:12:37 +0000

So why is it that black women do very well getting well-paid employment in Bermuda?
What educational opportunities are handed on a plate to black women that are denied to black men?

By: Creamy

Creamy — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:09:36 +0000

Yep. Burch took great delight in house prices plummeting. What he ignored was the reason for the plummeting house prices – a tanking economy, and unemployed Bermudians. Unemployment was deliberately self-inflicted by the PLP.

By: Allspice

Allspice — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 19:55:58 +0000

I am unemployed and looking for work.
If people don’t look for work they can hardly complain that they have none.
If they don’t look for work because they believe that the OBA is sabotaging their efforts then really they must be very foolish. Survival comes before politics.
What is it? Do these people choose to be unemployed until a party they like is elected?
Yes, it is hard to get work. I know it. I’m looking because I have no choice.
Wow, ifi could “make adjustments” and not work!
Who are these people?

By: SMH

SMH — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:56:03 +0000

The crash wasn’t what sold all of us into financial slavery and caused 4-5000 expats and families to leave taking the trickle down employment they created with them. Why are other countries booming again and we’re still suffering and those 4-5000 aren’t coming back? A competent Government knows a) not to let an economy overheat and b) put money aside for a rainy day. An incompetent Government a) adds gasoline to the over heated economy by 1) bringing in a record number of people on work permits and 2) starting massive capital projects such a LBE Building, Berkley and Grand Atlantic and b) spends like drunken sailors to a point of approx.$2B in debt so that there are no funds available when needed most. Any other questions?

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:47:52 +0000

yo mamma: I agree with you, and I often emphasize it. Why can’t / don’t Bermudians accept the low wages paid out to the foreigner and either seek assistance from Govt. while looking for a better paying job elsewhere? Or do this; get an education and better themselves and believe me things will get better…

By: SMH

SMH — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:33:41 +0000

One of the PS told me that a PLP cabinet minister proposed the idea of sending a boatload of unemployed men to one of the island to grow vegetables for a season then come back here and sell them. Much like someone brought up at the SAGE town hall meeting. The PS said that both he and his assistant just sat there with their mouth open at the suggestion. There you have our core reason we are in this financial mess today…politicians with the best of intentions but no clue how finance works in charge of the public purse.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:25:23 +0000

I smile and simultaneously have to shake my head Rolfe. You know damn well why the unemployed African descendants e.g.”blacks Bermudians” are at the level you mentioned, it’s basically for two reasons. (1) Many young “black” Bermudian fellas don’t have the required skill/s to do certain jobs and are forced,(by choice) to settle for manual labour jobs and of course we all know that’s tough work. (2) The ratio of the population here on the Island of Bermuda is basically 2/3 of African descent; leaving the remainder 1/3 of various heritages.
We can not blame people coming here to better their lives if our own Bermudians of many descent don’t wish to do the work for the wages paid to the foreign workers:-( Many choose to lay-up on Govt. Social Services and complain…instead of “reaching up and not out”

By: swing voter

swing voter — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:48:16 +0000

kinda hard to hide behind the figures if social engineering and parental involvement was done the right way. Educate your kids, equip them with basic survival skills, sacrifice your life for them, send them to good universities with post graduation programs to work, co-op, train in the US or Canada. When your children do return, who can deny them employment?

By: MAKE MY DAY

MAKE MY DAY — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:28:39 +0000

Simple really….If you study hard – get the right education and take it all seriously – then good companies will employ you!! They are NOT obligated to employ just any old one!! First you have to prove-yourself!!

By: SMH

SMH — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:58:15 +0000

The crash didn’t sell un into financial slavery and cause 5000 expats and families to leave taking the trickle down employment they created with them. Why are other countries booming again and we’re still suffering and those 5000 aren’t coming back? A competent Government knows a) not to let an economy overheat and b) put money aside for a rainy day. An incompetent Government a) adds gasoline to the over heated economy by 1) bringing in a record number of people on work permits and 2) starting massive capital projects such a LBE Building, Berkley and Grand Atlantic and b) spends like drunken sailors to a point of $2B in debt so that there are no funds available when needed most. Any other questions?

By: Common Cents

Common Cents — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:55:57 +0000

Back in 2009 I ran into an old friend at the main post office in Hamilton, and commented about how my business was suffering due to the poor economy. My friend, a prominent PLP politician, told me the best thing for Bermuda was to downsize and get back to the way things were seventy years ago. She went on to say that 10,000 to 20,000 Bermudians needed to leave the island and move to England, where they would be taken care of by the public purse (dole). Her response to my business concerns left me speechless!

By: Meeeee

Meeeee — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:14:12 +0000

Rolfe,

Take a look at the graduation figures just put out by the public school Educators. Note the disparity between males and females. Recall that these 18 year old graduates would have started school in 2001.

It would appear that about 70 males are missing from that graduating group.

Tell me Rolfe,who are these 70, what race are they most likely to be, and why are they missing?

Don’t forget who was running everything between 2001 and December 2013.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 09:56:29 +0000

I recall Col. Burch saying it made him smile to see all the For Sale signs outside homes as the recession kicked in.

We all know why he said that, now Rolfe wants to make it out that this unemployment is something of a plot against black people.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 02:29:47 +0000

Yeah, well unemployment was given to Bermudians by the PLP. While Bermudian jobs were being exported overseas the PLP rejoiced. Now they pretend to be concerned.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 01:46:02 +0000

Oh dear.not very many seem to care what Rolfe has to say.

By: Just a matter of time

Just a matter of time — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:37:52 +0000

I recall both industries doing just fine under a PLP Govt up to the 2008 crash, in fact better than ever in many instances. What about those years? The PLP ‘ singlehandedly’ destroyed Bermuda? It was a combination of factors. Stop the nonsense.

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:27:10 +0000

Well research article based upon factual data. It highlights some significant facts that we must consider as it regards unemployment in Bermuda. I look forward to reading part 2 . The government needs to work in collaboration to address this pressing issues. Well done Mr. Commissiong. Keep pushing this critical.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:35:45 +0000

When will it stop?

By: Evans Bay

Evans Bay — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:24:24 +0000

The reported decrease in black unemployed reflects the fact that those unemployed were not looking for employment anymore…they had made adjustments in life / lifestyle and had accepted that there are no jobs…so effectively have given up or are comfortable to be on financial assistance in some cases….so the reported figure declines while no real impact was made to the numbers…

By: Smh

Smh — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:25:25 +0000

The PLP singlehandedly destroys Bermudas economy and their failed policy drives away 5,000 expat and families and now he wonders why we have unemployment? Who do you think benefited from all those expats being here, other professionals? No, it was the average, hardworking Bermudian….take a long hard look in the mirror Rolfe and own your part in our distruction rather than crying foul now after 14 years at the contract trough

By: 32n64w

32n64w — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:37:15 +0000

It’s a good thing the article title starts off with “opinion” because there is an absolute dearth of facts to support Rolf’s remarks. He continually refers to anecdotal observations.

In part 2 let’s hope he discusses the impact the PLP’s record borrowing from NON-Bermudians to support their last eight years in Government has effectively sold this and the next generation of Bermudians into financial slavery with massive annual interest obligations, not to mention the fact we actually have to repay $2,000,000,000!!

The PLP’s ineptocracy has severely limited the OBA (or any) Government’s ability to restart the economy thereby disadvantaging all of us. What are the chances he’ll be honest about that as the facts are clearer than any anecdotes he might make a passing reference to or discussions about shared sacrifice.

By: yo mamma

yo mamma — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:24:35 +0000

Isnt the statistical disparity due to the fact that there are more blacks than whites here?
separate but related point: how the heck does Buzz get away with having so many foreign workers!I kinda know already but Ive been wondering if others noticed/care that these low skilled opportunities should be filled by bermudians. Of course they pay too low for any local to maintain a household but better than nothing. Maybe…..

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:04:24 +0000

Yet from 2012 to 2013 the Underemployed and Unemployed black population was reduced.

So there were many more underemployed and unemployed at the end of the PLP reign than in the first full year of OBA

Great job OBA. Me thinks Rolfie forgot to mention that.

I wonder what would happen if we profiled the ex-pats who left and included them in the unemployment numbers.

By: Toodle-oo

Toodle-oo — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:59:34 +0000

Mr Commissiong , here’s a little experiment that we know you’d love to conduct.

March all those pesky, overpaid white people , including the many not even earning $50,000 a year to the airport and docks. Load them all on planes and ships and wave them farewell. Board up their houses and apartments. Shut down their businesses.

Get back to us in a year and tell us what the unemployment figures look like then .

By: San George

San George — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:28:30 +0000

And it should be Rolfe. We don’t own anything. We are parasites. The PLP had 14 years to make a difference. You squandered it.

By: inna

inna — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:14:31 +0000

Rolfe- you set your self up when you mentioned Paula Cox’s unimpeachable qualifications. If my memory serves me correct, i think she was impeached a few years ago from the highest office one could hold in Bermuda!

By: Skeptic

Skeptic — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:13:24 +0000

This article raises some important points about the struggles of different segments of the community, but it does so for political gamesmanship and as a consequence is not constructive or helpful to the community and the very people struggling the most. The PLP were in a unique position for 14 years to influence public policy and very importantly, our education system, to create improved opportunity for Bermudians. The opportunity was squandered. We now have a serious challenge to rebuild our community and our economy, and frankly the frequent unwarranted, spiteful attacks and articles such as this, simply make the job of convincing foreign investment to return to Bermuda much harder to achieve. So don’t blame the OBA, but put your effort into helping find the middle ground to bring the community together to restore foreign confidence and investment.