The answer to question 1 is a combination of time and problems with tendering. As to time, Minister Richards wants to use airport construction to create jobs as quickly as he can, and believes a tendering process would only slow down getting shovels into dirt.

The problem with tendering (second part of answer 1 and all of answer 2) is that tendering doesn’t necessarily mean lowest (or even lower) cost, or that the winning bidder will have sufficient experience to know what they don’t know, so to speak.

Frequently, the winning (low-cost) bidder knows there will be change orders (Burgess’ lights?) and other non-competitive changes in the contract, and will plan on pricing those (which are non-competitive) to enhance the profitability of the contract. The lowest bidder also may not have the experience of other bidders.

Heritage Wharf, the Hospital, Berkeley and the Courthouse are all examples of where the bid price bore NO relationship to the final cost. Landmark Lisgar was a low bidder- did that work out well for Bermuda? The criticism of PLP supporters reflects (i) their silence when all of these projects were running wildly over budget and (ii) the hypocrisy of asserting how wonderful tendering is when PLP performance with it was abysmal.

I respect Minister Richards for trying to find a middle ground, and for recognizing that the tendering process isn’t always a guarantee of the lowest cost.

EW

Is this negotiating with a foreign government? It’s arguable, which is why the Government was smart and got the UK to give us an entrustment letter whether we needed it or not. Prevented a major outburst of Opposition hot air!

LOL take about only benefiting themselves.

for #2 People are tired of the PLP hypcorcy based on their past performance. Also the “other Bermudians” are tired of their race baiting and antiBermudain behaviour towards said Bermudians so at this point have no time for the PLP.

LOL simple really

Your one-sided comment overly simplistic comment is nothing more than rhetoric. I encourage all to ignore.

The attitude that OBA gets to make all the same mistakes that the PLP made is insane. We elected them because we wanted more and now they are not delivering.

If there was an election tomorrow, I’d still vote OBA but only because the alternative is not viable.

As a taxpayer, property owner, person employed in
this country I expect more from my government. One way to help get what I want is to have a stronger opposition but unfortunately we don’t have that right now.

Put the effin this out to tender!

The opposition is doing their job challenging this one. I just wish they would remove the rhetoric and stop using an inflation-adjusted, 30-year, undiscounted, purely designed to grab attention and not to highlight important facts, cash flow stream and calling it the pricetag for this investment.

If the most senior finance person at my company did that and presented a capital project proposal using that kind of math they’d be let go for incompetence.

No benefit to Bermudians???…interesting point of view. You must be reading the wrong information becuase I see:
- new investment/development at Hamilton Princess
- new investment/development at Sonesta
- new investment/development at Ariel Sands
- new investment/development at Grand Atlantic
- new investment/development at Pink Beach
- interest in developing Club Med
- 30% increase in commercial real estate
- increase in real estate sales
- increase in rents
- increase in new reinsurance start ups
- increase in new ILS and mutual funds
- increase in payroll taxes collected
- increase in containers coming to the island
- America’s Cup
- possible new airport

Everyone is talking about how things are finally starting to slowly pick up again. You might think this is good news but everyone else sure does.

Using Burt’s logic, then the PLP should have around half a $billion extra after being in power for 14 years. I know he was Junior Fin Min. during that time when we incurring $2B in debt but even I didn’t think they also over spent by an additional half a billion.

Thank goodness we don’t live in a virtual dictatorship any longer. We can speak up now without fear of reprisal.

All I want is to be able to board a plane in the 21st century in my homeland and not get wet when it rains.. is that too much to ask???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorandum_of_understanding

This is a NON BINDING MOU, therefore it only signifies that both parties agree on a line of action. But being non-binding, either party can decide to pull out if things develop in a way that they are no longer in agreement with. Once matters have been fully explored to both parties satisfaction then we can expect an actual contract to be signed. An MOU lets both sides proceed with due diligence, establish that appropriate funding can be procured etc. and will also generally allow the exchange of more sensitive information such as future projections, confidential plans, etc.

Bermudians should be well versed in this since MOUs have figured in several “big announcements” made under the previous government’s term that never came to fruition.

However, that does not make this right.

Moreover, it is best to point out something before a mistake is committed, on behalf of the taxpayer.

Furthermore, I do not buy this logic “PLP screwed the taxpayer in the past many years, so OBA has every right to screw the taxpayer”.

If it is principle based, then how do your prinicples justify the golf course spending following the auditor report.

1) Why is the OBA seemingly against putting this project out to tender? If, in the end, CCC is the best deal…then go for it. At least, everyone will be better informed as to what options are out there.

2) Why are OBA supporters seemingly chastising PLP supporters who are requesting an open tendering process? Why are the past PLP misdeeds brought up in an attempt to discredit them…it seems attempts are being made to shoot down the messenger, without listening to the message.