Opinion: Bringing Forward Real Ideas, Solutions
[Opinion column written by Opposition Leader Marc Bean]
At the most recent sitting of the House of Assembly sitting on Friday, the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party demonstrated our commitment to putting forward new ideas and solutions to challenges facing Bermudians. The PLP led debate on four pieces of legislation designed to change the laws in Bermuda so that Bermuda works better for all.
The OBA supported a PLP measure advanced by Shadow Minister for Immigration and External Affairs and Immigration Walton Brown called the Commission of Inquiry Amendment Act, which granted the Premier of Bermuda greater powers to protect Bermudian interests.
The House passed a bill that changed the existing law so that the power to call Commissions of Inquiry will no longer be held solely by the Governor. The Premier and future Premiers will now also have that power and be able to use it in the interest of Bermudians.
Hopefully this change or law will prevent the farce that occurred in July from being repeated, where Parliament voted for a Commission of Inquiry, and that action was rejected the United Kingdom’s Governor.
In introducing the Public Holidays Amendment Act, Shadow Youth, Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Michael Weeks, proposed that Bermuda Day should be tied to the US Memorial Day Weekend and be held on the Friday before Memorial Day in the USA, allowing greater economic and tourism marketing benefits as well as benefiting Bermudians directly.
Though the OBA indicated they could support the measure, they asked that the PLP take up the bill again next week once they receive the result of a poll that the OBA are currently running on the issue. The PLP look to pass this bill on December 12 and hopefully the OBA will support the PLP Again.
Although the One Bermuda Alliance refused to support Shadow Minister of Finance David Burt’s Statutory Interest Rate Reduction Act, which would have reduced the statutory interest rate from 7% to 3%; the OBA were forced to acknowledge the wisdom of the PLP’s vision in reducing this rate.
During the debate the Minister of Finance pledged to have the Bermuda Monetary Authority use its power to reduce the statutory interest rate. The PLP will monitor this issue and hold the OBA government to the pledge made to the people in Parliament.
On the day I became Leader of the PLP, I pledged that we would not merely criticize the OBA, but that we would also bring forward real ideas and real solutions for Bermudians.
These three changes to law along with our legislation relating to ending the practice of sending Bermudians to jail for civil debts, ending conscription, and decriminalising simple cannabis possession are tangible proof of our commitment to that pledge.
The PLP will continue to lead, and will introduce additional changes to our laws so that Bermuda works better for all.
- Marc Bean
Mr. Bean you cannot be taken seriously. Your alleged treatment of women is contemptible and makes your offerings above a total farce.
Please…this is just tinkering.
The PLP have no real ideas or solutions to turn our economy around at all. They are still harping on about seabed mining and online gambling.
I must give high praise to @ “Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar” for his brilliant comment. As many of you know we seldom do agree on things politically, but his statement is extremely important one, which I am willing to acknowledge.
I wish more folks would put aside their political driven motives and examine the issues based upon facts. Every issue should be evaluated based upon its significance to Bermuda, and not one’s party affiliation only.
Mr.”Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar” I hope you do not object to my re-printing your statement.
“I’m going to give credit where credit is due.
The things that the PLP have proposed are good things. This is the sort of behaviour that I want and expect to see from our Opposition. So bravo! Keep up the good work.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing more forward progress.
And for those who say these are just small things… maybe you’re right, but they are still positives for Bermuda and Bermudians and should be credited as such.
Now if both sides could knock off the drama, so that we could fully appreciate the positives that happen, without the dark cloud marring them, that would be good as well.”
As I said, well put Ronnie, well put.
@”Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar” , I too look forward to the Government and Opposition working together for the overall betterment of Bermuda. It is only when this happens will Bermuda be successful in moving forward,and the disconnect, racial divide and polarization will slowly end in Bermuda.
We must realize that change will involve all of us, to move and to work in the interest of Bermuda only !! I ask that both political parties put down their “political swords” and work in the interest of the people. I know we can do this, MPs put away their “huge Egos” and act upon behalf of the people whom you are there to server, rather than self-interest only.
Bermuda can only move forward successfully if we come together as one !!
I agree. Stuff got done. Legislation got implemented or changed. Well done to our politicians on both sides for moving things forward on these issues.
To oppose on this piece just because it came from Mark Bean shows a lack of maturity from some of my fellow OBA supporters.
Let’s all move on from the playground and learn to have grown up conversations.
Betty…he starts with “give credit where credit is due”….something for you to ponder.
What about the facts and figures surrounding Port Royal?
Will you put aside your politically driven motives to criticize the handling of it by the last Gov’t.
Also, if you’re going to praise someone reply to their post and not somebody else.
@ Betty – Oh I see, because “Rhonnie” compliments the PLP, it is a “brilliant comment”…gotcha
I don’t mind at all, Ms Trump, and thank you.
Premier Dunkley, please order a Special Inquiry on the Port Royal, Heritage Wharf and Grand Atlantic projects and release the results publicly to the people of Bermuda.
Now that’s a good idea.
Don’t forget Berkley & the courts building.
Let’s not forget West Gate while we are at it!
Or Cedarbridge which came in ontime & on budget. Oh yes, Westgate, conveniently forgetting all of the changes to the plans made during the build.
Don’t forget TCD!
A Question to Consider:
In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others? Reassess your dream by asking, Who will benefit the most when it comes true? If the answer revolves around you, then you still have some thinking to do in order to stretch your dream from selfishness to significance
For someone who hates de Union and people standing up for their rights and then quote someone who died for de same cause is laughable.
What rights are you standing up for?
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Chinese Proverb
It’s not a matter of “hating the Union” it’s a matter of changing things, (certain peoples attitudes) within the Union.
I’m going to give credit where credit is due.
The things that the PLP have proposed are good things. This is the sort of behaviour that I want and expect to see from our Opposition. So bravo! Keep up the good work.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing more forward progress.
And for those who say these are just small things… maybe you’re right, but they are still positives for Bermuda and Bermudians and should be credited as such.
Now if both sides could knock off the drama, so that we could fully appreciate the positives that happen, without the dark cloud marring them, that would be good as well.
Well said, I agree with you 120 percent!
Seems like the PLP went to the House last week to get work done for and on behalf of Bermudians…
while the OBA went to manufacture drama…
i want wa ya smokin on lmfao….dreamer
yes getting the americas cup was very dramatic.
the most dramatic thing ever to happen to Bermuda.
Keep the drama coming OBA.
drama drama drama
Um dont know what planet you r from but the americas cup is prob the biggest thing to happen for us in the past 50 years. Drama? Have another drink mate. I cant think of anything bigger than that cup. Whether you’re into sailing or not the money that comes with it is atronomical. If there was any drama at all its good drama.
You are PLP and you are manufacturing drama
Interesting, since it was comments by Mr. Bean and Mr. DeSilva that instigated the drama. Additionally, Mr. Bean’s opinion piece is very one sided in trying to trumpet the PLP.
Point one, the commission. It was the PLP that wrote a failed legislation in July and created the ‘farce’ that he is trying to deflect to others. The OBA took their failure and farce and turned it into an actual tangible workable solution, creating an actual workable legislation, something the PLP failed to do.
Point two, Bermuda Day. Let’s be honest, this change will not bring about huge economic rewards to Bermudians, except in a very long term acculative effect, it just makes sense. It is not some brilliant piece of legislature, but something that has been talked about for years and has been gaining support from many sector of the island on all sides of the aisle. To try and make it sound like it was an engineering of PLP brilliance, when all it is, is a very minor tweak to legislation, and while easily done, you’d have to really want to nit pick to ignore the fact that the OBA government has been otherwise distracted with far bigger issues of national importance to have had this on their immediate radar.
Lastly, the interest rate fix. While I will give the PLP credit for raising this issue, their solution was simply an adjustment to a legislated rate. Not some ground breaking change to the legislation that would allow more flexibility and market adaptability. The only thing they were changing was the the rate, not the legislation. What the OBA has pledged to do, while rejecting this change, is to look at how the the BMA can play a greater role in ensuring and implementing an adaptable rate. This will require an actual legislative change.
Frankly, what I have read had all the markings of typical PLP PR trying to spin what was effectively either a PLP fowl up or just minor tweaks, into a notion that they are in fact inspired brilliance to which we should be eternally grateful that the PLP came along with them. An over inflation to reality.
Seems to me that a previous government tried to move Bermuda Day and was soundly rebuffed by the public.
Bean has zero credibility. ZERO
Marc Has-Been
I applaud the PLP using Marc Bean’s name. At least this piece reads well and makes sense. It also goes to show that they are perfect as an Opposition Party. They have no financial skills, but they are good for the social agenda. They put forward ideas that have no benefit to pay down the $2bn debt they created and no ideas to create jobs. Let the OBA try to recover Bermuda’s financial health and the PLP can put forward new ideas like a bottle bill to pay 5c for each bottle returned; legislation to stop the use of plastic bags and a law to ban chewing gum. Those types of important social measures that they understand. Just don’t let them near the Government of Bermuda.
okay…motion of the day: let’s focus our efforts on the holiday, Should it be a Friday or Monday?
okay…now file that under Meaningful Social Importance…
okay – what next? how about we arrange the deck chairs while the ship is sinking?
very few people are taking anything MB has to say seriously.
He and a few others have shown their true self.
I think fewer & fewer people are even reading what Marc Bean has to say let alone care what he has to say.
“Although the One Bermuda Alliance refused to support Shadow Minister of Finance David Burt’s Statutory Interest Rate Reduction Act, which would have reduced the statutory interest rate from 7% to 3%; the OBA were forced to acknowledge the wisdom of the PLP’s vision in reducing this rate.”
He wants to unilaterally decrease rates by 4%????? Now he has made the OBA acknowledge the wisdom of this? How about baby steps to realise this.
Someone with sense within the PLP read this and get rid of this guy. No wonder he runs a gaming company. Nothing he says is realistic.
” Let the OBA try to recover Bermuda’s financial health and the PLP can put forward new ideas like a bottle bill to pay 5c for each bottle returned; legislation to stop the use of plastic bags and a law to ban chewing gum. ”
As amusing as it was reading that excerpt above I believe if both parties played to their strengths the island will begin to move forward.I also believe that absolute power corrupts absolutely so a system of checks and balances must continue to keep the ship on course.
Just keep the nit picking to a bare minimum the next generation is watching you set a good if not at least a reasonable example.
I strongly believe it’s overdue. And additional charge of 5 cents on all bottles / cans and plastic,(minerals / beers) a then a refund of said containers once returned. Just imagine how much tidier our Island will become if people knew they’ll receive 5 cents per. container when returning them…
The PLP were a terrible government but conversely a rather effective opposition, that being said it would be in the interest of Bermuda to keep them in the job they do best. Kudos to the Bean opposition may your reign be forever. So says”Edification”
“These three changes to law along with our legislation relating to ending the practice of sending Bermudians to jail for civil debts, ending conscription, and decriminalising simple cannabis possession are tangible proof of our commitment to that pledge.”
When this is distilled this sounds like – don’t pay your bills because you won’t get locked up, you won’t go to jail if you don’t want to volunteer to be a help to your community and oh yeah, it’s okay, you wont go to jail just because you have a small bit of weed.