Comments on: Opinion: Bringing Forward Real Ideas, Solutions

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:20:10 +0000

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…

By: Stunned...

Stunned... — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:44:53 +0000

“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.

By: Stunned...

Stunned... — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:37:03 +0000

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?

By: Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar

Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:52:13 +0000

I don’t mind at all, Ms Trump, and thank you.

By: Stunned...

Stunned... — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:54:04 +0000

@ Betty – Oh I see, because “Rhonnie” compliments the PLP, it is a “brilliant comment”…gotcha

By: wayne

wayne — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:00:42 +0000

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”

By: Anbu

Anbu — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:37:03 +0000

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.

By: Oh,I see now

Oh,I see now — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:16:43 +0000

” 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.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:39:53 +0000

“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.

By: Bermuda Day?

Bermuda Day? — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:19:56 +0000

Seems to me that a previous government tried to move Bermuda Day and was soundly rebuffed by the public.

By: Bullseye

Bullseye — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 02:54:32 +0000

“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.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 02:42:56 +0000

I think fewer & fewer people are even reading what Marc Bean has to say let alone care what he has to say.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 02:38:56 +0000

Or Cedarbridge which came in ontime & on budget. Oh yes, Westgate, conveniently forgetting all of the changes to the plans made during the build.

By: Barracuda

Barracuda — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 02:32:19 +0000

What rights are you standing up for?

By: Kunta

Kunta — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 01:27:35 +0000

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.

By: John E. Thorne

John E. Thorne — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 00:10:17 +0000

Don’t forget TCD!

By: Strike fund

Strike fund — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:28:08 +0000

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.

By: Sky Pilot

Sky Pilot — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:02:08 +0000

very few people are taking anything MB has to say seriously.
He and a few others have shown their true self.

By: BermyL

BermyL — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:45:36 +0000

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.

By: jt

jt — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:19:45 +0000

Betty…he starts with “give credit where credit is due”….something for you to ponder.

By: SMH

SMH — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:16:50 +0000

Marc Has-Been

By: Ringmaster

Ringmaster — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:13:52 +0000

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.

By: concern_bda

concern_bda — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:10:36 +0000

Let’s not forget West Gate while we are at it!

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:17:43 +0000

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.

By: BETTTY TRUMP

BETTTY TRUMP — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:05:29 +0000

@”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 !!

By: BETTTY TRUMP

BETTTY TRUMP — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:00:13 +0000

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.

By: sally

sally — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:54:40 +0000

Well said, I agree with you 120 percent!

By: Navin Johnson

Navin Johnson — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:45:00 +0000

Bean has zero credibility. ZERO

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:18:02 +0000

You are PLP and you are manufacturing drama

By: YEEUP

YEEUP — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:10:05 +0000

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

By: haha

haha — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:05:20 +0000

i want wa ya smokin on lmfao….dreamer

By: watching

watching — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:45:44 +0000

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…

By: Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar

Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:25:28 +0000

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.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:16:11 +0000

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

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:59:39 +0000

Don’t forget Berkley & the courts building.

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:52:04 +0000

Now that’s a good idea.

By: SMH

SMH — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:21:09 +0000

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.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:09:37 +0000

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.

By: watcher

watcher — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:02:12 +0000

Mr. Bean you cannot be taken seriously. Your alleged treatment of women is contemptible and makes your offerings above a total farce.