Comments on: E-Polls: Vote On Suggested Cost Cutting Ideas

By: G E M

G E M — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:28:07 +0000

Cut paid personal days for teachers, etc in Education… This came during Mrs. Cox’s time as Finance Minister, I think. It must be a very costly line item. The maximum time is 4 days and is based upon length of service. Not only does the educator get paid, they also have to FIND and PAY a sub to cover the day (s) the classroom teacher is absent. Not to mention the time spent organizing the coverage, etc. … Time is $$$.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:08:31 +0000

and what of the lifetime benifits packages enjoyed by those top shots? you do realize that we still pay the likes of dr. brown john swan and the rest of them even dunkley and co.[oba] are now in the position to receive these lifetime benifits, whether they are successful or not… who dreamed that bs up?

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:02:40 +0000

i agree with the sage commissions advice that all government wages should be cut. as it is the wages for these cash cow’s that is sucking our country dry… make the cuts from the top down, i don’t think we really have a choice, as suggested by sage, large cuts from the overpaid at the top down to smaller %’s for those paid the least…an over-bloated government, along with over-bloated pay packages makes little sense to me. further more most, if not all of the ‘higher up’s’ have more revenue streams flowing cash into their personal bank accounts, unlike most of the ‘lower level’ workers who only have the one job [which doesn't even equal to half of what the big shots are making, btw]. Suspend ministerial pay packages all together until they can bail us out of this mess, then we will see how interested they are at working for bermuda. I bet you the house of parliament would be a ghost town.

By: Just asking

Just asking — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:51:55 +0000

Make inmates pay for their keep like other places. People getting degrees if the taxpayers, free room and board, free meals. Make them pay.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:40:52 +0000

cue ‘the sound of silence’…

By: Caitlyn

Caitlyn — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:38:54 +0000

How about reducing 100 sick days a year .The Employment Act 2000 sites 10 day’s
Accountability by means of a time sheet for Govt departments.
Why buy u forms for some Govt departments just because they have to use up budget?
Why not when you need it we replace it.
Get rid if dead wood teachers.When a child reaches P5 and cannot do 2x 2 time tables something is wrong
Pensions passed on to spouses who never worked in Govt for life cut out.
Read the Sage report people gave much insight on cost savings

By: Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:20:17 +0000

Cut govt jobs by 20 percent starting with some of the highest earners ! Before anybody ask where would they get a job or how would they pay there mortgage , belco bill etc. let me answer, the same way the 6000 in the private sector do it. The best way they can !

By: Bermy Bud

Bermy Bud — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:26:46 +0000

Can someone for the life of me please answer this question? What exactly has the civil service sacrificed for the betterment of Bermuda? All i c is the children and the much needy have been sacrificed once again! So where is the shared sacrifice from Chris furbert and his civil servants!? NADA!!!

By: Y-Gurl

Y-Gurl — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:45:57 +0000

That’s Nonsense! Ask anyone in the private sector electrical companies and the local telephone company

By: Thinking outside the box

Thinking outside the box — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 16:23:50 +0000

How about charging school children a flat rate per year for their bus/ferry passes? It doesn’t need to be a huge amount, but if you think of the amount of passes that are handed out a year for free….it adds up. And for those who will say their children don’t use public transport, then they can opt not to buy a pass.

By: wondering

wondering — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 16:20:09 +0000

that is just it – revamp the whole show to include something for the tourists!!! Why ask a question you know the answer to?

By: bluebird

bluebird — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 15:27:02 +0000

I see that you are all nickel and dimeing it.
The Government spends $300Million Dollars per year more than it takes in.Thank you PLP Administration.
We are all living large on other peoples money and how long do you think that it will continue ?????
We have 11,300 work permits issued and 8,000 on the government payroll.
Do the math before it is too late.

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 14:20:47 +0000

I suppose you know that we are living in a two teared economy.

We need to stop borrowing Money.

If all goes well, with the hope that we will get back on our feet and stay there.

Instead of cutting salaries and sending people home with not enough to pay the food bill, may be the Government could give a refundable numbered lottery ticket or a post dated check to the employee that in its self is a form of savings.

Other Governments offer savings programs with transferable bearer bonds, ” Peoples Bonds” pay out with interest annually and higher than the banks pay out on a C/D just now. oops !

Oh ! by the way slow down inflation which will defeat the exercise.

By: Toodle-oo

Toodle-oo — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:49:27 +0000

Let’s think about that suggestion for a minute , eh ?
Yes it was done before , but it was pretty unpopular although it didn’t impact me too much .

What were the savings made when no-one in fact lost their job ?
All it was was a reduced schedule , so the only real saving would have been for the reduced fuel bill of not having the trucks on the road for 2 days.

Now , if everyone could reduce their production of garbage by 50% it might work , but you know that as huge consumers that isn’t about to happen here .

So , there’d be at least twice the amount of trash to be collected on just one day of the week now instead of two and they can’t keep up with what we have now.
Overtime would be needed to keep up , and couple that with no-one getting laid off (permanently) or equipment being sold . All this equates to zero savings .. and it might even cost more .

By: JUNK YARD DOG

JUNK YARD DOG — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:44:37 +0000

Just wait one minute here.

Who is running this country the Government who is responsible for the well being 61,000 people or the Unions who support 4,000 people?

By: David

David — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:28:08 +0000

Maybe all of the Parliament leed by example and take a 10% pay cut, with only one pay per seat. Not per ministry head. Then maybe the workers might follow.

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:19:35 +0000

Mate traffic offences can kill! If you were burgled or swindled would you really not want the perpatrator locked up?

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:17:28 +0000

It was called SAGE

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:16:58 +0000

And anyway this would produce job losses which is what they are trying to avoid!

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:15:23 +0000

Why would tourists come to the AG show?

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 12:14:48 +0000

Honestly do you really think visitors come to the appalling ag show. I would pay to have it cancelled and for our kids to have the extra day of school instead.

By: democracyrules

democracyrules — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 11:04:56 +0000

Right. Then we could turn the facilities into a convention center to be rented out or rent it to a local business. Fields can be rented out to sports groups or fitness groups. This could be turned into a source of income instead of a loss.

By: democracyrules

democracyrules — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 10:42:03 +0000

Why not cut back to trash pick up once a week? We used to do that before.

By: J.J.

J.J. — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 02:53:27 +0000

Yes do it!

By: Disgusted Parent

Disgusted Parent — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 00:57:07 +0000

If they would take note of these things then sure, however, they won’t. They will simply pick two schools close in proximity with the lowest number of students, regardless of whether or not those schools are adequately or overpopulated already. Education is not something you bargain with to cut costs, it’s far too important.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:52:26 +0000

they rely on all the small infractions to keep them employed…otherwise they would be sitting around twiddling their thumbs all day. or, out of a job altogether.

By: No bias thoughts

No bias thoughts — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:50:13 +0000

All point’s and views maybe valid and make alot of sense but are useless unless we go independent. We have good ideas that can only be taken serious under a reforandum..

By: wondering

wondering — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:09:36 +0000

my wife and I said the same thing – we have the Argo Gold Cup, May 24 has corporate sponsoring – maybe the AG Show might even become a tourist attraction (with the corporate brand attached to it – you lnow, attach a discount at local hotels for guests who buy, let’s say, tickets to the AG Show or become patrons via a website partnering on expedia.com or hotels.com to entice ppl to Bermuda

By: Sorry Sir

Sorry Sir — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:07:45 +0000

Question:

Why are we wasting the courts time and essentially our money on having to go to court for traffic offenses. Think how much money we could save by handed out fixed fines, instead of being handed whatever the judge feels like fining you based on his mood that day. How much times a week is traffic court? How much of the courts time and resources are being wasted on such minuscule offenses?

I say get rid of traffic court and just put out tickets like parking tickets.

Speeding at X kmph = this fine and X amount of points deducted

It’s not rocket science. In fact it’s basic mathematics.

By: Artsy Onion

Artsy Onion — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:53:59 +0000

Yes, my significant other being a BPSA member was ticked off that his shop steward never informed them about it . He would rather take a furlough than have colleagues made redundant & social assistance reduced for those who truly need it. He said they should vote on it with the optional question of being of having the option to take one.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:33:25 +0000

or is the meaning of “team” a hundred workers and a couple of clowns cracking the whip?

By: more than enough

more than enough — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:25:11 +0000

the reefs do a printout of occupancy levels etc..and distribute them among all departments.
what i would like to know is how the unions negotiated different levels of pay for the same work description eg the reefs pays $16 – $17hr for a gardener, as per the union agreement, yet a government employee makes approximately $10hr more and also better benefits…eg the reefs paid 50% of my health insurance, but after adding my son i was responsible for 100% of that leaving me with less than $500 take home pay for a forty hr week.
that just don’t seem right. how is it that the unionized workers in the private sector are not protected by the unions in the same way as government workers?

By: Alvin Williams

Alvin Williams — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 20:10:58 +0000

Stop paying for Britain’s diplomatic presence in our country which cause us over a million dollars a year. Take over government house lands and turn it into an economic benefit for Bermuda. Stop the tax breaks for business interests. Take control of our air space which Britain now controls which it collects fees for it’s use and further to that uses Bermuda’s air space as a bargaining chip in it’s negotiations with other nations over air routes.

By: Mutualized Departments

Mutualized Departments — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:49:35 +0000

Put the Parks Maintenance yard on hold. Parks Maintenance was listed for outsourcing in the last budget. Doesn’t make sense not to now.

By: more than enough

more than enough — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:43:18 +0000

with all these consultants, the sage commission, the crc’s recommendations, all the politicians and the upper echelon of cs’s, how is it the unions responsibility to find the necessary cuts? is the oba really worth the money or what? If i had a network of people doing my work for me i would never have to work at all… are we to presume the same of these politicians?

By: Mutualized Departments

Mutualized Departments — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:39:39 +0000

Why not put the Parks Maintenance project on hold or kill it all together? Why is Government still spending money on that after Gov. in the last budget that the Parks Maintenance dept was being looked at for outsourcing. Doesn’t the left and talk to the right?

By: Micro

Micro — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:26:37 +0000

Perhaps cap elected official positions at the median Bermudian household wage.

Maybe ministers holding more than one portfolio get paid half for the second, quarter for the third.

By: Ruthless

Ruthless — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:20:24 +0000

What about all these consultants we keep bringing in. That’s probably 500,000 or more right there. Top QC’s for prisoners on tax payer dime. That’s an easy $1,000,000 per year right there. And next time everyone goes on strike, everyone bring ten dollars and that will be 5000 x 10 = 50,000 right there.

By: Serious Though

Serious Though — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:15:17 +0000

Education is expensive but ignorance will cost even more for all of us.

By: islandguy

islandguy — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:11:26 +0000

In reference to govt assistance, with the AC coming there is going to be a greater chance for employments by all.So social assistance should be cut to nothing then.
If where thinking intelligently here, mps will still have to travel somewhat so cut there spending wisely.
The ag show,we should keep, but make vendors and exhibitors pay entry fees, if not he whole thing then something. ill conttinue at a later time on the rest.
But we have to be smart and remember govt has no money in the kiddy, its not rocket science theres no money. i work in the private sector and havent had apay increase for going on 7 years.But im appreative to be employed.
And as i have stated before i do not support party politics..

By: cmon

cmon — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:07:52 +0000

We have a multitude of exempt companies that are registered here who pay a nominal annual fee, let’s raise those fees. Let’s also raise the fees on the numerous aircraft and shipping vessels that are registered here. It shocks me that it appears this has not be considered. The budget has to be balanced both ways..cutting and generating. We should also look into medical tourism to take advantage of our climate and take some of that business from Turks & Caicos

By: Ace girl

Ace girl — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:57:13 +0000

Too many primary schools with too few students. Amalgamate these schools and bus the children to their new school. A bus and bus driver is much more economically astute than maintaining schools, teachers, physical plant etc., for less than 10 students in a class.

By: PBanks

PBanks — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:53:14 +0000

How much have we lost btw as a result of “free” bus rides for schoolchildren? I’m sure it’s a mere drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things, but wonder if that was ever identified by any of the sides in the discussion?

By: Politricks

Politricks — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:44:46 +0000

In terms of your 3rd point, it is impossible to do so for some government workers as the BIU refuses to allow for annual performance reviews to be conducted on its members.

So how can you confirm is someone is an underperformer if there aren’t basic objectives set at the beginning of the year?

By: bob the builder

bob the builder — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:44:37 +0000

What about the elderly, the blind, disabled who cannot get to the end of the street? Great idea though for the able bodied. Perhaps the able bodied could assist the others?

By: Politricks

Politricks — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:42:06 +0000

I don’t know the specifics of the Hotel Concessions Act enacted by the PLP, but how do you know so much about the Reefs? I just read the other day that air arrivals are down again.

So we should scrap the Hotel Concessions Act, put a cap on financial assistance, scrap the AGA show just to save the overtime of government workers (which many abuse and is common knowledge) and so they don’t have to pay another 1% into their pensions.

One question – how many government workers have been made redundant? Second question – do you think it is true ‘shared sacrifice’ when government workers refuse to even give up overtime pay and refuse to increase their pension contributions by a measly 1% (the same pensions that are an unfunded liability in the billions of dollars)?

By: More positive

More positive — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:39:16 +0000

why so negative? how about great idea but probably only work for roads with less than 10 houses

By: stunned...

stunned... — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:33:15 +0000

not sure if arithmetic is the Union’s forte.

By: cut

cut — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:26:51 +0000

actually our road is quite long with smaller lanes branching off and quite a lot of houses. The truck could travel down our main road and make 2-3 stops instead of running up and down all the lanes. There are many ways to tweak and make something like this efficient.

I used to take mine and one of my neighbors trash daily to the drop off on my way to work before the morning hours were changed to later times.

By: what...

what... — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:24:11 +0000

How about unpaid vacation? This as opposed to furlough can be taken as grouped days and in conjunction with paid vacation… it can be managed and regulated just like normal vacation.