Comments on: Report: Island Has Lost 6,726 Jobs Since 2008

By: Cynic

Cynic — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 01:02:48 +0000

I concur with you Build A Better Bermuda. Strong good quality building processes are usually very long and tedious but the converse is true for destruction. Reputation and trust are critical for investments and everyone in this country must understand this.

By: e

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:12:26 +0000

Despite or because of?

You don’t have to be an OBA mouthpiece to suspect that the PLP, or at the very least its financial mavens, were mistaken and possibly negligent in their handling of the public purse, and that the island is still suffering because of that failure.

Whether the current government is up to the task of ameliorating the island’s general financial woes is another question.

By: MAKE MY DAY

MAKE MY DAY — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:51:59 +0000

Ain’t the PLP just wonderful!!! Go ahead…. Vote them in again and NO one will have a job except fishermen and farmers!!!

Mind you they have already “bankrupted” the Island !!!

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:22:39 +0000

Gee… Thanks for educating me on my mentality.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:21:23 +0000

I will call you… Angry Ed. Nice ring to it.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:11:57 +0000

Do you honestly believe the success the island felt in that first half of the PLP administration had anything to do with what the PLP built. They rode on the success that had built from decades before there was even a PLP, then they tried to exploit it as they spent more then they were taking in, and finally they failed to reacted when the decline was clearly evident. If we are so essential to them, then why did so many leave… We are only essential if we can provide them with the competitive environment they need. Your beloved PLP had either no idea or no will to think beyond local policies to maintain/create/provide such an environment and as such, Bermuda lost its edge. Your mentality that Bermuda is that IB will always come to us, is the exact mentality of the PLP administration that put us here today. We cannot afford these shortsighted policies that the current PLP leadership still promote, anymore than we could 7 years ago.

By: somuchless

somuchless — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:09:10 +0000

In you’re loosing the battle. Give it a rest.

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:46:06 +0000

Thank you ” young Bermudian ” I notice all we hear is tree frogs and crickets concerning your post??? Sadly far to many bermudians have this self entitlement mentality and they can’t even begin to understand what you said!!! I will tell you to keep preservering and you will achieve your goals, good luck!!!

By: Ed Case

Ed Case — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:13:42 +0000

Yes Ian it took the PLP several years to ruin Bermuda – it will take even more to fix it – if at all possible.

If PLP is voted back in at the next election, Bermuda is as good as finished. People will leave by the thousand, there will be mass unemployment. Our dollar will be devalued and there will be mass poverty.

This is because the PLP has proven to us without a doubt that they don’t have a clue. They are beyond pathetic.

Unfortunately, half the voting public are below average intelligence – and they are your demographic.

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:10:28 +0000

Ian, everytime you post, it only proves how bad our education system really is??? Thank you for the reminder!!!!

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:04:48 +0000

For starters a real bermudians with roots here can be black or white….

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:02:41 +0000

When I see yours I think kangaroo….

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 23:56:12 +0000

Interesting comments considering the island experienced the peak of its prosperity under he PLP. Big business is less concerned about the things that scare certain LOCALS because the island will always provide the essentials they need under either government. The bells and whistles the OBA tends to promote are more a reflection of the whispers they get from the interests they represent that want more than the terms they originally agreed to in being here.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 23:14:55 +0000

Another myth. The “constant threat” to daily worklife isn’t there in most developed countries. They don’t have the impediment. Here, it’s become the norm. In other places the laws against wildcat strikes are observed. Here, the unions only want laws enforced that benefit them. They ignore the ones that place responsibilities on them, like filing accounts, giving notice of strikes, etc.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 23:10:06 +0000

Take a look at the third slide on the Deloitte report, Rhonda. It shows clearly what an utter mess the mess PLP were making of our economy, while other economies had returned to full blown growth.
The PLP created the recession, Rhonda, and we will never get out of it while we waste hundreds of millions of dollars employing thousands of people we don’t need and who, frankly, don’t appreciate it in the first place.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:09:59 +0000

Grow up Ian, i bet there are a few loonies at either end of any spectrum… Those folks are loonies.

What is a real Bermudian, because you seem hell bent on destroying Bermuda by ignoring the failed PLP and spreading divisive hatered. I guess you are not a real Bermudian.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:00:02 +0000

So There is no debt or oversized civil service? Rhonda get a grip on reality please for you own sake.

By: Ed Case

Ed Case — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:47:25 +0000

So many PLP-tards still don’t get it. They think if they get in they can somehow fix it.

Instead they would only finish off the job they did of completely ruining Bermuda.

Thank you PLP

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:41:50 +0000

Ian, everytime I see your name, the first thing that comes into my mind is, zenophobe!!!!!

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 20:33:06 +0000

Sorry Rhonda, once again you have to be corrected??? When it comes to OUR recession, your plp can take all the credit!!!!!

By: Lawry

Lawry — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 20:14:13 +0000

Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, immediately come to mind.

By: Tolerate

Tolerate — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:56:14 +0000

And to add to this,; the constant blame game by the PLP and the comments to the Press IMMEDIATELY after the Budget Release is childish in nature.

By: Young Bermudian

Young Bermudian — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:53:34 +0000

I am sorry but I do not agree with your assessment, I do not think it is understandable. For those who have been out of work for many months now it should not be about what job will pay the best. I know the face of debt because unlike most young Bermudians I do not feel entitled to education or work. I am over 40,000 dollars in debt due to student loans to pay for Undergraduate school, now I am in Law school so that debt will also increase.

For many they should be grateful to have any job. At this point even the slightest bit of money coming in is more than nothing at all. I wait tables in order to pay off student loans, its not a glamorous job nor a high paying job. I am currently in the USA where minimum wage for waitstaff is under $4.

If you want something bad enough you will have the drive to go out and get it. You do not make excuses for not having enough money or other complaints; you go out there and do everything in your power to make a successful life for yourself.

By: Tolerate

Tolerate — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:47:25 +0000

Than you must laugh a lot if you believe what you just wrote.Quoting Jesus also does not make your comments any less false.
How often did our Ex Premier/Finance Minister tell us everything is good and improving? These numbers don’t reflect that; and I’m not talking about the last couple of years because the slide started way before that.
The unemployment rate has been going up and up for some time from figure above, and that’s FACTS!
The poor policies put in place at a critical time did NOT aid in addressing the slide.
Now we have a new Government, and all the same Party who put us in this mess repeats is, “the current Government can’t fix it?” Hilarious when you put it that way right?
You sound like the wife who spent and spent the family money when times where hard, pretending all is well, and now has to realize the family is BROKE; but can’t face up to the fact she should have handled finances better.
But hey; the husband took over the family finances so now its his mess?
“The Private sector created the recession; the PLP kept the economy from plunging?” Do you seriously believe thing would be different if the PLP won the last election? Hell, they passed on close to a 2 Billion dollars in debt to the new Government.
So really are you saying that the Private Sector should be burdened with the recovery? Last I remembered, the Private Sector (by the way is WHERE the job losses took place),has been suffering for some time now; is ALSO a major contributor to paying the Public Sector.
Please stop trying to divide the two; we ALL need to fix the position we are in together. It’s not on the Private Sector.

By: mixitup

mixitup — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 18:57:43 +0000

So we’ve all been painted with the same Brush including yourself. But if you owned a business you would Hire someone on a work permit… Do you know how silly that sounds?

By: Creamy

Creamy — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 18:31:48 +0000

Becase they’re always whining about how “shared sacrifce”. They have guaranteed jobs, gold plated pensions, 14 weeks sick, 6 weeks vacation, and think they did their bit by have a temporary furlough day.

By: Jetsetter

Jetsetter — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 17:48:10 +0000

WOW!!! That’s a lot of jobless people!!! I think its time for me to save more and take less trips abroad.. I maybe next.. -_-

By: rhonda

rhonda — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:57:21 +0000

What make me laugh is the people that say look things, really hit the fan in 2012 not 2008.. and I them I am reminded of Jesus…. saying when you was at your weakest point, the foot prints you saw were minds, I was carring you….. the PLP keep the ecompmy from plunging… and the OBA is borrowing to do the same……

The Private sector created the recession…not public workers…

By: Coffee

Coffee — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:34:50 +0000

Name one developed jurisdiction where there isn’t in your words ‘a constant threat of work life being disrupted by strikes, emergency meetings, and the like while there is a continual threat of more in the future.
More to it , Bermuda maybe quite a mild and pleasant environment to live , work and play . I’m privileged to live and work here where the only constant is perpetual boredom .

By: Positivity

Positivity — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:18:36 +0000

I worked in the service industry for many years in what some might say is a “low skilled position”. Being a server is not a low skilled position-it takes a lot of skill and mental fortitude and yes, the hourly pay is terrible but I made great money because of the tips, in a bar that didn’t have a mandatory gratuity added on. So there is definitely money to be made-you have to work hard for it and yes, work nights and weekends but I managed to pay rent here, pay a mortgage overseas and live comfortably. A lot of people are unwilling to to work anything other than 9-5 M-F and I get that but if you are really needing a job-they’re out there.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:14:38 +0000

Perhaps their spouse has a permit. Perhaps their spouse is Bermudian. Perhaps they are staying home ro look after young kids. Perhaps they are actually Bermudian.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:10:31 +0000

They OBA only opened the door as Government in Jan 2013. So you need to compare the 2013 with 2014. And use the same base year in the denominator. You’ll quickly see that your post has no foundation.

By: and iI'm sticking to it

and iI'm sticking to it — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:54:38 +0000

NONSENSE!!!!

By: jt

jt — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:49:02 +0000

“Larger segment”….untrue.

“Real grassroots Bermudians.”….divisive.

I will reserve judgement on OBA ‘success’ until their has been sufficient time for change to take effect. Claiming things are better or worse or the same at this stage is premature.

By: Fed-Up

Fed-Up — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:28:53 +0000

Please explain what a
“Bermudian” is,
what a “Grass-root Bermudian is”?
You’re either Bermudian or not!
When is all this Racial non-sense going to Stop.
Racism should have been Outlawed years ago!
You are 60,000odd living within 21sq. miles.
God help the next generation.

By: Tolerate

Tolerate — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:28:11 +0000

@ Raw Onion; not sure why all the dislikes? Your comment is 100% correct. It’s like the argument of, (and these are NOT real figures)a population being 80% black and people questioning why the prison population is more blacks than any other races?
I do however see N/A’s point in the numbers. Immigration is responsible for permits being granted I believe.
Why is it not a joint response from them and other Government departments addressing these numbers. Bermudians at this time may not have the numbers qualified to hold the higher end business jobs; but there are WAY too many Foreign Workers holding down jobs that Bermudians have done in the past.
Maybe Bermudians no longer wish to work those jobs? Who knows; but it is far too many people bought in to hold down those job positions, and NO I’m not Xenophobic either; just thoughtful for my fellow Bermudian.

By: Tolerate

Tolerate — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:15:57 +0000

Being unbiased and having no political allegiance; I think I should point out to you that your interpretation of “isn’t THAT much less” is a bit misleading.
A trend is a hard thing to break, let alone reverse. Poor governing started the ball rolling in job losses that were actually a fall-out of poor decisions by the PLP Government. We ALL know this. The OBA supporters blaming the PLP for this is expected because of the PLP’s reluctance (and PLP followers constant denial) to take responsibility for it.
Trying to deflect and manipulate statistic DOES NOT help.
WE need to support the current governments attempts to getting it fixed.
But we waste time on things like black vs white, poor vs rich, unionized workers vs non-unionized workers. Bermuda will NEVER fix any real issues that we face as a society, until we fix our thinking and attitude towards our fellow Bermudians.
This Island is too divided for any issues to be fixed, and sadly; I truly believe this is EXACTLY what certain individuals in Bermuda want. I just hope my fellow Bermudians are smart enough to see through these attempts of division, because ALL Bermuda needs to come together to turn around our current situation.
IMO

By: It's about time!

It's about time! — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:44:21 +0000

And I have seen expats that have been here for YEARS actually escorted to the airport once their permit was not renewed!!! Stop your verbal nonsense already!!!

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:28:21 +0000

Last paragraph before and the first TWO paragraphs after the chart, I meant to type!!

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:26:40 +0000

Ian, try reading the last paragraph before and the first TWO paragraphs around the chart!!! Your usual plp/racial tendencies are obviously hindering you from being honest once again!!! I suggest you read those paragraphs over and over until you allow it to sink into your shallow head!!!!

By: umok

umok — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:19:33 +0000

And the worst part is we advertise the information on our social media websites for the world to see!!

By: Keepin' it Real!...4Real!

Keepin' it Real!...4Real! — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:58:26 +0000

if u don’t have a job it’s YOUR fault no one else’s. there’s a difference between “needing” a job and “wanting” a job…i’ve hired those that need a job and those who want a job…guess who’s still on the job…no one, OWES you anything.

By: Lawry

Lawry — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:23:55 +0000

Ian, the biggest hindrance to long term investment is the fear (and fear is probably too weak a word) that the likes of Burch and his pals will return. Short term, four year business cycle Return On Investment is a business reality everywhere; in Bermuda the threat of a PLP return is so omninous to investors that even that is too long.

By: Strike fund

Strike fund — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:16:25 +0000

It’s crazy.
If you are fortunate enough to own your home at retirement you can kiss goodbye to $1000 per month in tax and maintenance. Another $1000 in healthcare (not including co-pay). For a retired couple that’s $3000 per month before food and utilities.
I think Bermuda is in big danger of losing a lot of pensioners to overseas retirement because as EU citizens there are a lot of options and your money goes much further allowing you to live rather than merely exist.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:13:12 +0000

It is a bit naive to think that, even in this day, employers have not perfected the art of hiring practices tailored to a desired result. I have seen first hand foreigners go from one food&bev job to another with more ease than a local, who was searching over the course of that period, managed to find something. And its not just food&bev. I have seen preferential hiring in IB as well, including nepotism where foreign managers are securing jobs for their already-priveleged children. And trust me I do not need advice to engage immigration on these matters. You people are delusional taking the position the system’s integrity is airtight and incorruptible. Bermuda has quickly become fertile ground for foreigners to thrive in on new policies (and tolerances) that were well-intended but have guaranteed too much for future generations of non-Bermudians (with little sign of tangible foreseeable expected benefit for the island) and very little for future generations of Bermudians.

By: Strike fund

Strike fund — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 13:07:46 +0000

To be fair, these jobs don’t really pay a living wage.
Bermuda is a very expensive place to merely exist (health insurance, rent, BELCO, food etc.).

There are people willing to come here and do these jobs and live very basically for a few years to make a better life for themselves.

Good luck to them, but it is also understandable that Bermudians are not applying. It is not unique issue. If you go to places like New York and London where the cost of living is high you also see a similar situation.

I think education needs to be fixed and it’s about time that Ministry stopped getting passed around. The PLP were guilty of this and at the current rate the OBA are worse. Students need to be encouraged to gain qualifications that are comparable to their international peers and there needs to be more technical programs for the less academic students.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:58:00 +0000

“Constantly”… Thats your assessment of this kind of activity in Bermuda? Get real! And in those instances it does happen, what makes you think, in reality, civil servants are going to (or should) tailor their reactions (whether fully warranted or not) to what extent it may potentially affect some random foreigner’s decision to visit?

By: Strike fund

Strike fund — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:45:49 +0000

Average job rate loss from the PLP years is 3.075%.
From the last two years it is 2.45%.
Also, as the total number of employed decrease, each % will be a smaller number. Slowing down rates of job losses can be seen as a positive.

The PLP figures include inflating CS employment levels, the huge numbers of people working on the hospital and the islands new hotel (Grand Atlantic). Imagine what the employment figures would have looked like.

Don’t get me wrong, the airport proposal is on a similar basis to the hospital and the OBA will use that to go on about job creation. That’s why I distrust both parties. I just happen to distrust the PLP more and in a two party system that’s pretty much all that counts.

By: Eyes wide ''OPEN''

Eyes wide ''OPEN'' — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:31:32 +0000

I take it your not a Bermudian have you looked at some of these places that hire these guest worker that come here with no formal training and have to be trained by a local open your eyes.

By: Ringmaster

Ringmaster — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:10:41 +0000

So clearly there are jobs for Bermudians, it’s just that Bermudians don’t want them.