PC Release Airport Development Documents
[Updated] Questions have been raised over the circumstances surrounding the contract to redevelop Bermuda’s airport, following documentation apparently obtained by the People’s Campaign which is said to show communication involving Aecon, the Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC] and Bermuda officials.
Background
In November 2014, Finance Minister Bob Richards announced that the Government reached an agreement with CCC for the the construction of a new purpose built airport terminal building.
Speaking at a press conference at that time, Minister Richards said, “The Bermuda Government is announcing a historic agreement with the Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC] to pave the way for the re-development of the Bermuda airport, including various sources of financing.
“Having carefully considered all its options, Government has decided to avail itself of a novel procurement model offered by way of an arrangement with the Canadian Commercial Corporation. CCC is wholly owned by the Government of Canada.”
Minister Richards added, “CCC will select a Canadian developer from its already pre-selected stable of Canadian firms. This company will enter into a contract and Concession Agreement with the Bermuda Airport Authority to develop and manage the project.”
The agreement has been strongly criticised by the Opposition, and in delivering the PLP’s Reply to the Budget in March 2015, Shadow Finance Minister David Burt said, “It is more amazing that after 5 months of trying to convince the country otherwise, the Minister of Finance now admits that the airport will be privatised to a private concessionaire by the name of Aecon.”
In response, Minister Richards said, “The Bermuda Government didn’t chose Aecon — CCC chose Aecon — not the Bermuda Government.”
Formal Announcement Expected
The documents are understood to consist of what appears to be an extensive email trail involving officials from Aecon, CCC and the Bermuda Government, relating to the contract to build Bermuda’s new airport terminal, with some of the correspondence appearing to take place in advance of the Bermuda Government’s announcement about the airport in late 2014.
The People’s Campaign is expected to release the documents and a statement on the matter later today, and in advance of that Bernews has asked the Finance Ministry, Aecon and CCC for comment on the matter, and we will update as able.
Update 3.39pm: People’s Campaign Release Documents
The People’s Campaign said, “The People’s Campaign have in our possession documents that reveal the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Tourism Development and Transport, have played active roles in a plot that will give hundreds of millions of dollars in Government revenues and operational control of the L.F. Wade International Airport to Aecon Concessions. The documents can be found online at Airportemails.tumblr.com.
“The People’s Campaign will be holding a town hall meeting on Thursday May 14, starting 5:30 at St. Paul’s Centennial Hall. We are calling upon all Bermudians to make their voices heard on Friday, May 15, 2015 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the House of Assembly demanding that all persons involved be held fully accountable.”
Update 4.36pm: CCC Responds
In response to questions, CCC President and CEO Martin Zablocki confirmed that Aecon “alerted” them to the opportunity, saying that that CCC “through discussions with Aecon was alerted to the exciting opportunity to redevelop” the airport.
Mr Zablocki said, “The Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC], a Canadian Crown corporation, through discussions with Aecon was alerted to the exciting opportunity to redevelop the L.F. Wade International Airport.
“As standard procedure when opportunities are identified in this way, CCC assessed the viability of the project with the Government of Bermuda to ensure that it was a good fit for this unique contracting approach. CCC also ensured that the supplier had the ability to successfully pass its rigorous due diligence process, including an integrity compliance review by a committee within CCC and an assessment of the supplier’s technical, managerial and financial capability.
“As a past supplier on a similar project, CCC was aware that Aecon has substantial experience and a strong track record in developing, financing and operating transportation infrastructure projects in Canada and globally. CCC stands by its decision to work with Aecon as the prime Canadian sub-contractor to CCC in support of the Bermuda Government’s aim to solve the complex challenge to deliver a first tier airport.
“CCC is committed to the highest standards of bilateral cooperation and ethical business practices with regard to the development of this project and looks forward to working together with the Government of Bermuda on a tailor-made solution to the pressing need to redevelop the L.F. Wade International Airport.”
Well Duh, of course there are communications before an announcement.
You don’t announce something then hope to talk to the parties later.
SMDH
This peoples movement do not represent the people and need to stop pretending they do.
It says that evidence is forthcoming, please pay attention objcetively before declaring that there is nothing to raise eyebrows about.The future of the country depends on it.
“It is easier to fool someone than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
Nothing but a way of deflecting people’s attention from the opposition leaders time in court!!
Rather than concern ourselves over whether or not this is a distraction we should take time out and get some information for ourselves.
I looked at AECON’s website and here’s what I learned:
The only airport project they and Google have listed is Quito in Ecuador which was a “$700 million project” at least according to their website but Canada.com says “US$414 million”
Canada.com goes on to say, “Aecon will help finance the construction costs, and then earn money through a 45.5% stake in the airport itself. The profits will come from everything from landing fees to food sales.”
There’s more, but I would like to know why so many people are okay with giving our airport away for 35 years?
Why are we suggesting that the island go maybe halves with AECON and then we could also make some money off of OUR airport?
People were up in arms when four Uighurs came here as if we were giving the country away and yet they are still here…nobody died….no money was lost….the island is still Bermudaful….YET as of 9:40am there are 172 who agree with a posting below that says: “another plp tactic to stop forward movement”
We should put our political allegiances aside and think about our island. Thirty five years is a long time. At some point AECON will break even and even if it takes TWENTY FIVE years for that to happen that STILL means TEN YEARS of profits that will leave the island.
I am shocked that there aren’t any people bouncing all over cars like they bounced on Zane Desilva’s car back it the day.
Where is all the outrage? Take Bob Richards and the OBA out of the equation and pretend it’s Ewart Brown and the PLP doing this……now does this airport deal sound like a good idea?
But the airport hardly makes any profit that’s why the deal will take so long. Think of this as a way of buying a new airport on hire purchase!
Finally…words worth reading all of the comment instead of speed reading through many a senseless or should I say mindless response to actual evidence presented to the public outlining questionable govt dealings and “alleged” privatization in which the words “fuzzied up” became headlines revealing the way certain tactics were used for procurement of finance, rebuilding and operation of Bermuda’s airport by a foreign entity…. Exposing where the largest amount of revenue lands is necessary immediately !!
People that they represent are indeed people.. might not be your peeps but rest assured they are people..
Well, if they discriminate against people, they need to rename themselves.
The light has been switched on and the roaches are running.
Just spent a good 45 minutes reviewing the documents and quite frankly I find them very professional and straightforward.
I would love to see the People’s Campaign experience the same sort of scrutiny with their background emails that fly back and forth – as compared to their public statements. Not to say their intent is different; only emails between people who trust and know each other can easily be misinterpreted.
We know we need a new airport to move us forward as a professional and capable destination. I’m sure the PLP tried their best to finance the airport’s redevelopment using the traditional ideas that the Opposition is suggesting now (no?) so by definition new methods and new ideas need to be used.
But then, new ideas tend to be scary – so OBA, please work on enlightening the Bermuda public!! Walk us through these new concepts. Unknowns will always flame the cinders.
thank you for putting this on context. i now understand the story
Well here we go. You can kiss that new airport goodbye.
Why? It’s still moving ahead. This noise is just that. It doesn’t amount to anything more.
another plp tactic to stop forward movement
I trust that the PC will soon be forwarding documents which will help uncover the whereabouts of our 800 million?
Hopefully… righting one wrong doesn’t mean that another should remain unsolved…or vice versa…
Don’t hold your breath
I quote”What Successful People Know About Winning
by: John C. Maxwell
“Successful people know the way to turn a setback into a step forward. How? They don’t try to brush failure under the rug. They don’t run away from their losses. They learn from them. Every time. They understand that life’s greatest lessons are gained from our losses—if we approach them the right way. Mistakes are acceptable as long as the damage isn’t too great. Or as they say in Texas, “It doesn’t matter how much milk you spill as long as you don’t lose your cow!”
The bottom-line, the One Bermuda Alliance isn’t the Progressive Labour Party
Ya they are WORST.
“The PLP would burn the whole thing down if it meant they could be king of the ashes”
I agree they are the worst and that’s why they were voted out in 2012.
Allow some of the Zero percent money sitting in Bermuda banks to finance the project if it is such a good deal for the Canadians. I am sure our seniors would benefit from near risk free interest income on money they have saved.
Shame on this government and Bob Richards.
Quo Fata Ferunt
Shame on you for jumping to conclusions before the facts are known and the Government has had a chance to reply. Remember facts? They are close cousins to context and are useful tools in forming reasoned and critical opinions.
Good idea. That’s the type of out of the box thinking we need.
So you think if the Government gets a loan from our local banks that the interest would be zero percent. Wow. You just showed how ignorant you are when it comes to high finance. SMH
After reading this article, I think we the people are owed a audience with the finance minister and the Premier.
I am in total support of the People’s campaign bringing such vital information to the fore front, and ask that any really concerned Bermudian will support them in this effort, to much has gone on in the recent past where this administrations seems to be hell bent n presenting the public with their position on matters, after they have already concluded the matter without consulting the public.
This is not what they were voted in for, they were voted to do the peoples business on behalf the people, but not with excluding the people, and if we are to continue to have to put up with the likes of the present administration, the first heads I would like to see roll is the of the Finance minister, followed by minister Fahy and the Premier.
Enough is enough and if we don’t make them accountable what is the sense of having the PATI legislation, were is the transparency.
Accountable for what? Are you not jumping to conclusions?
I read the article, then I read the documents. What I have found is that there is nothing to contradict the Minister, in fact the communiques seem to support from the start that CCC has had Aecon working for/with them to get this deal. That it has not been a done deal for Aecon with the government to simply hand over a contract, and there has been massive back and forth to get even non-binding MoU and LoA’s in place. In fact the only thing that the PC’s article does is try and rehash an old misrepresentation and I have to ask why. I find it funny that they raise this the same day it comes out that the leader of the opposition may appear before the courts to answer for his behaviour in October. Especially since the last communiques date back to January, how long have they had these documents in their possession since the last ones that would have been issued for the information request stop 5 months ago?
Don’t talk to anyone.
There are a few people in Bongo Land that will do it.
We need a new airport and concessions.
One day we will announce a developer or something.
Some company will fall from the sky and we will accept. Don’t tell a soul.
This will become ‘How Many Gates’.
Rum all around.
Just more obstructionism from the Combined Opposition. The Airport will be built.
It’s obvious who wants to believe what .
Only half of the story has been told so far but the speculation and conspiracy theories are running rampant.
It was made clear that the other side would be coming out in due time , but no , let’s all jump to our one sided conclusions and sound like a bunch of idiots.
I look forward to reviewing the documents, and I trust that if wrongdoing is found to have occurred, we’ll put aside political tribalism and ‘do the right thing’ to hold our elected officials accountable.
New found trust.
These documents, produced by the Canadian Government (not the PLP), now prove the Government’s dealing.
How much longer will the people allow this farce to continue? For how much longer will the OBA’s paid bloggers defend this nonsense?
How do you get paid to blog and where can I sign-up? I will pick a side for the right amount $$$. Please forward contact information for those will to pay for blogging.
You have to bid for it first…Tender documents will follow….
@ Silence Do Good, I think that $$$ is all used up from the $350,000 campaign fund.
Agreed.
@Silence Do Good:You are better off being a paid blogger for the green machine.
Yes, it shows the government has been putting CCC/Aecon through the paces to get this deal. A strong case that they have been making sure Bermuda and Bermudians get their worth out of this needed project
The airport needs to be at a certain standard and right now it isnt. Lets get this airport sorted out asap
I’m looking forward to these 3 taking over the PLP….note they took it public without using the elected officials of the loyal opposition.
There will be one vacancy soon.
@ swing voter, and then you would been b!@#ing about the P.L.P.
Even if Jesus or Elvis would’ve did it ,you U.B.P/oba’ers still would complain.
Another nontroversy. *sigh*
Can someone enlighten me as to what the issue is?
The PLP doesn’t like not being in power and doesn’t want anyone else to get anything done
@ Franklin Jr,
Nailed it in one, best comment so far.
@ Truth(Original), the issue is that Sponge Bob has ALLEGEDLY made a deal prematurely and got his story twisted, something like Jet Gate.
If PLP’s position is so clear cut, why did they have to include a man of god to argue their point? Usually, a man of god is used when a point needs an unreasonable argument – a religious sense of entitlement.
I am suspicious of PLP’s position on this.
Using a man of god is usually a last resort to pitch something to people of lessor intellect.
Wait a minute, perhaps that’s the point.
this isn’t about whether we need a new airport, or whether Bermuda can afford one on our own.
it is about due process and the need to be transparent and accountable.
It appears that Minister Richards has not been truthful and forthright with the people of Bermuda. All people are asking for is the truth. If it is found that he has been untruthful then he should resign.
Does it? Do you know that? How do you know?
Do you know otherwise sandgronan? What do you know? How do you know? What e-mail trails do you have in regards to this matter? So quick to leap to the protection of your masters like a well trained dog.
Better to build your house on the rock if you catch my parody…
I’m not the one jumping to conclusions about malfeasance. How long before Mockingjerk calls this LFWADEGate or something equally juvenile?
The operative word here is, “IF” Until proof is brought forward this is bullsh- -. Yes, a way of herding the masses. Let us be real, how many voters are going to read several thousand pages of “supposedly” facts? Many will,(as we often see) jump on the bandwagon believing anything / everything without first studying the records themselves.
I should’ve known you would have a comment like that. Your precious OBA govt can do no wrong. Even when you’re slapped in the face with the antics you still find a way to make it seem trivial an unimportant. The public is tired of your narrow vision. These are more than simple allegations. This is information released from another country’s PATI. Why would they need to lie?
what antics?
He hasn’t been truthful concerning what exactly?
My question is: Who is benefiting from this new airport construction deal and concessions? Who are the individuals benefiting from protocols allegedly being circumvented to ensure a particular company got the deal? Where is the alleged corruption etc? Is this another designed politrick to look over here while the more serious issues of the country are not addressed?
@ Silence Do Good: Yes, who’s reaping the benefits?
“Is this another designed “politrick” to look over here while the more serious issues of the country are not addressed?”
who is benefiting you ask..? YOU & I of course…spanky new ultra modern port of call. Yeah…but i know what you’re really asking but i’m sorry to say that it’s none of our concern…why do you think your pay slip comes in a sealed envelope..? BECAUSE IT IS NO ONES BUSINESS BUT YOURS…stop worrying about who is making what…if you are not happy with your piece of the pie, then say goodbye and move out of the way and let someone else appreciate whatever you throw away.
When you have a minute, look up the word “appears”. Also look up “jumping to conclusions” and while you’re at it, “agree with ANYTHING that’s being alleged”. There sure are a lot of DUMB people in Bermuda!
Can’t find anything in the documents to support that, in fact they seem to run in parallel to the ministers statements
Bermuda is screwed.
Shalom.
Employed people are so busy complaining, pointing fingers and fail to realize that the airport project is just what we need to get the unemployment rate down. So many of us are unemployed! The economy is on a continued downward spiral – and all we are doing is running in circles, attempting to discredit each other’s political party! Right now, I don’t care about transparencies! I need a job now! My family’s livelihood depends on it! I am dying here, people! If the Canadians pull out of this project – it could be years before we find a new financiar. Meanwhile, the airport is falling a part and I am living off my car – starving to death! If you care about the unemployed and our livelihoods – than, I implore you to set your political differences aside for this project. Let’s all come together and help build this airport to that standards that we will all be proud of! There are lives in the balance! Let’s get this airport built!
PLP don’t care about you or that you are unemployed. They don’t care about Bermuda or if she falls into the toilet. All PLP cares about is making OBA look bad – and getting back into power.
Again: PLP does not care that you or anyone else is unemployed. They don’t give a rat’s.
Agreed – Chris Notorious! Look at the face of retail these days – how many luxury brands(stores) do you see sitting on front street? Not many. This is a prime indicator that we are no longer attracting “creme-of-the crop” visitors. Nor is the Island perceived as a luxury, leading brand – St. Bart’s is the new Bermuda! Our political climate is so hostile these days – it will eventually have derogatory effects on the economy, tourism, retail and future generations. I am predicting that in about 5 years, if we don’t find an immediate solution to our tanked economy – we will have a difficult time selling Bermuda to visitors, potential investors and international business. It could be 20 years before we are on the tourism map again! In the final analysis – we will all suffer. Let’s get this airport built! I need a job!
thanks for raising a pet peeve, why isn’t our BTA scoping out St. Barts to find out what they are doing RIGHT and put that into our program. i researched St. Barts and from what I can tell Bermuda has same if not more to offer yet people perceive that it is a luxury place, they pay those prices that are off the chart and it’s not necessarily that convenient to get to as Bermuda is for our east coast neighbors… i would think we should aspire to be St. Bart’s fiercest competitor. when i last read their website, their target was clear – interested in wealthy celebrities, sports persons, yachtsmen and high net worth individuals.
The question here is whether or not the airport should be built. The question is whether Bermuda is getting the best deal for her and her people.
What is wrong with having an open, transparent tendering process?
I can think of several projects in the past where Bermuda did not get the best deal, and the party in power (PLP) were happy with the results and would do it the same way again regardless of the difference in the estimated and final cost. People seem to forget so easily on this island. It seems clear to me that the way the previous government conducted business was destructive.
such as with Port Royal….now there’s malfeasance
Wait up!!! If there is a hint of corruption surely as a tax paying citizen you would want to get to the bottom of it? Surely you would, even if you support the OBA. Wouldn’t you?
There isn’t a “hint of corruption”. If you read the emails, PC/PLP are lying about what the emails say. There is nothing there. What they’re alleging is a load of rubbish.
What they can’t stand is that Bermudians that lost their jobs under the PLP will get new jobs under the OBA. That’s what they can’t stand.
Exactly!! Jobs are on the horizon. Get ready people!
@ I need a JOb
Just a point of clarification – the airport project will only create temporary jobs that will last 2-3 years.
Please do not support the project based on that school of thought. In addition, you speak of us coming together. The OBA govt is not a “Come together Party”. They sit in meetings make decisions without public approval then dictate to use what will happen i.e. The Airport Project!!!
That is still a couple of hundred jobs for 2 – 3 years that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. That is the nature of construction employment, there is only a job if there is a project to work on. The hope is that the airport aside, economy will be growing again so by the time the airport construction is completed, there will be other projects to keep up the employment.
@unearthed
Two to three years of employment is fine by me! I’ll take whatever I can – to help feed my family today.
I am for full disclosures and transparencies – however, now is not the time for political divisions and conspiracy theories. We need to work together to find an amicable solution – Bermuda is in dire straits!
Things are bad! I have first-hand experiences with the forgotten side of Bermuda – where people are dying as a result of being unemployed and not having the insurance that would have afforded them a life-saving surgery. Or, families living in cars or derelict buildings – going days without eating. And, school teachers pooling their furloughed salaries to buy food for hungry school children. Or, Senior citizens losing their dream, homes because they have been forced into retirement and can’t no longer afford the mortgage. And, the working, middle-class families with two incomes who are still going hungry and unable to pay their bills. The struggles are real!
Whilst, the employed, bourgeois side of Bermuda are caught up in the political wranglings – the unemployed are busy struggling and starving to death! As a result, I am on bended knees – imploring all of Bermuda, government officials and political parties to come together as a unified Bermuda for this major, life altering project. A project that will help revitalize our economy and get people like myself back to work.
Yet again (I need a job) PLP doesn’t care that you and your family are starving and have no money. All they care about is making OBA look bad, and regaininng power so that they can resume their fleecing of Bermudians.
That’s the real world mate. None of us guaranteed jobs. A three year job is great compared to having been unemployed since 2008. And with a new airport, a few new hotels, Bermuda becoming a hub for sailing events, maybe we can get something going.
It’s than sitting around hoping for undersea mining.
Government does not need public approval to make decisions – that is why they are elected every 4 years, we basically give our approval to them to do the people’s business so we don’t have to keep running to the ballot box every time a decision has to be made.
What a shame I honestly hope what these guys aired last night lives up to the hype. I only say this because they sounded so sure and they will have followers following them weather there right or wrong.
Also Bermuda seemed to be heading down a better path, with good things going on. We don’t need more negative news, weather its political or not. Also I have stated in previous replies I do not support party politics, I support right for a better Bermuda..
Also did anyone else notice how Quite Mr,Furbert was last night.. Maybe he has some doubts!?Just saying
The issue is that it appears the Minister outright lied to the public in the way this whole airport deal was handled. Making it seem it was the dog wagging the tail (“CCC chose Aecon”) as if there was some above board selection process when in fact it was the tail wagging the dog from the emails (Aecon chose CCC.) CCC appears to now conveniently be the front man for good measure. Copies of emails that were sent straight from the Canadian companies themselves are seen as supporting this assertion from the Unions PATI requests on the matter which is currently a right for all Bermudian residents to do. Also Aecon has that funny little matter of their Bermudian construction connection…
This exacerbates the already questionable waived procurement procedure by a couple more notches adding more insult to injury to how this quarter million dollar deal will go down. Most interested to hear the Govt response. Still waiting. Spinning takes a while to get just right…
How did the minister lie, he was not involved in the CCC/Aecom agreement. Whether CCC picked Aecom or vis versa, it was the nature of the funding that was sold to the government, and the communiques show that this hasn’t an outright deal for CCC/Aecom, but that there has been massive back and forth just to get the MoU and LoA sorted
You clearly didn’t read the emails.
I read the emails on the site listed by the PC.
Still don’t know what all the hullabaloo is about? Where is the so called corruption?
@ Double D: Precisely
I agree. Just a bunch of scanned emails pasted conveniently in a desperate attempt to expose something that doesn’t exist. They should of released all of the documents in their entirety. That would of given a more accurate picture.
lol….. oba can do no wrong.
caught again… lol
They are born problems and this new age of everything exposed is catching the oba/UBP using old tricks.
oba/UBP need new tricks.
Imagine spending years of saying the PLP are this and that and yet no proof to this day.
Here we are and the oba/UBP is caught again.
Why would you expect different from them?
When you have, “the fox watching the chickens” what kind of results are you / we to expect?
I quote, “shutthemdown”
“Imagine spending years of saying the PLP are this and that and yet no proof to this day.”
When you have, “the fox watching the chickens” what kind of results are you / we to expect?
caught doing what?????? looking at an option and coming up with tangible solutions. oh no.. god forbid they are looking at other options
none is so blind that in this case for political loyalty they refused to see.
There nothing there to see. That’s why a lot of people “can’t see it”. There is nothing to see.
Precious.
Special
Why is Bermuda developing another airport when you have no Tourism Product, Hotels or Arrival Visitor growth projections over the next 1 – 5 years to substantiate giving away a National Asset?
And no, new hotel investors are interested only on the numbers of visitors, not how pretty or modern an airport is, Bahamas is a prime example, their airport was falling apart but they waited until they were at the 2,000,000+ guest arrivals per year number before expanding
So how much Carried Interests are carved up for “Local” sleeping partners?
Come on OBA this isn’t why you were elected and no as an unemployed Bermduian Underwriter (axed after a recent merger) I do not want one of the 4,000 jobs to build the airport because I want to keep my educated IB hands smooth to shake hands over dinner and with C-Suite Executives
Well said. It is people like you that the oba lapdogs will have a hard time forming a valid argument against – especially with common sense remarks like that.
There is some sort of stone crushing operation at the east end of the runway. Grass is growing through tarmac. The buildings are old and worn and look like hell.
We aren’t developing another airport, just the one we have. We can’t possibly attract people here under the guise of being a first world island with the first impression being that, now can we?
Sorry you lost your job.
@ Future Alliance,
It isn’t Govt’s job to build privately owned Hotels now is it? They are responsible for capital projects/Govt infrastructure. Get It?
1. The airport is a dump… literally.
2.In it’s present location and state it is vulnerable to Hurricanes as we see most every year. Should they wait until the next hurricane causes it’s complete closure?
3.We are pumping good money into a facility that needs to be replaced. End of.
4. Building a new one will help to stimulate the economy and add more construction jobs even if it is just for 3 years.
4. The Govt cannot afford to pay for it themselves (we all know why) so this method has been chosen.
While I don’t want the airport being controlled by an overseas company there is no choice at this time. The Govt gets slaughtered for some tame austerity measures yet when they attempt to create jobs and get money injected into the local economy they get slaughtered for that as well. LOL
Carry on OBA, you where elected to lead so please lead & get on with this. I hope the out of work construction workers who need jobs remember who has stood in the way of that.
“have played active roles in a plot that will give hundreds of millions of dollars in Government revenues”
A plot? It’s a plan, and they have been discussing it as the only viable way to upgrade the airport which has been requested by both the airlines and the hotels. The reason we can’t do it ourselves is that we don’t have the money. If you think someone is going to do it for free then that’s funny. This is not a nefarious plot – it is a solution to a problem.
I think it is great to see PLP holding OBA up to a certain level of honesty and transparency. That is PLP’s job and they are doing an excellent job of being opposition.
If the roles were reversed however, and OBA was holding PLP to account, then PLP would have called the race card by now.
They would have called it race mongering, they would have referred to 400 years of white rule etc etc etc. They may even have thrown in something about plantation questions.
Thank goodness we live in a time where we can have honest dialogue.
Please remove your head from the sand and come up for some air!
Sad to watch, isn’t it!?
in the spirit of openness and transparency i would recommend that the Minister of Finance provide all relevant documentation to the new PATI officer and allow that office to speak to the matter with objectivity.
The trouble is, most that is tied up in NDA’s. Thus the reason for a lot of the redaction on the released documents
I think this is just to distract from the other headline of today
@ “High Road” Do you mean, the soon to be former leader?
Seems to have worked for some.
it’s 5:30pm, the response from CCC was updated at 4:36pm, it would appear all the 9 to 5 bloggers have gone home given the lack of reaction or maybe there is nothing to say… say the tree frogs
The only solution in Bermuda is cresting an Anticorruption Unit that is totally independent. Charge theses corrupt ppl to 10 or 15yrs in jail.
Nice to see all this out in the open before any construction starts. Sigh…if only we had this sort of disclosure of the PLP Govt from 1998 – 2012, no doubt Bermuda would be a very different (better) place today….
money needs to be spent on an airport. working in the construction industry it is better of long term to rebuild. Is the current location still workable and rebuild around that for it to last 30 years or are we better off building a new one. keep in mind I did not see the pitch forks come out when then Premier Brown started the conversation on a new airport. But hey I am just going to enjoy my tea now.
Being I happened to fly in today and being aware of this latest desparate attempt for attention by the plp and their usual talking heads, I actually took a good look as I was walking towards the arrivals hall from the furthest point out ( United Airlines ) at OUR airport and can honestly say it is a disgrace!!! I have read the other article and nowhere do I see anything that is not above board by our present government!!! The plp destroyed our economy and now we have a huge amounts of Bermudians that don’t know were their next meal will come from!!! It just would be nice for once if the plp and their talking heads just stayed out of the way and let our present government find ways to put all those that are hungry back to work, and this is a huge step in that direction!!!! One almost has to wonder if by doing this latest nonsense to hinder progress, has anything to do with thier leader ” beany ” finally having to answer in court for his behavior?????
Denial of transparency is not good ! Just be truthful n upfront ! The 35YEAR Lease is doesn’t sound good for Bermuda !! Show us the proof as to why tour doing it this way ! And don’t just say were in debt !
A half truth is a whole lie !!
Can someone tell me exactly what they’ve seen in those emails on that website that shows that the Finance Minister is up to no good please?
It’s amazing how if you put a duck in front of some people they will call it a chicken. …. there have been extracts from the emails that any right minded person can see that there is something fishy with this whole airport situation. . The minister of finance has clearly mislead the public in things he has said.. if u don’t see nothing wrong then you are not trying to see anything wrong.. no one is saying that we don’t need a new airport but there is a proper way to do things. …and certain protocols where not followed it’s plain and simple… if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ,, then I’m guessing most likely it’s a duck ..
That’s not the answer I was looking for. You’ve only answered in innuendo. SHOW ME…where it says that the Minister is behaving sketchy.
If it’s the case that he is, I will hold him accountable.
This is not about the airport. It could be building an airlplane or a submarine. It’s about a process of transparency that the OBA claim to have with a really really loud voice. They campaigned in 2012 with their new ‘name’ and ‘identity’ (which worked brilliantly. Best PR ruse ever!) and duped the masses. Now we are seeing their brazen agenda in full regalia. They actually came out of the starting blocks early showing their true colours with the Jetgate affair. And like the Energizer bunny they keep going and going and going as they continue to bang the drum of deception… Like I said in another post their trump card and ace in the hole is the success of the Americas Cup with all the glitz. People tend to like the current glitz of the day. Election will come soon after and will be perfectly timed. Mark my words. Stay awake Bermuda!
Why don’t you want Bermuda to succeed? “their ace in the hole is the success of the American’s Cup”…..how awful this would be for Bermuda. PLP: Party over Bermuda every step of the way. “They would burn the place down if it meant they could be king of the ashes”
This anxious focus on building a new airport is also questionable especially at a time like this. When is construction suppose to start? Surely not before the Americas Cup with dust and make shift walkways everywhere. Wouldn’t that be our BEST time in recent years attracting tourists only for them to be greeted by drywall and hanging blue flex everywhere? Makes no sense. Oh wait… $200+ million! NOW it makes sense. Gotcha. I have never travelled anywhere whereby my return trip was based on how the airport looked.
This airport situation played out in the Turks and Cacaos under the infamous Michael Misik . Now we can see clearly exactly what The OBA /UBP was looking so intently at under the hood . Obviously they were trying their utmost not to make the same mistakes as Michael Misik but, alas they have proven that clever , they aren’t .
When your cover is blown and your cloak of secrecy no longer covers ones multitude of sins it is important to admit how horrible you really are for your lack of transperancy .
The UK Government will reject all overtures by the UBP /OBA to saddle the Bermudian people with a damning project that makes no sense . It will never agree to give Canada exclusive rights to a British overseas territory airport .
it is important to admit how horrible you really are for your lack of transperancy .
The PLP have admitted nothing EVER. Just look at Port Royal. The financial records are simply not available at all.
Your call for transparency is oddly only relevant for the OBA.
Well i’ve spent a good chunk of today reading through what I can of the e-mails, can someone please explain to me what supposedly illegal or underhanded actions the government have taken. Or are most of the talking heads jumping onto the the Rev Sharpton, sorry Tweedy Brother Chris and let me bend the rules to give myself a well paid job Hayward’s bandwagon of innuendo without actually reading any of the stuff.
Exactly
Lets start with Minister Richards stating the he “fuzzied up the numbers”! To give the appearance of no new debt! I believe that statement is misleading, deceitful! No matter how you loyal to the end, OBA die hearts try to justify the actions of your unscrupulous government, you can never make it right! Even the lawyer for CCC called them out! Read the documents again, this time without your rose colored glasses.
It is more prudent for us to wait until after the AC, if as you all put it, we will make a lot of money from it.
This issue is not political, it’s national! I would not rubber stamp this rotten, deceitful deal, especially with Aecon standing to reap the benefits. If you care about Bermuda, you would see the forest for the trees. This is a privatization deal. No government of any country would allow their gateway to be run by another entity. That’s just plain foolish! Who knows what can happen!
Please be smart about this people! I would rather err on the side of caution. The possibility of this is very real. We owe everything to ensure our children and grandchildren have a decent place to call home.
Another thing, if this deal was above board, why did Aecon and the government go through great lengths to coverup that it was Aecon who approached CCC and not the other way around?
Did they? How do you know that?
Did they try to cover up???
I would simply ask rev pastor Tweed to please watch …for me really…rev. Charles on utube…he has many wonderful sermons but …type in cast the first stone ,rev. Charles…please…for me…
No more right or wrong its us or them sad.
despite the earnestness with which the oba have tried to move this country forward they are no match for people, parties, campaigns who are intent in thwarting any success for Bermuda. sad but true. just watching the inevitable train wreck in slo-mo.
@Sandgrownan: “Did they? How do you know that?”
Minister Richards pushed for the MOU to be signed before Cup Match in an email to Mr. Adderley. This same MOU that will ratify all parties on board for the untendered, conflict-of-interest-laden $200+ million project. Even Mr. Adderley thought the timeline ‘aggressive’ in his email. You can view these all in the email copies on that People’s Campaign website posted by Bernews at the top of the article. Then CCC and Aecon magically formulate an Advisory Services Agreement between themselves dated immediately after the MOU which seems to assume the Bda airport project is pretty much a done deal.
In the emails:
Aecon saying ‘It’s important to maintain the CCC cover’…
Aecon asking CCC if they could use the CCC letterhead for a trip they would be making to Bermuda thus misidentifying themselves…wow!
Language of using ‘Back channel’ deals. Making up a ‘script’ for PR reasons.. All in the emails.
——-
How is it even conceivable that OBA supporters on this board still think this is an above board situation and that nothing is wrong?? The smell is getting stronger. And still no comment from any OBA leaders.. I am waiting for the master spin and it will be a doozy. My guess is that in a subtle and nice way, Aecon and CCC may be thrown under the bus for their aggressive methods in they way they communicated. Just a guess.
Like many things here on our great Island Nation this certainly has a tinge of desperation about it. No doubt the odor of our desperation was wafting around the world like a chum slick on the banks. The real skill comes in boating the right deal and just like we had to ‘pretty-up’ Port Royal to keep that deal – which is now perceived as ‘good value’- we no doubt will have to stomach some unforeseen ‘over runs’ in this one.
Got a better deal for us? Then go and do the leg work to produce a viable alternative and put it forward. Look out for the sharks though – they can smell a little fish splashing around like he knows what he’s doing from a thousand miles away!
PLP is full of it.
Even a ‘man of the cloth’ can’t add credibility to their BS.
Flatts, Bermuda
The PLP/ People’s Campaign have made idiot’s of themselves!!! Once again !!!
Okay, I jsut skimmed the correspondence in question and I don’t see a problem.
I do wonder about the ‘Headlines’ put on each excerpt as more than one is quite misleading unless someone reads the whole of the email provided.
In the end, this looks like the People’s Campaign either deliberately or unconsciously misinterpreted phrasing and context, and now trying to raise the ire of those unwilling to bother to read what was supplied, or happy to misunderstand along with the PC.
As a side note, I wouldn’t trust the documentation unless it comes directly from one of the correspondents’ email browsers, or is confirmed by at least one of that parties involved, because it’s not particularly hard to falsify emails, particularly if someone is only working with a printed copy. I hope PC took this into consideration when trusting the documentation they were provided with.
All these people out here just typing to type… the PC has no Political tides. So stop Putting PLP in it. It just Happens The group came to Light during the OBA. Educate Your self please… I am OBA member and apart of the OBA….right is right and wrong is wrong
Uhm… the PC has no political ties? Have you noticed the members who created it?
I don’t know whether a new airport is really needed or not. I don’t know whether there is a better option of doing it or not. I have not read the 2000 pages and I suspect neither have most of the people on here.
However, I did see part of “Let’s talk” the other night.
From what I saw there was a definite agenda to try and cast the OBA government as corrupt. Gary Moreno was having trouble controlling the insistent innuendo and had to correct and cut people off numerous times.
He asked the several times whether this was political and each time the response was a deflection rather than a straight Yes/No.
He asked why if there was proof of wrong-doing why the issue was not brought to the police. There was some fluff about bringing it to the people and deciding what action to take and then going to cabinet (cue another rally!). He asked why they didn’t bring it to the governor if they did not believe that the governing party would deal with the alleged corruption and there was a spiel about colonialism and slavery etc. Neither question was answered.
Bottom line if there is proof or even perceived proof of corruption, it should be addressed legally and investigated immediately. There is an onus upon the representatives of the ‘people’, whether that be the PC, the opposition party, the governing party or the governor to ensure that occurs AND in the proper manner, not in the court of public opinion.
The only thing PLP can possibly achieve is to have these Canadians change their mind about building our new airport for free.
If PLP hates foreigners so much, how come they are giving this Tweed guy so much airtime?
What will The People Complain moan about next? That the sun rises in the east and that is grossly unfair on grassroots Bermudians who live op de country?
“People’s Complain” should stop now – they are an embarrassment to everyone – but most of all to themselves.
Pathetic Loser Party
When is Tweed’s work permit up?
Read this article for yourselves:“The notion that somehow we were doing some sort of deal with Aecon before we met and dealt with CCC is nonsense” and the “idea that somehow we had some sort of plot or collusion is ludicrous,” Finance Minister Bob Richards said today [May 13], adding that “there is nothing that we have done that has not been according to the book.”
Minister | Closing Words
In wrapping up his statement, the Minister said, “I think the people of Bermuda need to focus on what we are doing here.
“What we are doing is trying to create hundreds of job opportunities for Bermudians, to provide new infrastructure without increasing the government debt and with guarantees against overruns.
“It’s a unique model and we have proceeded to try to negotiate with the players, all above board, all according to the book. That’s what Bermudians need to know….there is nothing that we have done that has not been according to the book.”
Minister Bob Richards Sir,
I thank you for, “taking the boogies out of the publics eyes”
Attention all PLP losers: Watch Richard’s new video just put on Bernews.
People’s Complainers – move on to your next counter productive moaning point.
Oh, and ditch the church guy – he’s clearly of no help.
how can any PLP loudspeakers say that the OBA diehards would support their political puppets even if they are wrong…when it’s an exact mirrored argument for the PLP supporters…it’s sickening to hear PLP trying their best to trip up the OBA…very much like george bush’s “shock n awe”..bombard the enemy with distractions so as to hinder progress on the primary target…like trying to have an important phone call and your children are shouting n throwing tantrums…another thing is the people of team OBA, have a certain mindset which differs from team PLP which has it’s mindset…so, now what..? i have the answer but, just like the truth, you won’t like it.