People’s Campaign Questions On Airport Deal

October 20, 2015

[Updated] The People’s Campaign has posed questions to the Minister of Finance regarding the airport deal including the total cost of the airport redevelopment, the duration of the concession agreement, what efforts have been made to close the gaps identified in the Deloitte report and more. We asked the Finance Minister’s office for a response yesterday afternoon and will update as able.

The full list of questions from the People’s Campaign is below:

  • 1. Does the Minister of Finance or any representative of CCC or Aecon, know the total cost of the Airport Redevelopment?
  • 2. Can the Minister of Finance or any representative of CCC or Aecon, guarantee that Bermuda is getting the best deal / value for money?
  • 3. What is the duration of the Concession Agreement [Privatization Agreement]?
  • 4. Can the development take place without the Concession Agreement?
  • 5. Is the Minister of Finance concerned that in addition to the poll conducted many Bermudians are against the Concession Agreement?
  • 6. What efforts have been made to close the gaps identified in the Deloitte report?
  • 7. If the gaps identified in the Deloitte report have not been addressed, why has the agreement to move the project forward to the next phase been signed?
  • 8. What is the total value of money that Aecon and CCC will receive from this deal?
  • 9. What is the financial penalty if the Bermuda Government back out of the airport deal?
  • 10. How was the initial cost estimate of $250 million derived?
  • 11. How much money has been spent on the airport deal to date?

Update Oct 20, 12.54pm: An additional statement from the People’s Campaign said, “The people of Bermuda demand total transparency from the Government in regards to the Airport Redevelopment process.

“Many Bermudians are dissatisfied with the conduct of our public officials in handling this Airport Redevelopment deal. Many Bermudians are strongly opposed to this Redevelopment Deal and the privatization of the airport. The people of Bermuda should be provided with answers to the following questions:

“Recognising that the Government has scheduled information sessions beginning tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2015, the Peoples Campaign believe that the people of Bermuda should be provided with answers to the following questions.

“The People’s Campaign urges the Government of Bermuda to halt the redevelopment process and listen to the concerns of the many Bermudians that are opposed to the Airport Development deal.”

Update 6.16pm: You can tune in to our Periscope stream of the public meeting on the airport development project here.

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Comments (38)

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  1. David says:

    Yawn..

    • Onion Juice says:

      This is a done deal, they’ve already committed to the deal.
      There needs to be an in depth investigation, then again S!@# like this has been going for years.

    • Navin Johnson says:

      You took the word right out of my mouth. The Peoples Campaign is irrelevant

  2. serengeti says:

    1. What is the People’s Campaign? Is it a corporation, a charity, a pseudo-political party, or a loose association of activists?

    2. Who are the people who finance the people’s campaign?

    3. Who founded the people’s campaign?

    4. Who owns and runs the people’s campaign?

    5. Who is employed by the people’s campaign?

    6. Are any current or former politicians linked with the people’s campaign?

    7. What links are there between the people’s campaign and the PLP?

    8. What links are there between the people’s campaign and the BIU?

    9. Are union dues being diverted to the people’s campaign?

    10. What foreign interests are involved in the running or financing of the people’s campaign?

    • Raymond Ray says:

      It’s an extension of the Opposition and the Unions; nothing else :-(

      • Onion Juice says:

        Like the extensions of UBP are Chamber of Commerce, Bermuda Employers Council, R.B.Y.C, R.H.A.D.C., the Governor and any other Elitist Organization who feel that they are above the Law and to Hell how the PEOPLE feel.

        • serengeti says:

          I don’t recall the RHADC, for example, publicly coming out with a list of demand questions posed to any government. It doesn’t express any political bias one way or another, as far as I know. As for the RBYC, that has had several high-level PLP members as Commodore, so there again no particular political bias.

          The people’s campaign though is different from all the other entities you listed. It is political.

        • Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar says:

          The Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Council are elitist organisations?

          • Triangle Drifter says:

            Last I knew any company, no matter how small, is welcome to join the Chamber of Commerce.

    • Terry says:

      Now that’s as plain as the Serengeti Plains.

      Excellent content.

    • stunnded... says:

      excellent questions…cue chirping…as no-one will respond…ian, coffee, onion juice, laverne etc?

    • hmmm says:

      Where were the peoples campaign after that hatemonger spread his fifth …SILENT

      Why aren’t the peoples campaign supporting equal rights and same sex marriage recognition in Bermuda…. SILENT

  3. betty dump says:

    These are some pretty good questions being posed that I wouldn’t mind knowing the answers to. Although I don’t support the government answering every single question, doubt or concern that everybody raises, it would be beneficial to provide regular updates via the media especially with some of the smaller details and specifics. Even though they are having info sessions that the media does cover, regular non-biased factual based info given to the public would be great!

  4. aceboy says:

    Until Serengeti’s questions are answered no response should be forthcoming from government in my opinion.

  5. aceboy says:

    Why do the PLP feel the need to hide behind this *organization*?

    • Half Full says:

      same reason the UBP needed to hide behind the OBA?

      • hmmm says:

        SO you are saying the PLP are hiding behind the People’s campaign… thanks for admitting it.

        The OBA was formed under a whole new constitution, an all inclusive, all can apply. The old guard, approach, systems are gone.

        Kim Swan was the UBP for a while there.

      • Onion says:

        Last time I checked 2 of the last 3 UBP leaders are now in the PLP… so presumably the UBP is in fact hiding behind the PLP.

    • hmmm says:

      they are out using this and other means to fool people into handing over their vote.

  6. OddRas says:

    Whether or not you agree with the People’s Campaign, if we were to lay are own political biases aside and be honest, the majority of these questions are actually relevant and should be answered in the interest of sound financial management and transparency. Many disagreed (often justifiably) with the PLP’s lack of transparency and fiscal management so why would we let the same types of decisions be made once again??

    • Onion Juice says:

      Because, like its always been, a certain segment of this society has the free will to do dumb S!@# and is JUSTIFIED by their minions.
      Just like slavery, racism and discrimination was JUSTIFIED.
      Same S!@# different day.

      • stunnded... says:

        @Onion Juice – your last sentence – poignant. on the count of three, let’s play the race card, slavery card, local vs guest worker card – go!

        • Raymond Ray says:

          When your, “back is up against the wall” as “Onion Juices” finds his / hers then that’s the only card to play. It’s the infamous race card :-(

        • Garlic Clove says:

          thats the only thing the ***__ can do.I have a few questions to ask it but when you only have a bitter outlook on life and nothing makes you happy and the world shines out of his butt its a waste of time. Talk about a racist bigot.

  7. Vulcan Trash Cleaner says:

    the people’s campaign does not represent the People of Bermuda,that’s a FACT!
    it is nothing more than a small group of plp mischief makers that have nothing in their miserable lives to do other than try to cause trouble in Bermuda.

  8. Joe Bloggs says:

    1. Does the Minister of Finance or any representative of CCC or Aecon, know the total cost of the Airport Redevelopment? No, because the details of the development have not yet been finalised and are therefor subject to change depending on many factors.

    2. Can the Minister of Finance or any representative of CCC or Aecon, guarantee that Bermuda is getting the best deal / value for money? NO. There are no guarantees in life, as every adult should know.

    3. What is the duration of the Concession Agreement [Privatization Agreement]? There is no agreement so there is no duration of anything.

    4. Can the development take place without the Concession Agreement? Certainly, but at a cost. If you are willing to lend the Bermuda Government $250 million at 0% interest over 30 years, please stand up.

    5. Is the Minister of Finance concerned that in addition to the poll conducted many Bermudians are against the Concession Agreement? What agreement? No agreement has been reached.

    6. What efforts have been made to close the gaps identified in the Deloitte report? What “gaps identified in the Deloitte report” are being referred to?

    7. If the gaps identified in the Deloitte report have not been addressed, why has the agreement to move the project forward to the next phase been signed? There is no agreement. What “gaps identified in the Deloitte report” are being referred to?

    8. What is the total value of money that Aecon and CCC will receive from this deal? That can only be determined once a scopy of work has been agreed (which has not happened) and all details agreed (which has not happened). How many businesses do you know that can identify all costs associated with a *possible* project during the negotiation stage?

    9. What is the financial penalty if the Bermuda Government back out of the airport deal? Is there one?

    10. How was the initial cost estimate of $250 million derived? Good question.

    11. How much money has been spent on the airport deal to date? Does this question include the millions spent investigating possible solutions *prior* do December 2012 or does it only cover the costs incurred by the current Government?

  9. Just a matter of time says:

    @OddRas. It’s called hypocrisy.

    For those wishing to lump together PLP/BIU/BPSU/People’s Campaign and whoever else ad nauseum, if the ideals are like minded, then solidarity is not a new phenomena. This island is small. If the goals and objectives are the same, then more unity tends to takes place. But at the same time differing ideals have emerged in the past between some of these entities as well. People forget that the Unions once marched on the PLP Govt (a Labour Govt!) early in their administration. When will we ever learn from our history? In the end it’s about people power and then it suddenly becomes threatening to the status quo. This is the real fear. The irony is that it’s normally encouraged in a healthy democracy. How healthy is ours if we can’t ask questions of this Government that affects us all?

    Criticism of people power is always a deflection. The OBA Government are elected officials and we have a right to question them. The People’s Campaign questions are quite valid and enquiring minds like me would like to know the answers.

    • Joe Bloggs says:

      “Just a matter of time” is perfectly correct. No one should want to return to the days only a few short years ago when many people, Bermudians included, were too terrified of the personal consequences to speak out or question our Government.

      • Impressive says:

        I suggest you stop right there with your nonsense.. I don’t know if you have just arrived in Bermuda yesterday, but you certainly don’t want a history lesson on “consequences of speaking out or questioning the Government”. smdh,, That has got to be the joke of the year.. By the way, do you have any proof of people feeling “consequences” with regards to speaking out about the PLP during their tenure?????????

    • Terry says:

      Then get the Opposition to put them forward.

      Takes the heat off them and reflects to the sheeple that people are concerned.
      Bollocks.

      It called propaganda politics.

      Good night.

      • serengeti says:

        Exactly. Why is it being left to a shady, undefined and anonymous group (see my questions above, to which no answer has been forthcoming yet).

        Where is “Mr Invisible” Marc Bean? If these are such great questions, why isn’t he asking them?

  10. Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar says:

    I don’t really have a problem with these questions being posed, even if I don’t really care about some of them.

    But I continue to wish the People’s Campaign would stop speaking for ‘the people’ until they can clearly define who ‘the people’ are. And ‘The People of Bermuda’ doesn’t cut it, since I am a person of Bermuda and they don’t speak for me. So… who exactly, and what percentage of the population?

  11. Earth watch police says:

    The peoples campaign are not government or opposition just ignore them.

    • Terry says:

      Look at the **** they stir by those that do support them>……..
      Beyoncé is comming

    • Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar says:

      Oh… they’re pretty much opposition.
      No doubt about that.

  12. Yummy says:

    Most of these questions were answered last night the process is still ongoing therefore they won’t have some answers until the process is at the end of the third phase.