2. Freeze spending at 2013 levels for 3 years, forcing us to be more efficient in the civil service. Any extra spending will be used to invest in Vision 2025 initiatives on education, training, the youth, and seniors

So, the PLP will freeze spending in one breath and then state what they will do with extra spending in the next?

Seriously?

This is good? This is the type of thing that makes a solid plan for balancing the budget?

What an absolute joke.

RUBBISH!!
GET OVER IT!! I love the P.L.P’s intelligent stand for the future.

Their are many black Bermudians( I am one), who are not interested in the business side of things or how things should be done to be effective other than deciding matters based on (1) angry emotions (2) “racist as was pointed out) (3) plain and willful ignorance)
and (4) fear. because they don’t know and don’t want to know they become fearful of any opposition to there thoughts.

Their behavior when it comes to voting is almost lemming like.

It must be an emotional thing right?

Or is just an old fashioned “racist” thing?

The above was stated by Mr. Bean.

If their ideas of economic diversification, and some of the ideas are unrealistic , yields, say, 1000 jobs and at least will be 50% foreign labour, that translates to 500 local jobs at the most.

And since the PLP admit, in the above quote, that the immigration policy will ‘reflect this reality’ why would they in the next sentence promise to repeal the Job Makers Act? Makes no sense.

And as I asked below, what incentives and concessions will be granted to all these new industries as a means to attract them to our shores? They won’t come because we ask nicely and show them our pink sand.

You plan on cutting payroll tax, but simultaneously you will increase the tourism budget by 50% or $10mn. What other area will you cut to make this possible or will you simply borrow more?

You complain about crony capitalism, but then say you will gift tax payer monies to private sports clubs of which you (still believe you are at least) and another PLP MP are Presidents and thus presenting a conflict of interest Why is it ok for you to give away public monies to private ventures and what other area will you cut to make this possible or will you simply borrow more?

You claim the blue economy can possibly result in $200mn of annual economic activity and that local fishermen can export their catch overseas. How is this going to be achieved since currently local fishermen can’t fully supply the island as of now? Will you lift the moratorium on fishing licenses and allow more people to go and decimate our stocks or will you allow overseas long lining companies to enter the Bermuda market to compete with the locals? And local restaurants buy imported fish as it is cheaper for them in terms of overhead, but yet you think we can simply export Bermuda fish at Bermuda prices to lower cost jurisdictions?

Bringing in more insurance companies won’t really affect insurance prices. We will still have the same top heavy demographic in which the healthier, younger employees are outnumbered by the older population. And how will this temper the recent increases brought on by the overpriced hospital wing?

Regarding online gaming you noted Gibraltar’s industry and the fact they have a budget surplus because of the taxes paid by this economic sector? Does that mean you will institute a corporation tax and income taxes as Gibraltar does? Will the corporation tax be levied on all businesses? If so, have you gauged the impact on businesses domiciled in Bermuda already as they are generally here for our low tax nature?

How will you entice the technology and online gaming companies to set up in Bermuda? As Bermuda labor is quite expensive along with the need to import everything, what concessions will you offer as means for them to decide Bermuda is a desirable location to set up or transfer their business? If it is tax relief, how will that affect your plan to balance the budget within 5 years?

How will the balanced budget be achieved with the increased spending (2013 amount) levels you have included in your plan? Do you plan on borrowing more and thus will you raise the debt ceiling again? If so, how will we cope with the increased interest payments from this borrowing which is currently costing the tax payer something like $400,000 a day as of now?

Maybe they should start with ‘Thief Offenders’ list……..
Were doomed.

You never know though, maybe there’s an extra $853 million just laying around. It might have been part of the backup re-election plan all along. The brilliance of Burt?

The PLP have complained that the OBA have increased the debt, but then they say they will run deficits until at least 2022!

And all this diversification and implementation of new industries will require massive concessions to get it off the ground and running. Despite some people’s beliefs businesses will not move from their existing jurisdiction to, or start-up a business in Bermuda without some sort of incentives. Firstly, Bermuda is a highly expensive jurisdiction in which to do business in, so you will need incentives to attract brand new industries. Therefore, by granting the necessary concessions to begin the process (with no guarantee of success) the Government will be foregoing the very same tax revenue they claim will be generated to fund their massive spending spree outlined in their Throne Speech. It doesn’t make sense as the PLP and their supporters have railed against concessions for the last 3 years now. Guess their concessions are better somehow?

And how will inviting more insurance companies into Bermuda drive down costs as it is the Doctor’s and hospital that are setting the fees being charged? And again do you think that any foreign insurance firm will is dying to get into the very expensive Bermuda jurisdiction?

Sorry, but the Throne Speech reply is full of contradictions and fairy tale ideas. There is no meat on any of the bones outlining how they will achieve their pie in the sky ideas. Not one.

Bizzare the PLP is.

Constantly in election mode and not helping this country or us at all.