Comments on: ‘Rules Didn’t Matter, Overspending Didn’t Matter’

By: aceboy

aceboy — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 11:13:34 +0000

It’s amusing that the PLP are now trying to throw the Civil Sevice under the bus. A Civil Service the PLP largely created….giving jobs to those who they considered friends. Little did those friends know that they would then be the ones who the PLP point the finger at a few years later.

By: jt

jt — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:00:29 +0000

Who could argue? And many would be so relieved if it ended there. But many more would be infuriated.
Follow the money….somebody follow the money…. $53 million doesn’t just evaporate. We know it’s gone and where the trail starts.

By: Ty

Ty — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:51:29 +0000

Can we call on the People’s Campaign to pressure the PLP in finding out what went wrong being they are supposed to represent “The People”. Or is the People’s Campaign definitely/only PLP affiliated???

Mr. Preacher Man……I am part of the People…. I need you to do due digilence in investigating this please. How do I get ahold of “The People’s Campaign”.

By: Double S

Double S — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:02:15 +0000

The 2014 audit was clean and unqualified. First one in 6 years I believe.

Your defense of the indefensible and your deflections are quite amusing. It is amusing because you are constantly attacking the budget cuts being made by the OBA, but then refuse to note the PLP’s role in the need for doing so. the 315 page auditor’s report is a revealing document as to how we got to where we are today.

Let me guess it was the global recession’s fault right?

You have stated your an accountant several times over on this site.

So let me ask you, what would happen to a company CEO and CFO if the firm received one qualified audit, much less 6 consecutive audits?

By: just wondering

just wondering — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:32:21 +0000

The reason its “still” being talked about is due to the very simple fact that we are all STILL paying for it!

By: just wondering

just wondering — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:28:51 +0000

I think the simple point being made is that we need rules in place to MAKE sure it doesn’t happen again rather than relying on moral politicians (now there’s an oxymoron!!) and HOPE that it doesn’t.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:19:26 +0000

I think they exceed the UBP in half th time

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:16:55 +0000

The memo from the AG gives them dismissal from the tendering process of the financial instructions, the memo doesn’t specify as being only for the MOU or LA

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:13:14 +0000

Except CCC won’t get billions (unless you subscribe to the Burt school of mathematics, which explains why the PLP Vision thinks they can balance a budget by increasing expenditures with no real sense for raising revenues), they got permission for a sole source contracting (the memo supports this… evidently the AG forgot to say his approval was only for the MOU and LA when he wrote that he was releasing them from tendering requirements) and as for justifying that, well that will only be determined based on how thorough the construction contract will be, and given that it is expected to take over a year to write it and get it vetted by several independent parties for approval.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:05:33 +0000

Obvious you only hear what you like, I have heard the OBA talk quite a bit about other things not related to the PLP mess. I have also heard them talk about plans… sure, they haven’t been as flighty and pretty little delusional as the PLP’s Vision, but th have talked about what they are try to do with the heavy burden of realism of what they trying to do it with. But hey, if all you want yo hear is the PLP, you go right ahead, but they haven’t changed, and what they are really about is in the audit right in front of you whether you like it or not.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 04:54:05 +0000

This needs looking into, 2010 they worked to create a central lab expecting to be around $46,000, went ahead without cabinet approval, then it cost a further $856,000… that is a cost overrun of over 1,860%. Additionally, I don’t think government owns, or owned it at the time, that building, making they either rent or brought it… from who?

By: had enough

had enough — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:52:04 +0000

Didn’t Bob head up the PAC during those years.

This circus goes in a full circle

Fools – they are all in the same boat

By: jt

jt — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 23:47:18 +0000

Trying to hold meetings that none of the PLP PAC members would show up to.
Also, the Auditor General only just managed to scrape up enough paperwork to complete the qualified audits a week ago. What were they supposed to base a review on?

Not to worry, Burt is on it now.

Hahahahahahhaha. I’m on fiiiiuuur!

By: frank

frank — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 23:34:21 +0000

bob did not do this right and he knows it

By: Just a matter of time

Just a matter of time — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:07:49 +0000

I am sooo looking forward to the OBA’s guaranteed stick-to-the-rules-per Financial-Instructions audited operational ‘underspending’ since they took office. Can’t wait… (Operations not interest payments from debt eg like tendering, capital projects etc)

By the way how’s that no-tender-despite-Financial-Instructions-to-do-so OBA airport project working out? I have yet to read how CCC/Aecon are the only ones on planet earth who builds airports. Should that be mentioned in the Auditor General’s report leading to a qualified opinion for this fiscal year end I wonder? Or is that exclusively a PLP thing…? Let’s hope Heather Thomas will be just as bold in her report as Heather Jacobs Matthews…

By: Coffee

Coffee — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 21:36:34 +0000

Well what was the head of the PAC , PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE , DOING during the period mentioned ? Whoever was leading PAC has some answering to do as well ! They obviously didn’t earn their keep .

By: Toleratate

Toleratate — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:31:52 +0000

@ Bermyman; my friend you are wasting your time. There are people in our little Island that just don’t get it EVEN when it’s right in front of their nose in black and white.
And even more scary, is the ones that DO GET IT, but are in denial and REFUSE to accept FACT.

By: jt

jt — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:26:13 +0000

A march at least.But where are the band leaders?

By: jt

jt — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:23:00 +0000

Why say anything? Looks like there will be no consequences so just stay low and this too shall pass.

By: jt

jt — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:20:53 +0000

They’re not. Try and keep up.

By: San George

San George — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:09:29 +0000

This is not a joke. It is not about the PLP. This is about the civil service being to close to the political parties and not doing their jobs. You should be outraged.

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:57:17 +0000

There won’t be one. They behave as if they have amnesia!

By: Sickofantz

Sickofantz — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:20:18 +0000

Youmean the should get their pensions cut by the same percentage

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:11:17 +0000

A bit late for that don’t you think? Taxes should have been witheld way back when we were seeing people jetting all over, when it seemed like everyone had a GP car, when they were going crazy with Government credit cards, when these absurd wage levels & benefits were agreed to.

That is when the taxpayers should have gone on strike & withheld tax payment wherever they could.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:03:24 +0000

I hope somebody in the OBA cabinet keeps an eye on public opinion on these forums.

It is one thing when somebody has an opinion that nobody eles or few others agree with. Something worth paying attention to when there are 20,30, plus votes of approval to an opinion.

By: Deflection 101

Deflection 101 — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:43:30 +0000

A lot of those same people are now running the Cabinet Office…so now they are being even more for their blunders. Bermuda Government….rewarding incompetence, one dollar at a time!

By: San George

San George — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:00:34 +0000

This was taxpayers’ money. All taxpayers should be outraged to the extent that they stop paying taxes until someone is made accountable.

By: San George

San George — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:45:30 +0000

Neither party will touch the civil service.
Quo Fata Ferunt

By: serengeti

serengeti — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:08:30 +0000

That’s what you’d love to think.

By: swing voter

swing voter — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:42:48 +0000

There will be no response. Its obvious that the biggest cost to the taxpayer during the previous government’s tenure were not salaries. Those overspend were up to 1000% in some instances. The rampant overspending cannot be defended. The big question is why are department heads being hammered when they were likely following the instructions of…you guessed it…their respective Ministers. Its blatantly obvious that the PLP tried to do in 14 yrs what the UBP did in 30yrs of government. I hope Bob and company truly put an end to that madness.

By: planeasday

planeasday — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:38:44 +0000

that doesn’t mean it is going to happen…

By: Silence Do Good

Silence Do Good — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:26:38 +0000

Wow, regardless of the evidence someone had to throw it back…Keep focused or share the special tea so that we can all be paranoid of this government as well. Because if they fail, it will be all independents that get elected next elections. How can anyone support this or not hold anyone accountable.

By: Toleratate

Toleratate — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:29:04 +0000

???

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:17:15 +0000

Wow! What country are you living in??? I have yet to see one PLP member during that reign to come forward and admit they did a piss poor job controlling the countries finances. They are still in denial!

By: Solution

Solution — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:14:26 +0000

Cant wait for the PLP’s response on this one….

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:13:24 +0000

That is just too darn simple for a government. Governments are set up to be complicated on purpose.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:09:24 +0000

Man you bean eating to much KFC.

Love how you change your name from different servers.

By: watching

watching — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:00:01 +0000

So why is Minister Richards and the OBA government violating Financial instructions themselves and going against the AG?
Why is he always passing the buck to the PLP?
OBA is the government and need to act accordingly.

By: serengeti

serengeti — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:57:40 +0000

Er, actually a big change was made to ensure it doesn’t continue.
We voted for a different government.

By: Bermudian

Bermudian — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:45:36 +0000

You do realize that when the OBA was voted in, everyone was asking for them to look into where all the money had gone.

So they provide you with the information and yet you’re still complaining and now trying to insult them for doing what was asked of them?

I guess some people are just going to be miserable no matter what…..

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:26:56 +0000

Hey Bob, you want to increase your chances of winning the next election? I’d say get on this ASAP and make some heads roll. We don’t want political manoeuvres, we want results. That’s why I voted for you.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:25:56 +0000

Notice how much got sucked out of the Deps of Tourism & Transport? Anyone remember who was Minister for those Deps at the time?

By: jt

jt — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:25:52 +0000

Well, no, they wouldn’t have their own heads roll for this because they aren’t responsible for the 3 consecutive qualified audits showing $53 million in misappropriated public money.
Unfortunately, it isn’t looking like they intend to see that consequences are brought to those who were responsible.
As for owning up to blunders. Blunders are what the OBA have had a few of. This situation along with all the others that pissed away our money under the PLP are not “blunders” and that’s why you will never see anyone own it or apologise for it.
Follow the money.

By: Come Correct

Come Correct — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:25:05 +0000

Haha did you even read what you wrote?

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:23:12 +0000

Another ‘pen name’?

You bean eating too much ‘bone’ from KFC

By: San George

San George — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:19:15 +0000

Maybe all of this justifies him building a new airport that did not go through a tender process and that most of the public know we don’t need. Billion will go to CCC over the next 30 years. Bob’s way of saying we were all stupid then and we are all stupid now.

Quo Fata Ferunt

By: hmmm

hmmm — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:14:27 +0000

You are part of the problem aren’t you.

By: Well then

Well then — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:11:20 +0000

Mate… What do you mean putting the blame somewhere else? The numbers and figures speak for themselves… That’s if you even bothered to read the report.

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:07:31 +0000

Seriously! This is out there in plain sight, black and white with the numbers not lying. Yet you want to deflect and nitpick?

‘For the year ended March 31, 2012, twenty-four ministries and departments collectively overspent approximately $36 million on current expenditures without prior legislative approval.’

Name one situation the OBA has been involved in that comes even close to this level of negligence!? ONE?

That is an incredible amount of money to waste in a year! A recession year! And you wonder why the combined opposition are crying every time there is a concerted effort to reduce government spending.

By: Deflection 101

Deflection 101 — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:04:15 +0000

Are the senior civil servants, who have now been promoted to the Cabinet Office going to be allowed to keep their jobs and their big fat pensions now that it been made public that they did not do their jobs? Heads need to roll if this type of behavior is to stop