Audio: Sen. Daniels Explains Stance In Senate
Saying that he welcomes the opportunity to address their stance in the Senate today, Senator Marc Daniels said “our position today was to recognize what’s happened for the past week” and “to say we’re not just going to continue business as usual and give disrespect to what all of the people of this country had felt by basically acting as if it didn’t happen.”
Senator Daniels said, “Effectively, our view was this we were very concerned when there was an impasse that everyone was aware of on the top of the Hill in the Lower House. We were at the brink of potentially not passing a budget if the impasse wasn’t alleviated.
“Having been there … I mean, I shut down my office, I was there every day. I wasn’t billing anything. I was there walking amongst the people. This issue was clearly quite divisive and concerning. Divisive in the sense of what you saw at the vigil in terms of racial composition in what you’ve seen at the Hill for the past week, and then the tensions and the language that’s been used in regular media, social media, and the like.
“Our position today was to recognize what’s happened for the past week. Our position today was to say we’re not just going to continue business as usual and give disrespect to what all of the people of this country had felt by basically acting as if it didn’t happen, and reserving such a position only to say, ‘Motion to adjourn.’ Our position was one to say that we must pass this budget, that for the benefit of the country, to act in good governance, it must be passed.
“Now, it is the case that the budget is already prepared, and basically what we’re doing is having a debate on the minutia as to where money’s allocated and the like. It’s a very good exercise, because it actually shapes how we look at future budgets, and if the Government’s listening, it pays attention to what concerns are there on a given day, or given year in this case, and try to really get some analysis as to how to move the country forward.
“It hurts me that we are not in a position to actually do that. The reason why we’re not in a position to do that is because we’re acting with expediency and urgency. We’ve been asked, and we accepted the call to stand in the Senate every single day this week, which is unprecedented in terms of the layout of advancing Bills and dealing with the budget, so there’s no time to prepare.
“My entire team, those who are working either at their jobs and then came to the House, taking care of their families, came to the House, we literally….and for those who took entirely the time off to be with those at the House, we’ve been working constantly around the clock.
“We’ve read every page of the Government’s budget economic statement. We’ve read every page of our reply. We’ve looked at every head, and we’ve prepared for everything, so the reality is that we’ve done all this work for naught, but it’s taking a stand, taking a stand so that the people are reminded as to what just happened and where are we going from here.
“What we need to do is address the proposed legislation. The Government typically will bring a first reading of the Bill. Once that first reading is advanced in a next or later session, we will then deal with the second reading. We are now doing first and second readings each day this week, starting today.
“So again, with the House being in session, that being the Lower House in session, a lot of the media attention being in the Lower House and of course people wanting to see those individuals who haven’t showed up for a whole week, members on the Government side actually speak for the first time. A lot of attention is going to be directed in that way.
“We knew it felt in some regard that we were only sitting around the table talking to each other with one voice from the press. We didn’t know that other press were coming down, and I think that our stance today probably invited the press to come down and see commentary. Perhaps that’s a good thing, but we’re not getting the general coverage that we would expect or we will receive tomorrow and Wednesday and Thursday.
“Our position is one in saying that immigration as a policy is economic policy, and so our talking points and our contribution in relation to what’s transpired over the past week is certainly relevant, and if you would have heard Minister Fahy’s commentary, he opened up his contribution today to the budget by focusing on Pathways to Status and focusing on immigration, and that theme continued to his very conclusion.
“It was apt for us to look at that even in that prism and say, ‘Yes, this is the focal point of the day, and we’re going to give it it’s worth and give it a discussion so that we’re actually exploring this issue all day long.”
“We also have to proceed with the proposed legislation, and because our back is against the wall, we know that we need to get the people’s work done. Nothing can be further from the truth that we’re taking a stance to either object to the Bill, passing the budget, or object in any way to hinder the country.
“What we’re trying to do is actually work as quickly as we can in the circumstances provided to us, but moreover take a stand on principle in solidarity with all those Bermudians who have expressed concerns, one side or the other. What we’re doing is giving homage to the fact that voices were silenced for a whole week, and so to act as if that didn’t happen does us all a great, great disservice.
“That’s basically the approach that we’re taking today, and we want to try and move the country forward with the appropriate business. We want to make sure that we’re doing right by the people, but that we’re also being seen by the people as having integrity, character, and taking a stand for issues that matter to our people.”
What gibberish
Long. Winded.. Someone messed up!
Flower talk, lots of fluffery without substance.
Daniels, by your actions, you are implying that we should all just do nothing and stop working. That action is not good for Bermuda’s future and not good for our childrens future.
Daniels you do not represent the best interest of Bermudians. Time you quit for more than one day, time you quit forever.
“It’s one thing when thought to be a …”donkey” and a complete opposite to open your mouth eliminating all doubts”
Thanks Marc for validating why employers seek foreigners to WORK in Bermuda.
……and thank you for VALIDATING your true stance of what Bermudians have been claiming for decades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…….and thanks for VALIDATING the voice many have ignored by Bermudians unemployed!!!!!!!
Great job mate!!!!!!
Employers don’t seek foreign workers…the seek Bermudian workers first…if there was the skillset out there to fill the job, then it would be a Bermudian hired.
What Marc is doing is making Bermudians think it is OK to just not show up and handle your responsibilities. That is messed up.
….and thank Ignant for VALIDATING the voices of many Bermudians who have said the have applied for jobs and where:
1. Never called back
2. Called and told they lack ‘experience!’
@Gym Leader… come on – take your complaint to Immigration… Contrary to what the PLP believe if you have facts they will investigate and deal accordingly.. Of course if your like most I hear… “its the someone told me that” which is pointless…
I personally think Marc should be complaining about the lack of action by the Police and the DPP. there were a plethora of offences committed not the least of which is blocking the house of assembly and the unlawful assembly on East Broadway. As a member of the legal fraternity he should be extremely concerned by the lack of action!!
cough, cough…bulls#*t
Nice to acknowledge that everyone other than those protesting were the ones being silenced over the past week.
I read this twice — it makes even less sense the second time round.
I suspect the real story is that the PLP senators simply didn’t do there homework and aren’t prepared, so they’ve concocted this absurd ‘principled’ explanation for not doing their jobs.
Will they still collect their pay cheques? What do you think…
huh? had to read it twice,still not sure what he’s sayin…is he?
Yup!
a crock….are you billing this week? you would think you are being paid by the word for whatever you are saying here….seems like everyone other than the PLP Senators and Ministers are satisfied to some degree that your efforts last week were not in vain…the bill has been withdrawn….the stakeholders will have a seat at the table to debate and shape the immigration issue(what you allegedly wanted) people have apologized publicly and now you will not contribute….move along as you obviously have a different agenda…..
Was Fayhe in the room ? I bet they find it hard to want to be in his presence !
That is just a mean and vindictive thing to post. Shame on you AGAIN coffee.
Best I can figure out is that Daniels is not satisfied and now wants to disrespect the Civil Service who won’t get paid unless the Budget is acted on?
“In politics stupidity is not a handicap.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
What utter rubbish. .
“Divisive in the sense of what you saw at the vigil in terms of racial composition in what you’ve seen at the Hill for the past week”…I’m sure there were many white people who agreed with the views of those on the Hill, just as I am sure there are many black people who agreed with the views of those at the vigil. But I believe there is a general view that some people ‘should not’ express that view if they ‘didn’t fit in’…either because of how they would be viewed by their peers if they did, or out of a feeling of not being wanted by the wider groups in attendance. Whether those feelings are valid is irrelevant. That is the real issue that needs to be dealt with in society. There is too much “us and them”
damn Daniels
Who is Ma/rc Daniels?Will the real Marc Daniels please stand up.Fence straggling or straddiling,or straddling,makes me tired.these people who want to be seen to be so politically correct ,make me sick.I prefer a Michael Fahy,a cold Devil,or a butt kicking Chris Furbert,to these weasels anyday.At least I know where they stand.Come out of the shadows sucker so I can identify you.Today is the day of the manifestation of all defects and a clear delivery of the message.
Takbir.
Pray some more.
your not helping just like you did not in the late 60′s.
Has anyone listened to Sen. Daniels talking in the Senate? Talk about a yawn-fest. Daniels is not the only one. Yesterday Sen. Baron went on and on and on about random personal anecdotes……
I sure hope the PLP senators decline their pay his week, or put it towards the government debt that they gave us.
In what right-thinking world can you not show up to work for a week and still expect your paycheck. Particularly those in elected office.
Shameful
Go do your duty for your country, go serve us and stop serving yourself Marc Daniels.
Were in your office working billable hours instead of doing the peoples work in the senate Marc???? Tell the truth, tell the truth!
It appears you have failed to serve us once again…Get off the bus and let someone who is willing to serve us get on.
We don’t serve you, YOU serve US.
Mr Daniels you were elected to fulfil the role of opposition on behalf of the people you represent.
This waffle just sounds like a deflection from the fact that you are actually incapable of coming up with sound debate.
I think you had it at “incapable”
And the protestors thought they were protesting for Bi Partisan Collaboration…..do they now realize they were used and are merely pawns in a political fight? I doubt it. The same people will be holding up signs with the latest slogans on them.
I am certain that Mr. Daniels believes in his convictions but experience and clairity is required here, not an emotional reaction.
The business of the country must proceed regardless of any one faction’s philosophical perspective–we seem to have lost sight of this.
The Government has made moves to work with the community–now the Opposition should begin to look at how it can be collaborative for the benefit of ALL Bermudians and the country.
To the person(s) who are engaged in uploading multiple dislikes/likes on Bernews
You do know that in order to push your agenda you are being undemocratic right?
A minority is clouding the general consensus. This
seems to be the order of the day here in Bermy now.
How sad.
PLP likeforce in session… again today!!!
Hey OBA….if I was doing your PR, I’d suggest you ignore the PLP. They don’t know what they are talking about at all. They twist facts, stories and adhere to their marching orders of creating that campaign of misinformation. You certainly arent perfect but that’s what I suggest.
The next thing I suggest……OBA, you see all those protestors yelling at you, the ones claiming you are ruining the country? Go straight to them……tell them what mess the PLP left Bermuda in. Show them that and then suggest they go ask those representatives how did they let things go so bad. That’s all you really have left cuz I don’t see you winning the next election.
Stop letting the PLP tell your story.
Marc Daniels gI’ve us a break. I don’t buy for one minute this nonsense. Give back your Senate wages if you’re not going to do the work. As a lawyer you’re constantly in receipt of earning from billings if you’re credible or maybe you don’t have any legal work that’s why you’re milling around the crowds. Grow up as you’re still way too immature.
Wow! When you read all this gibberish it’s very clear there is no clear logical thought process! Scary!
Sounds like a lawyer .. Talks so long he forgot what his point was…
And today, they have proceeded to debate it. LOLOLOLOL Another PLP 180.
The reason you need to be at the Senate every day this week is because you threw your toys out of the pram last week and decided not to turn up! These are the consequences so man up, do your job and shut up.
Really. Rome burns and this chap babbles on. Govern. Read up on democratic governance. Earn you wage. We all pay it. Not just the few hundred ” people”. The world watches.
When I read all these comments it’s a shame you people don’t have the BA–S to use your real name.If you mean it and feel it then put your name to it.are you all scared or are you all liars. Stand up for what you believe in an leave the pen names out.
And Rodney could be anyone….so…….
tea time! toodles!
To be honest,the position of Senator should be removed from Government.It is a paid position for wannabe Politicians.They can make blunders and still get paid and then apoligise and walk away with no boot in their arse.I like people like Marc Bean,Michael Dunkley,Dr.Ewart Brown.,Lois Browne Evans etc,They place their all on the line for their countries and stand to lose their shirts.These wannabe practicing politicians need to earn their stripes in the streets really working for the people,like Enda Matthie,Chris Furbert,Rev.Tweed and others with skin in the game.They are the real warriors.These stove pipe pantslegged,pointed shoe manniqens are a joke.