Premier ‘Very Satisfied’ At Airport Bills Passing
After Friday’s marathon House of Assembly debate and passage of the Airport Development Concession Act 2016 and the Bermuda Airport Authority Act 2016, Premier Michael Dunkley said “we are very satisfied at the passage of these two Bills” and “now await the Senate debate.”
The debate began in the afternoon, and lasted until around 5.00am the following day, with MPs from both sides of the aisle speaking on the Bills.
Premier Dunkley said, “Friday’s sitting of the House saw very impassioned debate from both sides of the aisle on the Airport Development Concession Act 2016 and the Bermuda Airport Authority Act 2016. It was an incredibly long and spirited parliamentary session, and I appreciate all Members’ contribution.
“Government maintains that the airport redevelopment project will be significantly beneficial for the people of Bermuda.
“It will create hundreds of construction jobs, as well as long term employment opportunities; it will be a boost to our economy; and it will be a first class, modern facility which we can all be proud of. And I can assure that Bermuda and Bermudians will always be at the forefront of this development.
“So we are very satisfied at the passage of these two Bills. We now await the Senate debate and we will be following those proceedings very closely.
“That said, I must take this opportunity to commend the Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Bob Richards for his steady determination in piloting these two very critical pieces of legislation through the House of Assembly.
“The Government has been working on this important infrastructure project for the last two and a half years, providing extensive information and awareness about the important merits of a new airport. During that time there has been much feedback and considerable discussion both for and against the proposed development.
“We recognise that there had been a lot of misinformation around the airport project and as we move forward we will continue to provide information to the public to quell concerns.
“As Premier I believe that what unites us far outweighs what divides us. So as we move ahead, Government’s attention and commitment will be focused on strengthening our engagement throughout the community to try and bridge our divisions.
“Ultimately and historically, as we have done so many times before, I am hopeful that as a people we can and will chart a way forward together, finding common ground solutions to ensure a successful future for our Island.”
Yes the OBA government will have it’s monument with the Canadian flag flying proudly above,
That won’t happen. This is a classic case of misinformation.
The Union Jack flies over Government House…fool
idiot alvin
Hey pal, at least give the OBA one monument. PLP have many monuments all over the island; Dockyard wharf, Port Royal, Grand Atlantic, TCD, Court Building, Barkley School, destroying a perfectly good east end Golf Course and a usable hotel! I am sure I have missed some but boy, these are some impressive monuments! Don’t you think?
Those are owned by Bermudians. We are fine with those.
It is so funny how many blame the P.L.P for our present debt situation, but yet we see this O.B.A Government showing us they are doing no different then that which they accused the former Government of doing.
A bunch of idiot’s is what I call them, how the hell is this deal going to be financially viable for anyone but the investors, which is not us as a country.
Sell your soul to the devil and be ready to dance to his tune with the hell you are creating.
We don’t use the airport then…
*well
Er, no. The PLP increased debt by 800% in five years. That’s one thing they knew how to do at record pace.
You seem to be suggesting that the PLP were a bunch of idiots as well.
Well, ok. Who would be better to take Bermuda forward? The guys who still cannot account for $800 million of our money, who had every single large project go way over budget and which are all now being examined by a Commission? The brilliance of a $60 million development that sits empty and deteriorating on our South Shore? The one that even the PLP’s own technical advisors told them not to build?
You talk about selling souls…it is clear you sold yours a long time ago.
Duane, we know who the real idiot is, if you can’t see how incompetent and dishonest your govt. was and that the OBA is making headway in restoring our economy. I notice you never come up with any suggestions for a better deal for the new airport. You also never seem to mind that most of the major hotels are owned by non Bermudians so I certainly do not give any credibility to you or you ilk. Speaking of the devil you too will be judged so do not be to quick to throw stones.
How about all the Bermudians who are gonna be working there and building it?? Bore me less, the airport is already not profitable, its sad how this older generation thinks they know what is right for Bermuda. Sorry news for you but my generation is coming in and we will disembark from the elders “who know everything”
News for you, PLP sold their soul to the devil a while ago, Brown is living proof
If the OBA aren’t doing anything different from the PLP, how have they managed decrease the crippling deficit the PLP built and were content to ignore. How have the managed to actual reign in the uncontrolled financial handling of the public purse. The only way the OBA could have prevented our debt from rising higher would have been massive job layoffs and public service/program cuts, which they didn’t because it would have only made things worse. If the PLP has their way in 2012, we would have been bankrupt by now, the PLP have said as much in their last 2 years of budget and throne speech replies.
My people will not be satisfied until the day after the election none of this matters. The only thing that is important is my vote (X)
I stayed home last time and that will never happen again.
“My people …” ???
Stupid fool, its people like you is why we’re going through this S@#!.
Just like how Americans are gonna feel de Trump effect.
Stay off de herb, it alters ya thinking.
Yes because the PLP did so much for your people.
Take a break Alvin u talk rubbish
It will create hundreds of jobs,
Hmmm where have I heard that before
Mr. Premier!
Yep. Don’t sit on the wall drinking beers and smoking sh!t and the job is yours. Also , change the attitude, don’t steal and be reliable with your time and an employer will keep you on the payroll.
Still waiting for de 2000 jobs.
As you protest against job creation at every opportunity.
Paving Bermuda’s road to serfdom.
Oh Canada our home and native land!!
Hold it were the Native’s of Canada Indians?
Mmmmmmnnn
No. They weren’t. Try asking one.
I dare you to make less sense.
Not possible.
So funny that Onion’s comments almost always are disliked at a ratio of about 3:1 lol. Speaks to the lunacy of his comments generally…..
Looks like the Bungling Burt [PLP], Confused Chris [BIU/PLP] and the AME church [People's Campaign / PLP] could not stop Bermuda and Bermudians going forward. I thank Mr Richards and the entire OBA.
The PEOPLE could”ve stopped it but they’re feeble and timid.
Are they the same people Herbalist is talking about? You two should get together and figure that one out.
No they couldnt. King chris couldnt direct his sheep cause he was too late. Stop bein so sour cause u didnt get your day off. Typical
U talk crazy not just today all the time
I wonder which French Canadian name they will give the new unwanted airport
Unwanted by WHO???? the 1/3rd of the population? The noisy minority? Get over it; crying in your cereal does not help moving forward, and as far as RENAMING; who changed the name from Bermuda International Airport in the first place?
Ohhh right…..
The new Bermuda is finally staring to blossom for our young people the old tired and walking stick rioters step away ur day is done and take your racism with u
Thank you Mr. Dunkley for standing up for the majority who voted you and your team into parliament. We are watching!
You think that the OBA still have the majority on their side? Ha!
I personally agree that the airport is the best deal for Bermuda. Now it’s time to move forward and put the whining behind us and move forward as a unified people.
Building a new airport is a wonderful thing. But the question is what will it be named?
Also the amount of time it takes to exit the airport on a return flight to Bermuda hopefully will improve like it has improved at TCD.
Who cares what name it has? That was one thing the PLP managed to actually get done, change a bunch of names. How awesome. Keep it LF Wade, nobody cares.
One thing I’m sure the Premier and his party are very clear about … this airport project MUST employ Bermudians. Time will tell and voters will vote.
Question is how many?
Awesome work OBA! Alvin,OJ your childish!
The fact that this is the 5th time in the last 5 months that the Premier has stated that we need to come together as a country speaks volumes to me.
If he was so concerned about bringing us together, he would take the time to listen to the people.
but they did listen, majority Bermudians wanted this deal to go through, stop sounding like a child and complaining when you don’t get your way.
@CryMeARiver; note they said “the people”…. it’s always “the people” when it’s a select few, like the majority are some one else.
Furbert called last week for every person opposed to the bill to go to union HQ. 150 people turned up, including union officials. What does that tell you.
He did listen you just didn’t like what he said
At last.
Thank you OBA
Get the job done.
One question: Would the OBA MP’s, OBA Senators and OBA Supporters put their heads on a chopping block and honestly say this privatization of our airport is the BEST deal for Bermuda and her people?
I pray everyone that is against this deal are wrong…only time will tell. If the deal turns out to be the best thing that could have happened for Bermuda…I will be the first to admit I WAS WRONG.
But if this deal turns out to be the worse thing that could have happened to our airport and Bermuda…What happens then? How would you (the supporters of this deal) feel? And if the OBA MP’s and senators are still around, how will they feel?
They already have put their heads on that block. They voted for it. I own my support too. I trust the OBA far more than the PLP. The PLP had their chance and completely blew it. They list the Grand Atlantic as an accomplishment on their website still. They refuse to take responsibility for that and other massive overruns on capital projects. If you listen to them all the problems were the fault of others. If you support the PLP to build an airport you need to have your head examined.
One question:One question: Would the PLP MP’s, PLP Senators and PLP Supporters put their heads on a chopping block and honestly say that spending 2 billion dollars (every last cent Bermuda had)was the BEST deal for Bermuda and her people??? Where were you then?
SMH…and as you can see the poor get poorer under your OBA…too busy trying to entertain the rich (America’s Cup) nstead of dealing with the things that matter. Maybe some of that $100 million plus could have gone towards a new airport, schools, etc. No one said the PLP were perfect but at least they were trying to help those that couldn’t afford education. So they made Bermuda college free…OBA comes along and starts charging again. THey also had a program called the “Hustle Truck”…providing for those without jobs….and the list goes on…So maybe those were the things that the PLP were spending “every last cent” on. And please remember the dept has doubled since the OBA have been in office…we are still looking fork the 2000 jobs that were promised four years ago.
You are full of misinformation.
“And please remember the dept has doubled since the OBA have been in office…we are still looking fork the 2000 jobs that were promised four years ago.”
Really? So you are saying the OBA went another 2 billion in debt? That is not true whatsoever. The OBA has had to borrow money because the PLP spent so much money that they had to borrow just to cover day to day expenses. The PLP had to do this same thing! The OBA did not cancel the free Bermuda college, the PLP did because they ran out of freebie money! And you thinking that the PLP helped Bermudians is laughable. They put us 2 billion in debt so that our children and grandchildren will be paying out the you know what for your freebies!!! I can tell by your post that you really aren’t comprehending the situation in Bermuda
It is the unions,,,,,,,,that will guarantee ,,,,jobs for Bermudians as they always have.not insincere Politicians and Parliamentarians who are too busy trying to hold on to their ,,,own ,,,jobs. Be for real folks,if was not for the unions,,you would not have a job.Can you see it,,,,,,,???????? Peace…..
Unions dont create jobs. In fact they currently slow job growth. There was a time when they benefited the workers but that time is history. Now they grind progress to a halt and down tools at a political whim.
“It is the unions,,,,,,,,that will guarantee ,,,,jobs for Bermudians as they always have.”
It is a union that continues to shut the island down in their attempt to guarantee a job for a non Bermudian……pay attention takbir, and get your keyboard fixed, or learn the difference between a comma and a period.
OBA should still work on deporting those who’s permits are expired
The present airport doesn’t generate enough cash to maintain itself so how is the new one going to generate enough cash to pay for itself? Do you honestly think people are going to suddenly fly to Bermuda because we have a new airport? Are we going to become a gateway point to generate more pass through passengers? The planes that presently fly here do so with plenty empty seats that we have to subsidize for & shall still have to do so with this new airport.
So considering we’re on the hook for any profits this airport doesn’t generate on it’s own, how is this new airport going to generate all this new revenue? Or is the plan to simply make the new airport even more expensive for the people who do use the airport to compensate the difference? Thus making an already overly expensive destination even more so.
@stand up..I honestly don’t think they care because they would have looked at other opportunities and not just took the first deal that came their way. Makes you also think, how would they know its a good deal when there is nothing to compare it to. Clearly they did not read much of the fine print either, because the only one that benefits is the Canadian Company and good for them, because they get paid regardless. Unfortunately no due diligence was done in this case and Bermuda will surely suffer the consequences.
Again, I agree a new airport is needed, but this was a bad choice to go with and more offers should have been looked at.
The scariest part about those who believe the PLP as a better option is that they really believe they will get better governance. You won’t! To vote purely on race or what your family voted on a is a huge risk. Bermuda needs experienced statemen/women that are going to work to improve the economy. We have had enough of those who are looking to Government for their own personal gain. I’m sorry the PLP are not viable, mature, successful or honest. I will never vote for them again. My children and grandchildren deserve better.
Voted b4 on race not again
Thank them when they raise your taxes to pay for this – politician are self serving.
“And if the OBA MP’s and senators are still around, how will they feel?”… maybe you should ask that of the PLP MP’s and senators who are still around after the damage they did.
We still have NOT had any acceptance from them for the part they played, nor an apology, while they stay in denial.
Oh Sara you are my new hero!!! You are so right. Where were they then for sure!!! But we all know – deflect, deny, deflect and lie some more – still no acceptance or responsibility for the truth from the combined Opposition !!!
Where did that pesky $2b go??? Its a large sum folks…………..so where did it go??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????