ACBDA To Become ‘Bermuda Event Authority’
The Government will transform the ACBDA into the Bermuda Event Authority which will build on the experience of hosting the America’s Cup and “utilize a far more diverse and inclusive approach to finding, attracting and managing events,” Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Jamahl Simmons said today.
Minister Simmons said, “The 2017 Throne Speech laid out the government’s commitment to a better, fairer Bermuda.
“The Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism has several initiatives designed to create new business and entrepreneurial opportunities while enhancing and modernizing our tourism product. Today, I will speak to you on several initiatives that the Ministry will be advancing over the next year.
“With jobs for non-Bermudians continuing to grow while Bermudian jobs are lost in the tourism industry, it is clear that a new approach is needed to ensure that Bermudians come first in jobs and opportunities in our own country,” the Minister continued.
“The Government, working in tandem with the Department of Immigration, the Department of Workforce Development and stakeholders, will conduct an industry-wide skills and needs assessment of the tourism industry to identify areas where unemployed or underemployed Bermudians can be trained to fill or be promoted into jobs currently held by non-Bermudians.
“For Bermuda to realize its fullest potential we must have a well-trained, highly-qualified Bermudian work force where the only limit to growth and advancement is the ones that individuals put on themselves. To achieve this goal, we must ensure full alignment between the worker skill sets, industry demands, and the education and training being offered.
“To further facilitate the entrance and development of Bermudians into the industry, The Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Workforce Development will reform and revitalize the Bermuda Hospitality Institute [BHI] as a stronger, more effective vehicle for empowering our Bermudian people.
“The training and designations that the BHI offers will be enhanced to certify Bermudians so they can become stakeholders in the tourism industry.
“Bermuda has long punched above our weight attracting global events such as the PGA Grand Slam and The America’s Cup. Events allow Bermuda to be seen and experienced by a wider global audience, draw visitors to Bermuda and help keep Bermuda front of mind in a very competitive tourism environment. From both the PGA Grand Slam and The America’s Cup, lessons have been learned and we intend to build on that legacy.
“The Government will transform the ACBDA into the Bermuda Event Authority. This reformed body will build on the experience of hosting the America’s Cup. However, the new authority will be constituted to utilize a far more diverse and inclusive approach to finding, attracting and managing events and will work with all stakeholders to ensure that economic impact is felt by the many and not just the few.
“We believe that those who in the past were expected to live off scraps from the table, must now have a place at the table. Bermuda is more than golf, rugby and sailing, and there exists the capacity to grow events relating to sports, Arts and Culture and others that will attract younger, more cosmopolitan and more diverse visitors to our shores.
“Working alongside the Bermuda Tourism Authority, they will increase engagement with institutions and industries and seek out strategic partnerships aligned with our objectives. Also we must end the periodic over reliance on the local market to bring energy and volume spending to support some events.
“For years Bermudians and visitors alike have sought to improve our local nightlife and entertainment. We seek a younger, more diverse and more cosmopolitan audience and to do that we must take a critical and constructive look at what we currently offer.
“To that end, The Ministry will engage in a consultative process with businesses, the unions and the people of Bermuda to identify and advance changes that will enhance our overall product, create new entrepreneurial opportunities and address the perception that there is “nothing to do in Bermuda.”
“In closing, a better, fairer Bermuda is one that not only insures that there are more seats at the economic table, but is also one that invests in Bermudians and provides opportunities not just to be hired, trained and promoted, but to also own and run businesses of our own. In the months ahead, I will provide updates on these and other initiatives designed to do just that.”
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Question..
“With jobs for non-Bermudians continuing to grow while Bermudian jobs are lost in the tourism industry”
Can you elaborate on what jobs specifically you are talking about?
He is the king of platitudes and cliche..He forgot to say he is taking a holistic approach to tourism.
no I cannot say specifically because your question is too vague at this time for me to go into depth on this topic which is new to me please give me the time required for me to consult my learned friends on the subject matter at hand and I will revert to you on or before 2025 with an answer to the question you posed with a transparent and rational response as we did promise transparency in our platform but never said when you must understand that we are no longer under obligation to you voters since we won the election and have our own radio show which I must say will let you know what you need to know and nothing more in addition I find your question to be prying and not worthy of a response I am getting on a plane now with his awesomeness the premier and I will be attending some pointless conventions and having breakfast with people who we do not know and talking about things we don not understand
Mentioned the PGA golf. Sorry Still awaiting the the truth about the PLP scandal about the Port Royal Golf Course. Just like all Bermudians..except the die hard PLP supporters. As regard Americas Cup done properly. PLP still have short term memory loss. That won’t change.
On a whole I think the repurposing of ACBDA should be good for the island. But why the shot at, golf, sailing and rugby. Is this because they are seen as the ‘some people’ sports? If so he clearly has no idea of whats going on with rugby on the island and how many of our young people are now playing this tough sport through the work of the great guys and girls involved with Beyond Rugby.
I tend to agree, this was a shot across the bow because those sports are seen as appealing to one sector of the population, which is (a) sad and (b) incorrect.
Expand and extend, sure. But don’t beat up on some sporting disciplines.
I get the feeling Beyone is coming back and nail technician training will resume.
That’ll save us!!
This literally made me laugh out loud
After the oba/UBP lost the election and only has 12 seats to the PLP 24 nothing is more funny.
When are you ubpers changing the name again?
“After the oba/UBP lost the election and only has 12 seats to the PLP 24 nothing is more funny.”
it is funny…funny that plp supporters vote based on race…even if it means they screw themselves over in the process…it’s actually hilarious.
Stop the truth is this there are far too many low level
Jobs that are held by none Bermudians
This has to stop and stop now
Well if Bermudians would apply for them and then turn up every day it would be different wouldn’t it.
OK, not a bad idea but why a body in its own right? Why more red tape, why more officialdom – why not make it an arm of the BTA which is already bringing in these types of events (world triathlon series) as well as world class sports teams who train here??????
Madness, the PLP is just setting up more and more committees, think tanks etc …. which will just slow progress!
And Costs $$$$. Me think this is a method to put a friend in need in a job, pay to play.
ACBDA was set up for a very specific purpose once we had the event.
What events will this attract and what is the size expected, how do we measure the success? this does not make any sense to me other than another way to fleece the public purse.
In all of the long-winded speech above there is not one idea to create one single job.
If the Bermuda Event Authority does what you say, isn’t that what the bta gets paid to do?????
Still trying to tilt the AC as a failure on any level possible. Not hard to read between the lines.
Let’s not head back to limited market failures. Hopefully he has the sense to step out of the way at this point. At least then he’s free to point fingers.
So, AC was not a failure?
No it wasn’t.
Proof?
proof that it was?
You feel it was? Why exactly?
Who do you know?
More plans for plans !
Jamahl Simmons just couldn’t resist the little dig could he?
” to ensure that economic impact is felt by the many and not just the few.”
Were his eyes shut during the AC?
Elsewhere a Minister is moaning about the amount of overtime paid to the bus and ferry staff during AC. Taxis never had it so good. Truck drivers were moving large quantities of materials. Same with the docks and so it goes on.
Jamahl, provide the proof the many didn’t benefit from AC. At least the many who wanted to benefit. What are your plans now? Come on Jamahl, tell us.
Umm, weren’t you complaining about ACBDA when it was promoting the Americas Cup?
He was complaining about it last week on the radio. Two-faces.
He flip flopped.
Joe Bloggs:
What are your true concerns here??
Jamel’s points are brilliant.
Inclusive is the route to take , unlike the wretched YOU KNOW WHO.
Oh well, can’t please them all.
Great points, Jamel!!
Were his points ‘brilliant’ last week or this week? Because he is saying the opposite today to what he said on Friday.
Some might say he doesn’t know his a++ from his elbow.
His name’s Jamahl…obviously you’re a paid blogger lmfao!
Perhaps Jamel is his nickname. I like it. Well done backbone you just rebranded the minister of flip.
It’s not lol
aka ‘Yettb’ , Betty , January , Mz Trump and so on .
Yay Jamel (Jamahl) said a buzzword, so the world is saved!!!! The guy is a hopeless contradiction, wake up to reality already Backbone. Your standards are pathetic.
So now he is touting the ACBDA’s success in running an event (while at the same time trying to dismiss it) and talking about turning it into an event coordination authority as a PLP idea, ignoring the fact that the the idea had been touted a while ago by the OBA.
At the same point he is trying to plug the notion that they will create events that will be equally inclusive… an impossibility, as any event can only accommodate a limited amount of direct economic activity to those services that cater to that type of event. The indirect economic activity can some times be bigger, but more often goes unnoticed… much like the fact that PLP ignores the indirect economic activity that was generated by hundreds of AC employees living and working here for years, many with their families, augmenting to the many everyday services that locals use as well. But you will never here from the PLP anything that might admit that the OBA found more success and broader economic ROI with the AC investment, than any or even all PLP initiatives before that. Instead they are still trying to downplay the AC.
The Minister also seems to skip the fact that we have major international triathalon events coming…
We already have the BTA so the idea of creating a new authority is totally superfluous at this time; all you need is a special section within the BTA as they already have the necessary framework.
So far all we have experienced from this new government is a lot of hot air comments on creating a bunch of salaried positions which are not needed. Looks like the excessive use of consultants will be making a comeback again!
So AC WAS good for all?
All that put the effort in.
We will find out when the PWC report is delivered. Until then any comments as to whether it was good for all or not remain unsubstantiated.
YOU are a smart individual.
Why would Disney even care? I don’t get your point.
Not to worry . You obviously don’t get a lot of things. But you probably thought the OBA were all arrogant and didn’t care about Bermudians !
Personal insults and speculation — good argument on your behalf! Let me know when you can actually answer my question.
I think Kim Swan, would have been the perfrct choice as our tourism minister, he has a lot of charisma …
Kim Swan is a Flipper-come-lately he has not put in the time required to earn a place at the side our great premier.
Sorry, replied to wrong comment just now. Please excuse my mistake.
YES, I agree with you, BTA can handle this.
Perhaps he wants Flip Flop signing at baseball games again! What a National embarrassment he was (and continues to be)!
Better signing than singing!
more government meddling in tourism guess they all want comp tickets to Beyoncé’s return
what buisness investment are u bringing to bermuda minister? the ac is over!
This minister is a national embarrassment !
Agreed!
He wants to take ACBDA and turn it into a barrier against anything like the AC ever happening again.
Good initiative. I hope this new authority will diversify our ypes of major events. Same old Beyonce concerts is getting tiring. Some may not have liked the AC but at least it was something different to experience. Seeing how fast those boats go on the water was amazing! I don’t know much about a this was quite a sight to see.
Good initiative. I hope this new authority will diversify our types of major events. Same old Beyonce concerts is getting tiring. Some may not have liked the AC but at least it was something different to experience. Seeing how fast those boats go on the water was amazing!! What an experience! I don’t know much about sailing but this was quite a sight to see. I never knew this was a sport. Attract new and different types of events for us to experience. We need to broaden our horizons and experience new things!
Please provide the numbers of non-Bermudian jobs that are still growing. And please provide a comparison to Bermudian held jobs. The PLP is full of S#!%!
Please provide the numbers of non-Bermudian jobs that are still growing. And please provide a comparison to Bermudian held jobs. The PLP is full of S&%#
The whole PLP are a national embarrassment
What’s in changing a name? To rebrand is to reintroduce. The cost of changing letter heads and the whole nine. To only offer one more service that’s already being offered. Let’s spend that money better please. We are not in an financial position to do this.
“We believe that those who in the past were expected to live off scraps from the table, must now have a place at the table…
So the vast majority of owners of businesses that employed, trained and paid a fair wage expected ‘those’ to live off of scraps?
We all know Bermudians and residents the length and breadth of this island, from all walks of life and many with little to no education who have worked, saved, built or bought houses, educated their children and enjoyed a lifestyle envied around the world (until the PLP experiment blew it) but this joker would have you believe that everyone was a victim of some diabolical plot to impoverish them. Pure BS and victim mentality at it’s finest.
How many people have you employed and paid handsomely to help break the cycle you flap on about?
” Pure BS and victim mentality at it’s finest.”
Exactly, it’s all they’ve got…no other skills, so they play the victim.
It’s boring, and I’m embarrassed for them.
Isn’t the BTA already trying to drive events-based tourism? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to fold the resources of the ACBDA into the BTA for efficiencies of scale?
PLP still in election mode just like TRUMP!! New event authority will also see ALL new “friends & family” staff with all previous staff let go aka Dr. Freddie Evans. What PLP don’t understand is that corporate sponsor’s money helped tremendously to cover AC35 expenses.
“Personal insults and speculation ”
it’s the plp way, get used to it.