Comments on: Minister: OBA Govt ‘Destroyed’ Housing Project

By: Blankerchief

Blankerchief — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 14:30:51 +0000

Are you for serious?

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:26:45 +0000

No Kathy.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:25:43 +0000

Bollocks. Complete and utter bollocks.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:25:16 +0000

Evil? Really.

I suspect you don’t understand economics. At all.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:10:23 +0000

We also spent $15 million on a completely unnecessary testing facility at TCD and the whole testing procedure was privatized to a friend of the PLP. They then put a sign up glorifying the person who thought of the idea too.

By: watching

watching — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 12:49:13 +0000

The $1.2 billion number cited by the PLP came from the end of financial year 2012 (31 March of that year). The $1.6 billion comes from end of financial year 2013 (31 March of the year after), which is a better number to judge the OBA against since the PLP continued as the Government until December 2012.

When Burt and others say that the OBA doubled the national debt, they conveniently omit 8-9 months of PLP government from that discussion.

But even accepting the $1.2 billion figure as you say, it’s still dishonest to say that the OBA doubled debt, implying that they were culpable. The OBA inherited a financial mess, and running government finances is like turning an oil tanker – you don’t just snap your fingers and expect the job to be done.

Anyone managing a household budget and dealing with credit card debt knows that once you get past a certain point, no matter what you do, credit card payments just seem to run away with themselves. If you’re making minimum monthly payments, you still see the overall bottom line figure increase. PLP obligations were falling due under the OBA. The OBA were paying interest on top of interest accrued under the PLP, and they still had deferred obligations to pay (salary of civil servants, pension payments, HIP and GEHI health insurance pay outs, etc).

The argument about the OBA is that they didn’t do enough fast enough to fix the country’s financial situation. The fact that the OBA managed to cut unsustainable spending, steer us towards a balanced budget and still saw rising debt levels is a testament to just how financial reckless the PLP were before 2012.

By: Question

Question — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 10:51:53 +0000

The OBA did not double the debt. Repeating it does not make it true. The PLP increased it by 6x in their seven years though, increasing debt at a rate of $400m a year. Spending $100m a year on foreign consultants,

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 09:32:05 +0000

Just like the OBA were trying to buy votes with the airport and St. Regis. What an incredible waste of taxpayer money that we will never be able to recoup! Shame on both parties for not working harder to ensure our money is not wasted!!! Disgusted!

By: Wow

Wow — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:31:43 +0000

The OBA was evil pure and simple! Had no money but found $100 million for a boat race. Another example of mismanagement by the OBA! Go PLP – PLP all the way!

By: Yikes

Yikes — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:32:37 +0000

What happens to a business that loses money consistently year after year? Ding, ding, ding . . . the answer is it goes bankrupt. The PLP has bankrupted Bermuda. When it came to power, there was a surplus. So, I find it hard to believe that any PLP member can criticize the other party when they have acted in an abysmal way. When there is money in the public purse, the most disadvantaged people in society can be easily helped, but if there is no money – where is the funding going to come from? It seems that a portion of the voting population seem to have amnesia when they are voting for a party that does not know how to balance the books. How can we continue on this way? Every so often we hear about the need to go independent which makes me really giggle. Britain might just say good riddance to a bankrupt state. 60,000 people with no back up trying to pay down an enormous debt – where the logic? Bermuda has historically been very prosperous, but it is government policy that makes the difference. Rational thinking and vision needs to take precedence in this country if we are going to see a turn around. When we have strong leadership, we will see confidence in the country and economy return.

By: Khalid A Wasi

Khalid A Wasi — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 21:52:12 +0000

Sadly, the OBA were hell-bent on reversing everything the PLP seemed to have supported, they overreached at times to achieve their ends. The waterfront is another example. Now I am not going to argue there may have things that needed to be addressed, just that how they went about it was Trumpian and the people saw it. The beneficiaries will never see it

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 21:11:13 +0000

The sad thing is Col Burch, believes this crap he is spewing….

By: aceboy

aceboy — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 20:50:04 +0000

Is it election time already?

By: Johnt

Johnt — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 20:01:19 +0000

do you understand what a budget deficit is? The PLP were running close onto a 400m deficit by the time the OBA were voted in in 2012. That is they were spending $400m more than they were making in revenue. The OBA had little choice but to continue running the deficit whilst trying to manage it down which they did. Unfortunately this means the debt continued to run up but anyone not blinded by PLP spin understands who is to blame for this!!

By: Anbu

Anbu — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:50:57 +0000

They love to be led kevin. They need to have someone tell them what to do

By: Anbu

Anbu — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:49:26 +0000

Hey guess what?! Burch is a “political villian” and that is the only accurate description of him. You think hes actually a colonel?! Hahaha

By: Anbu

Anbu — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:37:52 +0000

Ya ok. Sheep. Do us all a favor and fo some research before regurgitating plp bull. God u blind sheep are so ignorant. The bottom line of our whole debt problem whether any of you want to admit it or not is that it is entirely your fault. The plp were incompitent since before they ever won in 1998 and they blatantly prroved it over and over again but for some reason all you kept sticking em back in. It serves you all right. Stupid is as stupid does and you all are getting your just rewards for said incompitence. And there is LOTS more to come lmao. Enjoy.

By: Anbu

Anbu — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:30:53 +0000

God you are stupid. Ugh whats the point. No matter how your own screw you, you just cant help but love them for it. Hahahaha. Bermudians have to be the slowest people on the planet. We prove it daily. Lmao

By: Black Soil

Black Soil — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:07:16 +0000

Sadly many Bermudians will believe these PLP lies. That’s why the PLP spread them.

By: Question

Question — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 17:42:12 +0000

The PLP spent $25m on a $4m golf course returf and $25m on an $8m swimming pool. I don’t recall Burch saying anything about those things.

The PLP love spending other people’s money don’t they.

By: John E. Thorne

John E. Thorne — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 16:16:50 +0000

And the PLP ruined BERMUDA in their reign of terror for 14 years.

By: Trufth

Trufth — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 15:25:45 +0000

Agree! Colonel should take his comedy show on the road.

By: Hey

Hey — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:40:42 +0000

Burch, you destroyed this island with your behavior, you were rude to our IB and you caused many Bermudians to lose their jobs and houses. The PLP must be really desperate to let you have your way.

By: kevin

kevin — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:31:30 +0000

Simply put
They haven’t discovered a cure for Stupid
but the faithful blind ones will suck this up and actually believe he makes sense
and wouldn’t deceive them ….heard that before haven’t we

By: STRAIGHTFORWARD

STRAIGHTFORWARD — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:07:37 +0000

TO Status Bermudian:
Yes!!!
Burch is CORRECT in holding those horrible political villains responsible!!
Good for Burch!!
Yahoo!!

By: STRAIGHTFORWARD

STRAIGHTFORWARD — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:05:38 +0000

Well spoken, Burch.
Hold those horrors accountable for their MESS!!

By: Real Deal

Real Deal — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 13:31:57 +0000

Transparency my boi be tend to forget unless they are reminded. he will put out a fix to this and it will be Transparent as-well.

By: DeOnion

DeOnion — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 12:29:56 +0000

Of course the oba added to the debt – they had to in order to cover the massive budget deficits left by the plp! The plp would also have doubled the debt – probably more than doubled it!

By: SayItAintSo

SayItAintSo — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 11:57:57 +0000

Why didn’t the PLP raise this when it was happening and they were in opposition? Instead they were too wrapped up trying to divide us all.

By: J Austen

J Austen — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:23:41 +0000

Your status just went way up Mate, well said about these self-centered primadonnas.

By: Status Bermudian

Status Bermudian — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 02:30:27 +0000

Anyone else tired of Political banter! These politicians are all so wrapped up in themselves to do anything! Both sides-
Stop Reminding everyone of what has happened!

All of them including the OBA have to pull their heads out of each other’s rumps and concentrate on all of us and our crumbling economy!!! Sick of this!!! He said he said BS!!

By: Colonel Clunk

Colonel Clunk — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 01:51:03 +0000

Does the good Colonel and his followers honestly believe this flow of Mia truths.

What a good waste of air time.

My good fellow please let’s remember the havoc that you and your colleagues in the previous administration brought to a healthy BERMUDA economy when you first won the government.

As much as you would like folks to forget it, we simply can’t and we watch the same stuff happening again.

Give OBA bashing a rest…they area weak party…you and your colleagues look the fool when you bash them while doing nothing to improve the current situation in our country.

Truth. You guys don’t know how to do it. Say it.

By: Button Head

Button Head — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 01:47:56 +0000

” in the hope we have no historical memory” Dear Colonel closed eyes and mind . I for one remember ergo historical a certain party spending 800Mil but won’t admit it.

By: Hair

Hair — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 01:20:00 +0000

Really Burch? When you still have the Atlantic housing empty!!!! Take stock.

By: Mother Theresa

Mother Theresa — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:57:07 +0000

A Hahahahahahahahahahahah! Funny Burch, very funny!

By: Infidelguy

Infidelguy — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:52:03 +0000

Is this man serious? How can he say that the OBA destroyed a housing project and wasted money? There was no justification for the project. Does Colonel Burch think people have forgotten about Grand Atlantic fiasco? No responsible government would have embarked on a project of this magnitude, after millions of taxpayers dollars had just been wasted developing the Grand Atlantic? The OBA reduced the size of the project because the justification for it was not there.

What a joker this guy is!

LMFAO!

By: mumbojumbo

mumbojumbo — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 23:39:09 +0000

In east and west …hamilton too.

By: Rocky5

Rocky5 — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 23:23:16 +0000

Trying to re-write history. The Colonel built the Grand Atlantic as thousands were leaving Bermuda and Bermudian homeowners had thousands of empty apartments & homes. He also completely went against all the advice of ALL his Civil Servants. OBA were trying to make lemonade from his lemons and he has the gall to complain. This PLP Govt is only interested in destroying Bermuda.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 22:40:41 +0000

Knock it down and make it an ATV park. That’s about all Corney Major General could dream up.

By: DeOnion

DeOnion — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 22:33:33 +0000

Still behaving like they are in opposition! What has the minister done with these for the last 18 months?!

By: This is Island is Corrupt

This is Island is Corrupt — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 22:25:50 +0000

Unreal…this government can’t even take responsibility.

By: Ringmaster

Ringmaster — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 21:56:36 +0000

Sounds like the OBA saved Bermuda millions of dollars.

By: Question

Question — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 21:39:24 +0000

Because most of the money wasted on the development had already been spent by the PLP.

By: STRAIGHTFORWARD

STRAIGHTFORWARD — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 21:19:16 +0000

Burch, that type of oba behaviour is MOST typical.
You will NEVER get THEM to own that problem.
They always deliberately put blame on P.L.P.All of THEM are the same. Any slight wrong they observe from “people of colour”, it is always “our fault’!

They clearly own tons of social ills on this small island
Perhaps, there could beownership of most social ills here in Bermuda!!
Failing that, force them to pay attention.
P.L.P. IS THE POWER!!

By: Toodle-oo

Toodle-oo — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 20:43:35 +0000

* And might I remind those naysayers and their media mouthpiece *

And the diehards still can’t see the Trumpian similarities .

By: Really?

Really? — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 20:41:38 +0000

Why it took 1.2 million to make units that were estimated to be 360 thousand each? What lie I mean excuse you gonna come up with now?

By: Really?

Really? — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 20:39:31 +0000

You alls lies keep getting better and better, where did you get 1.6 billion from. It was at 1.2 billion not 1.6. You all keep trying to rise that number because you know full well that OBA govt DOUBLED the debt in less than 5 years. I heard another one of you say 1.4 billion. Why dont you all get your LIES straight before you comment. And the Minister is right, where is the COI, auditor generals report, or inquisition from you all about this? This is clearly a need to look at further as to why it cost 1.2 million for 20 UNITS!!!! And you talk about the PlP supposedly pocketing money when you have a former OBA premier excepting 300 thousand dollar? And now this. Where did that money go? Crickets from the other side just more oba lies and deflections…carry on

By: J Austen

J Austen — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 20:15:42 +0000

And guess who single handedly pushed the economy over the edge six years ago with his big mouth?

By: Wahoo

Wahoo — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 19:45:09 +0000

Why would a prudent OBA government spend money on an uneccessary project started by plp? The kernel embarrasses the plp every time he opens his mouth, plp were trying to buy votes by building homes that were not even required Grand Atlantic fiasco is a case in point.

By: Question

Question — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 19:40:47 +0000

“. And might I remind those naysayers and their media mouthpiece that it was the former Minister of Finance, Bob Richards, who in 2013 doubled our national debt to over $2 Billion with nigh a whisper from those lining up now to instruct the present government on fiscal responsibility.”

If it started at $1.6bn where you left it, it wasn’t “doubled” when it went to $2bn was it.