Jackson & Simmons: Rule Changes, Parliament
The Premier is “displaying concerning behaviors by manipulating how and when the House of Parliament conducts the peoples’ business,”OBA MP Susan Jackson said, while Minister Jamahl Simmons said the OBA are “whining about government extending this session to conduct the people’s business, working through the traditional parliamentary break.”
Susan Jackson Statement
The Premier is “displaying concerning behaviors by manipulating how and when the House of Parliament conducts the peoples’ business,” according to the One Bermuda Alliance Whip, Susan Jackson.
Ms. Jackson said, “It’s anti-democratic and is designed to avoid his responsibilities to Bermuda’s citizens and parliamentary colleagues.
“The Premier clearly makes up his own rules as he goes. He relies on traditional parliamentary Standing Orders when the rules meet his needs and appears to discard the rules when they don’t.
“Imagine a football game and the Captain starts changing the rules mid-game? Well this is what’s happening.
“We’ve seen the Premier arguing with the Speaker about introducing legislation without warning and when the Speaker said ‘no’, David Burt held a vote to overrule him and we still haven’t seen the planned legislation. Conveniently, that session wasn’t broadcast live or recorded by Hansard.
“Parliamentarians were called back early for a special parliamentary session in September to discuss legislation of national importance; Immigration and Caroline Bay, but here we are in mid-October and the legislation still hasn’t been passed or tabled.
“Parliamentarians are committed to do the work, but the latest manipulation of the House of Parliament by the Premier, leaves the entire country wondering what’s next?
“Without a rule book and without knowledge of what the government plans next, sends a message that democracy is threatened and the Premier can do whatever he wants.
“Why should people care? Because this is an abuse of power, it drastically reduces everybody’s ability to know what’s happening in our own country and understanding how new laws and changes to existing laws impact our daily lives.
“This is waking up every morning not sure what to expect as we go about our daily lives.
“This is much more serious than no Throne Speech ceremony or unexpected parliamentary sessions. The OBA is not concerned with historical ceremonies.
“We’re all of a new generation but it’s a democratic right to be informed of all the new rules not just one at a time at the whim of the Premier– what we care about is fair play for every single person on this island.
“Unfortunately, the Premier is conducting his business and depending on unconditional loyalty to support changes that may hurt the very people he was voted in to protect.
“Now we have a five year plan without any understanding of what’s happening now. Although, according to the Minister without Portfolio, Government plans for 2020 will be revealed at the PLP delegates’ conference next week.
“He invites members of the public but that’s just not the same as broadcasting the plan to the entire country.
“This is a snub to the entire country and again shows extremely poor leadership – the PLP is the Government of Bermuda and should be talking to all Bermudians not a select few party members. That’s what good leaders with nothing to hide do.
“The Premier needs to address this country with a plan we can all follow and if he wants to change the rules of the game, he needs to tell the country and Parliament the complete game plan. We have got to get this Island out of a deep economic mess.”
Minister Jamahl Simmons Statement
Minister Jamahl Simmons said, “It seems as if the OBA is just the Party of “No”
“No to a living wage. No to affordable healthcare. No to putting Bermudians first.
“And when they aren’t saying no, all that emanates from the OBA are personal attacks and whining.
“One day they are whining about being forced to cut short their summer vacation for a necessary Parliamentary session to do the people’s business.
“Then another day they are whining about government extending this session to conduct the people’s business, working through the traditional parliamentary break and saving taxpayers thousands of dollars on a ceremony.
“We will not be distracted by an opposition that offers Bermudians nothing but whining and impotent efforts to delay the execution of our agenda.”
So no answer to the issues the oba raises just puerile rhetoric and we are paying this guy 150k for this bs?
You said a mouthful Jamal! You said “our agenda” which means the “Premiers agenda” and not the “people’s agenda”! You work for ME (and all other Bermudians)! You better get your arrogance in order or we will rise up and put you out!! And I am a proud PLP supporter but you are making a mockery of my trust!!
So the oba give a blow by blow factual account of what has happened and the plp give a 12 year old’s response – apologies to 12 year olds
Hard to imagine a more infantile response from the Minister Without Portfolio. I think he finally wrote something himself.
which is very troubling
The Minister of Propaganda speaks!
“No to a living wage. No to affordable healthcare. No to putting Bermudians first.”
Two years of failure and incompetence, higher taxes, declining retail sales, declining economic confidence, declining population, increased cost of living and an empty suit premier.
PLP failure.
Lol. The premier needs to sack jamahl. This is the best he can do? God help us
Jamal better than the crap your useless party is trying to RAM down the publics throat. Wine no its you lot that disregard the position and the public. Get a grip man you were a flipflop to, remember. But its all about the me politician now and you aint there yet Mr Casino
Jamahl, you do realize the election is over now and now this Government needs to start acting like a real Government. No one is seeing any results and our economy is in dismal shape and yet your still in election mode. Just proves that your very good playing politics but horrible at running this country. But hey, then again I’m not a Minister without a Portfolio collecting a full time salary for doing nothing. Great if you can get it. Enjoy life at the trough.
Simmons has made two comments while collecting a ministerial salary
Not a bad return on a nothing job
Is Jahmal really accusing someone else of whining? He frikin invented whining.
Why doesn’t the Minister for Nothing answer the serious questions being raised?
He’s not minister for nothing – he’s our Minister of Propaganda!
What amazes me is that Simmons himself is a UBP/PLP, along with K. Swan, W.Furbert. Yet they always want to brand the OBA as UBP/OBA. Lest they forget they all vigorously attacked the PLP when they were on the other side. Now all of a sudden they have had a conversion experience. I DON’T THINK SO! It is a selfish agenda hiding under the wings of the government of the day. And yes I am a PLP supporter. But I don’t condone persons of either party that speaks out of both sides of their mouth.
You never voted PLP. If you did you would realize that many black voters departed from the UBP which you’re not. Instead of the UBP trying to deal with it’s racist past you and people like you changed the name to oba. Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now you have the weakest leader in the oba, who the PEOPLE don’t trust!!! Save yourself another failure at the next election and replace him fast…… maybe the PEOPLE will start to listen. Until that happens SHUT UP!!!
yup, Simmons is the original flip flop!
“One day they are whining about being forced to cut short their summer vacation for a necessary Parliamentary session to do the people’s business.”
Dear Minister Simmons, what people’s business are you referring to? Where can I find a record of that session please?
No, No, No! Sound familiar Jamahl? The PLP own the “No”. We Bermudians deserve to hear what our government’s plans are. We would like the opposition to debate your plans OPENLY and hear the replies. Ms. Jackson called the PLP anti democratic and accused you of making up rules to suit your agenda and you never answered to that. Instead you resorted to your very typical and immature babbling which I think is aimed to deflect from the issue rather than face it head on. 25-11 but don’t be so smug we are still looking for good governance.
I don’t even know why we have a Premier he can’t make real decisions anyway. So that’s probably why he’s made this decision. It makes him feel all powerful but truth be told the throne speech while traditional is only for sweet words and dress up and to make promises they can’t keep.
Are you serious jamahl? Your party has done nothing but increase the cost to live here since gaining power!!! That is a fact. Please miss us with your deflection
Minister Jamahl Simmons said, “It seems as if the OBA is just the Party of “No”
“No to a living wage. No to affordable healthcare. No to putting Bermudians first.
THAT’S BECAUSE YOUR PARTY CLAIMS TO BE FOR EVERYDAY BERMUDIANS BUT YOU’RE PRICING US OUT OF BERMUDA!!!
Does anyone else question why the need for these kind of tactics when the have a 25-11 majority?
“OUR AGENDA”…PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!!
it is so crystal clear that the plp are lost and have no idea what to do , the delay in letting us know that there is a plan to turn our economy around ( don’t believe there is one ) because in the end it wont matter about ” this is what we promised to do if elected” as the country will be in the toilet and all the so called wealth will be devalued ..so go ahead and continue to support these clueless wonders and stay silent ..its only going to get worse that’s not a blind threat its already happened and its a reality
I am neither PLP or OBA. I am for a government that puts Bermudians first and does good for the country both financially and economically. It is so funny that I saw straight through the PLP’s false promises before they were elected in. I knew they were saying what they needed to say to get their feet back in the door and it would all change once they were in. The premier needs to go and a third of his party. I am so sick of hearing about the UBP and the race card. UBP doesn’t exist anymore so move on please. PLP needs to know the same people that voted them in can vote their lazy, high spending, cost of living increasing and rule changing butts right back out the door. I say it’s time for Bermudians to stand up to this half a** government and do more protesting and let them know we WILL NOT stand for their ignorance or maybe it’s time for another election!!!
Simmons,must be so bored !!! what does he do all day ?
aint it obvious? thinks of crap to say as directed by his leader and the leaders leader
This is what the taxpayers’ get for $150k a year?
But somehow the PLP couldn’t find $15k for Bahamas relief?
25-11
I partially agree with NO MORE WAR…
Truth be told the throne speech while traditional is only for sweet words and dress up and to make promises they can’t keep.
Our democracy is literally being eroded right in front of our eyes.
Scary times Bermuda, scary times indeed.
The PLP will make every one in Bermuda suffer and pay for their extravagant life style!
What more do you grass roots,keep the faith ,we still believe supporters of this party need in order to see the light.I guess you could tell me it’s just a few bad apples or maybe we can use the coq in the wheel thingy.We are just throwing good money after bad with this lot.I bet they can relate to that….ffs
If the Bermuda electorate can’t see through the engineered damage being created by this political party in power, then unless they are voted out, Bermuda will never recover.