OBA: ‘Unfortunate’ Cabinet Was Not Reduced
It is “unfortunate” that the Premier did not “reduce the size of the Cabinet payroll,” OBA Leader Craig Cannonier said following the recent Cabinet changes.
OBA Leader Craig Cannonier said, “It is unfortunate that the Premier chose not to show empathy to Bermudians suffering without jobs and facing a bleak future by missing the opportunity to reduce the size of the Cabinet payroll.
“The appointment of Mr Tyrrell, in particular, was unnecessary as the Transport Ministry duties could have been given to an existing Minister such as Wayne Furbert whose workload can hardly be strenuous. With the appointment of Jason Hayward, Lovitta Foggo’s Ministry also lost a lot of its responsibilities.
“When the PLP won the 2017 election, Jamahl Simmons was made Minister of Tourism and Economic Development. When he was made Minister without Portfolio, Zane DeSilva became Minister for Tourism and Transport. Economic development appeared to fade into the background.
“The Premier recently resurrected economic development and, by now adding tourism to his brief, he has effectively gone full circle by recreating a Tourism and Economic Development Ministry.
“It is now three years since the PLP won the election. We are now seeing our second Tourism and Economic Development Ministry. We have also had three people responsible for gaming and three people responsible for immigration. We have also seen two Finance Ministers.
“To me, these are clear signs that there is no direction within Government and no idea about how to get things done and how to fix our economy. As Nero fiddled, so is our Premier.”
And what real solutions other than saving $250,000 does the OBA provide? OBA has gaming ready to go but tried to attack a local firm instead of implementing it!
So you agree with what he says, but you are also asking him for solutions to problems that you, as the government, should be providing.
You couldn’t make this up.
It is not the opposition’s job to give govt solitions – that is govt’s job
So you missed the point which was the OBA focuses on a measly $250k when we should have had gaming in play 5 years ago which would have put $400M in the kitty! All because privileged people did not have the solution! But go ahead keep focusing on the pennies!
Doubling up portfolios and reducing the size of Cabinet doesn’t save money, a minister is entitled to receive payment for each portfolio they take on. And really, it’s ridiculous of Craig to make statements like “his workload can hardly be strenuous”. Craig is not the one trying to manage a portfolio during a pandemic, so he shouldn’t comment on other people’s jobs if he’s not doing it. But I guess writing sad little opinion pieces for attention all the time doesn’t take much effort either.
It would be beyond imaginable the reaction if a minister two pay packets (Burt didn’t do it nor did Doc Brown) so it won’t happen and it will reduce payroll.
Craig has every right to comment on other people’s jobs – that is the role of the Opposition!
So, are you happy that cabinet payroll is as it is?
Portia, that is patently incorrect. A Minister with multiple portfolios get paid for the highest the various roles (Finance and AG are higher paid), but does not not get paid for each portfolio. The number of Ministers is what dictates the cost of Cabinet.
Honestly why should they get a pay cut. PLP have been working tiredlessly during this pandemic. Please explain how them taking a pay cut is going to help people get jobs. They put together a plan to give out unemployment benefits during this time what would OBA have done? Honestly instead of always pointing out what the Government is not doing why don’t you give a solution? Oh of course not because you don’t have one either!
The PLP did so much better when they were the opposition.
25-11
$3,500,000,000
Some of them are and some of them are not. It depends what portfolio they have.
Finance,tourism,immigration and social services will keep the ministers
busy.
The other portfolios do not require any more time than before as they routine.
By the way, is the works and engineering minister around because the weeds are growing in on the sidewalks,walls by our roads.
Whats there plan? To borrow the money? PLP is a bloody joke and this Country is burning to the ground
Before you write to criticize the plp, try to understand the difference between there and their.
JetGate of all people to talk after the next election he will be replaced. As a black Bermudian my family and friends used to vote for the UBP and later OBA. Sad to see how far the mighty party have fallen. The OBA has some bright minds with awesome talent and wealth, having Craig as leader is a complete joke to them and reveals that the powerful and elite really don’t care anymore.
Thats the problem with Black People, we support entities that dont have our best interest, like some Black People support Trump!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Gordon gave his life for the Movement, but have family members that fought against his legacy, bet you wont see Henry Tucker or David Gibbons family members supporting PLP or the BIU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
400 years of Psychological Damage.
Bingo! The oba would place a rabbit as leader if it could defeat the plp.
Cant trust swingers.
Would you like to discuss the real jetgate? The one that involved millions of your taxpayers dollars heading to Dr. Brown’s old college buddy.
Have some honesty.
Mr Cannonier
Stop it
Because if the Premier is taking
the tourism ministry position
he does not get paid for that ministry
You can only be paid for one
ministry,so you need to stop
Deceiving the people
YOU WAS A PIEMIER AT ONE TIME
DID YOU GET THAT
AT ONE TIME
You should know
Read it! He did NOT say pay cut – he is talking about the overall cabinet payroll, ie the number of Ministers!
It is the Government’s role to come up with solutions – that is why they were elected! It is the Opposition’s role to critique what Government does – or does not do.
I have always said never complain about another unless you can come up with something better .
There must have been many new options put on the table .
Aparantly none of these briliant idears made the mark .
The idea of one door closes another door opens which only works if you have the golden key.
Heck, if PLP doesn’t listen to public and especially their voters, what makes one think those that be will take and make note of OBA.
You have to love politicians. Convincing the gullible, or attempting to. That savings is a drop in the bucket compared to the Morgan’s point development which Craig and friends flopped on, and now look what has had to happen. How does a multi billion dollar development fail , place the Government in a sticky position and the people involved just get back to sit back and throw rocks.
The same that a Party who ran $400mn plus annual deficits creating a mountain of debt we will never pay off gets to sit back and pretend like they had and have absolutely nothing to do with our financial and economic predicaments.
One thing Bermudians have very selective memories and that is a good thign for the PLP. Because if you were true to your comment there is no way you could ever support the PLP (the Party who oversaw the demise of the island).
Get real, loyalty to the Premier must be rewarded.
The OBA is irrelevant and the sooner those who want real change understand that and give us real alternative to the PLP the better.
Yes, I agree with Cannonier, they should have cut down on the people in the Gov. They are way over loaded with employees, this also means those sitting in the chamber who are back-benchers. Do they really need them? Do we really have to pay for all those people???? Places are closing and unemployment is high, why pay anyone else more money?
Thank you, P.L.P. for your MAMMOTH task in your PANDEMIC information to Bermuda.
So proud of your gallant input!