Column: PLP Platforms, Pledges Promises, More
[Opinion column written by MP Ianthia Simmons-Wade]
In two years, Bermuda’s first political party will be 60 years old. I decided to look through our 1963 PLP platform to compare those pledges to those made in our 2021 Platform.
Lest we forget, back then the PLP was often vilified for proposing so-called ‘socialist’ policies and for using “coded” racist language.
We were told that our pledges and promises were far from the mainstream and we were labeled as dangerous, radicals, socialists and much more.
The PLP 1963 platform included such “radical and dangerous” ideas as quality, taxpayer funded public education. The current government increased funding for public education, former PLP governments introduced a Child DayCare Allowance and are now restructuring our education system to give students Signature Schools that will allow them to achieve their dreams in technology, arts, science, trades and more.
The PLP 1963 platform included affordable housing. PLP administrations, after many years of no additional units added, have led the way in having built hundreds of housing units including Loughlands, Perimeter Lane, Harbour View Village and yes, the Grand Atlantic.
We also provide housing assistance to persons through the Bermuda Housing Corporation by providing grants that enabled many people to live in private housing. We have increased these grants substantially over the years. And now we have been able to house many Bermudians who need it most.
The PLP 1963 platform included Unemployment Insurance, which is currently being advanced as one of the 31 priority initiatives of the Bermuda Economic Recovery Plan. The goal is to develop an Unemployment Insurance Scheme so that critical social protection is provided to support displaced workers and their families, allowing them to receive a basic income in their time of need.
While this is being advanced, during the pandemic, we provided more significant relief to the tune of 75 million dollars to the unemployed, underemployed, as well as to small businesses than any government in our island’s history. We also allowed people to withdraw money from their private pensions early to provide even more relief.
Finally, our 1963 platform included universal, basic Healthcare. Our Party introduced FutureCare for our Seniors, which has provided significant benefits, at an affordable cost. This pandemic has made it clearer than ever before that affordable and accessible Healthcare for all people is a priority.
Our plan for Health Care reform was temporarily put on hold as the Ministry of Health addressed the many challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past 18 months. We have restarted this critical process and are committed to the delivery of quality, affordable healthcare for all Bermudians.
- MP Ianthia Simmons-Wade
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Lets hear what is said about the front page of todays paper, the doc money, the barge pretty obvious these guys cant even build a wall without messing it up.
unknown 800k next.
Is all this 24/7/365 electioneering necessary? Why not put in at least the same effort into getting Bermuda back to economic prosperity going forward, rather then repeating their platform from 50+ years ago. All it shows is they are great in Opposition, the best at getting elected and the worst in Governing.
“Is all this 24/7/365 electioneering necessary?”
It seems to be effective … 30/6
May be effective in getting their voter base hyped but absolutely a failure at being the Government. Every day the writing on the wall is getting bigger , the plp dont possess the ability to Manage let alone get our island on a track to recovery
Sorry Proof is Real since 1998 we have gone from money in the Bank to Billions in debt and an infrastructure failing daily
This piece comes straight out of central office. THere’s no way she wrote that.
“Lest we forget, back then the PLP was often vilified for proposing so-called ‘socialist’ policies and for using “coded” racist language.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same
OK Ianthia, how about discussing the $3.000.000.000 the PLP managed to fritter away, or how a DJ, close to you, was given a plum job in legal affairs despite having no qualifications for said post, or the money your leader have to a former premier who had already gamed millions from the system, or the $800.000 given to a con artist from Atlanta? Care to comment?
Don’t ask hard questions….
Dont forget 1.2 to the doc,ordered by the CURRENT premier.
If she thinks the Grand Atlantic was a good idea much less value to the taxpayers I wouldn’t wait for any comments from her . She’s got it bad , and worse yet the 30-6 will swallow it whole .
Grand atlantic would have been fine for housing had the OBA and BEST not politicized it and used scaremongering to depreciate the public sentiment towards it.
Oh come on. Grand Atlantic was a terrible waste of public money. $100m wasted and counting.
This is a terrible article. Congratulations on having no new ideas for 60 years Ianthia. And for the mess the PLP have made of our country.
You ok with this piece Burt? Wished you had proof read maybe?
You do realise that Ianthia is Freddie Wade’s widow, right?
Doesn’t matter. It’s still a crap article.