OBA: ‘Why Aren’t The Questions Being Answered’
“Over the last year there have been questions posed by the Opposition in the Upper and Lower House and by the press at large that the Government has left unanswered and the question is why,” OBA Opposition Senate Leader Ben Smith said.
Senator Smith said, “Today’s session in the Senate felt like more of the same. The government has presented in the 2021 Labour Review [PDF] that 747 jobs have been created in phase one of its plan.
“How many are part time? How many are full time? How many are still employed and how many have made it past their probation period? If there is a review for 2021 and they know there are 747 unemployed who became employed surely, they have the answers to these simple questions.
“The government review shows that 53 job categories have been closed from November 2020 to January 2022. This, according to the review, was done to create opportunity for Bermudians to be employed in these industries.
“How many Bermudians were hired in each of these closed categories during the period, what training was provided in each closed category and how many Bermudians participated in the training?
“Once again you would think these are logical questions that would be easy to get the answers for. How can you gauge success in a policy if you do not track the results?
“The outright lack of answers [or very vague ones] leaves to me to ponder: Are they purposely avoiding answering these important questions that will help to give clarity to what is the plan? How will accountability be enforced?
“There are too many questions being left unanswered or lack of data to give an informed answer. Bermuda is at a critical stage and we need to make sure that the decision we take are based on facts not just to give the perception of help.
“There are many small to medium size businesses that have been hurt by the moratorium that want to know that the decision was based on actual data and that the desired impact has been reached.
“We will keep asking the questions because Bermuda needs the answers. Bermuda needs to start to ask why aren’t the questions being answered,” Senator Smith added.
Must have just woken up .
The issue of ‘This PLP government’ not answering questions goes back to November 1998.
As much as some would refuse to admit it we always got answers from the UBP even if ministers were off the island , they got back to us on their return. Nov 9th 1998 onwards .. No answer ,refused to answer the question , plantation question and so forth.
There was so much stuff and unanswered questions swept under the rug after 11/98 it makes one wonder what’s been hidden from us.
Not everyone has a memory that only goes back 48 hours.
The PLP have caused massive unemployment , especially in the hospitality area. Too much covid testing and Travel Authority expenses have decimated tourism. Testing young children on weekend sporting events is making parents withdraw.
Bermudians lining up for food charity should make every Bermudian sick. Went past Warwick Esso today and saw a long line of people at that foodbank. All this as our leaders drive around in GP cars with not a care in the world. When will they sacrifice a little to help the poor that want to work but cannot, due to the economy the govt has created?
A better question would be to ask why inflation and GDP figures don’t add up.