Curtis Dickinson Resigns As Finance Minister
[Updated] Curtis Dickinson has resigned as the Minister of Finance, the Government has confirmed.
Premier David Burt said, “I have today reluctantly accepted the resignation of the Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson, JP, MP, as Minister of Finance. Bermuda has been well served by Minister Dickinson’s steady and thoughtful hand at the helm of the Government’s finances and fiscal strategy.
“Minister Dickinson led the financial support response to the pandemic and invested tremendous personal energy and commitment to ensure that the needs of the Island’s workforce were met as people were impacted by the necessary strict public health measures.
“Personally, I know the immense toll that an individual’s public service takes on families and in thanking Curtis for his service I must also recognize the sacrifice of his wife and children during this unprecedented period of economic strain for Bermuda.
“I cannot thank Curtis enough for all that he has done as Bermuda’s Minister of Finance and will continue to support him as the representative of Constituency 21 and will value his advice and contributions from the backbench.”
This resignation — which comes before the 2022 Budget, which is normally delivered in February each year – has just been announced and we will update if able.
Update 4.40pm: Opposition Leader Cole Simons said, “There is more to this resignation than meets the eye. For Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson to resign in the midst of the Budget Season, with less than a week before Bermuda is to hear the 2022-23 national budget is more than alarming.
“In my eyes, this is a leadership matter, which was not addressed. You’ll recall that just last month, Dr. Carika Weldon, Chief Advisor & Laboratory Director of MDL also resigned as a result of negligence from the Burt administration. When individuals of this calibre resign their posts in mid-flight, it presents serious indictments regarding the Burt administration.
“Minister Dickinson is a consummate investment manager and capital markets professional. He steered Bermuda’s budget with a steady hand and brought fiscal discipline to Bermuda’s government finances. He was not afraid to access and take on large challenges like the reduction of Bermuda’s $1.75 billion in unfunded pension liability and the $357million dollars in Accounts Receivables and fees with the help of Ernst and Young and the McKinsey Group. This was a bold move that historically went unaddressed by successive PLP governments.
“His resignation is truly Bermuda’s loss and Premier David Burt owes the public a solid explanation. On a personal note, and as Curtis Dickinson’s shadow, his resignation is painful. While we did not agree on everything, we worked well together, to push Bermuda’s financial legislation through the House with ease and in a dignified manner.
“One wonders whether this resignation is tied to the Fairmont Southampton Princess negotiations, or because Bermuda finds herself yet again on the EU’s Code of Conduct Group’s Grey List on matters of Tax Fraud avoidance and money-laundering, or is it because the Premier is very interested in taking over the Ministry of Finance portfolio yet again?
“The Opposition, like the rest of Bermuda, stands poised with keen interest to see who Premier Burt appoints as Curtis Dickinson’s replacement with less than a week before the National Budget is read.”
That’s not good. He was by far the brightest. It doesn’t leave much.
That TikTok “Oh no” song keeps going off in my head.
Oh no no no no no
We are about to find out how much trouble we are in. Good thing we still have the TA to “keep us safe” though……
Dont worry burty will step in pay off a couple more unknown entertainers
Maybe he will step in as Finance Minister as well as Tourism Minister since he’s doing such a fabulous job at that.
A man of principle was not able to stay in that toxic closet. PLp might as well pack up and leave….the plp had covid so…can’t perform in its current form.A big loss. Hope the Govt bank door is triple locked.
To resign a few weeks before announcing the Budget is a very worrying sign, and there is no obvious replacement. Likely he has been unable to get the financial discipline that Bermuda desperately needs which is to reduce the Government expense. Too much gap between expected revenue and known expenditure. 2021 would have generated unexpected revenue from people spending after 2020 lockdowns and that won’t be repeated in 2022. No viable Minister of Tourism, and now no Minister of Finance, the 2 most important positions to get an economic recovery.
Do not worry, the individual whom could not run a coffee shop will take over
Not on your life, they would never allow it.
Unfortunately the most reasonable and humble individual has exited the Cabinet. I would have loved to have seen him and Kim Wilson take leadership of the Party.
Either one could have been Premier and/or Deputy Premier. They both would have made an excellent team and a breathe of fresh air.
Sitting as a back bencher would be a waste of time for such intellect. Might as well cross the floor and become Shadow Minister of Finance. This will create a good check and balance, and assist the tax payers.
Thanks Curtis for your service and I’m glad through soul searching you had a wake up call,
We need to change this political disaster. Vote of no confidence from the people. Curtis was the best person for that position and there is no one in the plp with qualifications to replace him. We need people with qualifications to run Bermuda not a rent a mob with no clue with overpaid consultants. David Burt needs to go now. Touism is in shambles and cruise ships want to come but are not being allowed. We need a colaboration of qualified people between the PLP, FDM and OBA to fix this mess we are in.
The IMF will be along shortly, not to worry. They will take over the island’s finances and dig deeply into how the island came to its financial knees.
I think at this point that is probably what needs to be done. While I hate to have to resort to the IMF, we would be in better hands for a while and maybe Bermuda can be saved?
Beginning to think the same. Perhaps they can root out some of the nonsense that has been going on.
I bet the first thing Burt will do is get rid of COVID restrictions. That is the political cure to the pandemic at least.
OH NO flip flop furbert licking his lips.
I worked with Curtis for many years. He is first and foremost an honest, hard working, business man with a no nonsense attitude. Obviously the environment was nota healthy one for him. You will truly be a big miss. Best of luck in your future endeavors and thank you for your service sir.
HowS the 30-6 looking voters! Well done.
Probably tired of burts arrogance as is everyone else, but burty will be ok. Time he has his seat on the board at a bank, looking back at how bad he really made bermuda, its debts, the terrible roads and tourism.
Best thing for Curtis (and Bermuda!!) is to run for leadership and take the helm.
Burt has taken us and is taking us nowhere but down.
Oba brought America’s Cup and the plp said it was not very successful.
But the PLP had no ideas.
We were told the America’s Cup could come back.Plp still says no and has nothing in its place to generate funds . The Finance Minister upon hearing this and seeing no options did the best thing.He left a room full of incompetents who foolishly think they can wave a magic wand and produce money. What a joke. Maybe Pastor Tweed can help them.
FUBAR….
FUBAR…
Burt is like harry mcguire from man united a well over paid no nothing. sinking the team.
Are we getting rid of Burt yet??!!!!!!
And the score is what……
Come on folks.
Fix it.
Minister Curtis is too good for the jokers I wud run from that mess also
I never imagined they would f… things up this bad.
LOL
Sadly, neither did I. I was convinced they were / are inept, incapable and lacking in ideas but never to this degree.
Who was it who said Bermuda couldn’t afford a PLP government? It took 20 years, but they have finally done it.
(Took my mask off to say that)
I actually thought Dickinson might find a way through it. He’s the only one of them who I thought was competent. The rest: totally inept.
If they have any decency they’ll call an election and see whether anyone else can pull us out of this.
(Sitting here with no mask. I’m the only one in the room at the moment so I hope it’s pretty safe).
Lol.
Alex Scott was talking about PLP strength in depth. Where exactly? I genuinely thought Curtis could navigate his way through the politics. Obviously not.
It seems Burt wanted an economic win with the SP, but Curtis refused to sign off on it – that’s my current theory. Burt is desperate.
It was former Premier Sir John Sharpe who said that Bermuda could not afford a PLP Government. That was more than forty years ago.
How many times have the voters put this lot in now? Never overestimate the wisdom of the voters. Give them some catchy slogans to chant, some turkeys at Christmas, some wild promises that have no chance of being fulfilled & you have them eating out of your hands like pigeons every time.
Since Eugene Cox Curtis Dickinson is the best man they ever had, in any capacity.
“Never overestimate the wisdom of the voters.”
One of their campaign promises was to spend millions of dollars begging the white British overlords for permission to discriminate against gay people.
This tells me all I need to know about Bermuda…the majority electorate.
Best of luck to you all
Come on PLP numpties, I need 10 more years before I bail out, then you can make us part of the carribean third world.
I would not run from a job full of good , sensible, excellent problem- Solving people who work for the Good of the Public at large. It is obvious to me , with the critical timing of the leave, just before the budget became public, this is a Massive Statement! Just as Scientist Weldon was a Massive Statement leaving two weeks ago! We are continuing our Amusement debacle into a steeper vortex dive. On the World scene, Bermuda is not in a good position. We are way to simple, unable to hold on to decent people in power. What’s left is shaming us. The few decent are spoiled by those who continue to thrive over numerous debacles. Education, Transport, Public Works, Tourism and others. Horrid Track Record.
My fellow Bermudians who had the finances to LEAVE, good decision! The Party in Power could care less, except to try to tax you to your grave without any flowers!
Got an Acting Financial Secretary and now no policy guru. A rudderless ship headed for de rocks. I’m jumping ship. Bye!
How about doing away party system and having reps? What is the IMF?
Good riddance! We need a Finance Minister who supports growth and innovation – Curtis is a maintenance man.
Does anyone remember the famous words what marc bean said!!!
Burtcoin just back from the vineyard mustve got his instructions:)
People wake up !change your Bermuda dollars to us dollars before its to late!!,
In case you didn’t know it gov’t can seize them (that are held locally) at any time they want !
Hard to see how he could stay on as a PLP MP but I would think he would be well supported as an Independent. Bermuda needs people like Curtis. Perhaps this could be the start of a move towards more Independents in the House.
Do what yah gotta do to help you sleep at night brah!!
Good day,
Thank You for all your hard work for ALL Bermudians. We could see how intelligent you are.
All the best to you and your Family. You will be missed.