Column: Why Are PLP MPs Silent In East End?

May 15, 2023 | 30 Comments

Thomas Harvey Bermuda May 2023[Opinion column written by the OBA's Thomas Harvey]

Why are the PLP MPs silent in the East End?

It is with great interest that I have taken in as much information as I can in relation to the Minister of Education’s plans for the future of educating our children in this island. I must admit that I find myself somewhat dismayed at a policy which lacks clarity as to the effects that it will have on the children involved.

What is particularly alarming to me is the lack of representation by the four area MPs for the St. George Parish. Where are the persons that were elected to represent the constituents of St. George North, West, South and St. David’s? The Minister is about to destroy education in its fullness for the East End of the island and there is no voice raising the concerns of the constituents from among the elected officials.

The Minister plans to close Clearwater Middle school as well as the three primary schools, St. David’s Primary, St. George Preparatory and East End Primary. What are parents living in the east end who don’t have great resources to overcome this hurdle supposed to do? Why is it necessary to close all three primary schools in order to renovate one?

Would not it be more prudent to close the one you were going to renovate; renovate it and get it ready for occupation; and then when the job is done, close the other schools and open the newly renovated school? It would seem that very little consideration has been given to the interruption that will be caused by these closures. No sound reasoning would seem to be in place for carrying out these changes in this way.

OBA candidate Glenn Tucker recently wrote a very thought-provoking article on the closure of these schools and I would like to echo his concerns. He talked of the needs of those with learning difficulties and neurodiverse. Has consideration been given to the impact these changes will have on these most vulnerable individuals? The arrogance of the Minister to steer clear of the public forums held on this issue speaks volumes to the attitude of this present Government. By his own admission in Parliament, he only attended a mere four of 40 stakeholder meetings.

Was it not a Government Minister who made the statement, “We don’t want your vote” or words to that effect? What do these actions demonstrate to the public? Obviously not a Government that is concerned about the issues of the constituents!

Once again, let me state my concern of the lack of representation by the PLP MPs elected to represent the East End of the island. There would appear to be no concern for the effect that the proposed moves will have on both child and parent. What is even more troubling is the lack of concern by this present Government of the impact that it is having on the voters/constituents who are affected by these proposals.

It is obvious that Bermuda needs to move to a Government that will be more concerned with the wishes of those that elect them. I truly hope that this present Government will see the folly of its ways and change course.

- Thomas Harvey is the adopted OBA candidate for constituency 2, St George’s West.

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Comments (30)

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  1. Joe Bloggs says:

    “Why are the PLP MPs silent in the East End?”

    Because of you live east of White Hill your opinion does not matter!

    • Ringmaster says:

      Pretty much all the PLP MPs are silent all the time. Don’t want to lose their fat paychecks and benefits. It has become a classic cult mentality. The closest to speaking out was when around half were “missing” when the cannabis bill was being passed in the HoA. Says it all when Burt tries to make out the majority of Bermudians support the bill.

      • watching says:

        This is so ignorant. What fat paychecks? MPs make barely 40K a year.

        • question says:

          MPs $56,023
          Minsters $156,864 and up.

          So who among them makes “barely 40k a year”? You’re the one calling other people ‘ignorant’, yet you’re the one who has no idea what you’re talking about. Typical PLP.

          • watching says:

            Go and research then parliamentary salaries.

            • Ringmaster says:

              Please price in the benefits.

            • Question says:

              Ask the question again in English, if you can cope with six words without typos.

            • Ringmaster says:

              You have only focused on basic pay. What about the Health and Pension benefits? Then add in other perks that are available as someone such as a construction company owner enjoys, almost tax free.

            • Question says:

              I’m betting you’re in the PLP finance think tank, where numbers and lies just get made up and thrown around.

  2. watching says:

    Every column that comes from the OBA is the same.
    They try to ride the wave of whatever they feel is public sentiment at the time. They then try to divide the court of support within the PLP support banks.
    But what they always fail to do is provide any workable solutions or options to the issues they are speaking of.
    Newsflash OBA – no one thinks you have any clue what to do if you were in government.

    • Gwan says:

      And the PLP has a clue? LOL. 20 years in power and can you honestly look at your family, friends, neighbors and even your fellow PLP supporters and say that since the PLP took over; education , the roads, public transportation, tourism, crime, economy, healthcare, employment, cost of living or any other part of life in Bermuda is better today?

      If you believe so, please reply and enlighten us? I trust that “watching” will pretend they don’t see this post though.

      Other PLP supporters and politicians, feel free to comment and reply as well. I want to know what is better today! Why are our people leaving Bermuda in droves like we have never seen before?

      • watching says:

        The PLP as Opposition most certainly did present alternatives to the status quo. Under Marc Bean and David Burt there were replies to the throne speeches that articulated a change in structure and curriculum.

        The PLP education reform plan is actually a fulsome proposal. The issue being encountered by some now is that everyone wants reform but doesn’t want their specific schools to be affected. Unfortunately, we cannot have reform by leaving everything the same way.

        The OBA as an Opposition has not done its job.

        • Now Ya Nice says:

          “Watching” you did not answer the question. Nobody is asking what the PLP is proposing or going to do…what have they done to make Bermuda better than before they took office? Please show examples of what is better today than when they took over.

          • well says:

            watching is a spokesperson for the PLP. Every post politically motivated.

            • Toodle-oo says:

              ~Every post politically motivated.~

              And 100% partisan for the plp and 100% critical of anything OBA .

    • Dumb government (PLP) says:

      This is politics unfortunately. PLP plays the same game when they are the opposition so they not??. why can’t you see that???
      Simple answer. Bias

  3. kevin says:

    Unfortunately the truth is the truth and the plp have failed again and again why would the oba bail them out ,i dont recall the plp ever once in the 25 years up to 1998 ever once offer solutions. But wait it was ok for them back then. The plp followers dont really care what this government does they are blind they dont see the hole that is getting deeper by the day. They have been brainwashed so much about the ” white OBA ” that they actually dont see how bad the plp are and how clueless they are with real solutions.
    Truth Hurts doesnt it
    the 4 plp mps in the east are probably the worst of them all no backbone even against the most bonehead decision of them all, imagine wanting to send every primary school student from the east to Whitney

    • Toodle-oo says:

      “I don’t recall the plp ever once in the 25 years up to 1998 ever once offer solutions”

      Funny inna ? And they never offered any solutions in the run up to the 2017 election either , just hateful propaganda and mudslinging. Now they’re all screaming that the OBA won’t/can’t come up with solutions to bail this rapidly sinking place out thanks to their beloved plp. Who in their right mind would want to take on this mess that was no fault of their own only to know that everything they did would be met with non-stop criticism of them simply because they’re not the plp ?

    • Strictly politics says:

      If you going provide comments at least be truthful. The eastern area female MPs have been the most vocal of the bunch.

      A few weeks ago my MP Renee Ming passionately defended her senior constituents on a government created issue with their land. She was brave and fearless.

      MP Foggo and MP Tinee both spoke up on the Mediwaste incinerator.

      Please spare us your fictional, factless comments. Our children matter and I know that MP Ming fully supports her constituents and their children. Harvey is trying to play politics with our children.

      • kevin says:

        wow bet you had to dig deep to find something anything that the 4 east end plp mps have done . with Swan being the frontrunner . A young man from Southampton 30+ years UBP trained and bred all the way to party leader albeit a party that was no longer and then jump over to the plp and guess what the clueless stgeorges voters actually voted him in
        to do what …… ya guess you all made the right decision

      • Ringmaster says:

        Yes, MP Foggo did support the protesters against the mediwaste incinerator, forgetting she chairs the BLDC who gave permission for it.
        Rather inconvenient.

      • Who says:

        So you are giving praise for a government MP solving a problem that the government caused…..hmmmmmm.

        Hilarious !

  4. Gwan says:

    Answer is easy: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

  5. Batman says:

    Another one fronting for the UBPoba. What a joker since he didn’t learn from the other clowns this party used to appear diverse.

    • Joe Bloggs says:

      The UBP has been gone for over a decade. Catch up with the times.

      • Lol says:

        Every single black voter says your wrong and the white votes will deny the truth. It’s you who needs to catch up which is why you lose every election Charlie.

  6. Porky Pig no more says:

    Please stop with pork and reduce the extra sugar you’re eating. After this start telling the truth and people might listen to you.

  7. Come Correct says:

    If this is the type of candidates the OBA is rolling out Bermuda is over!

  8. Hmmm says:

    Back in the day the UBP would never in a million years had this man has a candidate. The desperation is beyond sad with politics in the OBA.

  9. watching says:

    I suggest the OBA have a press conference with their East End candidates to speak to their education reform plan.

    Tia Smith in Constituency 1, Thomas Harvey in COnstituency 2, and Elizabeth Deacon in Constituency 4.

    The OBA cannot call the PLP East enders silent when their own candidates are silent as well!

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