Groups ‘Disappointed’ By Election Timing
[Written by Bermuda Youth Connect, Bermuda is Love and Taj-Donville Outerbridge]
We, the undersigned Charities, Youth Organizations and activists, are profoundly disappointed that the Premier has announced the General Election for February 18th, 2025—while droves of young Bermudians are off the island in pursuit of higher education. The Premier’s choice denies young Bermudians their right to vote, participate in the electoral process, and have a direct influence on Bermuda’s future.
This decision is troubling, perplexing and reminiscent of a past that current leaders have condemned. In 1998, former Union Leader and current Deputy Speaker of the House was justifiably and astutely “concerned that parents of overseas students, already overladen with steep tuition and school expenses, should even have to consider the additional expense of bringing home a child for a day or two to vote”. Tuition has nearly tripled since 1998, and deregulation within the aviation industry has led to exorbitant flight costs—drastically increasing the same barriers for youth to vote. Most importantly, although the Premier calls General Elections—the Bermudian taxpayers pay for them, which can cost almost $700,000.
Bermuda is at a critical juncture, with an ageing population, declining birthrate, rising costs of living, and an alarming number of Bermudians leaving the island for stability. Young people are critical to improving our island. Yet, for many young people, this election would have been their first opportunity to vote since the 2020 Snap Election. Particularly as the government has yet to progress on its 2012 plan to “examine various options surrounding absentee ballots”—young people abroad will be unable to vote.
Bermuda Youth Connect was founded during the last National Election in 2020 in response to gaps across the board in youth engagement. As daughters, sons and proud Bermudians, it saddens us to watch the slow hallowing of democratic norms that members of The Progressive Group, like Florenz Webbe Maxwell, Reverend Dr Erskine Simmons and Izola Harvey, worked diligently and morally to attain.
We encourage youth to register to vote in the same spirit of persistence and boldness. The registration deadline is January 15th, 2025, and voters can update their information or register to vote at http://elections.gov.bm. As we gear up for the next General Election, we look forward to the events that Bermuda Youth Connect will host as we dare to invent the future we want to see. We encourage you all to do the same.
In Hope,
- Bermuda Youth Connect, Bermuda is Love and Taj-Donville Outerbridge
It’s obviously purposeful. I think they are aware that the majority of young people will not vote for them and they will do anything to retain power. Why dont we have absentee voting? The OBA tried to do this but then the PLP has refused to since then…wonder why? Still, we must all do our duty for our country and vote these jokers out. Enough is enough.
Totally agree!!!
How do you gain traction for that? Or is it cry baby cry?
But what are you going to do to gain traction? I can’t wait to see you lead when there are lots of issues on the table that have to be considered. I want to see your choices.
I love it especially when Burt stands up in front of a gathering of Bermudian overseas students and bleats on and on about how “important” they are to Bermuda’s future. Folks love a beating.
This, after the PLP gassed the youth groups up with the faux “we need the youth”, “we support the youth” and does the same PLP does a classic UBP move.
Less voters equals success for the PLP by the numbers.
Don’t you realize the PLP is just the UBP now?
I believe the political term for calling an election when the youth are not on the island to vote against you is “suckers.” No wonder so few come back to Bermuda to work upon graduating.
PLP election consultants said the time is right. Burt’s government machine has buried as much bad news as possible and put topspin on everything else. Burt et al. will be in power for years to come.
Who cares!!!!! Just pack up and get off the rock. Like most of us have done.
Every young voter should note this and vote OBA. This is disgraceful and shows the contempt the PLP has for the future generation. The PLP are very vocal on seniors, under 40? I’m not sure they care about you.
In saying this, how do you see the OBA moving Bermuda forward. Yes I am a college student!
As a currnt college student you are too young to be aware of the brief OBA term.
Bermuda was in serious trouble when the OBA walked in the door January 2013. The PLP had not left enough in the kitty to make CS payroll. Bermuda had a debt like never thought possible as a result of PLP mismanagment.
From 2013 to mid 2017 the OBA got more accomplished than the PLP had from 1998 to the end of 2012. Stuff that the PLP had only promised to do. Stuff that thy said was about to happen, but never did.
When the OBA rolled in there was a feeling of confidence in Bermuda. Building projects that had been put on hold were started. Money was being invested again. A hotel at the east end that the PLP had announced was about to start over and over only to fail was started through successful OBA negotiantions. Caroline Bay, where nothing was happening for so many years was underway. A much needed airport replacement that had been announced so many times, with nothing to show for the talk, was negotiated and construction began, without any political interference possible. The PLP hated that one. Then there was the America’s Cup which saw the creation of Cross Island, something else that the PLP had only talked about doing but could not make it happen. The America’s Cup produced a huge boost in tourism. Again, something that the PLP did not have a hope of making happen if in power.
All of this in only one term.
Someone with initiative at the OBA (sarcasm) should do some research on how many Bermudians of voting age will be off the island for the election. Then, they should go to the Governor, who is obviously clueless, and demand that the election be put off until the summer so that all those Bermudians will not be alienated.
Doesn’t matter who they are. All voters should be able to vote online no matter where they are.
Did the PLP take a survey of students overseas to see how many would vote PLP because if they did it must have not favored them because if it did the election would be called when the students are out.
Don’t wanna LOSE their paychecks to the YOUTH VOTE!!!Consultants for da PLP are RUNNING DA SHOW!!!
There can’t be many voters around these days after years of emigration and the youth away. No wonder Burt is concentrating on the elderly with promises of increased pensions and free health care. Then of course the major tax payers are unable to vote. No wonder he is so arrogant.
This decision is definitely not for the youth of Bermuda. As I listen to the press conference yesterday, I heard David Burt talking about seniors and youth:
1. There is nothing that either party has done for seniors. I had to leave my own Country and relocate to get help for my husband who has Dementia. I got no help from my Government there. The was very little if any resources to help me with him. All I did was pay pay or go without. The cost of living is too high to even live there. I’m now getting all the care my husband needs for next to nothing out of pocket. It’s so sad that so many seniors have to leave their own country where their have worked most of their lives and put back in their home country, having to leave to live out the rest of their lives comfortably.
2. My grandson is in University and he has been home 2 years in a row during summer break and he couldn’t even get a job. My friends daughter same thing happened to her. Now to call an election while all these students are overseas in school is like a slap in the face for our future leaders. David is telling you he doesn’t care about the people of Bermuda. That’s why more than half of the youth in overseas schools don’t want to come back home, because they know that getting a job is almost impossible.
Bermuda is gone t
And another thing….this is nearly the time where the Govt Budget is to be announced. I’m not one for conspiracy theories but he isn’t even bothered to get one to you! I totally expect the PLP to win but watch him say after the victory that you gave the PLP (ergo, him) a mandate to present the budget that the has lined up. It’s very obvious to me. What he’s gonna say is “the work continues”. He still has work from the previous PLP premiers to get through which never got done.
Just like the 2020 election, there is a nefarious agenda behind this – the continuation of power.
At this point in time the various department heads should be just about ready to submit their budgets to Finance and on for printing.
The details of the 2025/2026 budget are about set. Just need to put the icing on the cake.
“Just need to put the icing on the cake.”
Ahh, but what colour icing?
It will be interesting to see how much revenue will be in the budget from the new CIT. A generous estimate, coupled with budgeted expenditure from the estimate, will come back to haunt Bermuda and Bermudians. Revenue may be very little, but the money will have been spent. Sounds very familiar.
I hope you all realize that that CIT money isn’t showing up until 2026 anyway. It won’t even used until 2027.
Lol the original definition of “being woke” was to stay alert to the shenanigans that the powers that be try to pull.
Only if they hid their rubber check book under a pillow.
It would not matter who gets into power tension .
We do not know one another any more.
I live in fear of what this island paradise has become.
They need the seniors vote as a key to this islands future.
How I and no less who can speek for all .
Who can forget how mamy unfortunate seniors have lost more than trust and faith.
Considering the lack of past performances .
Our seniors were ignored by our leaders even to this day we have never to get over from the horrors of Covid 19 and inflation criminality , $130. per hour or $10.83 ever 5 minutes for labor being partly responsible for how many seniors have lost all their savings and a greater loss of our friends and family from botched up medications .
Is this what we have become and further have to look forward to . Not very encouraging
We do not have to love one another just get along.
I not comfortable or feel safe to attend the pole , most likely it will be ripe with tension in an un healthy atmosphere.
That saddens me including other to be dis enfranchised in all fairness that this little island with so few people have become not by our choosing become a party to this islands debt.
They have thrown our Sheep to the Wolves!
Now you see the slap in the face response you got from the PLP…
They do not care!
Don’t ease up the pressure! Make another statement, go in the press. Show how this response is just unacceptable and you will not let up!
Or , are you going to go the typical Bermuda route and just go silent?