Column: Paul Wilmot On Budget, Govt & More
[Opinion column written by MP Paul Wilmot]
Every year, the government delivers a budget, but it’s not just numbers on a page. A Budget shows what a government values, who they fight for, and where they take the country over the next fiscal year.
Here is how the Budget process works: First, the Finance Minister delivers the Budget Statement, laying out the government’s priorities. This is the culmination of months of work in each Ministry, identifying priorities and where savings could be made. Then, the Opposition replies, usually with more of the same old “open the immigration floodgates, cut government workers’ jobs” rhetoric.
After that, over the next two weeks, every Ministry gets debated in what’s called “The Committee of Supply.” That’s an opportunity for every Minister to lay out the financial priorities for their Ministry and an opportunity for the Opposition to hold Ministers accountable and push their Party’s agenda.
As it stands, Bermuda is turning a corner. We have a budget surplus, the second in two years. Jobs are up. Salaries are going up. Yet, despite that, greed, global uncertainty, housing shortages and a cost of living crisis encircling the globe are causing too many of us to struggle and feel left behind.
That’s why we are cutting duties on fuel, vehicle parts, and construction materials.
It is also why taxes on cell phones and private vehicle licensing fees are coming down.
We re investing in new ferries, better roads, a new asphalt plant, and modern waste facilities.
We’re investing in healthcare reform, giving free annual doctor’s visits under FutureCare and HIP, making prescriptions more affordable for more people and giving our seniors faster access to home care, while guaranteeing greater access to personal care items for seniors in rest and nursing homes.
We’re making building more affordable housing, investing in new schools and more scholarships, and strengthening the Bermuda Police Service.
We are doing all of these things, because we believe that when our economy is doing well, it shouldn’t just be the wealthy and privileged that come out ahead.
If there is just one hardworking Bermudian being left behind, we know that our work isn’t done. So we will keep pushing for better workers’ pay, keep fighting against greed and exploitation, and stay focused on keeping our promise to you.
The path towards a fairer Bermuda for everyone isn’t a fast or easy one, but Bermuda has a government today that is investing in what will help get us there, together.
- Paul Wilmot, MP for Constituency #27, Warwick North Central
Read More About
Category: All
BUDGETS. AND BUILDING
Polatitions call it afordable housing but neglect to say how to do it.
Did they throw out the baby with the bath water ?
Simply because it it a game of Russian Roulette dealing with material and labor and forgetting service charges also in cluding insurance and where can you get an anafordable lot of land which has all gone , the only way to build is with diferent concept.
For some people there is the want which is never ending is ” house for votes” . Also their mind sets are in building biger an better than their neigbbor , its a competition .
One day I may tell you how the system in Bermuda all became a back fire, if you do not already know .
One problem is family income is not balance our with expences many resort to building as a renovation prioject as the initial value is only in the land .
I have yet to see the dreamers in Goverment build afordable any thing .
Bermuda has now reached its limit of available build able land that was bought up 60 years ago by investors
If budgets worked then every body would br doing them that is hardly the case , these days.
The bank mortgage departments would not buy in the that plan. as mortgages are signed befor money is released you start with a 3 bed hone an finig wi a two bed unit
Simply because every body wants their grain of salt and more if they can get it .
if 1% of the people prepared a cinderella budget the would find that their colculaton do add up the shoe does not fit .
Writing mortgages was done in advance to set amounts which the contractors hand to conform to win of loose
I told contractors to build in year 2008 just to take home a wage , failing that you get no work for you and
your men .
Our polatioins are not Gods stivck yoi arragants or gods gift to construction by promoting affordable housing yet they are unabble to acomplish that them selves. so get off you high horse . you guys are no miracle workers no body is uo there on the hill . name one is it Berudiana beach ?
if and when afordability be the case there would be 10 to 20 houses being built here now at this present time that is not the case. our contractors a rs not stupis thay isif you could find one to day .
Building under contract today goes out the window a contracts are the same a budget it become un controalble buildings being designed to counter the cost of construction may work but that is only the part of it .
Then ancillary charges enter into it eg construction insurance wheil building and more , back in histore building a home could be afotrdable only when people put ther sweat equity the home owner became the contractor however not every body is cut out for that if the babies come along family planning is paramount including other diversions. you only have your selves to blame .
thy of responsibility in the the project to thayt is no so
Tecnically people can not budget all the do is play the want and vote game for every and anything.
Vendors are inching up the cost of meterials every day as per in coming shipments. if not thy will go bust .
The pending law changes relating to material costs will not come into effect or be viable for years to come will vendors get import duty refunds, i doubt it, as this is where you will see,
the up down therory .
Lower the duty on one item then incease duty up another. thats a trip !
What was done in building yesterday can never be repeated to day , so stop caising false hope and stop the dreaming.
Mr .Paul Wilmot you are playing a game by building false hopes rushing into things with out givig due consideration to the consequences of which you aparantly know nothing with respect to cinstruction false hopes in your voters .