Deputy OBA Leader Ben Smith On Budget Debate
[Updated] The Opposition came to the House today “fully prepared” to begin debating the Budget and it was “disappointing, at best, to see that after our leader, the Hon Jarion Richardson and I spoke, no one from the Government rose to their feet,” Deputy Opposition Leader Ben Smith said.
Mr Smith said, “We are in a different day politically when the Government is unable to defend its own Budget. It’s important for the people to understand that today David Burt’s government sent a resounding message to the people of Bermuda: we do not care about what you think and how you feel.
“The Opposition came to the House today fully prepared not only to deliver its Budget Reply, but to begin debating it with the Government.
“It was disappointing, at best, to see that after our leader, the Hon Jarion Richardson and I spoke, no one from the Government rose to their feet.
“The question the people of Bermuda should be asking is: Why?
“Bermuda is in crisis and Government Ministers and MPs chose to remain silent. This is definitely one for the history books.
“The population of Bermuda is continuously shrinking. The Minister of Economy and Labour keeps talking about jobs but doesn’t discuss people. The Government brags about being in power for the last eight years. It makes promises to the people. But how many have actually materialised? He keeps talking, but where is the action?
“How have thousands of Bermudians left the island yet the Government cannot concretely tell us how many? With a birth rate decline and an aging population the government can’t provide emigration numbers until 2026.
“The International Business sector recently told the Government to do better. They want better infrastructure, they want the cost of living to stop rising. People are not feeling the growing economy that the Government wants us to believe exists.
“David Burt’s government has continued to focus on the safety net for Bermudians that can’t keep their head above water and now the middle class are falling into it.
“Seniors have to continue to work when they should be retired. Locals are struggling to buy groceries. Local business have far less customers while the Government say things are booming.
“The Opposition Leader called the David Burt budget an illusion yet the Government chose not to defend it. Does that sound fair to Bermuda and her people?”
Update: A PLP spokesperson said, “Deputy Opposition Leader Ben Smith’s statement criticising the Government during today’s House of Assembly debate rings hollow given what actually unfolded in the House. While some members of the Opposition did speak, when another OBA member rose, the OBA leadership told him to sit down. That decision, made by their own leadership team, brought the day’s debate to a premature end.
“Now, rather than taking responsibility, the OBA is trying to play political games. But instead of trading barbs, we hope they come better prepared next week to debate this Budget that delivers real benefits to the people of Bermuda.
“Over the next three weeks, Ministers will lay out how this Budget makes record investments in healthcare, affordable housing, and infrastructure, while cutting taxes for Bermudians. Mr. Smith’s attempt to deflect from the Opposition’s internal confusion won’t change the facts: the Progressive Labour Party Government is focused on delivering results and has returned Bermuda to budget surpluses.
“While the OBA plays political games, the PLP has delivered a budget that demonstrates fairness in action. We welcome the debate next week and hope the Opposition is better prepared.”
Guys. It is the country we need to get right together as a team and stop this ping pong back and forwards.
PLP = Pathetically Lousy Politicians
PLP = Promises, Lies & more Promises
BUDGETS ARE NOT REALITY .
I like to look into the future. It is not what you spend it is how you spend it.
the more you have the more you have to look after and maintain .
I am either right or wrong. Either way try ito keep my foot on the gas pedal.
I like to fix the wrong because the right does no need fixing as that self you get that way from working with monery for 48 years.
People borrow money for things they may only use once or twice !
Rent payers do not know how lucky they are , they can leave here .
A car and a house makes the only sense even if the family sleeps in the floor .
A house is a masive undertaking for many unles the house can producean income unfortnate there is no legat land lorsprotection act.
Who is doing my pie chart ? just one or two that is so sad they do not know what they are coming of goin or what they can save thar
By definition a budget is only an estimate of income and expences over a periods of time.
Budgets are not facts and never will be.
No body but no body will conform to a budgetrwhy and how did our or the Government get sick . Covid 19 did it for us and them
Reality is facts and most likely leads to borrowing more money to fit the want list. We are living on that now. the chickens will come home to roose uoiu will have lotsof thing an no money to fix them
I wonder if Canada is the lender to promote their on going enterprises here.
Canada bought B.E.L.C.o so who owns Bermudawe had to sell as the business infrastructure was faling apart.
may be Canada did not make it in the Caribean too far to travel down there .
Eventually they will charge you money to sun on your beach, its coming !
A pitcure is being painted to create the beleife to the people can and is doin better do better, hardlyso !
the problem with that whith in this day and age no body can forcast the future especally when it comes to money because every body is fighting for it, so who can forcast the future whight ot or wirong .
What is goinon here is our national debt is killing usadded to tha is a exodus of people .
We must add personal debt no body pay cash as every thing is charged out to time payment 90 % of the pay packet goes to time payments to buy thing.
YOU ARE ONLY BUYING TIME.
If we do not create unlimited resources we are done for one family at a time. the big priblem is the enormourse interest that is being paid with you money, that put a big drain on every body as interest raised the cost of even “a glass of water”.
Now you know why you food cost so much it is a compulsary item on the shopping list .
Other items are subject to profateering. we are shooting our sevles in the foot . insurance premiums for example.
The problem there is business is trying to increase their profit margins ,that is what the Boards of Directors do, no body wants less money / profitt for old rope than the year before .
Profit taking for some are in the millions .
Clasic example the cost of construction is no longer afordable as they would have you beleive it itwas every body would be building for rent income that was all Bermudians could do that des 20 years ago that has ended,no more land for that .
If that is not the case every body blames the Government , and who elected the Government ?
Government are far from perfect too many cooks in the kitchen .
When thing go wrong it becomes very dificult to fix because the damage as been done.
Make me wonder if our houses are being used for colateral.