Column: Tyrrell On Keeping Bermuda Affordable

[Opinion column written by Neville Tyrrell]

The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party believes that a country is judged by how it treats its elders. Unlike those who governed for the wealthy and privileged while forcing our most vulnerable to face pension freezes, budget cuts and disrespect, we govern for the people left behind.

That’s why we are constantly and consistently taking real, concrete action to ease the burden on our seniors and protect their dignity.

Every single year since returning to office, the PLP has increased pensions for seniors, because we believe that those who built this country should share in its progress. Contrast that with the OBA, who froze pension increases and told seniors that “money doesn’t grow on trees.” The OBA didn’t just disrespect our seniors, they arrogantly and condescendingly betrayed them.

Since the people dismissed the OBA at the polls and cast them out of government, the PLP have expanded the benefits under FutureCare and HIP, so that more essential medications, diagnostic tests, and home-care services are covered. That means fewer hits to your wallets and more peace of mind for our seniors and their families.

We introduced interest-free home improvement loans to help seniors make their homes safer and more accessible, because every senior who can stay at home, with family should have all the support they need to do so.

We’re building new senior daycare facilities to support aging in the community and ease the burden on working families caring for elderly loved ones.

We’ve modernized legislation to raise the standards in care homes, and we introduced a Seniors’ Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, because seniors deserve to be respected, protected, and heard.

We know that there is still more to do. A lot more to do.

We know the cost of living is still too high. We know many seniors are still struggling. But under the PLP, seniors are not invisible.

They are not disrespected.

They are not forgotten.

Our Seniors are a priority to the PLP.

The OBA had their chance, and they made their values clear. They governed for those at the top and left everyone else in the cold.

Put simply, “They not like us.”

So when someone asks what the PLP has done for seniors, tell them:

• We increased pensions every year.
• We expanded healthcare benefits.
• We offered interest-free home improvement loans.
• We’re building new care infrastructure.
• And we’re standing up for dignity, fairness, and respect.

We are making steady progress towards the Bermuda we believe in. A fairer Bermuda where nobody gets left behind, especially not the ones who came before us.

- Neville Tyrell, JP, MP, Constituency #26, Warwick South Central

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