Column: Simmons On Fiscal Responsibility & More
[Opinion column written by PLP MP Jamahl Simmons]
For years, the OBA have preached their version of “shared sacrifice” to Bermudians. They told us to accept cuts to services and scholarships, freezes, and furloughs all under their version of “fiscal responsibility.”
Now they are telling Bermudians once again to put their needs aside and be denied the direct benefit of the new Corporate Income Tax.
With the vast amounts of tax revenue coming in, it would be foolish not to make big moves to bring down the debt. Yet, it would also be heartless not to put some of that money towards the clear and immediate needs of our people.
The OBA disagrees with our approach but our people have seen what their approach looks like.
When the OBA spent $100 million of public money toward The America’s Cup, there was no talk of restraint. No warnings about their government living beyond its means.
In fact, despite the fact that the economic review stated that 64% of the businesses that benefited from America’s Cup had owners that identified as White, they continue to boast about it.
When the OBA signed the airport and Morgan’s Point deals that have cost our country millions there was no talk about fiscal responsibility.
The reality is that the OBA wants us to think this is a debate on whether the PLP is fiscally responsible or not, but it isn’t; it’s about how we can put our people first.
The Corporate Income Tax means more than paying down the debt. It means investing in our youth, moving towards universal healthcare, building more housing for our people and more.
Bermudians across the island did not elect us to tell our people that their challenges aren’t a priority and they absolutely do not want a government that takes an OBA-like approach.
Why do I say that?
They believe as so many of us do, that when the OBA speaks of a “bloated civil service” what they are really saying is that Bermudan jobs are expendable, that community investment is wasteful, and that those struggling should just “get over it.”
To us fiscal responsibility and social responsibility are not diametrically opposed, they are inseparable.
That’s why we made one of the most progressive changes to our tax system by shifting the burden away from those of us who can least afford to pay.
That’s why we pushed through Bermuda’s first minimum wage over the objections of some in the private sector. Not because their opinions didn’t matter, but because their opinions for too long have mattered more than everyone else’s needs.
So I ask you:
Do we accept an approach where those who need housing, our youth who need opportunities and safer streets and those who can’t make ends meet are ignored?
Or do we believe that we can take a balanced approach that addresses our people’s needs and pays off our debt?
- Jamahl Simmons, Constituency #33, Sandys South
The blatant gaslighting and lack of self-awareness on display here is alarming, albeit comical.
Many would be correct to criticise the PLP as being fiscally irresponsible, and our massive public debt is the glaring evidence of that. Along with a string of mismanaged public projects under the PLP’s governance (KEMH, Grand Atlantic, Savvy Entertainment, Sandys 360, just to name a few…).
The most funny statement here by Mr. Simmons is: ["They believe, as so many of us do, that when the OBA speaks of a “bloated civil service,” what they are really saying is that Bermudian jobs are expendable, that community investment is wasteful, and that those struggling should just “get over it.”].
No, Jamahl, the fact is that if the civil service wasn’t bloated, we’d be better equipped to protect Bermudian jobs, invest more in the community, and provide assistance to those in need. The real issue is that the taxpayer is hamstrung by paying exorbitant sums for MP salaries who spend their time writing silly op-eds like this rather than fixing the country.
Can he justify the 18 percent pay increase he gave himself?
There are some good points noted be Apathy, as for as non potfolio MPs and that’s on both sides of the aisle.
Premier Burt, please consider reducing pay to non portfolio MP s or delegating sub responsibilities to non portfolio. Either way it makes sense. Perhaps you can delegate non portfolio MP s to projects like ;
A Public Works a affordable housing – assisting w/ Minister DeSilva,
B Tourism lets “step up our game” and look at the Rail Tracks for walks, hiking this is a hidden gem that seems less and less attended to or secured. Our trash situation, let’s delegate a look at a pick up of twice a week, this effects Tourism as well as Public Works. I was on a trip to a Caricom island and the last site I saw was an over full trash bin at the air port – as a tourist do you think I was impressed (I have re visited and they seemed to have “stepped up thier game”
Premier Burt please consider an MP to supervise loan guarantees provided by Government to Hotels
Eg the Southampton Princess project – does the Government have a “Construction representing” reviewing expenditures. This is this ? Revenue there has been a lot of risk transferred to Government with these guarantees
“With the vast amounts of tax revenue coming in”
The obvious problem with that statement is that much of the “vast amounts of tax revenue coming in” goes to paying interest on our nearly $4 billion current account debt and not one penny of CIT has been received by the Government.
There’s already ‘vast amounts of revenue’ being collected by government, yet they can’t maintain roads and infrastructure, and the education system is utterly hopeless. And Burt is “too busy” in Davos to care, apparently.
Mr Simmons, I want to thank you for your analysis:
Public services has an “A”mark – as a Bermudian living in Miami, I know and can commend Bermuda public service departments. I appreciate make a call “speaking to a human” and a resolution to problems or big applied land tax payment, planning questions. The secret sauce to the success to international business and tourism is “service”. I would rather Bermuda be “over staffed” with service vs under staff with poor service – no double.
As far as projects it’s OBA and PLP achievements, I can say that as any policy, projects “succeed” and projects “fail” and sometimes “success” or “failure” is in the eye of debate analysis and time horizon.
Airport.
An expensive an infrastructure project essential to Bermuda Tourism and Off Shore Reinsurance, the ability for more flights is the “driver”.
The problem was the need for “more” beds and the timing of less tourism (ie Covid etc)
Hotels – The PLP Government has secured two very important hotel developments, for “more” beds side of equation. The Elbow (Mr King / Lauren Hotel related “thank you along also for your confidence in Bermuda the Government”) Southampton Princess (Gencom)”, Hamilton Princess (Greene Group, thanks for the support though Covid)
I respectfully request, and the electorate will vote on the PLP Government s achievements based on :
A. Hotel grade A
B Government Public Service grade A
C Off Shore Reinsurance grade A
D Affordable Housing – work in process ( Minister Desilva seems to be “thinking out of the box). Development requires private / government sector help for success. I have proposed a project “Stepping Stone”, that I have detailed in prior posts. I am not for “Government owned” housing (a guilt communist) but am for rent control BHC managed, in exchange for levy and other incentives: similar to that granted, and rightly so, to Hotel Development and others
Respectfully
A PLP MP talking about fiscal responsibility. Good one.
The PLP came to power with us having something in the order of a $150M debt. Under the steady hand of Eugene Cox as FM we more or less travelled on UBP fiscal autopilot.
Then the DrEB regime took over and the wheels came off the bus. Here we are in 2026 with a total $4B, yes that is a B, debt and we have PLP MP Simmons talking about fiscal responsibility.
Hilarious!
Didn’t we recently see something similar from MP Famous? Is this some sort of directive that has come down from on high for the lower level MPs to produce moderate writings.
“Here we are in 2026 with a total $4B, yes that is a B, debt”
Let’s qualify that statement. Current account debt.
We also have billions in unfunded pension liabilities and that debt grows more every day.
Yeah, you’ve really showed us what you guys can do fiscally over the last 20 years Jamal LMFAOOOOOOOO!! Really good stuff to back your thoughts above up….
You don’t seem to be aware of who the government is?
Bermuda looks poor. Shabby, unkept….poor. Yet charges a premium and tells visitors they’re the lucky ones.