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Tourism’s needs are here and now, not on the other side of the world. By Senator Michael Dunkley, JP, Shadow Tourism MinisterFebruary 4, 2010
The Premier today says his trip to drum up tourism business from India "makes eminent sense". We disagree, completely. We do not take issue with the international business aspect of the trip, but the tourism line is hogwash - a poor excuse for continuing the Premier's worldwide farewell tour. It may sound good on TV, it may read well in print, but it really amounts to nothing more than a pleasant diversion from the job at hand. Tourism is facing its most challenging year in decades – virtually all hotel operations are hanging by the skin of their teeth; the industry is in terminal decline and the minister would rather travel the world. Does he not think our tourism industry is in crisis? Can he tell us how the India trip will benefit Bermuda tourism this year; because right now this year is all that matters? If we don’t get through it, if we don’t drive enough visitors to our shores, we may well be left with a shattered industry. What is the plan to prevent the collapse of Bermuda tourism? So far, nobody in this government has said anything about this critically important component of the Island’s economy. There was a time Bermudians were fully aware of the marketing profile Bermuda projected to its key markets, in North America, the UK and Europe. Governments kept them informed. Governments announced their plans. As a result, Bermudians knew the advertising, the spokesmen and the players, and they had a sense of the government, hotels and small businesses working together to bring visitors to our hotels and guest cottages. Today there is only silence. It is a disgrace that it should come to this. The United Bermuda Party is not prepared to stand by and allow this vital industry be run into the ground by the failed leadership of the minister. And so, in the first instance, we demand that he come forward and tell Bermuda what is the plan, what are the images and messages Bermuda is projecting to attract visitors from core markets. What steps are in place to compete effectively? We don't want to hear about India. It has nothing to do with the urgent need to fill empty hotel beds right now. The India trip is symptomatic of serious lack of focus, lack of leadership and a disconnect enlarged by his own retirement plan. It’s what happens with lame ducks. Bermuda deserves better, Goverment’s fiscal mismanagement a ‘fast car with no brakes’. By Shadow Finance Minister E.T. (Bob) RichardsFebruary 3, 2010
With Government debt passing $850 million, Bermuda is getting perilously close to the $1billion ceiling it approved just last year. We warned repeatedly that the Finance Minister’s revenue projections were hopelessly unrealistic and bound to be far ahead of actual revenues collected. The Auditor General’s report this week indicates we were right. The hemorrhage of red ink is highly likely to continue in the upcoming year as we have seen very little determination on the part of Government to change its spendthrift ways. Thus there is a real probability this year that the $1 billion debt ceiling will be raised again. If it is not, the Finance Minister’s budget will be based on more unrealistic projections. The Finance Minister has shown she is unwilling or unable to assert herself as guardian of the public purse and impose a culture of restraint and prudence over her colleagues and across the public service. A “cog in the wheel” – as she described herself last week – does not cause that wheel to change direction or speed. Bermuda needs a Finance Minister that is the brake on the wheel, not a cog. Make no mistake a change in culture from spendthrift to prudence in Government is long overdue. The Auditor General has highlighted troubling trends that we have been beating the drum about for years. A bad number for just one year could be viewed as a one-off, an outlier, an aberration. But trends indicate habits, tendencies and proclivities – with this Government they amount to a corporate culture of excess. In metaphorical terms, what we have here is a fast car with no brakes. We all know where that story ends. Perhaps Bermudians will now start to take these tends seriously. The accompanying graphic illustrates the soaring public debt, which is a direct result of this Government’s fiscal mismanagement. Click here to view the graph full size
Obama’s budget plan a cause for concern. Dr. Grant Gibbons, Acting for Shadow Finance Minister E.T. (Bob) RichardsFebruary 2, 2010
President Obama’s recently announced budget proposal and its targeting of off-shore insurers is certainly cause for concern, but not unexpected given the US Government's huge deficit and Congressman Richard Neal's tax bill launched last year. If the proposed tax change is retained as part of the final US budget package later this year, it would undermine an important tax advantage and diminish Bermuda's appeal as a place to do business for insurance groups with US subsidiaries – a key component of the island's international business sector. Given the broader economic challenges we face, any initiatives which threaten the stability of the major leg of Bermuda’s economy should be viewed with real concern. It is why we have voiced such strong criticism of this Government's antagonistic record with international business, as well as its tourism failures and its mismanagement of the public purse. In these and other areas Bermuda is performing less well than it once did, and this makes for an economy less able to absorb the kind of threat posed by the US President’s budget plan. We are also very concerned with the Government's inconsistent commitment to ensuring the island has the best possible relationship with Washington lawmakers. Its superficial approach to our most important international relationship was revealed in the splashy 2009 "opening" of Bermuda's Washington DC office which was followed by the failure to actually staff the operation. The office sits empty today.” Devastating judgment on Government's management of the public purse. By By Kim Swan, Opposition LeaderFebruary 1, 2010
The statements made by the Auditor General (click here to read Media Release #1 and Media Release #2) constitute a devastating judgment on this Government's management of the public purse and it clearly brings into sharp focus the integrity of various ministerial actions and the pattern of massive overspending. Bermuda needs strength not weakness at Finance. By E.T. (Bob) Richards, Shadow Minister of FinanceJanuary 28, 2010
It is crucial for Bermuda's economic well-being that we have a Finance Minister with the strength to maintain firm control over government spending. Unfortunately, the current minister does not appear to have that strength and Bermuda's financial position has been seriously weakened because of it. Under this Minister's watch,
In Wednesday's newspaper, the Minister provided readers with insight into her role as custodian of the public purse. In trying to explain the size of the National Debt, the minister said she was "only a cog" in the wheel of Cabinet decision-making and not in a position to overrule spending plans if she failed to sway other ministers to "join with me to uphold my position." This is an alarming statement that betrays a fundamentally weak interpretation of her constitutional responsibility to ensure sound management of the country’s finances. It indicates she is unable to flex her muscle as Finance Minister. Bermuda built its blue chip financial reputation over the years primarily on the shoulders of Finance Ministers who knew when and how to say no to their colleagues, who knew how to impose fiscal discipline. This minister needs to show some backbone. She needs to read the riot act to her colleagues. She needs to tell them that the Island's reputation is waning under their watch. She needs to impose control on their careless spending sprees. Despite the huge debt burden, the minister used Wednesday’s article to lay out a rationale for even further increases in Government debt. In doing so she used a misleading argument. When the minister compared Bermuda’s public debt to that of the USA and the UK she was misleading Bermudians to think this was a comparison of apples to apples. It is not. The rules for economic whales and shrimp are not the same. In Business Week magazine this week it was reported that the US Federal Reserve “has expanded its balance sheet to $2.24 trillion at the end of 2009 from $879 billion at the start of 2007.” This means that the Fed has created, out of thin air, $1.361 trillion over the two years. The US government can, and has, in turn, borrowed this money and passed it on to banks, business and consumers to help support the weak economy. Neat trick! The UK government has done the same thing through what it calls “Quantitative Easing.” These are the monetary tools available to major industrial nations, the giants of the economic world. These options – creating money – are not available to tiny economies like Bermuda. We cannot create our own money and then borrow it. We must borrow other countries’ money and then, through the sale of services, earn enough of those other countries’ money to pay the interest and repay the principal. As an economic shrimp, we must be more cautious about public debt because we will, one day, have to pay the piper. The Minister does not spear to get that. And then there is private sector debt. Figures show Bermudians holding $1.4 billion through our banks. So between the private sector and government, Bermuda is swimming in $2 billion in external debt. And let us not forget interest rates. They are currently at historic lows. As they rise, as they eventually must the cost of our debt will grow to become a debilitating burden on taxpayers. The minister must think of our children and grandchildren who will have to shoulder this debt when faced with the careless spending habits of her Cabinet colleagues. It’s up to her the hold the line. 'Large voter imbalances need to be addressed'. Kim Swan, JP, MP, United Bermuda Party LeaderJanuary 26, 2010
The following is the full text of the United Bermuda Party’s submission to the Boundaries Commission, which is required to periodically review the Island’s constituency boundaries to ensure “as far as reasonably practicable” that they contain equal numbers of voters. The Commission began its review last October and is expected to submit its report this February. On behalf of the United Bermuda Party, I am pleased to submit our recommendations to the 2009 Boundaries Commission. We believe the Commission should have the benefit of broad input while carrying out its significant responsibilities to ensure that electoral boundaries are drawn as fairly as possible in Bermuda. While the 2009 Boundaries Commission may not have as many issues to decide as the previous Commission in 2001/2, it nevertheless has the critical job of making sure that the sizes of the 36 individual constituencies are as equal as possible given the nature of Bermuda’s electoral system and the relatively small number of voters in our constituencies.
Read Full Report - click here
More detail needed on anti-crime measures
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On behalf of the Chairman, Executive, Parliamentary Group and members of the United Bermuda Party, it is my honour today to pay tribute to Joan Lindo. |
Veronica Joan Lindo is not one of the names you would have read about in the Press over the years. Instead you read about Dr. Clarence Terceira, Dr. David Dyer, Mr. Erwin Adderley, Mr. Gary Pitman, Mr. Bill McPhee and Sir David Gibbons. But I want you all to know that Joan was instrumental to the success of all of these fine gentlemen. There is that old adage “Behind every man stands a good woman.” There is no question that in the world of constituency politics, Joan Lindo was indeed that person.
It is hard to place the start of Joan’s service to the United Bermuda Party, other than to say she was there when the lights were turned. Her work preceded the involvement of any of the gentlemen I’ve just mentioned. When asked about Joan, they all said she was already there when they showed up. In fact, Joan was there long after they left. Her faith in the party never faltered. Her faith in its people, its record in office and its core beliefs never flagged. She was an anchor for the party – one of those pillars in the community that all parties need if they are to stand for anything over time.
I first met Joan when I was helping the Pembroke West branch to fight a bye-election in the 1990s. I attended meetings at her home in Spanish Point, which was the base from which we canvassed the community and returned to to share information. I was always impressed by her organizational abilities, her connections with everyday people and her straightforward approach to any and all matters.
We got along quite well and our good connection was further enhanced when she showed me a picture of her as a young girl growing up in St. George. Turns out she lived in “Cat Bells”, the same house I live in now, which intrigued and amused the two of us.
In Spanish Point, Joan lived across from Admiralty House. For the non-politicos in today’s congregation, that’s Pembroke West, or Constituency #19. It was there that Joan raised her family going back to the 1960s. True to form, Joan always made it a priority to know the people of the area. She always kept her finger on the pulse of what was or was not happening. She was, in the best sense of the word, a political animal.
As I indicated earlier, Joan was around when the lights of the United Bermuda Party were turned on. She has left us but the memory of her will remain as will her example. She will be remembered as a caring, forthright and dedicated person. She was a woman engaged in the life of her community and devoted to making this island home we all share the best it can be.
The lights of the United Bermuda Party will continue to burn, and they will do so in honour of Veronica Joan Lindo.
We pray that she will rest in peace and pray the almighty God will provide comfort for her family during this time of bereavement.
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January 15, 2010
As a resident and elected representative for St. George’s, I am very concerned the Old Town is being seriously hurt by Government policies and decisions.
I watch with alarm as businesses close and residents lose their jobs. And I am disturbed by the evaporation of street life that is vital to any healthy community.
My concerns are shared by fellow St. Georgians but also by Bermudians from all walks of life who worry that Bermuda’s original settlement – the place where our history as a people began – is being driven into a period of decline.
St. George’s has certainly had its share of ups and downs across 400 years, and there are a host of reasons for them – from wars and depressions, to trade booms and embargoes, to the inflow of tourists, whether by ship or by plane.
Today, it is clear the Old Town is being hurt by the policies and decisions of the Progressive Labour Party Government.
Let’s look at the following list to understand why I say that:
Is the rundown of St. George’s deliberate? It’s hard not to say no. Is there a better future for the Old Town than the one being undermined by this Government? Yes.
My colleagues in the United Bermuda believe we can reverse the slide, but first we need a government that actually wants to help the Town realize its full potential, which is considerable. Unlike the PLP Government, we don’t want to destroy the Corporation of St. George’s. We believe locally based government is essential for maintaining the special qualities of the Old Town. But the Corporation is being bled dry by the cumulative effect of Government policies and decisions that do not have the interests of St. George’s at heart.
To help restore its operational viability, we would use the fuel tax to ensure the Corporation and its partners have sufficient income to balance their budgets and provide for capital improvements.
We would facilitate the development of income-producing yacht business and create an endowment for the St. George’s Foundation to support the continuing development of the Old Town as a World Heritage Site.
The key is to think of St. George’s as a destination – Destination St. George’s – where Government’s efforts are dedicated to helping build a healthy, attractive and viable community for residents and visitors alike. That means first caring about the future of the town, understanding its needs and then using community-wide resources to meet them.
That’s how we’d do it.
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January 13, 2010
I have read the Kenneth Dill memo and my first impression is that it is a year too late.
Our Budget Replies starting in February 2008 were explicit in our warnings to the Government to prepare for an economic downturn.
Within those warnings, we urged cutbacks in non-essential spending, a hiring freeze, severe reductions in the use of overseas consultants and greater control over spending on building projects.
All of our warnings were ignored. All of our recommendations to strengthen the management of the public purse were ignored.
In terms of the specifics of Mr. Dill’s memo, I note the following:
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January 12, 2010
The United Bermuda Party is very concerned about Premeir Brown's reported plan to hit taxi drivers with "more aggressive enforcement measures" and "huge fines" over GPS compliance.
We argued against GPS as an additional cost to taxi owners at a time of rising fuel and operating costs in a shrinking economy and depressed tourist market.
Now is not the time for a government looking to hit working Bermudians with punitive fines.
The injustice of the Premier's proposed actions is underlined by the fact that the Premier has been responsible for tens of millions of dollars in overspending on his own building projects and that of his ministers.
If only he applied "more aggressive fiscal discipline measures" to his own government and his own ministries there would be no need to go after hard-working Bermudians who, unlike the Premier, must struggle every day to make ends meet.
With this move to fine them, taxi drivers face a double whammy - having to work a tourism industry that has been seriously weakened by the Premier 's failed leadership and a punitive attack on their income caused by his Government's wasteful spending.
This is just one example of how government fiscal indiscipline can hurt working Bermudians.
It's long past time for the Premier and his colleagues to practice what they preach.
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January 11, 2010
2010 is not two weeks old and we have suffered two road deaths.
I am certain all of us, if asked, want the carnage to stop, and yet there is little we can point to that says we are taking steps to reduce the number of people killed and maimed each year on our roads.
It doesn’t have to be that way. We can make a difference – if we care.
Throughout the course of last year, the United Bermuda Party repeatedly put forward concrete ideas to improve road safety.
In the interest of all Bermudians, my colleagues and I once again urge the Government to start implementing road-safety measures that have worked in other jurisdictions.
These include better road lighting through the use of solar-powered lights, cats eyes on centre lines, traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, speed cameras and the fast-tracking of random roadside breathalyzer testing.
My colleagues and I are prepared to support a Government “Safe Roads Plan”, but we can’t do it unless one is brought forward. We applaud its recent work to improve safety measures at danger spots such as the outbound bend in East Broadway, but Bermuda needs a comprehensive plan because our road safety problem is an island-wide problem, involving driver habits, congestion and the road system itself.
Let’s make 2010 the year Bermuda did everything it could to make its roads as safe as possible. Surely, that is something we can all support.
In the meantime, and on behalf of my colleagues in the United Bermuda Party I offer our condolences to the families of Mr. Earl Ingemann who died on New Year's Day and Mr. Dareiko Simons who died Saturday. May they rest in peace.
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December 24, 2009
You would think it would be clear by now: The Government using its considerable resources to minimize the impact of the economic downturn on working families.
One of the best ways to do this is to create jobs through public projects such as building construction, road maintenance and municipal infrastructure upgrades.
The idea here is that government projects hire workers laid off by the private sector as construction projects wind down and recession-hit businesses shed workers.
In the world of economics, this is known as counter-cyclical spending, wherein the public sector uses its considerable resources to counter the impact of economic downturn.
You would think this basic approach to stimulating the economy when necessary – using public resources to help working families victimized by recession – would by now be understood by this Government.
But it’s not.
This week the people of Bermuda got a peak at Government plans to spend more than $24.5 million to buy an office building in Hamilton and further untold millions to buy a second building on Par-la-Ville Road. It appears the idea, which was put forward by Works Minister Derrick Burgess with the support of Premier Brown, was to save the Government money it now spends on office rents.
The idea has merit, if one accepts the highly questionable numbers put forward by the minister. But there is a right time and a wrong time to do these things and this proposal at this time is absolutely wrong for Bermuda.
Here’s why I say that:
The Bermuda economy needs the Government to focus public spending on projects that create jobs for people displaced by recession.
Creating jobs will help the people who get the jobs, with their wages used to meet the day-to-day needs of their families and, in the process, helping the overall economy. The money spent will circulate through stores from pharmacies to coffee shops; and some even returning to benefit the Government in the form of tax revenues.
Buying office buildings will not create jobs. It will not stimulate spending. It will only transfer a capital asset – a building – from a private enterprise to the public sector. It will increase the public’s debt – already at historically unheard of levels – and the interest the public pays on that enormous debt, now near $1 billion or approximately $15,000 for every man, woman and child on this island.
For nearly two years we have urged the Government to prepare for the downturn and the counter-cyclical plans needed to protect working families and shore up the economy.
In February 2008 our warning was plain enough: The US, I said, was headed toward a period of “slow growth, no growth or contraction” that would drag the global growth rate down. Bermuda did not operate in a vacuum and therefore it was critical that the Government “adjust its plans, its strategies and its spending habits based not only upon local needs but also on the imperatives of the global economy.”
The Government did not heed the warning and its careless spending continued as the recession swept ashore. A few weeks ago, the Government, in questioning by my Senate colleagues, revealed that it faced a $100 million cash shortfall this year – a result of underestimating how much it would spend and overestimating how much it would earn.
Now, in the wake of that shocking news, and the management failure underscoring it, the Government wants to spend tens of millions more on buildings that will do absolutely nothing for the economy and the people suffering in this ongoing downturn.
I shake my head in frustration and wonder. Does anybody in the Cabinet understand the requirements and duties of government at this time? Does anybody understand the relationship between fiscal planning and prevailing economic conditions? Does anybody understand leadership by example?
There is one more aspect to the Government’s building purchase plan that we find extraordinary and concerning. It is the fact the plan was put before the Cabinet “for decision” without the support of the Finance Minister. This is extraordinary given that no spending decisions go before Cabinet without the Finance Minister’s support, at least in normally functioning governments.
The only way that could happen is through the power of the Premier who controls the Cabinet agenda. In allowing Minister Burgess to bypass the Finance Minister, the Premier is sidelining the one voice at the table with an explicit responsibility to manage the public purse.
Everyone should be concerned about this power play and the Finance Minister’s difficulty in standing up to the Premier. We have had nearly a decade of loose, imprudent and careless spending by this government. Clearly, no one responsible has really been in charge and the chickens are coming home to roost – Bermuda is now creaking under the weight of public debt five times greater than it was a decade ago, with no sense of direction, no sense that anyone is looking at the bottom line.
It matters. It can make a difference, for better or worse.
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December 21, 2009
It is deeply ironic that Dr. Brown’s reckless foray over the Uighurs should result in Bermuda losing ground on its hard-earned ability to conduct relations with other countries.
For the man who has made independence for Bermuda an overarching personal political goal, the Uighur controversy is a setback.
The changes to the General Entrustment – the rules by which the UK Government allows Bermuda to exercise a degree of autonomy in its international relations – tightens the rules under which previous Bermuda Governments operated.
Make no mistake, the changes to the General Entrustment reflect a loss of trust in Bermuda, at least as long as it is led by Dr. Brown.
The changes reverse an historic trend that really began to take shape in the mid 1980s when Bermuda began exercising a more direct, more autonomous role in its relations with the outside world.
Dr. Brown’s actions in the Uighur case undermined that march toward diplomatic self-reliance and maturity. The tighter reporting rules set down last week by the UK Government are now part of his legacy as Premier.
To those of us who were sympathetic to the plight of the Uihgurs, we think it is important to recognize that Dr. Brown’s actions – regardless of his professed altruism – was clearly the wrong way to go about helping them.
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December 21, 2009
The time delay between the shooting-murder early Thursday morning and the call to the Police some five hours later - for whatever reason - is a reminder of the crucially important role the public has to play in the fight against crime.
Bermuda will not significantly improve public safety until everyday people become helping agents in this fight. The Police cannot do it alone. They need witnesses, tips and other intelligence that only people living in and around criminal actions can provide.
Assistance from within communities is perhaps the most important component in an effective campaign to detect, arrest and prosecute the criminal element in Bermuda today.
We understand people are fearful that if they step forward to help Police for the sake of safer communities they may endanger themselves and even their families.
It is important for people to know that they can do so in the strictest confidence through the Crime Stoppers Hotline.
To encourage people to take that step forward, we urge the Police to fully explain the confidentiality guarantee at the centre of Crime Stoppers’ reporting and any other vehicles members of the public can use to pass on information.
If people are going to step forward they need to be assured they cannot be found out.
We think Police assurance on this point is a small but vital step in getting a grip on a situation that is troubling us all.
Finally, I would like to add that people need to be brave about this - brave to step forward - because so much rests on it: the health of individual communities, our economy and, most important, the safety of our children and the island they will inherit.
Let’s all do what we need to do to make sure it is a prosperous, stable and safe Bermuda that we pass on to them.
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December 15, 2009
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Fellow Bermudians, our country is in crisis.
A summary of recent Police statistics underline the severity of the challenge we face:
It is clear the vast majority of Bermudians want action to stop the violence and restore peace and security to their neighbourhoods.
Over the past few months, the United Bermuda Party has been keeping an eye on developments, walking through neighbourhoods gripped by gang violence and talking with community groups and Police.
Clearly, the problem of crime in Bermuda is deep-seated and complex. There is no magic wand. This is a community-wide problem. It’s not a St. Monica’s Mission Community problem. It’s not a Parkside problem. It’s a Bermuda problem requiring collective action, community compassion but also a much tougher, more punitive environment for criminals.
Just as the crime crisis is a Bermuda problem, it is going to take people from all walks of life, working together, to help us get an upper hand on the situation. It is also going to take time, but we have made a start with groups like Rise Above Bermuda already having a positive impact.
In addition we need to make sure organizations already in the field, and the people on the front lines, have the resources and the backing they need to do their jobs.
This afternoon, in my capacity as Shadow Minister for Public Safety, and with the support of my colleagues, I would like to start with the first of a series of press conferences on the crime crisis.
The ideas we put forward today are not meant to be comprehensive in terms of solving the crisis in its totality – it is simply too complex for one statement – but to make the point that we can do things now, concrete things, that can make a difference to a situation that troubles all of us.
In tackling crime, our overall goals are
To progress these goals, we are calling for
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One of the most important observations we’ve made in our investigations is the existence of a profound disconnect between people across the community.
People simply do not have any understanding of why things are happening the way they are.
The general public has no real understanding of why gangs exist.
Gang members say society does not understand their frustrations. We sense their alienation is real.
Police are often stymied because they don’t know the specific motivations behind the shootings.
It is our view that Bermuda can take a big step toward easing the crisis by trying to grow some understandings about why things are the way they are.
We need to put people in situations where they can get to know each other better, where people can speak freely, without fear, about why they do what they do, and why they feel what they feel.
We believe there is a major need to spread understanding across the community, because only through a broader understanding of problems can we start to fashion solutions that actually promote the peaceful and nurturing communities we all want.
The time, we believe, is ripe for dialogue.
Our first recommendation therefore is for a series of Peace Talks across the community, where people feel free to express their concerns, their fears, their frustrations and hopes. Obviously this means bringing gang members to the table, but also neighbourhood spokesmen and even Police.
Such an exercise will only work if we get the right people in place to make it happen. While we would expect the government to support the Peace Talks through funding and good will, we would like to see this work managed by community activists with no political affiliation other than their commitment to building a better Bermuda.
The aim is simply to foster understandings where today little exist. The goal is to use those understandings to fashion solutions for a better, more law-abiding society.
We believe the need to talk is urgent, and would like to see this process begin early in the New Year.
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In the meantime, we must give the Police all the support they need, not just for anti-gang activities but also the common crimes affecting people more than ever – crimes such as burglaries, robberies and drug trafficking.
Our concerns in this area are focused mainly on getting the government to do more. In that regard, the United Bermuda Party is prepared to support budget increases to strengthen Police capabilities in key crime fighting areas.
These include:
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We take this opportunity to repeat our call for a formal Force Review by a UK Inspectorate.
The time for a formal review of strategies, deployments, force structure is long past due; the last one being conducted in 2003.
The inspections offer highly useful reviews of what is working well, what is not working well, and recommendations flow from them.
Bermuda needs an inspection now.
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We would also like to take this opportunity today to demand that the Government give unequivocal support to the Police.
It has been less than helpful over the years. The Premier’s current fight with the Governor for operational control of the Police continues this poor record.
Statements by ministers caught up in this fight undermine public confidence in the Police, damage morale and make their work more difficult than it has to be. It is a shameful intrusion of politics into a realm it does not belong. It must end.
We were encouraged yesterday by the Governor’s and the Premier’s joint statement on crime but we remain skeptical the cooperation will last.
It is clear the Premier is hellbent on his independence agenda and that he will use his skirmishes for operational control of the Police to advance that plan.
We want Bermuda to understand this is a bogus issue and we urge the Premier once more to get serious, work with the Governor and the Police Commissioner, make sure Police have the resources they need. In other words, we want the Premier to do the job he was elected to do.
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The final point we’d like to make is the need for each and every one of us to play a part in turning back the tide of anti-social behavior that is ruining so many lives.
Each of us needs to examine what we can do to make Bermuda a better place.
Each of us needs to decide what kind of Bermuda we want for our families and friends and for future generations.
This is the time for each of us to stand up and be counted. We all must play our part.
If you have knowledge of criminal activity and don’t come forward then you are accepting what is happening to Bermuda.
But if you step forward to help the fight against crime, then you are fighting for a better life for you, your children, your community and, ultimately, your country Bermuda.
We believe that is a fight worth fighting.
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I want to finish by stating that we in the United Bermuda Party do not have all the answers. We know we’re not always right, but we are very concerned and we have a deep-seated passion about the future of our island.
It’s why we are here today and why we are trying to make a difference.
We want to help rekindle the fire of concern in our community for a better way. We encourage other people to come forward for the better Bermuda we all want.
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December 15, 2009
GOOD EVENING UNITED BERMUDA PARTY FAMILY!
I want to begin by saying how proud I am to serve as chairman of this great party.
I wear this party on my lapel; I wear it on my sleeve. I even wear it on the bumper of my truck, day in and day out.
Why do I do it?
Because I believe the United Bermuda Party is a force for good.
Just look at 30 years of our country’s story when the United Bermuda Party served as the government.
They were years when this island became a better place to live for all its citizens.
They were years of expanding education opportunities – when more scholarships were awarded and more young Bermudians got university degrees than ever before.
They were years of growing prosperity; when income levels rose to phenomenal heights, sometimes topping world rankings.
They were years when the black middle class emerged, and when black Bermudians assumed positions of leadership in all areas of government from top to bottom.
They were years of economic stability and steady growth when the hand of the UBP was firmly on the till, keeping an eye out for threats to our well-being and opportunities to grow and expand the economic pie.
They were years when the island enjoyed a blue-chip reputation for tourism, when the industry employed many thousands of Bermudians, who welcomed their guests with warmth and friendliness, music and entertainment and the promise of a perfect holiday.
They were years when the UBP Government and business leaders worked together to attract international businesses, creating a second leg to the island’s economy.
That engine continues to power the economy enabling thousands of Bermudians to live productive, useful lives; and providing thousands of families with paycheques to feed, shelter and school their children.
My friends, the United Bermuda Party record in Government is a great record. None of you should ever forget it; none of you should ever doubt it.
I say all of this because I want all of you to be spokesmen for a proud party.
I want you to know our record, know that it is true and be prepared to challenge the PLP view that seeks to denigrate, besmirch and even deny these years.
It is not just a disservice to our achievements and our people, such as the great Sir Henry Tucker, Sir ET Richards – the Peaceful Warrior, and Sir John Swan;
It is also disrespectful to the hard work of ordinary, everyday Bermudians whose record of achievement across the years is absolutely bound up with that of the United Bermuda Party.
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Over the past 10 years, we have been working for Bermuda from the benches of the Opposition.
During these years the United Bermuda Party has continued, through thick and thin, to stand on guard for Bermuda.
We continue to stand for a more responsible, more inclusive way to conduct the people’s business.
We have fought for a more responsive, more open and more accountable government.
We have argued forcefully for more careful management of the public purse and more people-focused policies.
We have been a party that has argued for a stronger code of ethics in government and for the need to anchor decision-making in principles of good conduct.
In every instance, our Parliamentary team has carried the work forward, shaping issues and helping people see the current government in its proper light.
In the past year, our Parliamentary team has
Ladies and gentlemen,
Despite the challenges, despite the setbacks, the record of our Parliamentary team over the past year has been strong and true.
It is a testament to their staying power, their faith in the party, their grit and energy, their skills and, mostly, their love of Bermuda.
I want to take a moment to salute them, not just because I think they deserve it, but also because I believe they possess the talents, skills and experience that, man for man, is head and shoulders above their counterparts now in government.
Let me begin with:
Kim Swan, whose grassroots approach to politics promises to revitalize and grow the party, who is always at his post, always ready to help others and always carrying the torch for this great party.
There is deputy leader Trevor Moniz, whose sharp observations on the issues provide his colleagues with sound perspective and ideas and no small measure of backbone.
There is John Barritt who, through his particular passion, has become known across the island as the one true voice for a better democracy for Bermuda.
There is Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, who has no equal in the House for passionate, some may even say pugilistic debate. No one hits this government harder than Pat – and, from my perspective, deservedly so.
There is Charlie Swan, who in his first year as an MP, has won the respect of his colleagues for his down-to-earth approach to the issues and for his helpful nature. I suspect Charlie is going to be around for as long as he wants to represent the good people of Southampton.
There is Cole Simons, who has become strong and compassionate voice for Bermudians least able to care for themselves, for the environment and for the preservation of Bermudian traditions.
There is Bob Richards, who has become an essential voice on the economy and who has let Bermuda know there is a better way to manage the public purse.
There is Grant Gibbons, whose steady commitment over the years to producing an effective public education system has won the support of key stakeholders. Mark my word, if Dr. Gibbons was in charge of education reform he would have made it happen – as he did with the takeover of the military bases in the 1990s.
There is Louise Jackson, one of the strongest, most enduring voices today, trusted by thousands of seniors, respected by her colleagues and feared by her opponents. A great lady.
And then there is our Senate team.
Last, but certainly not least, there is
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Please give an ovation to the front line of the United Bermuda Party – all capable, all hard-working, all ready, willing and able to form the next government of Bermuda.
You know we would all be better off with them at the helm.
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Now ladies and gentlemen,
I want to speak for a few moments about the work the party is doing to bring us closer to our goal of serving the people with the best government possible.
The first thing I want to say is we’re a busy party. We’ve been busy and we’re going to stay busy.
A lot of people step forward this year, getting involved, caring and answering the call to get involved.
The Central Executive is playing a bigger role, meeting regularly and creating a bridge between the Parliamentary group and the rest of the party, which is so important for enlarging our voice in the community.
We pushed forward our core values as laid out in the Path Forward document.
We enacted monumental changes to our Constitution; most notably the amendment expanding the election of the Party Leader to the Central Executive – a change that led to a tenfold increase in the number of participants.
Under the new rules, there was a leadership contest – ably waged and cleanly fought between Kim Swan and Bob Richards. All of us saw it as a healthy exercise; one that sharpened our thinking on what this party needs to do to win the government again.
Ladies and gentlemen, as I said,
This is a busy party, made possible by volunteers, our MPs and Senators, and of course our hard-working staff in the Central Office
And my fellow senior officers
All of these people work hard for the party. All of them have stepped forward because they care and believe the United Bermuda Party is the best vehicle to make this island a stronger, better place for all of our citizens.
We have a good team, strong spirit and a goal to provide the people of this country with the government they deserve.
So my final words to you are to stay with us and join the fun.
Be proud. Be helpful. Be involved. Be with us.
Thank you.
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December 15, 2009
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Earlier this week, the Minister of Health responded to my statement that successive government ministers had misreported the number of seniors enrolled in FutureCare.
The Minister said I was distorting the facts in saying that ministers and government officials had said 3,100 seniors were enrolled in FutureCare.
The Minister added that he would publicly apologize if I could confirm the use of the 3,100 figure. Here is the proof, as drawn from Royal Gazette newspaper articles running from March 20 to November 21, 2009.
It should be noted that neither the Ministry of Health or its Ministers ever refuted any of the articles reporting the 3,100 figure.
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December 10, 2009
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Earlier today, The Royal Gazette asked us for our thoughts on the Uighur controversy, now six months on, and whether the Premier’s remark that “This too shall pass” has come to fruition. The following is our answer to that question:
Six months on, our concerns are not so much about the Uighurs – we hope they continue to live law-abiding and productive lives here in Bermuda no matter how long they remain here. What has not passed for us is the deliberate abuse of the rules of this land by the Premier and the fact that his party let him get away with it.
Bermudians who care about their country should remain concerned that PLP Members of Parliament allowed the Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, to violate Bermuda’s Constitution, to disrespect the Cabinet, which is the executive body of the country; to snub the Governor and the Police Commissioner and to stir international concerns about Bermuda that should never have happened.
In our view, these are major transgressions of the law, of the spirit of collegiality that is central to the performance of our government, and of the principle of accountability by which government leaders are responsible to the people.
Do not forget that at the bottom of all of these transgressions lies the fact that the Premier took the people of this country for granted.
The presumptuousness of his actions should remain with the people, particularly his apparent belief that there is one sent of rules for him and a different set of rules for everybody else.
The Premier’s actions weakened Bermuda in ways that are obvious but also, we believe, in ways that may not come clear for some time.
So for us in the United Bermuda Party, the controversy has not passed. We have to keep watch because this Premier will always march to the beat of his own drum, whether it disregards the public interest or not.
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December 9, 2009
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Bermuda must be confused by the Premier’s two crime fighting statements released yesterday just minutes apart.
The first said he and the Governor were anxious to do all they could to help Police to fight the “shocking rise in gun crime.” After noting that the Governor and the Premier “frequently and intensely” discussed policing issues, the two announced changes would be made to the Evidence Act giving Police greater scope to act nd that overseas help would be called in to train Police in anti-gun and anti-gang strategies.
Within an hour of making this statement, the Premier released his own, saying he was not satisfied with the fight against crime and that his government was hamstrung from doing more because the Governor was responsible for policing. The Premier said he had pleaded with the Governor to adopt new operational strategies and operational experts to help train police.
People must be confused by the two faces shown them: one jointly announcing initiatives to fight crime, the other complaining that the Government’s hands are tied.
We don’t see it, given that work seems to be proceeding on the very initiatives the Premier complains he can’t make happen.
What is at play here is not the Premier’s helplessness to effect change, but his political agenda to either avoid accountability for the state of law and order in Bermuda or to foment ill will toward the Governor as a backhanded way to promote the cause of independence.
We think Bermudians are sick and tired of this political game when the very safety of their families and their communities is threatened.
Bermuda is in crisis as a result of gang warfare. They do not want to see personal political agendas distract from the battle for law and order. They want direct action. They want results.
People don’t want finger-pointing and blame games. They want focused, cooperative work between all the agencies of government.
The Premier should stop playing politics with the Police and start doing the work he was elected to do.
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December 8, 2009
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On Friday, Health Minister Walter Roban in answers to my Parliamentary Questions said 2,671 seniors were enrolled in the FutureCare programme as of October.
This is a shocking figure that reveals the Government for many months has been misinforming the public about the number of seniors enrolled in the programme.
Indeed, on the basis of the numbers elicited by my questions, the Government has never been truthful on this question.
Since April, successive ministers from Bascome to Scott to Roban have been saying that 3,100 seniors were enrolled in the programme when monthly numbers were as low as 2,363 seniors and never higher than 2,671.
This consistent overstatement of the impact of FutureCare – by up to 25% - means there have been as many as 700 more seniors not covered by FutureCare than the public was led to believe.
The seriousness of the numbers is underscored by the fact that many of these seniors were left with no health coverage at all because of the Government’s decision to shut down HIP to make way for FutureCare.
Beyond the hard numbers, this issue cuts to the core of whether the public can rely on information issued by this Government. I say that because in recent press coverage of the Dockyard Pier controversy it was revealed that the Government had misled the public on cost overruns associated with the project.
Minister Roban needs to provide the public with a satisfactory explanation for the continuous overstatement by him and his colleagues of the impact of FutureCare.
This is important to set the record straight about FutureCare, but also to assure the public that they can trust the information imparted by Ministers of this Government.
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December 7, 2009
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On Friday we learned that Premier Brown would travel to London today to press the UK to hand over operational control of the Police to the Bermuda Government.
The United Bermuda Party disagrees with this venture for the following reasons.
The Premier has said repeatedly he wants his government to have direct control of the Police, but he has never asked the people of Bermuda for their views on the issue nor, specifically, their elected representatives.
In addition, the Premier has never articulated convincing reasons for his government to have command of Police operations, nor has he provided an explanation why Bermuda should break the sacrosanct rule followed by virtually all developed countries to keep Police operations out of the hands of politicians.
This is a major issue, one that would require the rewriting of Bermuda’s Constitution if the Premier’s gambit is to succeed.
Given its importance, we call on the Premier to schedule a House of Assembly debate on the issue.
Before he goes overseas to speak for Bermuda on this issue he should make sure he really is speaking for Bermuda.
It is our view that the people of Bermuda do not support the Brown Government taking over operational control of the Police, not just because it runs against democratic best practices but also for reasons of basic trust and the government’s poor record in managing its existing responsibilities.
The reality of the current arrangements is that the Governor has constitutional responsibility for the Police Service with the Police Commissioner exercising operational control of the Police.
The Bermuda Government has budgetary control of the Police Service, giving it huge leverage over the scope and intensity of Police operations. In addition, the Government has a seat at regularly scheduled meetings with the Governor and the Police Commissioner to devise strategies and plans to better manage and direct crime-fighting resources.
But in mid-October, we learned from the Governor that the Bermuda Government “have declined” to participate in “regular discussions which would seek to reach agreement between Government House, Government and the Police.”
In our view, this reflects gross irresponsibility on the part of the government and one more example of Dr. Brown putting his politics ahead of the interests of the island.
In addition, we know that the rhetoric of certain government ministers has damaged the morale of Police and undermined community support for Police – the very support the government is now urging the community to provide in the wake of shootings.
This last point shows to us the danger of playing politics with policing. We again urge the government to work the system as it is. There is plenty of scope to effect any changes it deems necessary. The seat is there at the table. The power to influence is there, as it is in its control of the Police budget.
Finally, we are not convinced the Bermuda Government can say anything about operational control of the Police that it can’t already say in the current set-up with the Governor and the Police Commissioner.
As we said in our Reply to the Throne Speech: “People don’t want finger-pointing and blame games in law enforcement. They want focused, cooperative work between all the agencies of government.”
Dr. Brown should stop playing politics with the Police and start doing the work he was elected to do.
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December 6, 2009
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Bermuda is weakened by ongoing conflict between gangs, especially so when a young man, who had much to offer his community, is gunned down in the prime of life.
This early morning crime was not unexpected given the turf wars that segregate the island for so many young people. We should expect this to continue unless we take positive action. In this particular instance, we understand Saturday’s crime was the latest episode in the running fight between the 42nd Street and Parkside gangs.
We believe the Police have adopted the right patrolling practices to cover hotspots of criminal activity, but they cannot be in all places at all times. It is therefore critical that members of the public step forward with whatever information they have to help quell the violence and illegalities that are warping so many neighbourhoods and young people.
It is our view that anyone who is not stepping forward with relevant information on criminal activity is helping the criminals and perpetuating behaviours that are taking Bermuda to a dead end.
Having said that, it is clear witnesses are reluctant to come forward in light of the violent conflict. In that regard, the UBP will support the Police with any other initiatives they need including funding to strengthen their forensic capabilities such as the use of mobile cameras.
One of the keys to combating gang activity is to understand the motivations of gang members. We do not think anyone in Bermuda outside of the gangs themselves has a solid handle on the motives and this, we believe, creates a major handicap for resolving and reducing the violence.
A few months ago, there was some positive movement in this direction when Rev. Louis Farrakhan was on the island. In his time here it was clear that gang members trusted him and his associates enough to speak with him. When he left, he called for a peace summit whereby gangs were brought together to talk things out.
We think a peace summit is something that might help us turn the corner on gang life and violence – bringing together the right people to start people talking. It is an option that should be pursued and which has been effective in the past in Bermuda.
Honest talk can lead to understandings, solutions and even reconciliations. To carry on as we are is not enough.
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December 4, 2009
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In the past week, my colleagues have been speaking of the Government’s loss of control over its spending on major capital projects. This loss of control is particularly concerning given that it has occurred in the midst of an economic downturn, which has exacerbated pressures that cause business closings and downsizing, redundancies and layoffs.
I am pleased to hear from persons who are now starting to speak out despite their fear of Government intimidation. I encourage them to continue speaking out and to say that the United Bermuda Party will help channel their concerns. Call me or any one of my colleagues. We will go to bat for you because our concerns are one and the same.
It is my view that only through continuous vocal pressure can we force this Government to be more responsible with taxpayer money.
Mr. Bob Richards this week has spoken forcefully about the Finance Minister’s “clear failure” to manage the public purse, in light of this years’ $100 million shortfall in government finances.
Today I would like to focus particular attention on the Minister of Tourism and Transportation, who is responsible for the lion’s share of that shortfall.
This minister alone among his 12-member Cabinet was exempted by the Finance Minister from having his projects managed by the Department of Works & Engineering.
The first question we have on this point is why? What was it about this minister’s record that warranted this special exemption? And what is it about his handling of the Port Royal renovation, the Dockyard pier construction that allows it to continue – projects that are at least $40 million over budget?
How can anyone believe that his record as a manager of these projects is satisfactory? On this point we need to hear from the Finance Minister. Does she support this performance? Does she believe a 100% overspend on the Dockyard pier is acceptable?
The management failures of the Minister of Transport and Tourism extend beyond the capital projects mentions above. There is also the BAS/Sovereign legal dispute that recently led the Supreme Court to order the Government to pay a $2.7 million penalty for launching an action to undo BAS’s exclusive contract for private air services at the airport.
There is also the untendered renewal of Global Hue’s tourism contract – valued at $28 million over two years – despite serious questions about its performance in the role and unanswered questions from the Auditor General about its business practices.
We recall last year, when the Minister of Tourism and Transportation in his capacity as Premier fired the Education Minister for his failures to perform in reforming the public education system. That action begs the question today: What would the Premier do with a minister whose irresponsible management of capital projects was undermining the Government’s overall budget for the year? Would he not fire the Minister?
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December 4, 2009
Funerals are a sad occasion, but it is my honour as Leader of the United Bermuda Party to offer a tribute on the contributions made to Bermuda by the late Mr. McNeil Warner.
Mr. Warner holds the distinction of being the longest serving Chairman of the United Bermuda Party – from 1972 to 1977 under two Premiers: The late Sir Edward Richards and the late Sir John "Jack" Sharpe. His tenure as chairman was extremely important in that it occurred at a time when the Island experienced social change and political challenges. The United Bermuda Party kept a steady hand on the helm during this period and Mr. Warner’s leadership of the party was an integral part of this steadying influence on events.
Mr. Warner's participation in the community extended beyond our Party. He was a pioneer in the establishment of CrimeStoppers and a member of the Police advisory committee. Only last week I saw is picture amongst the senior officers of the Bermuda Police Service who had their picture taken with Her Majesty the Queen.
Let us not forget, through it all,- he was an educator; similar to that of his sister and other members of his family.
One of his former students at Churchill - an accountant today - shared with me that Mr. Warner was strict but fair and quite capable and prepared to use the cane when needed.
But the most significant aspect of his life was that he was a God-fearing man who served God through his gift of music.
Our prayers go out to his family.
Respectfully,
H. Kim E. Swan JP MP
Leader, United Bermuda Party
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December 1, 2009
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The $100 million shortfall in Government finances this year is a clear failure on the part of the Finance Minister.
The Minister did not heed our warnings on the impending downturn nor international signals of oncoming recession.
Turning a blind eye to pervasive economic realities, the Minister locked her Government into spending plans that far exceeded its income. Her excuse that economic developments are “constantly evolving” and therefore problematic suggests she is not up to the challenge of economic management.
Our warnings as far back as 2007 were explicit and unequivocal. In our February 2008 Reply to the Government’s Budget, I said:
“Mr. Speaker, the evidence is clear that the US is headed for a period of slow growth, no growth or contraction, and will drag the global economic growth rate down with it. Bermuda does not operate in a vacuum, indeed the Bermuda economy is more dependent on outside economic and regulatory factors than any other country I can think of.
“Therefore it is critical that Bermuda and its Government should adjust its plans, its strategies and its spending habits based not only upon local needs but also on the imperatives of the global economy."
We criticized the Finance Minister for not taking into account the economic storm clouds and for continuing the Government’s spending spree “despite the real possibility of revenue shortfalls as a result of a weak US economy."
In the face of these warnings, the Minister’s management of the public purse has been naïve or hopelessly optimistic or worse.
While the Finance Minister is constitutionally responsible for managing the public purse, it would be wrong to attribute all of the miscues to her alone. Her colleagues must take some of the blame through their careless management of building projects.
No one in this regard is more culpable than the Premier himself, whose record for fiscal indiscipline and waste exceeds all others. As Minister of Transport and Tourism, he has presided over building projects that have exceeded their original budgets by tens of millions of dollars – unprecedented cost overruns that could have been allocated this winter to a government stimulus package to keep Bermudians employed and hire those who have lost their jobs.
So what to do in the face of these serious failures?
Our first recommendation is to follow through on a sensible programme of budget cuts. Areas ripe for cutbacks included spending cuts without firing civil servants, travel and overseas consultants. Where possible, the Government should use its leverage as a significant tenant to negotiate down rents they are currently paying. In this area, they have huge bargaining power.
I have to admit I am skeptical of the Finance Minister’s ability to follow through on a reported 20% cutback in spending given her failure to enforce a 10% budget cutback in 2008.
It is not enough to simply issue directives to her colleagues. A minister, if she is to be effective, must enforce the spending rules she sets for them. The Minister clearly has not done this and we remain concerned she does not exercise the clout to ensure her colleagues submit to the dictates of the public fiscal interest.
In this particular matter, we are also concerned the Minister does not have the backbone to stand up to the Premier, who continues his colossal mismanagement of capital projects without any accountability, without any acknowledgement that the Minister of Finance is supposed to be the guardian of the public purse.
We have often criticized the Premier and his Government for failing to lead by example and this unfortunately is one more example where the disregard for public interest in their approach to taxpayer’s money is notable for its absence.
Our second recommendation to the Government is to make sure that social and financial assistance in the months ahead remains functional and fully funded. We must continue to help those most vulnerable in our community. In this regard, we believe it should examine tax cuts for the lowest income earners, along the lines of our 2007 proposal.
We take it as a given that the Government will drop its plans to purchase new office buildings. In the first instance, the purchase of buildings will not generate the kind of economic activity the community needs in the months ahead.
Despite the record high level of public debt the Government has accumulated, the United Bermuda Party believes a carefully conceived and prioritized set of capital projects would be appropriate for the months ahead, preferably smaller projects rather than large complex ones.
There is one mandatory rider attached to this proposal and it is this: No stimulus plan can proceed without the installation of a Contractor General. This would be the first critical step to ensuring proper supervision over the disbursements of public money on capital projects. Without this, any type of Government stimulus package is going to be a ticket to another anything goes Wild West show, and that is something we cannot abide or support.
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December 1, 2009
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The following document is the United Bermuda Party’s submission on the proposed Public Access to Information legislation.
Public access to information, or PATI, is an essential piece of reform to provide Bermuda with more open, accessible and responsive government; a vital step if we are to catch up with modern standards of governance now practiced by developed countries around the world.
The core of the party’s position is that PATI be retroactive, supported by whistleblower protection and with stronger language that puts greater emphasis on disclosure of information to the public.
More specifically, the legislation should ensure the independence of the Information Commissioner from ministerial influence or control by requiring the post holder to report directly to the Legislature.
In addition, all PATI regulations should be subject to affirmative resolution by the Legislature as opposed to the negative resolution put forward in the draft Bill. This would be consistent with, and underscore the commitment to, openness and transparency that PATI is ostensibly attempting to bring about.
PATI, or Freedom of Information, is a pillar in the United Bermuda Party’s long-held commitment to reform which we consider essential to the Island’s international integrity going forward and its basic commitment to good governance for the people. As a matter of record the breadth of our commitment was articulated in the 2003 and 2007 elections platforms.
On behalf of my UBP colleagues, I submitted the position on PATI to the Cabinet Secretary on 30 November 2009. It reads as follows:
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Please Click Here to read the full submission.
