Vexed Bermoothes

Blustery Opinions From Bermuda

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Rebalancing

March 13th, 2010 · Bermuda Politics, Economy

Finance Minister Paula Cox admits that she must “rely on the residual goodwill” within the business community.

And that there sums it up:  they’ve been relying on the residual goodwill for so long that there’s not much goodwill left but residue.

She also scoffs at the business community’s squeals at being squeezed so hard to fund Government’s profligacy.  This seems to be the hallmark of this Government.  I had to laugh a few months ago when a Government survey found that few of Bermuda’s tourists were interested in gambling;  the Government spokesperson discounted the survey saying it obviously didn’t reach all the people who would like gambling.  Do they live in magic la-la land?

Minister Cox believes that “there is enough trust and goodwill that, despite the ire, common sense will prevail.”  That’s the point the business community is trying to make!!  In a recession, common sense says that the Government should be controlling its budgets not allowing the flab to spread (or the party train to continue), and certainly not raising taxes so hard.

Don’t be fooled:  these taxes will trickle down through our economy, raising Bermuda’s already scorching cost of living, and making 2010 a harder year for all of us.

Minister Cox also says:

“I would anticipate that next year in the National Budget we can have more of a rebalancing.”

Given Government’s skyrocketing debt and expenditures, it seems unlikely there will ever be a rebalancing.  Is she willing to commit to that?

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PATI

March 11th, 2010 · Accountability, Transparency

Dr. Brown has again promised that PATI (freedom of information) legislation will be tabled before the House of Assembly this year.

Let’s hope it incorporates the substantial feedback that was provided by both Bermudians and international experts in public access laws.

Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands Information Commissioner has launched a new website on their PATI law at http://www.infocomm.ky/

Take a look at it as a good example that small island country can introduce and operate a vigorous transparency regime without humming and hawing about it for years.

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Bermuda’s Biggest Problem

March 10th, 2010 · Bermuda Politics

The biggest problem with this years budget is that, even with the big tax increases, it still leaves the Bermuda Government operating with a substantial annual deficit ($145,000,000 deficit for this year’s operations, and $1,065,000,000 for the Consolidated Fund).

A reduction in Government spending is the only option, or we’ll be faced with even larger tax increases next year in addition to the growing mountain of debt payments.

The longer the shortfalls are allowed to continue, the less attractive our options to fix things will become, making the eventual fiscal adjustment more painful.

It, unfortunately, is that simple.

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Think Pink

March 10th, 2010 · Tourism

The Bermuda Department of Tourism will sponsor pink taxicabs in the City of London sporting Bermuda shorts and Dr. Brown’s “feel the love” tagline.

Here’s another idea.  All Bermudian politicians and civil servants travelling on taxpayer dollars should wear pink Bermuda shorts with knee socks to all meetings, meals, and public events during their trip.

(Note: focus on the follow through dudes … the website featured on that English taxi boldly features an American 800 number and US$ pricing!)

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2010 Budget Debate

March 9th, 2010 · Bermuda Politics

The “Road to Ruin” budget is an important one, as it deals in levels of Government expenditure and debt never seen before in Bermuda.

As in previous years, Government does not make it easy for the citizenry to watch what they are up to. They do not make the debate schedule publicly available on the Government website, nor do they broadcast the proceedings on that spanky expensive CITV cable station. There is no reliable transcript, and in most cases no detailed voting record is maintained.

So, in the interest of public information, here’s the 2010 budget debate schedule for the Bermuda House of Assembly. They will be covering about $475,000 of expenditure per minute over the 42 hours of debate. So I am sure cough they’ll do a thorough job.

It is worth noting that yesterday’s debate on the Cabinet Office’s multimillion dollar budget increase was stymied by the Premier delivering a 2 hour fillibuster-like monologue, rambling on subjects outside the budget discussion and even thanking the building cleaners to fill the time.  This left only 30 seconds for debate. This is lousy governance.  It means that the House is not doing its job to oversee the public purse, it appears dishonest and evasive, and it reflects poorly on Bermuda.

They also passed the Government Loans Amendment Act which raises Bermuda’s debt ceiling to $1.25 billion.  So if you see your MP this week, be sure to thank them on behalf of your children, who face a lifetime of increased taxes to help pay down the PLP’s financial incontinence.

March 8th
Cabinet Office
Head9                   Cabinet Office Headquarters
Head 14                Dept of Statistics
Head 26                Dept of Human Resources
2 Hours

Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce
Head 46                Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce
Head 13                Post Office
Head 90                Energy
2 Hours

Ministry of Finance
Head 11                Accountant General
Head 59                Sinking Fund
3 Hours

[Read more →]

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Cheap Sales Tactics

March 8th, 2010 · Bermuda Politics, Independence

Former Premier Alex Scott has said that he is concerned that the Green Paper on Gaming released by Government last week is “selling” the idea of gambling, rather than educating the public on the subject.

Indeed.  Of course, the exact same thing could have been said about Alex Scott’s own “Bermuda Independence Commission” boondoggle a few years back.

But perhaps I am being too hard on Mr. Scott.  After all, he is the Premier who committed the Bermuda Government to pursuing Freedom of Information and Anti-Corruption legislation back in 2004.

Umm, err, except that we still have neither.

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Plantation Rhetoric Makes a Comeback

March 7th, 2010 · Bermuda Politics

Well, the PLP’s years of mismanagement are finally becoming clear.  You see it’s easy to look successful in a booming economy.  But after years of coasting downhill, it’s clear that even after 12 years in power the PLP are still wobbling on training wheels.

The economy is slumping.  The “Road to Ruin” budget promises to empty the house.  Even the most dedicated supporters are starting to ask angry questions as their wallets are simultaneously squeezed by the economy and picked by the Government.

And clearly the PLP is rattled.

How do I know?

Because they are slipping into their race-baiting style of “us vs them” and “they are out to get us” again.

Witness this from the PLP attack blog:

Bob’s Secret Assault on Our Jobs (kind of sounds like the “Dunkley wants to lock us up” line from the last election”

or this:

Dill to FutureCare Critics: Stop Making Stuff Up to Scare People (ok DJ, and stop making up stuff to mislead people, ok?)

or this:

Controversy over race relations advisor’s alleged comments about blacks who do not support the PLP (same ole shit)

The crowing glory is of course provided by Dr. Frown, who claimed yesterday in Parliament that the reason the PLP has to spend so much money is because the UBP left the island in “such a state” back in 1998!  Hmmm.

You see, they have little else to say.  Good at politics.  Horrible at policy.

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Gambling

March 5th, 2010 · Tourism

So, the high stakes Dr. Brown’s casino consultants have coughed up their Bermuda Gaming Green Paper that says … surprise … that Bermuda should allow casinos.

They do at least have the common sense to downplay lotteries and online gaming.

The consultants report weighs the scenarios of one big casino in town, or one in town as well as Dockyard and St George, or smaller ones in the hotels, and various combinations of the above.

It makes you understand why Dr. Casino has such a hard on for the municipal corporations:

The Innovation Group understands that sites within the Downtown Hamilton area that can be developed as a potential site for a stand-­alone casino are limited and the process for identifying, securing and/or acquiring a site could be complicated.

Hmm.  I sense a plan coming together.

The problem here is that no one trusts the guy anymore.  His games, our money.

Our community doesn’t want casinos.  Our loyal tourists don’t want casinos.  And the more that Dr. Brown pushes the issue, the less we trust him.

Too much of his glitter has already turned to rust.  This report throws around lots of numbers – but they are hypothetical, they are fantasy.  Dr. Deception reckons casinos could raise $146 million annually for Government and generate more than 3,000 jobs for Sven and Ali Bu.  Doesn’t that remind you of a certain other Dr?  Dr. Evil?  Quadrillions!

I don’t think Bermuda wants to take any more gambles on Dr. Brown’s big ideas … they tend to cost too much with too little to gain.

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Road to Ruin

March 5th, 2010 · Economy

The UBP has given their Reply to the PLP’s Disasterous 2010 Budget.

It is scathing.  Read it below the hop.

They focus on a few areas in particular:

  • “The Government is banking on a recovery taking place this year. We believe recovery this year is unlikely.
  • Imposing tax increases at this time is the wrong thing to do. Not only does it penalise Bermudians for the Government’s mismanagement of the public purse, it could well suppress any nascent recovery.
  • Government spending is out of control and shows no real signs of slowing down. Its lack of discipline, responsibility and control are the root causes of the mess we’re in.
  • It is wrong for the Government to foist its spiralling debt on our children and grandchildren.”

Rather than just bitch and moan, they give a number of prescriptions about how they would address Bermuda’s dire straits.  We need responsible managers now, not Doc Brown and His Travelling Constant Circus (now featuring The Amazing Cog in the Wheel).

[Read more →]

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Anti-Corruption Update

March 5th, 2010 · Accountability

The Premier was on the news the other day downplaying accusations of corruption and stating something to the effect that “there is no-one who will ever be able to unearth any corruption that is linked directly to me, and if they do, they put it there.”

What a careful choice of words.  The newscaster dryly compared this to Richard Nixon’s “I am not a crook” speech.  I nearly spewed my cornflakes with surprise!

Here’s my post from more than a year ago on Bermuda’s need for better anti-corruption laws.  Yep, as you guessed, nothing has changed, not even on the agenda.  Unethical but not illegal.

By contrast, the Cayman Islands has now appointed their new Anti-Corruption Commission, which includes the Commissioner of Police (chairperson), the Complaints Commissioner, the Auditor General, and two independent members appointed by the Governor.

The Commission oversees Cayman’s new Anti-Corruption Law which makes it unlawful for a person to bribe either a public officer of the Cayman government or a foreign (non-Cayman) public official in order to obtain or retain an advantage in the course of business, directly or indirectly.  Likewise, it prohibits public officers of the Cayman Islands from soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept or obtain an improper payment for such purposes.  It would also criminalize attempting, conspiring, inciting, aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of a corruption offence.  Furthermore, the Anti-Corruption Bill makes corruption offenses extraditable.

The law gives effect to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (“OECD Convention”) and to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).  There has been much international criticism that the British Overseas Territories have been slow to implement these conventions.

Hey Bermuda, where you at?

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