I am glad that the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers is taking an active role in lobbying in the United States to slow down the political slander facing Bermuda: According to ABIR, Bermuda insurers provide an estimated 66% of the reinsurance purchased by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which insures most of the properties [...]
Entries from September 30th, 2008
Selfless
September 25th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
The Premier has announced that he is ready to speak with Obama if necessary to sort things out. Preferably on national TV. Maybe Obama would like some free tickets to the Bermuda Music Festival? Other people he might consider speaking to on behalf of the people of Bermuda include: Stevie Wonder Nelson Mandela The Dalai [...]
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Next Up for Premier
September 24th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
So Paula Cox has been dropping hints that she might be Premier soon. I am underwhelmed for several reasons: The grotesque growth in Bermuda’s budgets – nearly doubling in just a few years with little to show for it – happened under her watch. She has stood mute and/or powerless during the monetary and managerial [...]
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Boogeymen
September 24th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
Minister Nelson Bascome has been found not guilty in a court case. His lawyer has subsequently made some extravagant claims: “It was a political witch-hunt. This prosecution was initiated in the run up to the General Election by forces that are yet unseen. They wanted to get as much ammunition as they could to try [...]
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Political Advocacy (on the public dime)
September 22nd, 2008 · Comments Off · Media
The PLP has a rich tradition of blending the personae of Party and Government, driven by the heart-felt myth that their party has a divine destiny to power. The little examples are legion, from the use of the PLP website to make official announcements to the lavish use of PLP green on Government brochures (which [...]
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Fiscal Prudence
September 18th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
Now that the Minister of Finance has broached the inevitability that Bermuda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will need to be lowered again for 2008 and 2009, the corresponding point is that Government must rein in its spending immediately. Yes, it will be difficult. It also raises questions about the wisdom of Government’s move to increase [...]
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Stormy Weather, Coming Your Way
September 17th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
Paula Cox, the Minister of Finance has just issued what is clearly a “get ready for bad news” announcement. While it is far too early to determine with any certainty what precise impact the current financial events unfolding in the US will have on Bermuda, there are clear signals that the changes will have some [...]
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Park Hyatt Act Approved, Lease Unseen
September 17th, 2008 · Comments Off · Development, Tourism
In the Senate this morning, the Club Med Act was approved. However it was agreed that the lease could be tabled in the House of Assembly and the Senate — not for debate as the UBP had requested, but for public information. The timeframe when that will happen is unknown. It’s clear that a compromise [...]
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Bipartisan Committee for Public Access Laws
September 17th, 2008 · Comments Off · Transparency
Bermuda’s Parliament is scarred by partisanship where MPs may oppose a piece of legislation, but support it nevertheless in adherence to the party whip.This “go with the crowd” mentality is encouraged by the tradition of “voice counts” which never identify who voted how. Bermuda should record the votes of our MPs individually. Also, Bermuda does [...]
Park Hyatt Lease
September 17th, 2008 · Comments Off · Development, Tourism
As expected, the Act to enable the real estate development at the old Club Med site thundered through Parliament on Friday. Needless to say, a UBP amendment to require that the eventual lease go before Parliament was also rejected by the PLP block. They get another try today in the Senate – which has a [...]
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