Vexed Bermoothes

The Throne Speech is out: Bermuda 2008 Throne Speech [PDF, 8 pages]. The typically staid event has livened up by an impromptu protest by the BPSU (the civil service union) over current pay negotiations.  Following is my rapid summary.

Education:

• Free child care up to age 4 for qualified families.
• Brief lip service to education reform but few details other than they will establish and test against academic performance standards. No information if those results will be made public. They will add more Bermuda history to schools. Vague promise to revise focus of the “Board of Education.”
• They will increase the number and size of scholarships – good. Needs to be accompanied by standards on institution and student performance.

Housing:

• Interest free down payment loans for 500 qualified Bermudian families – political payoff. Increase BHC programme that caps rent at 25% of income and moves an additional 10% towards home ownership savings – good.
• Tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing.
• More emergency housing in St Davids – an SDO was already approved for this last year.
• Rebuild North Street Shelter – good.

Crime:

• Expand Mirrors, vague commitment to increase youth activities.
• Vague commitment to improve policing.

Race & Community:

• More Big Conversation, including a movie and a CITV series.
• The race topic will be expanded to include an examination of “privilege.” I think the BCC government-forced takeover made that clear.
• No mention at all of Workforce Equity Act.
• No mention of transportation reform.

Health:

• Vague promises of reform and improvements.
• Southside medical centre, another one in the west. No mention at all of KEMH.
• More health insurance benefits for retired civil servants.
• Some sensible updates to contributory pensions act.
• Specific scholarships for Bermudians to enter health profession.
• National Drug Master Plan, including power for courts to order drug treatment – good.

Greedy Stuff Buried in the Middle:

• Reform of Corporations of Hamilton and St George’s – the takeover begins.
• Nothing on Public Access to Information – however, they will set up a Press Council to regulate the media. Dr. Brown’s revenge fantasy continues.

Environment:

• “A raft of initiatives” to improve environment with some vague sustainable development reference – but unspecified.
• Update Water Resources Act to control water-borne pollution.
• Bottle bill charging deposits on bottles. This could be a nightmare or a blessing – need more info.
• Reinvigorate Bermuda’s fruit and fishing cultures. Yeah. Ok.
• A green paper on energy – about 10 years late, but good.
• Nothing about planning reform.

Sports:

• A plan for elite athletes to compete internationally. Whatever.
• Nothing about National Stadium or funding for local sports.

Business:

• Focus to develop industries outside the core of international business. Dunno – I think this is a justification to push forward Dr. Brown’s SDO’s for international real estate developers.
• No mention of tourism.
• More satellite promises. Year after year. One day they’ll hit it. No mention of telecom reform.
• Mishmash of reforms to fulfill IMF obligations on KYC, supervision, and POC.
• Major overhaul Bermuda’s trust laws – other tweaks for investment and insurance laws.