3/24/2010 9:49:00 AM 'We've spent $670m... sorry we can't account for it'
Larry Burchall
In Bermuda's hour of need, Bermuda Sun columnist Larry Burch pens a spoof letter from the Government to the people on the frontlines - one probably inspired by the advice of a very highly paid American "consultant".
Dear (Bermudian) teacher, parks worker, bus driver, hotel worker, etc.
Times are hard and your Government, especially your Ministers, must keep up national appearances.
This is why we thought it best to propose a $50,000 a year pay increase for the Minister for Finance, so she could be paid $150,000 per year instead of the paltry $100,000 per year she was receiving - as a part-time Minister - all these years.
As your Government, we believe it is vitally important we frequently travel overseas and only ever stay in the best establishments.
We believe you understand and will uncomplainingly accept the high costs of our frequent overseas trips.
Since March 31, 2004, your Government has borrowed $670,299,038 in 'cash'.
On that date public debt was $119,500,962. It is now $989,800,000 - $789,800,000 in 'cash' and $200,000,000 in BNTB guarantees.
We have spent that $670,299,038. It is a lot of money and we cannot yet account for how we spent it all or what we spent it on. We are trying to figure that out.
Overtime
Explaining so large an amount is something we have never done before. We hope you'll understand if we take a while to figure out what happened to all that cash. Or most of it. Or even half of it.
We have asked you to cut your working hours and not claim overtime.
We want you to take home smaller pay cheques because we do not want to go on overspending. Rather than ask just a few Ministers and others to take pay cuts or cut back on other things, we think it is in Bermuda's best national interest that all of you accept reductions in working hours and your take-home pay.
It is in Bermuda's best national interest that you, the many, should suffer for the mistakes and mismanagement of us, the few.
In 1940, a great Englishman said: "Never... was so much owed by so many to so few."
In 2010, a great Bermudian might say: "Never... was so much owed by so many because of so few."
We, your Government, ask that you make family and personal sacrifices, that you accept lower pay but still pay higher taxes and higher fees and generally accept fewer jobs but pay higher costs for all the things that you need.
Your Government asks you make these sacrifices so that in this time of Bermuda's economic need, we "the few" can go on living in the style to which, in the past four years, we have become accustomed.
Pity the workers
Pity the unionized hospitality worker. Two years of Union-agreed frozen wages but small relief from the just increased 5.75 per cent payroll tax.
However, coming fast is the April 1 slap-in-the-chops when Government's Standard Hospital Benefit premium rises by a government ordered 13 per cent.
A wage freeze two years in a row and two years in a row of health and social insurance increases is a triple whammy on unionized hospitality workers who are already among the lowest earners on Bermuda's wage-earning scale.
Stuck with steeply declining air arrivals because of long years of plans more talked about than successfully implemented, a Tourism Minister praising increases in cheap-end cruise arrivals, a working year getting shorter and shorter and a Bermuda hotel industry undergoing massive but subtle and invisible change, the poor hotel worker just has to suck it up even more than before.
Already hurting hospitality staff must now be bleeding when they see waste and overspending in Government when that same Government sticks them for higher and higher costs in taxes, insurances, licences and fees.
It is so wrong, especially with their Union and their Government so much on the same page.
"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them."
Patrick Henry
Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Comment by:
Confused
Against PLP with good reason...How can u be so blind as to see what is going on up in Government. Yes they have started some good programmes but in the end seems to me its all about what they can get out of it [...]N its catching up...How can u get the numbers wrong if they where printed in the RG its a matter of cut & paste in it? Whether drawing a reference or knowing the correct numbers its all BS......to have that much $$$ gone out of here and no one knows where/how/when & to whom COME ON.....Larry u r on point as most BLACK Bermudians only vote for PLP because its a predominantly Black party and they have been taught from young to follow that party and if you think that isnt real talk think again. Lets be real Ray Charles can see we are getting taken for a ride all around the merry go round...Enough Is Enough & its time for a serious change!
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Josseline Philip
These are people who always felt jealous of who they branded " The Forty Thieves". The very hard-working people who started to develop Bermuda into a strong economic and financial place. Of course there were incredible unacceptable problems that some valuable people started a process of pinning down to claim, at the peril of their lives often that everyone shared in the Bermuda Deal. Brave people who met with much success and who would have liked to further work towards the construction of a harmonious society of bounty for all. But the envious care little for harmony, the envious are selfish and greedy piranhas. And there they stepped in, perfected and brand new small-time forty thieves who cared more for a picture in the paper than the good development of Bermuda, people who came armed with dishonourable words of fake wrath to keep some down to the gutter level and betray them while they would take as much as they could - and better if it was from the people. Although that lately, in the light of the depth of the catastrophe they provoked they’ve started to run wild, left, right and centre, around the world to beg for deals and try to revive the once booming economy of the Island . Josseline
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Bruce McClarron / Arizona
I thought there was a 'Freedom of Information' Act in BDA...That's one way to try and get some accountability - Or have the UBP Reps direct pointed "Parliamentary Questions" to Ewart Brown & Ms. Cox to give a thorough accounting for this astonishing amount of unexplained missing $$$...Of course, you could always ask London to step-in - with the big stick (Mr. Governor) if you are looking for 'Truthful' answers, by way of professional audits!!
Personally, I'd like to open box #3!! You are going to need a BIG key for that box!
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Cordell Furbert
Sorry rockfish.. i think my friends post was a failed attempt at satire/sarcasm, as it broadly illustrates Mr. Burchalls main 2 detractors..
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
jnc
@Rockfish
Err, take a closer look at that post (including the name of the poster)....
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Sara
Kicking and screaming because they can't make excuses anymore. The facts are just that, the facts.
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Justin
"Larry, Even if you are correct. Who care what you write."---And that my friends is exactly why BDA is in the precarious position that it finds itself in---it is party before country for most PLP supporters it seems---But can I ask the poster if he really mean "who cares" if Larry is correct?---if you are then this is why so many PLP supporters are labelled as blind supporters and/or sheep. For me it has always and always will continue to be BDA before any political party and/or organization. Thank you Larry for breaking it down and please continue on continuing on. Because I care what happens to OUR country as no one individual and/or party is bigger than the country...
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Scribble
Its the lack of intellectual comments like yours, and the other Laverne, (and Rolfe and Marc Bean) that give the PLP a bad image, the Budget release quantifies it.
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Comment by:
Larry get A Life
Larry,
Even if you are correct. Who care what you write. The same 4 persons who support you every week will come out and make you feel important again. Your writings has no impact what soever on this island. Find another beef.
