Does the OBA have a hidden agenda?

FRIDAY, SEPT. 28: For weeks, we in the PLP have pointed out that the OBA offers no ideas and no solutions to Bermuda’s most vexing challenges.

Now, I think we know why.

In December 2010, Bob Richards revealed the OBA’s real plan for Bermuda. He said that it “had to be all about austerity.” Austerity means deep and damaging cuts to services that affect people.


In countries where austerity has been implemented, that has meant cuts to education, cuts to pensions, cuts to health care, fired civil servants, slashed salaries and benefits, and a reduction in government services across the board.

And, guess what? It isn’t working! Many of the countries that have implemented austerity are continuing to suffer from the harms of the global economic crisis while their vulnerable populations bear the brunt of the cuts and they have seen increases in unemployment.

Every time we ask the OBA to tell us exactly how they plan to deal with the debt, we get the same evasive answers. They say that they are going to cut taxes, which will only increase the debt. They say that they are going to expand social programmes —  again, an increase to the debt. But, they won’t tell us what tough choices they plan on making.


They’re the party of no ideas and no solutions because they don’t want you to know what their real plan is for Bermuda.

• Neville Tyrrell is the PLP candidate in Constituency 11, Devonshire East.