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The L. F. Wade International Airport - well, I really don't have a problem with that. After all, Mr. Wade's contributions to Bermuda are certainly worthy of commemoration (with a name like Fred, how could they not be?). Frankly I don't care what they call it as long as I can still use it, but perhaps "Wade" will be viewed as an unfortunate choice after the next hurricane when the terminal floods.

However, having an International Airport named after you is a major honour usually reserved for former Presidents and Prime Ministers. For example in the U.S. there's Washington's Reagan and New York's JFK and in Canada, Toronto's Pearson.

If this is how the PLP commemorates a leader who didn't actually get to lead the country, what's left for those who did? Don't forget, Dame Jennifer Smith JP MP DHumL surpasses all other PLP Leaders (and most of those from the UBP as well) in election wins. What gets named after her - the new causeway?

And then there's 'The Leader', 'Il Duce', 'His Eminence' or whatever title The Brownies choose to confer on the current Premier. What has he got picked out to bear his name? The Ewart Brown South Shore Tunnel? Maybe that's why he's so keen on the Southlands project?

Now, I'm not a doctor (although I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once) so don't know much about the Free Clinic other than what I've read.

But I find it hard to believe that the level of patient care will be better at a doctor's office, what with all the equipment and laboratories right there at the hospital next to the clinic.

One of the benefits being bandied about to justify the Premier's edict is that the closure will save taxpayers' money. Of course no figures have been presented to substantiate that position, we're just supposed to accept it as fact because the Premier says that it's so. Well I, for one, am not ready to confer on the Premier the secular equivalent of 'Papal Infallibility'. He's going to have to show me the money.

Problem

I have a problem with the 'saving public money' canard: First of all, if the clinic is closed you can be sure that the staff will still be employed somewhere by the BHB so there will be no actual costs saved. After all, when was the last time any Government employee lost their job? At least until they were convicted of stealing millions of dollars.

Even the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education was "re-assigned". They had an expensive report slamming the entire department and the Head of the Department is not let go. They just move her to the Department of Justice. Thousands of children given a shoddy education in a mouldy building and all we get is Musical Chairs? If that's not a sackable offence you can be sure the efficient and effective staff at clinic will be kept on the payroll.

But back to the "money saving" clinic closure. If the Premier REALLY wanted to save taxpayers' money, I'd like to suggest there are easy pickings in Government travel.

The entire annual cost of running the clinic is $500,000 and the PLP's annual travel budget is $12 million. Therefore, if everyone in Government simply stayed on the Island for two weeks they would save the money needed to run the clinic for a year. I know which option I think is a better use of public funds.

And while I endorse money-saving Government initiatives in general, they would carry a lot more weight if they did not come from the same man who spent eighteen grand of MY money to fly Ashford & Simpson in for a one-night performance for his high-rolling aceboys.[[In-content Ad]]

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