Premier Cox: Let's move forward, together

FRIDAY, DEC. 14: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Every General Election is celebrated as important and historic, but this election is of particular significance.  When Bermudians head to the polls on Monday, we face a serious choice. We will be choosing the party we believe will move this country forward, toward a brighter future. The Progressive Labour Party has stood strong for Bermudians of all races, religions and backgrounds and has invested in our people during the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression. It is not simply a choice between two political parties, but between two fundamentally different paths for our country, our families and our future.

Let us look back to the pre-1998 Bermuda. It was a land that benefitted the few, profited the already wealthy and where important social issues were brushed under the carpet. This was a Bermuda where the concerns of the people were secondary to profit and fair and decent human rights – like the principle of one man, one vote – were vehemently opposed.  Despite our great economic success and the celebration of Bermuda as one of the richest countries in the world, those praises rang hollow for too many of our people.

Now, people come first. Our seniors can rest assured that FutureCare will preserve and protect their dignity by making healthcare and prescription costs more affordable. Families can rely on DayCare to provide them a much-needed helping hand. Entrepreneurs have new opportunities to revitalize communities through the Economic Empowerment Zones.

We have done much for our people, yet much more remains to be done.

We understand that too many Bermudians are suffering. We understand the struggles our people endure: a struggling economy, high unemployment and gang violence. Our priorities are clear: get our people back to work, revive our economy and give our young people an alternative to the gang lifestyle.  

We understand that Bermudians cannot go back to a time where trickle down economic policies allow Big Business to write all the rules and where profit takes precedence over people. We understand that aggressive austerity measures of repealing FutureCare and making deep cuts to services provided by the Bermudian civil service would take us down a perilous path. Opening the job market to non-Bermudian workers is not the sole solution to our island’s economic woes. 

The PLP believes that Bermuda can only prosper if we’re all in it together.

We will create jobs by rebuilding Bermuda’s economy through smart investments in our infrastructure in ways that stimulate business growth. We will provide workplace skills training to give Bermudians the tools they need to get good-paying jobs and support their families.

We will expand the Economic Empowerment Zones to increase entrepreneurial opportunities and generate hope in our communities. We will increase tourism and attract new international investment – with a view towards making Bermuda a world headquarters for the ever-growing hedge fund industry.

Above all, we will invest in our people.  Our National Strategy for Ageing will ensure that our seniors have the health care, housing and transportation they need to maintain honourable, independent lives.  We will expand and improve educational opportunities and invest in sports, music and arts programmes to make the lives of our young Bermudians more fulfilling. Investments in community development, health care, housing and social services will raise living standards for working Bermudians.

Early preparation

The PLP will prepare our next generation for success in the global economy. Because this preparation must start as early as possible, we intend to lower the school age to 4 years so that all children get a head start on their education. We will strengthen the entire school system and upgrade the Bermuda College to a university college.

We will seek new ways to power our nation through energy-efficient, eco-friendly means like conservation measures and use natural gas to cut emissions, lower electricity prices and reduce reliance on imported oil.

We will eradicate the gang culture through a broad range of initiatives from tough police enforcement to programmes that provide an alternative to the gang lifestyle. We will create a Judicial Complaints Authority, establish a Department of Court Administration and set up a Small Claims Court.

Progress towards a better, fairer Bermuda has been steady, but not without missteps along the way. We want to be transparent to Bermudians about both the progress and missteps we’ve encountered.  There have been challenges, but together, we have worked to overcome them and have continued to stride purposefully towards a better Bermuda. We have steered our country and our people through the worst global conditions since the Great Depression and with your help we will continue to move Bermudians forward together.  As you go to the polls, please consider carefully the two choices. The PLP asks for your vote so that we can continue to move Bermuda forward together.