'Richards offers no plan to deal with the debt' - PLP

THURSDAY, JUNE 28: Bob Richards and the OBA have spent hundreds of hours complaining, but, they have yet to tell the Bermudians what they would do to address Bermuda's debt.

"Our plan is clear," noted Premier Paula Cox. "We believe in investing in Bermudians during difficult economic times. That investment will help turn our economy around and get people back to work.

"It's the same model embraced by Barack Obama. The idea is to invest during the worst of the recession to soften the blow and then continue to invest in to get people back to work."

"When our economy returns to growth, tax revenues will increase and we'll close the deficit and start paying down the debt," concluded the Premier.

The OBA has offered no plan to deal with the debt.

"Where's the OBA's plan?" asked PLP Candidate Neville Tyrrell. "The PLP has already frozen the size of the civil service and we're already shrinking it through attrition. That will not get Bob Richards the deep cuts he claims we need."

"Bob Richards has spent hours talking about this issue, but has yet to explain fully how he would deal with it. Does he plan on reducing government salaries? Does he plan on cutting funding for education? Does he plan on ending FutureCare and DayCare? Does he plan on reducing health care benefits for our youth and seniors? Does he plan on cutting funding for the police? If not, how does he plan to cut spending? The OBA promises rapid and radical change, but, they fail to tell us what that actually means for everyday Bermudians," concluded the PLP Constituency #11 candidate.'

Turn off the OBA's ranting and raving and have a look at the steady progress that has been made since 1998. Since that time, contrary to the claims by the OBA, we've made $1.38 Billion of Capital Investment in Bermuda and Bermudians. Investments in our schools and students, investments in care for our seniors, investments in tourism, investments in transportation and investments in health care facilities; investments in a better future for Bermudians.

Bermudians prefer steady progress.

The PLP will continue to provide the steady progress that will benefit Bermudians.