PLP's official response to Premier’s Address to Bermuda

Good evening.

Tonight, we are going to have REAL talk, and I am going to tell you
something that you haven’t heard in quite some time……the truth.

The truth is that, we cannot continue to pretend that our current
economic model isn’t broken, or that just removing term limits will
stop business closures, job redundancies, and companies leaving
Bermuda.  We cannot continue to pretend that Bermuda isn’t an
expensive place to do business, or that any influx of new companies to
Bermuda will not bring the huge numbers of consumers, tenants and
taxpayers, that we saw in the past.  The business model for IB has
changed.

There is a growing sense that there will be job cuts in the civil
service, regardless of what promises have been made.  We are very
concerned about this and hope that a more compassionate solution can
be achieved.  Bermuda’s Unions are to be commended for the way they
have conducted themselves throughout the negotiations; Acting in good
faith, integrity and in the best interest of Bermuda.   They are doing
their best to protect jobs and wages, yet if we do not face the fact
that the government will likely cut civil service jobs, we will be ill
equipped to deal with the consequences of that decision.

Many potential investors have privately confessed to being unsure of
our government’s stability and direction, citing their inexperience,
lack of a plan, and policy decisions that could lead to social unrest.
 This is troubling. As a people, we must get behind our government,
support them where possible…..encourage them to produce a plan, and
perhaps most importantly, push them to think more carefully about the
social and economic consequences of their actions

Let me make myself clear, No government can create jobs.  Any
politician, regardless of which party they represent, who promises
that government can create jobs, is lying to you, and only wants your
votes.  Governments can only cultivate the conditions where jobs can
be created, and that can only happen when we face the truth and take
decisive action.  It is the private sector, you and your
neighbors,that can create jobs. In fact, in order for the optimum
conditions for job growth to occur, Government must get out of the
way, and depart from the long held notion that politicians and the
State can manage an economy.
Both government and the opposition know that what I am telling you
tonight is true…..the only difference is that the government hasn’t
acknowledged this and hasn’t told you this….as I just did.  Yet as we
address the challenges facing our people, this is not the time for
pessimism and surrender…..it is the time for leadership, REAL shared
sacrifice and ACTION.

As such, we propose:
•       To implement the recently developed Infrastructure Strategy, to
identify much needed improvements or repairs to our infrastructure,
that will not only enhance our overall quality of life, but create
business opportunities for construction companies and jobs for
Bermudian construction workers.
•       Moving immediately on a referendum for gaming; allowing our people
to have their say and to eliminate investor uncertainty in our tourism
industry
•       Developing our Exclusive Economic Zone for Sea-Bed mining (a billion
dollar a year industry), Aquaculture, and Off-Shore Fishing, to create
new jobs, diversify our economy, and create new revenue streams.
•       Implementing The Incentives for Job Makers Act, creating a clear and
direct set of benefits for new businesses to establish in Bermuda,
bringing with them new jobs and new opportunities

•       Designating a segment of BLDC land as an “Economic FREE Zone.”
Targeting global businesses such as high value physical commodity
trading and satellite operations, with incentives such as payroll and
other tax exemptions.

•       Leveraging our Telecommunications reform and IB infrastructure to
introduce global online gaming legislation, online gaming being a 35
billion per year industry
Five of these proposals will directly create jobs, and equally
important, generate revenue for the public purse that will help offset
our deficit, and reduce our debt.  In addition, we must create new
markets, tap into existing ones, and compete.  We must link our people
with the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and the Far East, breaking
the shackles of the past, and creating new economic paradigms.

Even if we make these things a reality, we can no longer look
exclusively to the existing business community to solve our problems,
provide employment for us, or give us a livelihood.  Now is the time
for us to adjust our thinking, become innovative, and begin to look at
ways to create opportunities for OURSELVES.  We must change the
consciousness of our people, from one that says “government must,” “IB
must,” and so on, to one that says, “I must, and I will”!

Saving and investment are the basis of job creation and wealth, not
governments.  Saving represents deferred consumption… a real sacrifice
that ultimately creates future prosperity and greater financial
freedom for you and your family.  That saving can then be used to spur
entrepreneurial growth, especially for government workers potentially
facing being made redundant.  How will you spend your redundancy pay?
Will you take a trip and just squander it?  Will you just let it sit
in your bank account, and watch it slowly dwindle away as you look for
a job that may never come?  Or will you take command of your destiny,
use your mind to create, and do for self?

Government can help, by putting the same energy and effort for
reducing red tape and creating red carpet for local entrepreneurs, as
they have for hotels and international business.   Removing
restrictions that hinder entrepreneurship will expand opportunities
for our people to cooperate, compete, contribute to our economy in a
meaningful way, and feed their families.  Just imagine, being free to
sell food, cold drinks, homemade items, souvenirs…. or whatever you
can create, to the thousands of cruise passengers as they come off the
ship, or to the thousands  of visitors who enjoy our beaches.   Just
imagine, being able to be your own boss, the master of your own
destiny, providing for your families, and enhancing our tourism
product with new options for our visitors.  Just imagine that we the
people become the essence of our tourism product! To become a reality,
we will have to change our mindset, and the government and other
special interest groups will have to stop being an obstacle to this
new form of entrepreneurship.   If the government is unable or
unprepared to help entrepreneurs, then they MUST refrain from impeding
their dreams and efforts to provide for themselves.

Whether it is through expanding training opportunities……building
support networks to address the various issues that prevent our people
from getting the necessary education or qualifications, or through
expanding the economic support for entrepreneurs…..we must get our
people to become self-sufficient.

We must educate our children about themselves, giving them knowledge
of self, our shared history, culture and heritage.  Develop their
self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth alongside the instruction
in reading, writing and ‘rithmatic. Then, we must begin to cultivate a
culture where the desire to be excellent producers, excellent
employers, and excellent leaders, is preferred, as opposed to being
excellent consumers. We must teach them to be producers of their own
employment, or at the very least, being as productive as possible in
their employment.

It is only through Bermudians learning to cooperate with each other to
compete on the global economic scale that we can begin to break down
the resentment, powerlessness, dependency, and dysfunction that
currently holds many of us back, places a burden on society’s
resources, and on our relationships with each other
Today, more and more Bermudians are embracing a mindset of
entrepreneurship, self-sufficiency, and wealth accumulation.  This is
not something to be afraid of.  This is not something to be fought or
undermined. This is something that must be embraced and supported.
And if you cannot support it, do not interfere with it.  We can come
together as a people.  We can have better social relations, and we can
have an economy that works for all of us.  The work must begin, within
ourselves.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you tonight.  To
the people who are unemployed, underemployed or financially
struggling, please know that you are constantly in my thoughts and in
my prayers.  It is difficult to wake up every day, with no job to go
to, and a continual fight to provide for your family.  Please know
that we will do everything we can to help you and our country get on
its feet again, but I want you renew your minds and use your god given
talents to shape you and your family’s destiny. Take the lead,
cooperate, and compete.

Thank you and God bless the people of Bermuda