‘Unemployed exceed 3,000’

The number of unemployed Bermudians is more than 3,000, Premier Cannonier said yesterday. 

He also told reporters his government “inherited” the island’s “unprecedented” unemployment situation.  

Reflecting after a two-and-half-week budget session, Mr Cannonier said the session finished at 5:40am yesterday morning.

“I think it’s important for Bermuda to understand what we have inherited here. 

“We have inherited a government whose unemployment is unprecedented. We don’t have 3,000 unemployed, we have far more than 3,000.”

He continued: “Acquiring some of the challenges that we have overnight is not going to be easy to deal with overnight.

“We are confident with the plans that we have laid out.”

Speaking on the budget debate, the Premier said: “We have just finished our cycle through the budget, a gruelling two and a half weeks. 

“We were fortunate enough to get out at 5:40 this morning and this budget debate didn’t go without going back and forth about what’s best for the country. 

“I am glad to say we as a government are on track.” He continued: “We have the opportunity now to establish the fact that we are looking to create jobs. 

“We need to know what’s happening with the public purse and so after having gone through the budget debate, there’s a lot of work that must be done.”

Mr Cannonier said a focus would be put on stimulate job creation. 

“We need to be about the business of the people. Right after the election period we noticed that there was quite a bit of optimism. We weren’t sure how it was going to go about creating jobs.”

Mr Cannonier said renovations at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess would create jobs in a few months. 

He also said legislation that was passed to lower the tax on high-end properties could also provide jobs. 

“They weren’t being purchased. Reducing the tax on them, we have had people  show interest in buying them. 

“We know that with these purchases, renovations will take place. 

“We’re excited about some of the things that will take place.” n