Tax reforms recommended by regional experts would increase the take home pay of 90 percent of Bermuda’s workers, end state funded energy subsidies and phase out concessions for hotels, retailers and restaurants. All this while generating an estimated $145 m in additional annual revenue by 2018 according to an analysis tabled in the House of […]
Premier urges continued solidarity
Premier David Burt has delivered a resounding message of solidarity with organised labour while reiterating election campaign promises that Bermudians will come first under the Progressive Labour Party government. And the new PLP administration will look into historical land grabs, address racism and economic injustices, and look into police actions at the December 2 House […]
Political parties make their final pitch to Bermuda’s voters
Overview of electioneering so far
Bermuda’s two political parties made their final appeal to voters yesterday at the end of five weeks of election campaigning replete with conspiracy theories circulated through social media, a daily regime of press conferences and little substantive policy debate. The governing One Bermuda Alliance is framing the choice voters face as one between continuation of…...
Parties tread softly on gay marriage, spar over economy
PLP seeking a "unified approach" to controversial issue of marriage equality
The Progressive Labour Party will be discussing the Supreme Court’s ruling that gay people have the right to marry at its caucus meeting tonight, party leader David Burt told the media. Meanwhile, Government has announced that it will not be appealing the ruling in an official statement yesterday. We’ll have a debate today and we…...
Government silent on PLP’s compromise offer on airport dispute
The dispute between the island’s two political parties on the way forward on the controversial airport development project (see stories here and here) escalated again today with charges that the Government has misrepresented the Opposition’s position as a critical deadline looms. Progressive Labour Party leader David Burt released correspondence showing that his party adjusted its…...
New airport: opposition demands continue as debate looms
Party seeks a delay in parliamentary approval to allow for an independent assessment
Government and the Opposition Progressive Labour Party are still at loggerheads over the new airport development project as a critical parliamentary debate looms. Finance Minister Bob Richards insists that all necessary due diligence is complete and will be asking lawmakers on Friday to approve measures creating an Airport Authority which will have the power to…...
Progressive Labour Party pledges tougher anti-corruption laws
A Progressive Labour Party government would toughen government oversight, introduce measures against political and electoral corruption, legislate to allow citizens to initiate referenda and penalize unlawful discrimination. In his first Reply to the Throne Speech as Opposition Leader – and likely the last before an election is called – David Burt also pledged that a…...
David Burt appoints Marc Bean allies and detractors to his shadow cabinet
Strongest female representation since 2012
Newly minted opposition leader David Burt has announced a 13-member shadow cabinet, bringing three of his predecessor’s allies into the front bench – two of them senators – and retaining all the members of the former shadow cabinet. But Rolfe Commissiong, Zane DeSilva, Derrick Burgess and Wayne Furbert – all members of the rebel group opposed […]
PLP leader to make a third round of shadow cabinet changes
as David Burt resigns his portfolio for the second time in a year
Progressive Labour Party leader Marc Bean is to select a new shadow finance minister following David Burt’s resignation yesterday. The development is a significant moment in the ongoing struggle over the party’s leadership and is Burt’s second resignation of the shadow portfolio in less than a year. Bean has shuffled his shadow cabinet twice since…...
Airport out of bounds, Government tells Commission of Inquiry
Civil servants told not to cooperate with requests for information
Civil servants have been instructed by the Government not to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry’s requests for materials relating to the airport redevelopment project. But both the Commission and Government are maintaining a stony silence about what has become an embarrassing impasse that could test public perception of the integrity of the Commission and fuel perceptions…...