13 October 2014

Dear Sir,

I just received an e-mail from a friend in Central Africa. This person has just started a job as an assistant supply officer with the local government. The e-mail read: “It is my first day and it is lunchtime. I already feel it is not my right place. The people are too reluctant and there is no urgency, I hate to work in an environment like this.”

I e-mailed back: “Welcome to working in a government department. It is the same in every country in the world.”

Here in Bermuda the Civil Service in the last 14 years grew to twice the size it should be and has not decreased in size even though thousands of people have left the country.

The Civil Service is the only industry that has not been affected by the downturn in the economy. The union leaders are resisting any changes that may save our country even though the massive Civil Service wage bill is the main cause of our debt. Without measures to reduce our debt it may lead to a possible shutdown of the country and nobody in the Civil Service will be paid at all, and there will be no pensions, etc. The union leaders and the Opposition maintain they have ideas on how to reduce the debt, but they are not stating what they are. It is obvious they really have no ideas. It would be disastrous to borrow more money and I doubt if there is any more available. The Government is only following the suggestions of The SAGE Commission. The SAGE Commission you may remember was made up of a cross section of our population and they came up with solutions to reduce the debt and increase productivity.

ANY SUGGESTIONS