November 25, 2014

Dear Sir,

In our previous letter of November 20, we asked which interest the OBA is putting first, Bermuda and its people, or special interest? We now ask the UBP/OBA, where is the sunshine on transparency?

Our Minister of Finance has now confirmed his allegiance to his true colours ... the old blue, green and yellow, and NOT red, blue and gold?

We believe 52 per cent of the electorate voted for a new party with sunshine on transparency? The Hon Minister’s approach to the airport project clearly undermines good governance and will further displace the people of Bermuda. We can’t afford the baby formula anymore, so let’s hope the airport development relationship will help us pickup the tab?

In 1998 the voters of our Island home were promised the “Sun will rise on a new Bermuda”. We were also promised in 2012 that there will be sunshine on transparency. While the previous administration boasted GDP doubling during their tenure, we also experienced unprecedented whopping year-on-year deficits, and the new administration continues with these unsustainable deficits and a staggering debt projected to exceed $2bn by the end of this current budget 2014/15. Judging from these outcomes, the only real continued opportunity for a new sunrise and sunshine is for special interest.

In 1994 we were told by the UBP administration: “Bermuda is in the service business; we don’t create the next new industry. These new industries won’t be created by Bermuda; they will be created by individuals in other parts of the world seeking solutions to problems. Bermuda must be prepared to work with those people, to be partners with those people in developing and implementing the solutions to those problems”. The Commission for Competitiveness, 1994.

Will the real Minister of Finance step forward. The people of Bermuda really need to know which side you are on ... the people or special interest?

Judging from the Finance Minister’s speech on engaging with the outside world, to promote our story is clearly where we have headed and will continue to undermine the 60/40 issue, Bermuda. Our leaders’ will continue to partner until we have surrendered complete control of our economy and financial independence to foreign capital.

The cost of our participation in the global economy, based on the current business model, will be concentration of risk, displacement of Bermudians, a discriminatory economy that will lead to increased social tension and high inequality. Goodbye to the middle-class, you are on the threshold of becoming extinct in Bermuda as income inequality continues.

Our future comments will focus on this new partnership (airport development) as it unfolds.

ERWIN P ADDERLEY

and DAVID J TAVARES