Bermuda’s business community is not an oligarchy, Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy told the Senate, defending the Government’s efforts to restore business confidence in the Island.

However, the Opposition senators maintained that life has not improved for many ordinary people and continued to chastise the One Bermuda Alliance for failing to bring good governance regulations into law.

Meanwhile, independent senator James Jardine pointed out that while many economic indicators showed a positive turn, the overall number of jobs has decreased.

Senator Fahy opened the OBA’s brief on the Throne Speech with a correlation between the number of work permits issued and the number of Bermudian jobs.

Work permits peaked in 2010, with 18,530 issued, tumbling to 12,425 for last year. This year has surpassed 2014’s number by the end of October, Sen Fahy said, concurrent with a drop in unemployment from 9 per cent to 7 per cent.

The minister was highly critical of the Throne Speech Reply delivered last week, saying the pledge to get rid of the Job Makers Act made “absolutely no sense whatsoever”.

Sen Fahy laid the blame for Bermuda’s loss of international business on the 2011 hike in payroll tax and term limits.

“The Opposition continues to say that term limits were a good idea, and yet the resultant effect was a decline in international business and job losses for Bermudians,” he said. “It’s rhetoric at its worst form.”

Sen Fahy said the Reply’s references to a “corporatist, oligarchical attitude” in Bermuda sent the wrong message to business.

He said the OBA had encouraged a business regrowth through initiatives ranging from a new corporate landholding policy to changes in the legislation governing companies and partnerships.

“We’re looking to update our compliance with International Labour Organisation principles — frankly, the legislation in Bermuda is no longer compliant; in some cases it benefits unions and in some cases it benefits employers.”

In response, Diallo Rabain, the Opposition Leader in the Senate, said the Progressive Labour Party’s commitments were “rooted in social and economic justice for all Bermudians — whether they are here by accident or here by choice”.

Sen Rabain reiterated the uncompromising stand on corruption voiced in the Reply by Marc Bean, the Leader of the Opposition, with retroactive legislation.

The PLP welcomed the latest report on government finances by Heather Jacobs Matthews, the Auditor-General, he said, and looked forward to debating it.

Sen Rabain had strong words on the Good Governance Act 2012, which was brought by PLP Premier Paula Cox, calling on Minister of Finance Bob Richards to table the necessary regulations to bring it into effect.

“Why fight putting the Good Governance Act in place? What is the issue? We invite you to investigate us and investigates yourselves — let’s go.” Sen Jardine noted that the Government and Opposition were at odds on whether the Island’s long economic recession was ending. “There has been a decrease in unemployment — that’s very positive,” he said.

However, Sen Jardine called it “puzzling” that the total number of jobs had fallen by 1,133 at the same time.

He also called on Government to explain why online gaming had not been considered.

“If there is a reason why Government does not believe it is appropriate then fine,” he said. “But I do not recall having heard any reason why that has not been given some consideration.”

He went on to say he believed the Electricity Act was a “good move forward” and added he was “pleased” to see there would be a bid process for a proposed solar farm on the Finger.

Sen Jardine welcomed the proposed review of the system of child maintenance payments, but noted that little mention of tourism was made in the Throne Speech adding: “The recent statement [by Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Bill Hanbury] seems to suggest they [BTA] do need more funds to carry out large marketing initiatives”.

He also questioned what had become of the recommendations made by the SAGE Commission, as well as previous initiatives including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a feasibility study into making the Island an Air Navigation Service Provider.

Meanwhile, fellow independent senator Joan Dillas-Wright said she was pleased to see the hotel development outlined in the Throne Speech, but called for a comprehensive bill of rights for the Island’s seniors.

She welcomed the Government’s acknowledgement that the lack of a secure forensic psychiatric unit was a serious concern. “I was very pleased to see this is going to be addressed with some kind of solution,” she said.

“I would like not to have to come back next year and read that this issue has not been addressed.”

Sen Dillas-Wright also expressed her support for the Government’s decision to give overseas students the right to vote.