People’s Campaign evaluates the performance of OBA and PLP

By Raymond Hainey

Both political parties need to focus more on sorting Bermuda’s problems out, a spokesman for the People’s Campaign said last night.

“Both the Government and the Opposition have a way to go in addressing the expectations of the people. Their current agendas haven’t been in line with the people’s issues,” said Jason Hayward, who is also president of the Bermuda Public Services Union.

He was speaking after the People’s Campaign for Equality, Jobs and Justice issued a report card on political performance for May, in what is intended to be a regular update.

The public evaluation highlighted a number of areas where it said Government had fallen down, including an OBA commitment to education opportunities for youngsters from lower-income families which contrasted with a Budget decision to cut education awards funding from $740,000 to $40,000.

Mr Hayward said: “What the Government did do in May was highlight some initiatives in terms of jobs through the workforce development department.

“But there was very little legislation passed that promotes people and progresses people in Bermuda — and we would like to see the Government’s budgets more aligned with the expectations of the people.”

Mr Hayward said the Opposition PLP also had to do better in “bringing the people’s expectations to the forefront and reminding the Government they serve the people.”

He added that, if $700,000 had to be saved it could have been trimmed from the multi-million dollar budget of the new Tourism Authority rather than educational grants.

“Where there are things that are not in alignment, we will tell the Government what it needs to do.”

The People’s Manifesto, published earlier this year, includes a call for a fair taxation system based on income and assets, affordable and accessible healthcare, liveable wages and more economic opportunities, especially for those who “historically have been prevented access.”

The manifesto also called for tighter controls of the market place to ensure the business community and economy “serve the people and not the other way around.”

And it urged Government to protect “the assets of the people against privatisation.”

Mr Hayward said: “Government should make a thorough review of the expectations in the manifesto — I know the Premier has committed to do so and we have to give him respect for that.”

He added that he hoped campaign representatives would be able to meet new Premier Michael Dunkley within the next few weeks to help hammer home their views.

“We think there are things Government can put on the table which don’t take a lot of resources, like student loans. There are successful models that exist that show other governments’ commitment to education.”

The public evaluation highlighted several items on the House of Assembly’s order papers for May, like a call by PLP MP Walton Brown for a commission to be set up to probe into “historic losses in Bermuda of citizens’ property” through theft and dispossession and to compensate victims where needed.

They also singled out a motion by the OBA’s Cole Simons calling for approval of a joint select committee report aimed at improving the running of Parliament and reform of its practices.

Mr Hayward said: “We will wait to see the Government’s response in these areas.”