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OBA chairman on the PLP: ‘The disappointment people feel is real’

The Progressive Labour Party has done little to address the issue of racial inequality, according to the One Bermuda Alliance.However a PLP spokesman said the Island has become fairer with more opportunities for all Bermudians since the party took power.Thad Hollis, OBA Chairman, said on Friday: “The Government today clearly is not the same one that was powered to victory to build a ‘New Bermuda’, and the disappointment people feel is real.“Somewhere along the way it lost its way and Bermudians across the board are paying the price for it.“They are paying the price every day through job losses, shrinking paycheques, fear of crime and loss of confidence in our direction as a country.“Bermuda needs change. And people know it.”His comments came in response to a recent statement by a PLP spokesman who said earlier this week: “When you walk through Bermuda, it’s plain to see that there are two worlds. One Bermuda for the old wealthy families that have come from privilege and another Bermuda for the rest.“Like the UBP before them, the OBA seeks to bring about radical change that will favour the old families and lock into place the two Bermudas.”He continued by noting programmes put in place by the Government like Economic Empowerment Zones (EEZ), DayCare and FutureCare, saying the party is committed to social justice and equality for all people.Responding, Mr Hollis said that based on the PLP statement, nothing has changed to end racial equality since the PLP took power in 1998.“That’s 15 years when they have had total control of the Government, when they’ve had the power to make laws and set the standards for a better, more fair Bermuda,” Mr Hollis said.“Instead, we have had a government that has put self-interest first and Bermuda second.”He said that a renewed focus has to be placed on growing Bermudian jobs, reducing crime and “getting off the debt treadmill.“The focus has to be on bringing Bermuda together, not keeping it apart. We’ve got to restore hope. That’s what people want — jobs, safety, opportunity and hope,” he said.“The OBA is committed to social and economic equity for all, and that goal lies within all our plans to revitalise the economy, reform government and restore opportunity.”The PLP spokesman responded last night, saying: “Programmes like the EEZ are helping business people who have not had all the opportunities in life succeed in areas that need development.“FutureCare is making sure that all Bermudian seniors have access to prescription drugs and doctor’s visits.“DayCare is giving working families the freedom to pursue education and job opportunities. These are tough times. But, these programmes are helping make Bermuda a fairer place.”“The OBA still isn’t telling you what they’re going to do to solve Bermuda’s problems. Instead, they’re simply promising rapid and radical change.“This isn’t going to bring us together, It’s going to divide us. It’s going to benefit their Bermuda — the Bermuda for the wealthy families that have historically benefited.“Their rapid and radical change is going to leave the other Bermuda behind.”