Industry unrest could sway election, say demonstrators

Sarah Lagan

Updated: Sep 21, 2023 09:18 AM

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Shari-Lynn Pringle, secretary of the Bermuda Owners and Operators Association, left, and Delvin Bean, a member of the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda, believe voters may not turn out to the next General Election (Photograph by Sarah Lagan)

Voter apathy brought about by unrest across multiple industries could cost the Progressive Labour Party the next General Election, protesters have said.

Scores of people representing farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers and those wanting a better public education system turned out on Kindley Field Road yesterday aggrieved with government decisions they believe are damaging the island.

Shari-Lynn Pringle, the secretary of the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, which organised the protest, said voters like herself would not cast a ballot if the issues were not addressed.

The taxi industry has been in long-term talks with the Government about changes they wish to see, including a rate increase and a centralised dispatching to improve service.

“They will either show up to the polls and spoil their ballot or they will show up to the polls and vote for the other party,” she said.

Craig Cannonier, the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Tourism, said the One Bermuda Alliance was ready to lead (Photograph by Sarah Lagan)

“We want to be able to run the country again ― they [the Government] work for us, we don’t work for them and they need to pay attention.

“If they don’t win the next election, whoever gets elected, we will hold their feet to the fire, too.”

Delvin Bean, a member of the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda, which opposes a government proposal to turn 20 per cent of Bermuda’s waters into a marine protected area, said the time had come to take action.

He said: “We are the main industries of this country so it is about time that they [the Government] get reined in and realise that enough is enough.

“We have had numerous meetings with the Minister of Home Affairs [Walter Roban] but it goes in one ear and out the other.

“We have got to let this government and any other government who wants to come in ― the Progressive Labour Party, the One Bermuda Alliance or the next one ― everyone has got to pay attention to the people who put them in power. Wake up and smell the roses, if not pack up your stuff and ship out.

“It is nearly as bad as it was eight years ago with the OBA when they were marching on the hill ― it is really bad.”

Asked if the issues at hand could cost the PLP the next election, he said: “Most definitely. It will be a matter of people not showing up. The OBA people will vote this time because they have had enough of it as well.”

He added: “The backbenchers [of the PLP] can’t say anything because their hands are tied ― if you are not in bed with this particular regime then you will be kicked out. It has been proven and they need their jobs.”

Mr Bean said he would like to see a coalition government formed in the next election.

Government insists it is listening

Last night the Government denied that it had turned a deaf ear to the concerns of groups such as taxi drivers, farmers, fishermen, and teachers.

A spokeswoman listed a number of policy initiatives that had been “influenced” by “engagement sessions” and “extensive outreach” with “stakeholders”.

The spokeswoman said: “Leading up to the engagement sessions held during the last three weeks, the education reform team held 259 engagement sessions.

“The Ministry of Transport has held seven meetings since November 2022 with the BTOA, and the minister has also met with many individual taxi owners.

“In obtaining input from fishermen and other stakeholders, the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme has undertaken an extensive outreach. Just for the ocean use survey alone, at least six newspaper adverts and over 30 radio adverts were released, along with social media advertising and information dissemination through Government channels.

“Nearly 1,000 flyers were distributed, and two three-hour pop-up events were held in public areas. Several organisations distributed the survey to their mailing lists, and all Ocean Village stakeholder groups were encouraged to engage.

“Furthermore, in-person facilitation, outreach phone calls, and paper surveys were offered to over 200 individuals who preferred a non-digital survey platform.

“A particular effort was made to collect responses from commercial fishers as part of the Ocean Use survey. The full methodology is detailed in the Bermuda Ocean Use Survey Results report, publicly available on the BOPP website.

“Four local Bermudians were assigned to reach out to the fishing sector to facilitate surveys. Also, over six weeks, at least one outreach attempt was made to each of the 123 licensed commercial fishing vessel owners – 70 per cent of the industry.

”In addition, a survey notification was included in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Fisheries newsletter, sent to all registered fishers. Of those contacted, 35 per cent of full-time fishers and 30 per cent of part-time fishers completed a survey.

“The survey received 69 validated responses from the commercial fishing sector, almost double the minimum required in each case. Additionally, 157 responses were received from the recreational fishing sector, which is 196 per cent of the minimum required amount to be considered statistically robust to represent this sector.

“We value our stakeholder's input, listen to their concerns, and incorporate their feedback into the planning and implementation of proposed reforms.

“However, the consultation process requires patience, collaboration, and a commitment to achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

“As we have said previously, we remain committed to ongoing consultation with various sectors as we progress with the reforms we were elected to implement for the betterment of all of Bermuda.”