The war of words continues following Premier David Burt’s scathing criticism of the island’s only daily newspaper in the House of Assembly on Friday, with Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier calling it “an act of desperation”.In a statement issued last night, Minister Jamahl Simmons said: “We should all be deeply concerned about the circumstances outlined by the Premier on Friday in the Motion to Adjourn.
“Six Bermudian jobs gone, an office lease cancelled, executive relocations and accompanying rental of housing gone, payroll taxes to be paid to government gone and the reality that this one negative experience by one company could impact negatively on Bermuda in incalculable ways.
Jamahl Simmons, Minister Without Portfolio“Mr Cannonier said in his statement, “Yes, 20 new jobs going elsewhere is a real blow, especially as six were expected to be Bermudian and goodness knows Bermuda needs all the jobs it can get right now – but people are asking: where are the other jobs?”
“If the opposition truly cared about more jobs and opportunities for Bermudians, they would condemn at every turn anyone or any entity that seeks to undermine that,” said Mr Simmons.
“Unfortunately the Opposition seems more interested in attacking the government than in standing up for the Bermudians who have seen their dreams of jobs with
this company dashed due to the Royal Gazette.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier said: “The Premier’s attempt to play the blame game over jobs that have failed to materialise is an act of desperation, of someone who knows they are sitting in the ‘last chance saloon’, who knows the pressure is on. He has over-promised and is now under-performing.
Craig Cannonier, Opposition Leader“Did the Premier step in to save the day with this company? Did he even try? What did he do? That is the story we all really want to hear, isn’t it? That’s the story I want to hear and I want to hear it without the protection of parliamentary privilege.
Or, is there an untold backstory here that we are not hearing?
“All we have heard is how the Premier is happy to lay the blame for his own failing policy at someone else’s door in an attempt to deflect and distract from reality. This is no more that hearsay politics and a sign of a Premier in meltdown mode.
“By blaming others, he is deflecting from the fact that his one and only economic policy is failing; distracting people away from the appalling state of the economy and Government’s intent to pile more and more taxes onto the backs of hard working Bermudians instead of cutting spending.
“Yes, 20 new jobs going elsewhere is a real blow, especially as six were expected to be Bermudian – and goodness knows Bermuda needs all the jobs it can get right now – but people are asking: where are the other jobs?
“They are asking: where is the plan to improve the economy now; when will retail sales stop falling and what will workers do once the big OBA construction projects end? They don’t want to listen to playground politics, they want action.”
MPs return to the House of Assembly on Friday to hear newly appointed Minister of Finance Curtis Dickinson deliver his first Budget.
