Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act

An article came out in yesterdays Royal Gazette as well as on the PLP Blog on Bermuda’s commitment to stopping foreign tax cheats.  Paula Cox told the Royal Gazette:

This Government shares Senator’s Levin’s concerns about tax dodgers. Bermuda has assisted the United States in its efforts to stem tax evasion for 20 years through the tax treaty that was signed in 1988.

Indeed the US Internal Revenue Service has commended Bermuda for its very co-operative assistance through the tax treaty.  The Government of Bermuda has established and maintained positive relationships on Capitol Hill and the tax treaty should stand us in good stead there be a need.

I really don’t see the US leaving Bermuda out of the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act because we’ve helped them with a few tax dodgers over the last 20 years.  I hope reminding the US Government of this help isn’t Governments sole strategy to tackle Obama’s plan to shut down tax havens.

Wayne Furbert finally quits

After threatening to quit the UBP for months, Wayne Furbert has finally done it!  I think at one time he probably brought a lot to the table for the UBP, however, recently he seems to have done more harm than good especially in terms of the press.

My favourite quote in the Royal Gazette article (will link to it once it’s on-line) is:

I have been accused of everything – every leak in the paper they look at me.

Gee, I wonder why???

I think if he really wants change he’s done the right thing in leaving the party.  The UBP doesn’t seem to be changing much, in my opinion, even though there is much talk of change the general public certainly isn’t seeing it.   Hopefully, others that want change from both parties will follow and those in the community that are tired of the current political climate will step up to the plate.

Disgruntled youth

Sounds like the PLP is beginning to run into the same speed bumps the UBP has been dealing with for years judging by the splinter group the Bermuda Sun is reporting. Several young members of the UBP have been disgruntled for a long time – not having their voices and ideas heard or actually taken seriously.  Instead, being shoved into secretary roles and organizing parties to try and attract more young people to lick envelopes.  I would have no problem licking envelopes if people actually took my ideas seriously.  Most of today’s youth coming back from universities are more in touch with the issues facing the island – housing, job markets, cost of living etc.  One would think it would be advantages to be in touch with the youth of the island. It seems that the UBP is still stuck in their ways – lots of talk of change and fresh blood, but have yet to really see anything different.  Will be interesting to see how the PLP manages to bring in fresh blood from this splitting group.  Maybe the UBP could learn a thing or too.

Furbert running his mouth again…

Wayne Furbert continued pouring out against the UBP to the Royal Gazette again yesterday with the following:

During the Throne Speech debate in the House of Assembly, Mr. Furbert said: “The UBP mentions that people need to feel free to express themselves. When I expressed myself a few weeks ago, I was almost thrown out of the whip.”

Of course!  You sat there and publicly criticised the candidate your party chose to represent  constituency #31 in the upcoming bi-election.  You make you’re opinions know in caucus and let it rest on what the party, as a whole, decides and you move forward with them.  I’m pretty sure when the UBP bring up freedom of speech and change they are talking about the freedom of the public to bring forth new ideas – not their own candidates running to the papers every time they don’t get their way.  Either grow up or get out!

Expat ID cards

So Expats are to be issued ID cards so that immigration can track down illegal immigrants.  There has been some interesting comments over on Bermuda is Another World. Blankman read my mind when he responded to the following question:

How is “Immigration Enforcement”gonna differentiate between Bermudians and Guest Workers…??

Easy.  Does the individual look like a “real” Bermudian?  If not, ask for their ID and if they claim they’re Bermudian/SoB/PRC either (1) take their word for it, (2) send them home for ID [of course if they're illegals what are the chances of them coming back], or (3) put them in custody until they can produce acceptable proof of their status [which means that you could be jailed simply for not looking like a “real” Bermudian, or sounding like one, or for simply annoying the Compliance officer

A while back Doug over at FreshieBlog commented on what a ‘Real’ Bermudian seems to consitute here and I completely agree with him.  I freqently get mistaken as Canadian after having living there for 9 years for education purposes. However, I am a born Bermudian…should be interesting to see what happens here…

Sport Developments

An article in the Royal Gazette brings up an interesting point:

Questions marks now hang over the numerous multi-million dollar projects James had unveiled in recent months including; a sports complex at White Hill Field, mini-centres of excellence at Cooper’s Island, and a promise to finally start construction on the long-awaited 50-metre swimming pool at the National Sports Centre.

With the new Minister Blakeney being the father of national team cricketer Glenn Blakeney, my guess is the sport complex at White Hill Field will stay since there’s talk of putting in an international standard cricket pitch.  My bets are on the long-awaited 50-metre swimming pool being scrapped – hell we’ve waited this long, what’s a little longer?!

Bermuda International Race Weekend

So I’m looking at doing the Bermuda Triangle Challenge having completed the full challenge last year.  Hopefully, this year they will actually recognize the winners with the lowest times.  I was really vexed with that last year even though there were only 13 of us that completed it.  So I’m looking at signing up for the event and get to the category selection and corresponding prices:

Bermuda International Race Weekend 2009

Select a Category:	Price:	Member Price†
10K Run Age must be at least 12 as of 1/17/2009.	$20.00	$18.00
Half Marathon Age must be at least 16 as of 1/18/2009.	$50.00	$48.00
Marathon Age must be at least 16 as of 1/18/2009.	$60.00	$58.00
Bermuda Triangle Challenge Age must be at least 16 as of 1/16/2009.	$125.00	$123.00
Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge Age must be at least 16 as of 1/16/2009.	$125.00	$123.00
10K Charity Walk	$20.00	$18.00

Now I’m confused….the Bermuda Triangle Half and Full Challenge are $125!  I could qualify for the front street mile, sign up for the 10km and the marathon and still have it only cost me $80!  I’m sure a the custom Triangle Challenge t-shirt and medal don’t cost $45.  So why the huge discrepancy in price?

Last year, if I remember correctly, signing up for the Triangle Challenge was cheaper than signing up for the combined races. So is the price gouging due to the fact there are only 400 spots?? (which we didn’t even come close to filling last year!) Or because we expect the majority of those to be tourists off island so we make them pay even more on top of air fare and hotels to race.

As a side note: If Bermuda Track and Field Association hopes to get 400 people to race the challenge next year, I sure hope they have their water stops better maned then last year. Two water stops back to back were not set up last year – man was I glad I was racing with my fuel belt and had supportive parents!

Regular blogging

This past summer has been rather hectic…but I’m hoping to get back to some more regular blogging.  I’m a big fan of Decouto’s 10 minute rants over at FreshieBlog so I might give those a try…

A step backwards…

The Bermuda Health Council (BHeC) has stopped publishing the minutes of its monthly meetings which is a definite step backwards in the war for transparency and the Right to Know campaign.

By the wording of the article in the Royal Gazette, it looks as though the Health Minister Nelson Bascome stepped in and replaced the chairman and three of the members of council in one quick sweep and low and behold the new chairman now decides that the BHeC will no longer publish their minutes…makes me more curious about what was to be discussed in up coming meetings.  Unfortunately, all of the minutes that were published on the BHeC website have now been removed.

New wheels

The Premier’s new G1 car is apparently a BMW 750Li which has a 4.8-litre, V-8 engine with 360 horsepower.  Some of the cars other features include:

• Night vision — an infrared camera built into the front of the vehicle
• Adaptive headlights that moves with the car as it turns corners
• Eight sensors to help the driver with parking (If you can’t park it why buy it??)
• Bluetooth wireless technology

Wait, no bullet proof windows??