There have been a few articles surfacing about the proposed mega-yacht marina in Dockyard including Ewart Brown’s comments on how much it will increase tourism in today’s RG. I have a number of issues with this whole proposal. 

Along with New Onion, I am concerned about who will get the contract for it – who’s pockets are my tax dollars lining now?  Anything the government has built to date seems to run incredibly over budget.  No-one seems to know who South Basin Development Ltd is, which is already increasing my suspicions over the project and who is supposed to benefit from it – tourism or the owners of South Basin Development who ever they are (more Ewart Brown cronies) ??  According the RG,  South Basin Development was created specifically for this project and was incorporated only last week…my suspions are increasing…did this project not go out for tender??

There is also the issue of whether Bermuda’s current infrastructure can support the mega cruise ships and a mega yacht marina.  When asked Ewart Brown said:

The proposed development of a mega-yacht marina at Dockyard creates opportunities for product development both at Dockyard and in other areas. Also, it is not uncommon to find harbour shuttles or “water taxis” to transfer people between the marina and various areas in and around the destination.

While the ferry service already exists there also exists the opportunity for a water taxi service for this segment, a service that is more on demand and personalised.

Ah, so this is where the St. Georges commuter ferry will be headed in the future…well I’m glad we got that cleared up.  As for water taxis, if someone thought that was a viable option I’m sure it would have been done by now.  But I’m not sure what tourist would want to get into a small water taxis that is probably going to take longer to get to town than a normal ferry, be a less pleasant ride, and could potentially cost more.  I guess one could think of something like the Newstead ferry could work – but the Newstead ferry crosses the harbor which is far calmer than the great sound. 

Dockyard has the potential to be an amazing little place, but when talking with store owners in the clock tower, most seem fed up with WEDCO.  Earlier this year, Dockyard traders were upset with WEDCO after their decision not to offer rent relief for the first time in 15 years.  WEDCO certainly doesn’t seem to be making it any easier for those that want to development Dockyard…funny cause one would think it would be in their best interest to do the reverse.

RG reported that a petition is now going around St. Georges ferry users against Government’s announcement yesterday that it would cease the route for winter.  I find it interesting that The Department of Marine and Ports is left apologizing to the general pubic…who is our Minister of Transportation again??  Oh wait, that would be Ewart Brown – can’t have this bad press tied to him now can we?!  But he makes sure he’s out and about during any positive press or photo ops!

Government will be suspending the St. Georges commuter ferry as of November 23rd according to RG.  I guess we can expect traffic on the roads to get worse and more accidents as a result. 

I don’t understand the point of giving seniors and students free access to buses and ferries and then turning around and suspending service.  The bus schedule is no better and still runs the same schedule for Sundays as it does for Public holidays. 

I’m guessing this is a cost cutting measure – so lets over spend on things like the PGA golf tournament and the Bermuda Music Festival, but cut back on services the general public relies on.

I tuned in a little late last night to BDA on HOTT 107.5 and listened to probably almost an hour and a half of the show.  There was a lot of smooth talking but very little discussion on any form of platform or resolution to issues which I found pretty disappointing. I don’t comprehend why a party would hop on the radio for 2 hours to have people call in to discuss the issues when you aren’t going to discuss how you are prepared to solve them – why bother we all know what the issues are already?!  According to BDA, they will be holding a number of town hall type meetings for open discussion to come up with the solutions to their issues and we can look forward to hearing their proposed solutions and platform in the new year.   

There were several callers, including Rolfe Commissiong, that wanted to discuss race and the BDA’s stance on race or lack there of.   The BDA continually enforced that they want to take race out of politics to help unite Bermuda.  From an idealist standpoint, I definitely think this the route we need to go down.  From a realist standpoint, I don’t see how this going to be possible in Bermuda in the current racial climate. 

The BDA did discuss that most of their current members come from a business background and that they wanted to run this like a business.  In addition, they wanted to welcome new members to join but stressed that they were only interested in those that support their core values. They are willing to turn away people who don’t support all of the core values. I’m not quite sure what to think of this just yet – in one sense I agree, since you want members that are united to support a common cause, in another sense I disagree with it because you’re only interested in people who support exactly what you want and can’t say otherwise.  Granted having re-read the core values, I think most Bermudians would agree with all of them. 

I have yet to see how the BDA has really differentiated themselves from UBP other than giving themselves a new name and mentioning how young and youthful the party and members are.  I heard more about PLP members waiting in the wings which I’m still doubting, but maybe I’m just being pessimistic.  The BDA are very good at talking the talk, but I’m really interested to see if they are going to be able to walk the walk.  I guess only time will tell…

In summary, I really didn’t hear anything new last night that I already didn’t know about the party or could have read about on their website.

There has been a rather heated discussion of late related to whether joining a political parties facebook group equates to you supporting that party or just wanting regular updates from party.  I’m not entering into this debate – but for those of you who have refused to join the BDA facebook group because you believe the former argument, I just wanted pass along that Michael Fahy and Granville Gibbons will be appearing on HOTT 107.5 tonight at 8pm. 

I’m not passing this along because I’m a supporter in any way of BDA – just a supporter of keeping Bermudians informed.  

On a side note, it appears the BDA is only using facebook and possibly twitter to advertise their events.  The event wasn’t mention on their website last I checked a few minutes ago. 

I thought the graduation percentage stats were bad…but this:

At Berkeley, students sat exams in 12 subjects including science, English, maths, drama, Spanish and business. None of the students achieved an A* the highest possible rating. Six were awarded an A three in drama, one in Spanish and one in business. Two further students received As in Spanish at the GCE level.

Thirty-six of the 86 students who took the English exam passed ten were awarded a B, with the remainder receiving a grade of C.

Sixty-five students sat the maths exam six attained a B grade, 19 achieved a C grade. Nineteen students received a U.

It is very clear from international standards that we are failing in education.  What does 99% graduation rate matter if 19 students at Berkeley got a U in Maths??  How do we expect these students to be able to obtain decent post-graduate education overseas let along jobs in the international business or insurance sector?

I am finding it very hard to believe that:

Graduation rates rose by 47 percent over the past five years, according to Government figures.

According to this RG article, where in this one:

More than 50 percent of young black males enrolled in the public education system leave before obtaining their secondary school certificate.

How are graduation rates increasing by over 47% in the last five years and yet more than 50% of young black males aren’t graduating??  I understand that we are including females and males of other races in the 47%  statistic, but that still seems a little high to me, considering the govt graduation rates of the last few years….please correct me if I’ve misinterpreted something.

Oh wait…I like these stats even better…

The rate at CedarBridge was announced as 97 percent, with a further two percent graduating after summer school.

Ninety-one percent of Berkeley students graduated in June, with another seven percent graduating after summer school.

The total combined graduation rate for S4 students in both schools, was recorded as 99 percent.

I’m all for a change in Bermuda politics.  The BDA may be able to offer something new and fresh to the arena and I’m really hoping they develop into that, but they need to start doing things differently and getting better organized! 

Today’s RG came out with the following in their article covering the press conference of the BDA yesterday:

A large proportion present yesterday had a UBP connection including Susan Jackson, daughter of MP Louise Jackson, Michael Swan, brother of MP Charlie Swan and former branch chair Sean Soares. Mr. Crockwell said former PLP members were currently waiting in the wings, not yet ready to make their own appearances.

Not yet ready to make their own appearance??  You are launching the new party and had everyone’s attention and your former PLP members aren’t ready to make their own appearance and are waiting in the wings?!

Sounds weak – if you’re really ready to make a difference for this island, you are ready to be seen and be heard whether you are from a UBP or PLP background.  With only UBP faces willing to be seen in public, BDA will be quickly be seen as just another out-posting from the UBP.

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.

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.