Point of Order, Mr Speaker. The member opposite is misleading the House and, by extension, misleading the people of Bermuda.

Mr Speaker, I draw attention to a “supposed” ministerial statement put out under the name of the member from Constituency 12, Craig Cannonier, the Minister of Public Works, on November 7 in The Royal Gazette. In this statement, he made a number of claims that are misleading and can be disproved with factual information.

Claim number 1:

“Another question which should be asked here is: why did the previous government buy trucks without ensuring the proper mechanical training for staff?”

Mr Speaker, the fact is just after the trucks were purchased, a total of five mechanics and electricians went overseas for training.

Claim number 2:

“The question Mr Famous should be asking is: why would the previous administration order eights trucks knowing they have less capacity, knowing it would create more labour?”

Mr Speaker, the fact is that ministers of the previous administration were not allowed to make any purchases of government equipment. The fact is that Works and Engineering staff were the ones involved in the choosing of the vehicles; a driver, a helper, a mechanic and management were involved in the purchase of garbage trucks.

Claim number 3:

“Privatisation is a decision which the people of this country will have to make for themselves.”

Mr Speaker, how will the people of Bermuda make a decision on privatisation of government services? The only way for the public to make a decision is via public referendum. Would it be the same method of referendum that was promised to the people of Bermuda on the issue of gaming?

Ironically, it was this same Minister of Public Works, along with others involved in Jetgate, who concocted a story to void a referendum on gaming.

You see, Mr Speaker, the member opposite has built up quite a track record for himself over the past three years, including misleading this very House for more than one year. It was this same member that, on the eve of the last election, wrote this note specifically to civil servants of Bermuda:

“Your jobs will be safe under an OBA government”

Mr Speaker, it was under this very same One Bermuda Alliance government that these same civil servants oversaw the introduction of the Public Bodies Reform Act 2014, which sets a path for the liquidation of government assets and departments.

It was under the OBA government that Sage Commission was given licence to recommend the privatisation of several government departments:

“Consider privatising airport operations, civil aviation, highways management, maritime administration, public lands and building, waste management ...” — Bermuda Sun, November 19, 2013.

Mr Speaker, like thousands of others, I stand here today as a proud Bermudian who was born and raised into a proud union family. Mr Speaker, union icons such as EF Gordon, Barbara Ball, Ottiwell Simmons and Eugene Blakeney worked tirelessly to ensure fair working conditions for Bermudians.

Bermudians will not stand here and let their blood, sweat and tears be soiled by persons such as the member opposite and the party he represents.

Mr Speaker, I close with this last statement to the waste management staff, the workers of Bermuda, and most importantly to the people of Bermuda: united we stand.