Watching the cash
Engineering Alex Scott is making plans to return to twice a week garbage collection. It has always seemed that once a week was insufficient, especially in this humid climate, and very difficult for people without storage space. It was also bound to lead to increased litter.
However any number of people will wonder where the money will come from and the Minister has admitted that the cost of extra pick-up days in other countries is usually borne by the consumer.
It is fair to say that the new Government inherited a Country in top financial shape and a treasury in surplus and long may it stay that way. We think Bermudians want their Country to be financially secure and the new Government will have to remember all the dire predictions that the PLP would break Bermuda like Pindling's PLP broke the Bahamas. But the Government is beginning to make costly promises and nothing concerns Bermudians more than where the money is going to come from.
The new Minister of Transport is talking about new ferries and new buses, both nice to have but very expensive items. The Minister of Tourism has in mind a new campaign to lure people to Bermuda and while we agree with him that some of the recent campaigns, notably "Let Yourself Go'', have been little short of disaster, new campaigns cost a good deal.
There have been suggestions for doing yet more at the Airport including million dollar jetways. Jetways would be convenient but they may simply be too expensive a luxury for tiny Bermuda. In any case, those talking about changing the Airport yet again may not have been there lately because it is a different world from what it used to be and an airport of which Bermuda can now be proud.
The new Government will have to start meeting its promises on housing if only to satisfy those people who have had complaints. It is pointless politics to complain as some people are now doing that the previous Government took down good housing at Southside. It was clear that the housing talked about was substandard, not what anyone would want for Bermudians, and too old and too poorly built to be made acceptable for Bermudians. Supplying housing needs will be very expensive and we think it should take priority over garbage collection, new ferries and new buses.
All we are suggesting is that the new Government should "go easy'' and satisfy the real needs, like housing and tourism first before it talks about millions being spent on what are in fact luxuries.
Bermudians have always been very concerned about Government expenditures and about any suggestion that taxes might increase. It will not take them long to become alarmed if they think the new Government is on a spending spree.