The Leader of the Opposition has called on the Premier to take responsibility and “stop avoiding the hard problems” that plague Bermuda.

Jarion Richardson said it was “painful” to hear David Burt “justify the state of Bermuda” during his national address on Tuesday night.

He further accused him of offering a “rehash” of old ideas after failing to receive “the public’s praise”.

Mr Richardson said: “At the last sitting of the House of Assembly before the summer break, the Cabinet loyally tried to sell Bermuda on their accomplishments.

“Ministerial statements reflected on the last seven years of Government, variously titled but including the theme ‘Building a better and fairer Bermuda’.

“Having not attracted the public’s praise, the Premier then uses the bully pulpit of his high office to tease Bermudians with an important announcement.

“It turned out to be a rehash of the same thing he said six days ago — with this small change: he promised to try harder.”

During his address to the nation, Mr Burt said that the Government had improved the economy and would use the money saved to provide more support.

He added: “There will be no cuts to essential services, no implementation of furloughs, no increase in taxes and no withholding of support from our seniors or our most vulnerable.”

The Opposition leader reminded Mr Burt that “more of the same is not going to help Bermudians”.

He added: “The Progressive Labour Party Government must stop trying to work around our deep, underlying and structural problems that are causing the suffering in our community.”

Mr Richardson said that Mr Burt’s promise of ‘freezing the Standard Premium Rate’ for health insurance would instead be paid off with borrowed money.

He pointed out “that money must be paid back”.

Mr Richardson clarified: “In other words, Government will collect that money from us taxpayers to pay the people they borrowed that money from plus interest.”

He described this method as “kicking the can down the road, and leaving it for the next government to clean up”.

He added: “Government must stop avoiding the hard problems.

“The things that don’t work must be broken down, so that the things that can work can flourish.

“The economic engine that provides for Bermudians is squashed under the weight of arbitrary, unaccountable bureaucratic decision-making and a lack of enforcement of, and/or disregard for, current laws and standards.

“Before the end of the year, our next series of town halls will show the outgoing Government how to do the hard things to protect Bermudians welfare, livelihood and families.”