The ruling One Bermuda Alliance has dismissed Opposition calls for a “quality of life” survey to establish how hard the Island is suffering economically.

Shadow Business Development Minister Wayne Furbert made the suggestion yesterday, claiming that, in order to devise sound economic policy, Government needed “to know the real circumstances surrounding wages, living expenses and the overall well-being of Bermudians”.

But this afternoon OBA acting chairman Susan Jackson said Government was well aware of the financial hardships many Bermudians were facing — and pointed out that the administration was now working to solve problems created by Mr Furbert and his Progressive Labour Party colleagues when they held office.

“The One Bermuda Alliance Government is acutely aware of the facts ‘surrounding wages, living expenses and the overall well-being of Bermudians’ that Mr. Furbert wants to know,” Ms Jackson said.

“The Government engages with thousands of people each week, whether through MPs in touch with constituents or civil servants helping in constructive ways — from job training, to advice for small businesses, to family financial assistance.

“The Government’s work is also supported by reporting agencies that track economic and social conditions, which help it form decisions to support Bermudians in their daily lives.

“Mr. Furbert perhaps forgets that it was his Government that caused the increase in the number of people and spending on Financial Assistance to grow from approximately 680 people and $16 million in 2005/06 to $46.9 million this year to support some 3,000 clients — an unprecedented number.

“It was the former Government that initiated the decline in our economy through shortsighted economic and hostile immigration policies that led to the increase in demand for Financial Assistance and a fall in the quality of life for many Bermudians.

“It was the former Government’s policies that led to thousands of residents leaving the island and jobs being shed across all sectors of our economy.

“It was the former Government’s policy to simply increase the amount of taxpayer money spent on Financial Assistance rather than implement policies to train and empower Bermudians and get them working.

“It was the former Government that was on the fast track to creating a welfare state in which disadvantaged Bermudians simply relied on handouts rather than hand-ups; handouts Bermuda could not afford.

“Mr. Furbert says Bermudians need hope. Bermudians not only need hope, they also need a Government that is working to create jobs, attract foreign investment and improve the quality of life for all. This is the focus of the OBA Government.

“The OBA Government is working for the people. We started the National Training Plan, reinforced the Department of Workforce Development, and implemented changes to attract investment in job creators to Bermuda with their capital and expertise to set up companies, create jobs and contribute to the economy.

“We’re making progress on many fronts, bringing forward recovery that will make a positive difference in the lives of Bermudians.

“Meanwhile, the Opposition seems to take pleasure in doing all they can to derail our efforts. They seem preoccupied with finding phoney, manufactured problems or controversies each week to throw mud and see what sticks.

“Perhaps Mr. Furbert should let the Government get on with improving the quality of life for all Bermudians.”