Burt insists 14 of 21 pledges complete
The Premier identified yesterday the 14 promises he claimed the Progressive Labour Party government had completed in its first 100 days.
David Burt announced in Parliament last Friday that two-thirds of the PLP’s 21 pre-election pledges had been fulfilled — but failed to identify which ones.
The Royal Gazette reported on Saturday, based on statements from Mr Burt and his colleagues, that only ten of the promises appeared to have been completed.
The other 11 were classified as either works in progress or having statuses that were unclear.
Pressed for clarification at a press conference yesterday, Mr Burt argued that four pledges — described by the Gazette as incomplete — were actually completed.
These related to job training for Bermudians, an immigration policy for entertainers, three parliamentary oversight committees and a code of practice for project management and procurement.
The PLP promised in its platform to “increase job training to prepare Bermudians to fill jobs held by guest workers”.
Mr Burt said: “Out of the grants we gave to Bermuda College, I believe that about 50 out of the 188 persons were not enrolled in courses at Bermuda College, but were actually involved in technical training to achieve technical certifications.”
Mr Burt told The Royal Gazette last Friday that 188 Bermudian students were either entering Bermuda College or having “additional programmes” provided by $300,000 in new funding announced for the college in August.
The promise to “provide financial support to students in need to ensure access to Bermuda College for all Bermudians” was a separate pledge made by the party.
The PLP platform also promised to axe the One Bermuda Alliance policy that removed the requirement that businesses who bring in overseas entertainment acts must also employ Bermudian artists.
Mr Burt said last Friday that the Government was “currently reviewing” the immigration policy proposed by the Musicians Union.
He added: “Shortly, stakeholder groups will be consulted before finalising the policy.”
The Premier said last Friday that the Standing Orders and Privileges Committee “will submit changes” to implement the Sage commission’s recommendation to establish three parliamentary oversight committees.
The platform pledge was that the committees would be established.
Mr Burt also said last Friday: “Today we tabled the new Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement.”
The platform pledge, which Mr Burt yesterday said had been completed, promised to “implement” that code.
In his Ministerial Statement last Friday, Mr Burt told the House of Assembly that all 21 promises were “completed or significantly advanced”.
But, when quizzed during Parliamentary questions, the Premier said the number of completed pledges was 14.
David Burt, the Premier, identified the following 14 platform pledges as completed
1, Re-establish the Bermuda First advisory group
2, Appoint a gang violence reduction coordinator
3, Conduct an urgent review of health and safety in all public schools
4, Provide financial support for students in need to ensure access to Bermuda College
5, Increase job training to prepare Bermudians to fill jobs held by guest workers
6, Commence the installation of wi-fi in all public schools
7, Double the guarantee capacity of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
8, Establish a bipartisan committee on immigration reform
9, Establish a tax reform commission
10, Reverse the immigration policy which removed the requirement that businesses who bring in overseas entertainers must also employ a Bermudian group
11, Issue a RFI for the establishment of a technology hub at Southside
12, Implement the Sage Committee’s recommendations to establish three permanent parliamentary oversight committees
13, Update the Ministerial Code of Conduct
14, Implement the Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement
