The House of Assembly debate over the Throne Speech Reply became a dispute between the two parties over the state of Bermuda and the island’s economic and social prospects.

Interim Opposition leader Jarion Richardson’s response to the 2023 Throne Speech was branded “a political performance solely aimed to invoke negative emotions”, Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, told the House.

Mr Hayward opened the debate by accusing the One Bermuda Alliance of “negative affectivity” in its outlook, and extolling the Progressive Labour Party government’s record of success.

Mr Hayward told MPs: “One thing rings true, and that’s bad news always travels farther than good news.”

He said it was not up for debate that the island’s economy had expanded “beyond pre-pandemic levels”, adding that 2022 came with 812 new companies in Bermuda’s international business sphere, creating 230 jobs.

“Employment is up, Bermudian employment is up and unemployment is down, Bermudian unemployment is down.”

Mr Hayward said the island’s government had achieved progress during challenging times that many other governments had not, with “meaningful progress in the right direction” at home and investment courted from overseas.

“If Bermuda’s biggest problems are potholes and overgrown trees, then I will certainly take those.”

He said he would bring “a full report” to the House on progress in the economic recovery plan, adding that the economic investment certificate programme had brought “over $440 million of associated investment” to Bermuda.

Mr Hayward contrasted the PLP in power with the OBA government, saying: “We have different views as to how we provide social support to our people.”

On immigration, Mr Hayward said the economic development strategy aimed to “first create opportunity for locals and secondly to bring in workers to increase our working population”.

He said the PLP had made progress on mixed-status families and increasing eligibility for Permanent Resident’s Certificates but that “opening the door to status” was off the table.

Mr Hayward added: “When individuals ask for immigration reform, I specifically want to know what are you looking for in terms of outcomes?”

Ben Smith, of the OBA, responded: “It’s not about doom and gloom. It’s the Opposition’s job to point out what the population is saying about how they feel.”

Mr Smith highlighted residents having to leave the island for Britain and said Mr Hayward’s portfolio risked becoming “a ministry of emigration”.

He said the Throne Speech pledge to support companies keeping staff working over age 65 was a symptom that “our people can never retire” because they could not afford to.

Mr Smith said of the Reply: “The people of the country wrote that speech.”

He added: “Doom and gloom is the reality of many in this country.”

Citing discontent among teachers, Mr Smith said the OBA would ensure the disputed school of West End Primary and St George’s Preparatory School would stay open.

He said the Throne Speech pledge for a fare increase for taxi drivers had been added “in hope that taxi drivers are no longer going to feel the way they feel”.

Mr Smith said criticism was not directed at “all of the PLP”.

“There are some parts of the PLP that have lost their way, that have stopped listening to the population, that do not see the holes in the road and the boarded-up buildings.”

The two sides traded views on Bermuda’s direction, with Kim Wilson, the health minister, speaking next on “the progress we are making on strengthening our healthcare system”.

Ms Wilson said she was “joining the chorus” on the PLP government’s record, highlighting Throne Speech commitments for “more data driven” healthcare reform — as well as the increased benefits for treatments and medications.

Susan Jackson, of the OBA, focused on seniors, noting the island still lacked an office of the public guardian.

She called for “comprehensive legislation around domestic violence”, a review of the Seniors Abuse Act and fraud legislation to protect the elderly.

Ms Jackson spotlighted the Throne Speech promise of short form death certificates to deal with paperwork delays dating to the Covid-19 pandemic, which she said had been a serious issue raised by families unable to settle their loved one’s affairs.

Kim Swan, of the PLP, decried a “divide and conquer narrative” from the Opposition.

“We’ve got to get real coming here with solutions and not just coming here with a theme of potholes.”

He said that the Government recognised the need to grow the economy and was being “strategical” about increasing the population.

Government backbencher Jamahl Simmons accused the Opposition of playing the same tune.

He said: “The Reply to the Throne Speech was not what I expected. I expected, with a new leader, a new direction a new approach, an elevation of debate and a challenge of ideas.

“But we got the same old ‘you all are crooked, you don’t know how to run a country. You’re friends and family. It’s the same song.”

He applauded the Government for tackling the cost of living crisis and housing crisis, which demonstrated that it was working to break down “the two Bermudas”.

He said: “We will push the Government to do it and we will do it ‒ because we have to.”

He acknowledged that the Government had made errors and deserved some criticism in the past

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, said he was disappointed and frustrated by of the Opposition reply.

He said: “They must evolve from a mere complainer to a proactive force for change. I was very much disappointed in the Throne Speech reply.

“Identifying a problem and coming up with a solution is not good enough. Action is the key to making a tangible difference.

“Change does not come overnight but this government is determined to find solutions and take action.

“The Government has a plan, the Government has made promises and the Government will take action.”

Scott Pearman, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, denied that the Opposition offered only criticism.

To prove his point, he produced a raft of initiatives from the Throne Speech — such as an upgraded CCTV network, digital payments on public transport and changes to speed up the delivery of death certificates — that the OBA supported.

“One general criticism about this is that a lot of what is said here is not something that people are going to disagree about but it’s stuff that’s been said before and should have been done before,” he said.

“Where is the delivery? And if it’s coming, when is it coming?“

Former premier Craig Cannonier, the Shadow Minister of Public Works, defended the OBA’s record in government, saying that it was forced to borrow early in 2013 after inheriting a debt mountain from the PLP.

He said that the Government was not moving fast enough in bringing about change.

He said: “We know it’s hard to govern. We recognise that because everyone wants everything all of a sudden, But there are far too many people complaining that they are not being listened to.”

Like his party colleague Mr Pearman, Mr Cannonier was willing to “give chops” to the Government for initiatives such as streamlining planning regulations.