The Opposition has hit back at claims by the Premier that Bermuda is a fairer society under the Government’s stewardship.

Jarion Richardson, the leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, spoke out after David Burt delivered an address at the Progressive Labour Party’s Annual Delegates Conference on Wednesday night.

Mr Burt reminded the audience that his administration had raised pensions and cut taxes since coming to office in 2017.

He told the party faithful: “We have proven that government can and should be a force for good in people’s lives and one that can fight for fairness in society.

“We are committed to progress, fairness and equity, and to policies that benefit all Bermudians.”

Today Mr Richardson questioned that claim, instead painting a picture of crumbling infrastructure and failing government services.

He said: “Bermudians must have listened to Premier Burt’s comments to PLP party delegates wondering if he’s on the same planet.

“In what world does he think life is fairer for working Bermudians under the PLP’s 20-year race to the bottom?

“Instead, the PLP has gifted Bermuda with under-resourced schools, escalating healthcare, crumbling roads and bridges and understaffed government services.”

Mr Richardson pointed out that Bermudians were leaving the island “in droves” because of financial hardship.

He said: “Premier Burt’s so-called ‘sweeping changes for equality’ seem to have swept away everything Bermudians value about this island — pride in the excellence of our education, pride in our well-maintained roads and buildings and pride in the fact that families can create a decent standard of living for themselves.

“The PLP’s notion of fairness has not brought prosperity to the people who gave it power. It has made life much worse.”

Mr Richardson said that poor governance had “run this country into the ground”, but that good governance could “turn it back around again.

He added that the solution to creating a fairer Bermuda was to fix the basics of good government.

He said: “That means creating an environment where investors want to come here, and cutting taxes and red tape to help local businesses thrive; delivering a world-class education for our children; investing in our roads and infrastructure to bring Bermuda back to where it should be, and reducing our crippling national debt.

“Most importantly and the most basic of all, is governing with integrity and accountability — and being accountable to the people who put you in government.

“If Premier Burt wants a fairer Bermuda, he needs to stop wasting time complaining about the ‘combined opposition’ and start fixing the problems that his government created.”