Premier pledges to do more to ease the cost of living
More tax breaks and other concessions are in the pipeline if the Progressive Labour Party wins the General Election next month, the Premier said yesterday.
At a press conference, David Burt also pledged that the Government will do more to make sure that cuts in customs duty on essential food items will be passed on to the consumer — something that he claimed retailers were failing to do.
Mr Burt said that his party will unveil its election platform on February 6, less than two weeks before the February 18 poll.
The PLP leader said: “We are making steady progress in our economy. We do see unemployment figures are low compared to what they were prior to the pandemic. There’s a record number of Bermudians working in international business.
“All of this has helped to deliver increased government revenues and allowed us to reduce the burden of taxation on working people in Bermuda and in local business.”
Mr Burt ran through a list of initiatives that his administration had implemented since the Covid pandemic of 2020, including payroll tax reductions, customs duty breaks on essential food items, price freezes on gasoline and pensions increases.
He said: “These results didn’t happen by accident. They happened because your Government is focused on solutions.
“While we’ve made significant progress, we know that the rising cost of living continues to affect families across our island.
“To us, the rising global cost of living is not just a headline or a political tool to be used as a soundbite.
“It is a reality that affects hard-working Bermudians in our communities and in our families every day. But let’s be clear. Your PLP Government has not stood idly by.
“We’ve rolled up our sleeves, taken action where we can and we’ve taken choices in one simple principle — fairness for Bermudians.
“We will not stop where we were because we know that more has to be done.”
Mr Burt said that the PLP was committed to reducing energy taxes by a further 20 per cent at the next Budget, and to setting up a seniors’ day centre providing meals and activities for older people.
He said: “Senior care is a cost and what we want to do is make sure that we can find more affordable options for persons who are experiencing this.”
Mr Burt added that people on basic health insurance will be guaranteed a primary healthcare visit, and a specialist visit for those on FutureCare.
He said: “This is what we’re talking about — investing in people and putting money into spaces where it can reduce the burden on persons.”
The Premier pointed out that his Government had abolished customs duty on more than 30 essential food items, such as bread and milk, but claimed that these savings were not reaching consumers.
He said: “Sadly Bermudian families are not experiencing these savings in their pockets because some local businesses have not passed on those savings to you.
“So the next PLP government will do more to address rising food costs by fostering competition and exploring new ways to deliver affordable options directly to Bermudians.
“If that means that we have to make sure that we supply those items ourselves then that is a choice that we are willing to make.”
David Burt said that the full slate of Progressive Labour Party candidates will be a team “ready for the future”.
The Premier spoke out after the announcement that veteran legislator Derrick Burgess and former minister Wayne Caines were standing down as would-be parliamentarians.
Mr Caines is the chairman of the board of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. The board was pressed for information by Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, last month over “allegations of serious workplace issues“.
At today’s press conference Mr Burt, the PLP leader, said that both former MPs had valid reasons for stepping down and that the party had not been weakened by their departure.
He said: “People make decisions and the party is ready and as you know we have a full schedule of roll-outs this week.
“I salute cousin Derrick’s service. He has given yeoman service to this country, to this party.
“He’s been deputy leader, a minister a number of times, president of the BIU.
“With MP Caines, he served with me in Cabinet and he’s made a decision and I don’t feel it as a departure or a resignation, I view more as a pause than an exit from politics.
“There are persons who have other things and we don’t want to talk about what may be going on but people need to have that right.
“But there are other people who will step up and we will put forward on January 31 a team of 36 — a team that is ready for the future.
“There are a lot of persons that are coming into the party and a lot of persons who are making their way towards the exit.
“This is a normal transition that happens in parties when people step away at general elections and persons take their place.
“I believe it is healthy that it is actually happening inside the Progressive Labour Party and I’m pleased to see it.
“Politics and service is difficult and I pay homage to the persons who have served and I look forward to their future contributions.”
Asked if Mr Caines’ resignation was prompted by Mr Darrell’s criticism of the BTA board, Mr Burt replied: “I certainly think you’re reading too much into things. I don’t believe that had anything to do with it at all.”
Questioned about the possible abolition of the BTA should the PLP be re-elected, Mr Burt said: “I’m sure that will not be in our platform and I’ve not heard anything whatsoever as that being mooted as a view and a plan and a position.
“I think that what’s important is that we support tourism in any way, shape or form and I’m not going to discuss what may or may not be happening at this particular press conference.”
Pressed for more details on that scheme, Mr Burt said: “I think it’s important that we understand the progression of where we are.
“We had a Cost of Living Commission look into these particular matters, working with supermarkets and others and we eliminated duty on staple goods. That was done in 2022.
“The reports that we have, have shown that that has not resulted in savings to consumers. And so the question is, what are the next steps?
“We promised pricing transparency and that is work that is currently happening with the Government and grocers right now, which they are pushing back on.
“Just to be clear, the Government has no intention of running or operating a grocery store. But what the Government will do is to support community organisations who may wish to get into co-operative supply agreements for essential goods, so that those profit elements can be cut out.
“On February 6, the Progressive Labour Party will unveil a bold platform with new cost-of-living measures designed to lift every Bermudian.
“These measures will build on our progress and reflect our commitment because we believe in being clear in our plans in sharing what we’ve done and what we will do to continue building a fairer Bermuda for all.”
Mr Burt was joined at today’s press conference by Anthony Richardson, the PLP candidate for Hamilton South (Constituency 7).
Mr Richardson said that the high cost of living was a global problem that the PLP was tackling.
He said: “While we are proud of the progress we have made, we know there is still more to do.
“The cost of living crisis continues to affect many in our community and we remain committed to finding solutions.
“Together we can ensure that Bermuda is a place of opportunity, equity and security fro all.
“We thank you Bermuda for your resilience. Let’s make it make sense. Let’s continue working for a fairer Bermuda together.”
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