PLP 2007 Platform
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Our National Objectives Democracy and Development Social Transformation Culture, Identity and Community Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Individual Progress and Prosperity Integrity and Accountability in Public Life Education and Excellence Youth in the New Bermuda Tourism Leadership Premium Health and Housing Protection of the Vulnerable The Power of Partnerships Improved Public Services Alternative Energy Public Safety and Security Sustaining our Environment 1 Message from the Leader Dr. The Hon. Ewart Brown “We have learnt the art and science of government and we conscientiously practice it to the greatest good of the greatest number of the Bermudian people. Bermuda is on the right track and heading in the right direction under the PLP. We intend to increase the momentum, and that we shall do.” Fellow Bermudians, Bermuda goes to the polls on in the right direction under the 1998 print advertisement with Tuesday, December 18 in an PLP. We intend to increase the a dreadlocked PLP officer and election that will be pivotal to momentum, and that we shall. candidate lined up in the cross our country’s future. Patterns hairs of a sniper’s rifle, wins the of Progress, the PLP Election The choices facing the electorate Piety Award when compared to Manifesto, offers ample bases are to continue to progress with the editorial assault of this cam- on which to decide your choice the PLP or to go back to the past paign of 2007; and the savage in the General Election. Our under the UBP. Because of the smut that is circulated by viral platform has emerged from the horror of forgetfulness, there are email. people, and is in continuity with some among us who continue to our first election Manifesto. live in denial and are incapable The UBP’s obsession with power of dealing with the reality that knew no bounds in 1998, there We make no grandiose promises Bermuda has changed since were no limits to their desper- in this platform. We have learnt 1998. ate effort to cling to power the art and science of govern- then; there are no limits to their ment and we conscientiously Bermuda has experienced a attempt to grab power now. practice it to the greatest good campaign of unprecedented A compliant media fraternity of the greatest number of the viciousness, divisiveness, and makes every opposition gambit Bermudian people. Bermuda is unrelenting character shredding a full blown issue; with fairness, on the right track and heading this year. The notorious UBP balance and simple courtesy of 2 Patterns of Progress Progressive Labour Party “I want every Bermudian child to have the opportunity to be somebody special. I want every Bermudian child to pursue excellence, to create wealth, and to be guided by compassion and a sound religious core.” minor consequence to Bermu- On his untimely passing, Eugene tourism renaissance, was David da’s media barons. The former Cox gifted the PLP with a gifted Allen’s brainchild. That single rulers of Bermuda continue to woman, his daughter, Paula, piece of legislation has leveraged live in denial of the reality that who has performed truly impres- billions in new investments and the Progressive Labour Party has sively in managing a wider range has driven Bermuda’s new tour- indeed introduced a New Ber- of key Cabinet portfolios than ism success. muda. perhaps any other woman on the Planet. Paula took up the baton, Tourism success represents suc- There are those who felt that the never missed a beat and has cess for every Bermudian. The 1998 General Election was a good kept the economy on track and best of the premier brands in toss for the UBP to lose. Bermuda moving in the right direction and world tourism want to do busi- had been locked into an 18 year tourism slump, investment in the sector was flat, we had a deterio- rating tourism plant and visitors “We are taking better care of our seniors, were uniformly complaining that expanding scholarship opportunities for we were under-delivering value young Bermudians, improving the quality for the money they were paying. The economy was in such deep of the school experience and picking up imbalance that the then Premier, momentum in providing affordable housing now Dame Pamela, had to con- to meet the needs Bermudian families. cede that the country was “on the ” edge of an economic precipice”. has kept the PLP administration ness in Bermuda. Bermuda has It was not the best of times for anchored to fiscal discipline and also been the recipient of billions Bermuda. However, the PLP was acuity. of dollars in non-tourism capital rich in savvy, brain power, mana- inflows under the PLP. gerial skills, and the commitment The late David Allen, perhaps to doing the right thing for the the most passionate advocate We are taking better care of our Bermudian people. The extraor- of Bermuda to have lived, led seniors, expanding scholarship dinary economic insight and the rescue mission in tourism opportunities for young Bermu- management skills of the late that laid the foundation for the dians, improving the quality of Eugene Cox were central to the spectacular surge in tourism that the school experience and pick- swift turnaround in Bermuda’s Bermuda has been enjoying un- ing up momentum in providing economic position at the turn of der the PLP. The catalytic Hotel affordable housing to meet the the century. Concessions Act, which has ig- needs of Bermudian families. nited Bermuda’s widely heralded 3 Moving Bermuda Forward We are beefing up the numbers, back. Bermuda is not one of the candidates of the Bermuda hiring international law enforce- those countries. We have come Progressive Labour Party when ment support, and upgrading too far to turn back. we have visited your homes. I equipment and other resources also thank you for your many of the police force. I believe that we are too small a pledges of personal prayer. society to deny ourselves access This can be the best of times for to all our country’s resources. I thank you and I thank God for all Bermuda. This will come only your trust in me. when we recognize that our chil- My political ideology is unrepen- dren will continue to sit side by tantly democratic. I believe in I also take this opportunity to side in our classrooms, we will all equal rights, equal opportunity wish you and your loved ones a ride the ferry, we will bump into and equal responsibility. I believe joyous Christmas and a happy one another in the supermarket in the productive potential of the New Year. aisles, and we will all worship in free enterprise system. I also be- one of God’s many houses every lieve, however, that government God bless you all. weekend. must intervene to lead social transformation and to level the As we near the climax of a long playing field for business enter- “My political and fiercely contested election prise. ideology is campaign, it is in the interest of unrepentantly Bermuda for all of us to com- I want every Bermudian child mit to and work for calm in our to have the opportunity to be democratic. I communities after the election somebody special. I want every believe in equal storm. There will inevitably be Bermudian child to pursue excel- rights, equal continuing tensions between lence, to create wealth, and to people holding extreme positions be guided by compassion and a opportunity and on the most burning issue in sound religious core. equal responsibility. Bermuda. This is inevitable in a I believe in society confronting change. The I am confident that warring Bermuda Progressive Labour though we might be as the the productive Party understands this. election campaign enters its potential of the most furious phase, our election free enterprise From our beginning in 1963, the process will be free and fair, free PLP has advocated change, agi- from fear, and an example to system. I also tated for change, and has been the world. I want the healing to believe, however, Bermuda’s primary catalyst for begin on December 19th and that government change and social justice. This continue every day thereafter, will continue to be the mission every week, every month, every must intervene of the PLP. I will continue to year, and every generation after to lead social be an unapologetic crusader for ours. transformation and change. I take this opportunity to thank to level the playing Few countries of the world you for the kindness and the field for business would benefit from changing courtesies you have extended to enterprise.” 4 Patterns of Progress Progressive Labour Party PROOF OF PROGRESS Number of Number Number of International of Local International (exempted) Companies Business Jobs Companies 1998 • 2,383 1998 • 2,918 1998 • 9,985 1999 • 2,473 1999 • 3,255 1999 • 10,503 2003 • 2,868 2003 • 3,781 2003 • 12,336 2006 • 3,144 2006 • 4,489 2006 • 12,861 Total Visitor Total Visitor Arrivals Expenditure 2001 • 458,063 2001 • $350.5 million 2002 • 484,034 2002 • $378.8 million 2003 • 482,676 2003 • $362.9 million 2004 • 477,750 2004 • $393.5 million 2005 • 516,846 2005 • $391.1 million 2006 • 635,272 2006 • $448.7 million 5 Moving Bermuda Forward 9 Years of Real Solutions and Enduring Benefits for all Bermudians Despite the challenges of a US recession and the devastating aftermath of September 11, 2001 Bermuda has enjoyed unbroken economic progress, with widening and increasing individual prosperity since the PLP came to office. The PLP has made it better for all Bermudians. Consistent with the stated intentions of the Progressive Labour Party, successive PLP administrations have resolutely righted the wrongs that had denied Bermuda the full potential of all its people.