Bermuda Can't Afford Michael Dunkley's UBP
Michael Dunkley's UBP will add up to 8,000 voters to the rolls and shut down Government TV. They'll "trim the civil service" and they'll implement a draconian crime policy.
This morning, Mr. Dunkley and Ms. Gordon-Pamplin once again led Bermudians down the path of deception. As a courtesy to Mr. Dunkley and Ms. Gordon-Pamplin, we've edited their remarks for accuracy. Please, enjoy this pre-election treat. "Mr. Dunkley," "Ms. Gordon-Pamplin," take it away!
Michael Dunkley's Edited Remarks
At the start of this election campaign 46 days ago, my colleagues and I pledged to keep to the high road. And, 72 hours later, we violated that pledge when we unleashed the first attack ad of the campaign. We courageously jumped in the gutter and I'm proud of the lie we spread about the PLP living in "big houses."
We signed a Code of Conduct because we thought it would be an excellent election ploy. We thought we could cunningly use surrogates to make our vicious personal attacks while we skated along on the high road.
I am proud to say the United Bermuda Party's candidates have repeatedly gotten down in the gutter. From attempting to take the vote away from hundreds of Bermudians to lying about the PLP's record on public safety and taxes to fearmongering about Bermuda's booming economy to saying that the PLP 'sets a bad example for our children,' we serially misled the Bermudian people and smeared the PLP.
It has not been easy, because from Day One, Dr Brown and the PLP have talked about their progressive vision for the future. We did our best to distract Bermudians from the PLP's bold, progressive pledges to provide free day care for Bermuda's children and FutureCare - a bold healthcare programme that will make sure all of Bermuda's seniors have access to the highest quality healthcare.
In that regard, my colleague Pat Gordon-Pamplin and I want to address a few issues on this last day of campaigning.
Pat Gordon-Pamplin's Revised Remarks
Last night, Dr Brown continued to highlight a key plank that we buried deep in our platform. He claimed that with 'the stroke of a pen,' we plan to create 8,000 new Bermudians.
This is true. The PLP knows it is true, but it is what we have come to expect from the truth-obsessed PLP.
We have committed to, and I quote from our platform, "grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents."
We have committed to "publishing guidelines and conditions for review" by a UBP government which made a solemn promise to "grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents."
Nothing that comes out of this review – repeat nothing – can be granted without the full support of a UBP-majority in the House of Assembly.
For the PLP Immigration Minister to crunch the numbers and determine that we would create 8,000 new citizens is not what we hoped to be talking about on the day before the election.
We understand the angst on immigration issues, as their policies have sought to put Bermudians first.
We explained the inequities, and crafted a response to those inequities. Given our desire win government, it is unfortunate that the PLP chose to bring our plans into the sunshine.
It typifies their campaign, and it is only fitting that they should end their campaign on this honest note.
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Dr Brown has said our plan to cut taxes for the lowest earning Bermudians is a bad idea. He's right.
Our tax cut to those earning $42,000 or less will make sure that the 22-year-old children of wealthy parents making $42,000 a year don't have to pay taxes. The United Bermuda Party would put $76 a week for these kids to enjoy themselves at bars and parties across the island.
That's $4,000 a year for 30-year old single guest worker to spend outside of Bermuda - in the place he calls home.
That the PLP – a party born out of the labour movement – could oppose giving money to the son of wealthy parents and the guest worker who will spend that money outside of Bermuda, boggles the mind. The evidence of disconnect has been made apparent when examined against our time honoured commitment to our guest workers.
We want to ease the burdens on people like the 22-year-old son of wealthy parents and the 30-year-old guest worker, who clearly need relief from Bermuda's high cost of living. Dr. Brown doesn't seem to care about that.
No issue shows the difference between the two parties more than this one.
Michael Dunkley's Edited Remarks
Dr Brown quoted Meg Munn, the British Minister in charge of overseas territories, who said that the BHC allegations have been thoroughly investigated and the matter is now closed.
Despite saying in our platform that we oppose double jeopardy, we completely disagree.
Dr Brown and half of the major public safety organisations in the western world - including Scotland Yard, the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security - would have you believe the matter is closed. We, the political opposition, don't think the investigators are right.
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When the United Bermuda Party was voted out of office in 1998 it was a painful experience. And, it was one that I personally fought tooth and nail to never experience. I proudly campaigned for and voted for the UBP in 1998. I always want my party to win.
Our Agenda is chock full of conservative policies that will please our political base.
We've only made vague promises surrounding home ownership and we'll focus like a laser beam on building rental housing. We know that with the addition of upwards of 8,000 more Bermudians, housing prices will continue to climb.
We will try and fix the education system that Wayne Furbert admitted we messed up - but, many UBP MPs will continue to send their children to $30,000+-a-year American boarding schools.
We will re-establish a multi-tiered health care system that provides second class service to a majority of Bermudians.
We won't go as far as the PLP when it comes to taking care of children 0-4.
We'll scare you into believing that a vote for a PLP means a vote for new taxes.
And, we won't talk about how we want to pay for our new programmes - other than to say that we will 'trim the civil service' and cut government TV.
I can't explain exactly how I want to trim the civil service or how I will fund my programme because we have been making it up as we go along.
In tomorrow's election, Bermudians have the chance to elect a Government they can trust, one that will look after all in our community – not just the powerful few who are well-connected.
It is time to keep Bermuda moving forward. We trust the people of Bermuda make the right decision tomorrow.
