Premier Ewart Brown gave a full report to the House of Assembly today on his successful trip to Russia. The trip was part of the PLP Government's firm commitment to ensuring the continued success of a registry that provides a much needed economic boost to Bermuda. From those who don't have a political stake in Bermuda's success or failure, we received much praise for our quality and professional registry. Premier Brown:

Director of Civil Aviation Mr. Thomas Dunstan and I then met with Russian Airlines Aeroflot, S7, UT Air, with the Department of State Policy for Civil Aviation and the Federal Air Transport Agency responsible for handling aviation regulatory oversight under Russia’s Ministry of Transport. We were struck by the consistent praise for our Aircraft Register, the high standard of our work and the fantastic service they have experienced in conducting business with Bermuda. They each welcomed the news that we plan to open a satellite Civil Aviation unit at the Bermuda office in London.

This has been a grueling schedule but well worth it. The work of our Director Thomas Dunstan and his team has been exemplary and I believe that this outstanding team deserves to lead a growing aircraft register on behalf of Bermuda.

Before I conclude, I would like to take a moment to address the irresponsible and careless attacks on this Government by the Opposition. As the duly elected representatives of the people, we have an obligation to protect our economy and Bermudian jobs. When it comes to our economy and when it comes to Bermudian jobs we have an obligation to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. While Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition has done their best to make the Aircraft Registry a political football our Government remains focused on the real issues facing our people.

In their efforts to discredit the Government they have run a real risk of undermining our ability to save the Air Registry. If the Opposition’s rule is ‘Bermuda First’ only when they say so, then their credibility on other pressing issues is in doubt. This is an issue in which the petty partisans are out of their league. This is too serious to play politics

He's right. The clients who work with our registry choose to be on the Registry - there's nothing that forces them to choose us. However, when misrepresentation and fearmongering is spread in public by the Opposition, a disservice is done to Bermuda and our registry. Premier Brown:

The registry is made up mainly of clients who choose to be on the Register, and could one day choose not to be. Therefore we must strike a balance between Full Time Employees and contractors so that if the Register were to decrease we are not put in the situation of downsizing the staff.

The benefits that our well managed, professional and internationally recognized Air Registry contributes to Bermuda in terms of jobs for our people and revenue for our economy is enormous. For this reason it is a priority of this Government that it be protected, preserved and grow from strength to strength for the benefit of our people.

Undermining Bermuda and our economy may be in the Opposition's political interests, but, we believe in a politics that builds Bermuda up, not tears Bermuda down. We believe that Bermuda works best when we all stand together, united to protect our economy.