HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Premier David Burt has rebuked Economy and Labour Minister Jason Hayward, a former Bermuda union leader, for saying he does not need the votes of people who think he is not engaging with them or doing a good job.
Hayward provoked uproar by insisting the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) government would never work with the Opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA). Still, the Premier affirmed that the PLP, which holds a 24-seat majority in the House of Assembly, did not exclude people.
Burt said the minister’s views were “uncharacteristic,” could have been “worded better,” and had been expressed after “a long day” in the House.
In a statement issued, Burt said: “The Progressive Labour Party has a history of working to secure every vote and representing every citizen no matter who they voted for. That will not change.”
The Premier’s intervention came after the OBA, which held power between 2012 and 2017 but now has just six seats in the House, labeled Hayward’s remarks as “delusional arrogance.”
Burt added: “Minister Hayward is a passionate and energetic representative of his constituents and Bermuda who has committed himself to grow this economy while always being available locally or overseas to further Bermuda’s interests, but he is human.
“In this case, after a long day in the House of Assembly, I believe the minister expressed the frustration of the government’s continuing attempts to try to work with the Opposition, for the betterment of Bermuda, to no positive avail.
“While I accept the minister could have worded his statement better, the lack of humanity experienced while canvassing when members of the public may put out dogs will naturally invoke anger and disappointment, and the minister’s uncharacteristic comments were a reflection of that.
“PLP MPs and candidates regularly canvass, which provides an opportunity to better connect with the people we represent.”
Aguinaldo Medeiros, the OBA’s executive chairman, insisted the minister, a former president of the white-collar Bermuda Public Services Union, had “slapped voters in the face” with his comments and jeopardized overseas investment in the island.
The rebuke came in the wake of the minister telling MPs in a Budget speech: “I will stand at the polls, and the person will say I haven’t seen you, so you will not get my vote.
“I don’t want your vote. For what? So, you feel like you have some control or say over what I do in the future?”
Medeiros said the remarks could damage the Bermudian economy — the national debt currently stands at US$3.35 billion — and adversely impact drives to attract foreign companies.
A former OBA premier, Michael Dunkley, said the minister had “trashed” Burt’s call for togetherness to deal with Bermuda’s problems.
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