PLP: Protecting Bermudian Jobs, Opportunities, and Our Future
For the past seven years, the Progressive Labour Party has been steadfast in protecting the jobs, opportunities, and future of Bermudians. Our government has worked tirelessly to ensure that Bermudians are at the front of the line for employment, training, and advancement.
A Clear Difference: PLP vs. OBA on Education & Jobs
When Bermudians needed support the most, Michael Fahy and the OBA cut scholarships and funding for education, turning their backs on young Bermudians striving for a better future.
In stark contrast, the PLP reinvested in scholarships and training, giving more Bermudians the chance to get hired, promoted, and build successful careers here at home.
When Bermudian entertainers saw their protections weakened under the OBA, the PLP restored them. And we went further—expanding the protection job categories to ensure Bermudians had priority access to opportunities in their own country.
The out-of-touch OBA questioned why we would do such a thing. But the answer is simple:
Bermudians Must Always Come First.
The OBA’s Lack of a Clear Vision for Bermuda
The difference between the PLP and the OBA could not be clearer.
The PLP has always outlined our plans and delivered on our promises—plans that put Bermudians first.
The OBA, on the other hand, offers:
❌ Vague promises
❌ No clear vision
❌ No real solutions
Where are their solutions for the issues that matter most to Bermudians?
🏠 Housing ❌ No Plan
🏥 Healthcare ❌ No Plan
💰 Cost of Living ❌ No Plan
👩💼 Jobs ❌ No Plan
Nowhere is This Difference More Apparent Than in Immigration Reform
The OBA would have you believe that there’s no difference between us—but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The PLP supports residential rights for long-term residents. That’s why it was the PLP Government that implemented Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) in 2000.
But the OBA, with Michael Fahy as the minister responsible for immigration, pushed to grant full Bermudian status to long-term residents through their infamous “Pathways to Status” initiative—a policy that brought our country to a standstill in 2016.
Why Pathways to Status Would Hurt Bermudians
Granting Bermudian status means:
🏡 Unrestricted property ownership rights
🗳️ The right to vote
Such a policy would fundamentally alter the social and economic fabric of our island.
The One Bermuda Alliance wanted to redefine what it means to be Bermudian, forcing through changes without proper consultation.
If given the chance, they will try to do it again.
PLP: Always Supporting Bipartisan Immigration Reform
When the OBA introduced their divisive policy in 2016, the PLP tabled an emergency motion in the House of Assembly, calling for a bipartisan approach.
The One Bermuda Alliance rejected that motion and forged ahead without listening to our people.
But when the Progressive Labour Party returned to office, we made good on our promise:
✔️ We established a joint parliamentary committee, including OBA members
✔️ We ensured immigration policy was shaped fairly
✔️ We put Bermudian interests first
The OBA Wants You to Forget Their Past—We Haven’t
The OBA hopes you will forget how they tried to:
🔹 Force through Pathways to Status without consultation
🔹 Dismiss Bermudians’ concerns as xenophobic
🔹 Ignore the will of the people
But the PLP and our 36 candidates have not forgotten.
We remember the protests.
We remember the betrayal.
We remember the silence when Bermudians demanded answers.
The OBA’s approach to immigration is not just wrong—it is dangerous.
That is not just our opinion—it is evident in other jurisdictions, especially the Cayman Islands.
What Happened in Cayman After Pathways to Status-Style Reform?
🏡 Housing costs skyrocketed
🚨 Crime increased
💼 Opportunities for locals diminished
👥 Born Caymanians became a minority in their own country
Is that the future you want for Bermuda?
Because that’s exactly the future the One Bermuda Alliance is offering.
PLP: Supporting Growth Without Sacrificing Bermudian Identity
Let me be clear—the PLP is not opposed to growth.
The Minister of Economy and Labour is right that we need more jobs in Bermuda and more people working in Bermuda to strengthen our economy.
But needing more workers does not mean giving away Bermudian status.
There are ways to grow our economy while keeping Bermudians at the heart of our success.
That is the balance the PLP has delivered, and that is the balance we seek to maintain.
PLP: Always Listening, Always Acting in the Best Interest of Bermudians
Unlike the One Bermuda Alliance, the Progressive Labour Party listens.
We are not rigid in our approach.
🔹 We consult
🔹 We ask for feedback
🔹 We adjust our policies when Bermudians raise concerns
We’ve done it before, and we will continue to do it.
Why? Because our commitment is to YOU—the people of Bermuda.
Why This Election Matters
This election is about the future of Bermuda.
It’s about whether Bermudians remain at the centre of our island’s success or are sidelined by policies that prioritise others.
The PLP remains committed to:
✅ Putting Bermudians first
✅ Protecting Bermudian jobs, land, and opportunities
✅ Growing our economy in a way that benefits Bermudians first
✅ Standing against any attempt to undermine Bermudian rights
Now, to speak more about the stark differences between the PLP and the OBA’s approach to immigration, I will hand it over to Minister Jason Hayward.