(By - Shamori Talbot-Woolridge, Constituency #9, Smith’s West)

When you strip away the OBA propaganda, MP Scott Pearman’s article is just more of the same: the OBA trying to rewrite history while offering nothing for the ordinary Bermudian family struggling to make ends meet.

Let’s be clear: the OBA record is one of austerity and abandonment.

When they had the chance, they cut, they sold, and they planned to give away Bermudian status through “Pathways to Status.” That wasn’t about helping Bermudians — that was about locking ordinary people out of opportunities in their own country.

The PLP has a focus of prosperity while the OBA will take us back to austerity.

They tried to give the children of guest workers the right to compete with your children for jobs and opportunities.

They slashed scholarships and training programs while jobs held by non-Bermudians skyrocketed.

They tried to slash a woman’s access to mammograms.

Their failure of leadership led to the pepper-spraying of innocent, peaceful protesters.

Bermudians remember that.

Mr. Pearman boasts about the OBA’s “tourism wins.” But ask yourself: who really benefitted?

Did the OBA’s America’s Cup bring down your Belco bill? Did it help you buy groceries or pay rent?

No. The money flowed to a handful of the well connected, while the rest of us were told to “tighten our belts.”

In fact, the economic analysis revealed that nearly 60% of the financial beneficiaries of the America’s Cup were White — in a predominantly Black country.

A Different Path: The PLP Record

Under the PLP, despite facing a global pandemic, supply chain crises, and inflation hitting every country, we chose a different path.

Instead of cutting back on Bermudians, we:

• Invested in our people by expanding funding, and increasing the range of scholarships, enabling more Bermudians to earn the skills to compete in our own country

• Increased seniors' pensions to keep up with inflation

• Brought in Bermuda’s first minimum wage

• Strengthened our labour laws, giving greater protection to our workers

• Expanded maternity leave and introduced paternity leave

• Expanded prescription coverage for HIP & FutureCare

• Slashed payroll tax for workers to the lowest point in history while shifting the tax burden to those who can more afford to pay their fair share

The OBA can throw stones from the sidelines, but Bermudians know the truth:

This PLP Government has your back.

We will not go back to the days of austerity, giveaways, and “Pathways to Status.”

Our mission is clear: to build a fairer Bermuda where our people are never again left behind.