Good Day everyone, Good day Bermuda,
Yet again it gives me huge pleasure to announce two new One Bermuda Alliance candidates.
There can be no-one in St. George’s who does not know Thomas Harvey. He is a true son of the St. George’s soil and he will run in constituency 2, St. George’s West.
Nicky Gurret is person who is passionate about so many things and who is involved in so many projects that benefit Bermuda and Bermudians.
She will run for the OBA in constituency 34, Sandys South Central.
They are both new faces and part of a new team that will do better.
No-one has done better than the One Bermuda Alliance at helping the East and West ends of the Island.
It was the One Bermuda Alliance that passed legislation which enabled the town to collect a tax on fuel landed at Ferry Reach.
That tax was a hugely important for St George and allowed large infrastructure projects, such as work on Ordnance Island and Market Wharf to happen.
In addition, it was the OBA Government, working with the Corporation of St. George’s, that contributed almost one point five million dollars to the Penno’s Wharf/Hunter’s Wharf Refurbishment project.
When the One Bermuda Alliance was in Government, we negotiated with Norwegian Cruise Lines to get a dedicated regular cruise ship visiting St. George.
That deal also included bringing two catamaran ferries to the island for the run from Dockyard to the East End, which, before Covid were regularly full.
The One Bermuda Alliance also returned the ability for the town to collect wharfage fees, which provided significant income for its budget.
And, last, but certainly not least, it was the One Bermuda Alliance which negotiated the deal to develop the St. Regis Hotel and golf course.
Years after the old Club Med was blown up, years after the so-called platinum period, it was the One Bermuda Alliance that actually put something in place.
We did better.
In just four years, the One Bermuda Alliance brought $1bn of investment into Bermuda.
We performed an economic miracle.
Part of that investment was a result of the America’s Cup which had a big impact in the West End.
PwC’s report shows that AC35’s economic impact amounted to $336 million – Government’s three-year budget for AC35 was projected to cost $77m, the PwC report indicates that the actual spending was $64.1m.
It brought investment to the West End putting Bermudians to work in a wide variety of things like renovating people’s homes as they looked to rent them for the event, supplying the mega yachts or in tourism.
Bermuda, we did a good job then.
With a team that includes people like Nicky and Thomas, we will do better.