Spendthrift of the Year
Transport and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown is furious after failing to clinch the top spot in the 2005/6 “Spendthrift of the Year” awardsi
Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton won the coveted title by spending an average of $376 of public money per day on travel; Premier Alex Scott came a close second, after burning through $362 per day. Dr. Brown languished in third place, however, only managing to spend a paltry $342 per day.
“How did that sonofabitch Horton beat me?” raged Dr. Brown after the winners were announced. “He’s supposed to be in charge of Home Affairs, not Foreign Affairs! As the Minister for Transport and Tourism I should have been able to beat him!”
When asked why he thought he only placed third, Dr. Brown said, “I was certain that spending a couple of nights in a Deluxe Suite at the Burj al-Arab would be enough to guarantee a win. Obviously I was wrong. Next time I’ll be sure to book the Royal Suite for a month.”
Premier Alex Scott claimed he could have won if Bermuda was independent.
Archives By Date
If you've got it you might as well spend it, after all you can't take it with you when you've gone. I'd be pissed too if I were Doc Brown. After getting all that grief for his travel expenses only to be beaten out by Randy Horton. Randy "first class bathroom" Horton? Ewart probably figured Randy was afraid of flying after the way he was treated so he probably didn't consider him a contender.
No worries, it's all accounted for in next years travel budget. Did someone say mmmmmmillions?
Posted by SmokingGun on 17.07.06 at 18:15
Pa haha! That's funny Phil!
Posted by Full Fullish on 17.07.06 at 18:38
I see the irony point comes into play. Too funny.
Posted by Paradise Found on 17.07.06 at 18:49
This really is funny, love that closing line!
I can just see this story on page 3 of tomorrow's RG.
Posted by RedOnion on 17.07.06 at 18:50
The Government have done well to keep a lid on the spending. We can not expect our leaders to travel on the cheap, The soon to be highest paid political leaders need the best. What sort of a message will that send the world? If we cut this sort of spending, what will be next? Tourists spend way over the odds on our island, its only fair that our leaders spend way over the odds when they travel.
That way we can give something back.
When bermuda goes independent we will certainly need our own presidential aircraft. Without one how can this young nation hold its head up high. With all the flags of the world cup in our minds it is important to consider the effect of seeing the Bermuda flag on the tail fin of 'Bermuda 1'. This will hopefully undo years of oppression, its hard living in an off shore tax haven.
Our leaders work so hard for us and we can see the fruits of their effort when we look around, I couldn,t sleep if I thought that any of them were suffering hardship or missing out on an intergorvernment conference.
Posted by teacher on 17.07.06 at 18:59
"Health Minister Patrice Minors took just one trip – accompanied by her Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer – to an Avian ‘flu conference at a total cost of $5,840." RG
That's only $1946 per person for the whole year. She should be fired for making P, Doc and Randy look bad.
And Wayne Perinchief's one trip? Fire him too. Heck even drug runners spend more than that. Unless of course he went to Cuba. Then it's OK.
And what's up with Mister Lister? $12,000 and actually having the gall to explain where he was and why? No way a guy can entertain 18 graduating students for that little. He must have dug into own pocket. Which is a PLP no-no. Fire him too.
Posted by SmokingGun on 17.07.06 at 19:14
Would someone remind the Prem to include the cost of his forthcoming bus ticket in next years figures.
Posted by Martin on 17.07.06 at 19:31
.....and to think Terrence Smith went to jail for doing the same thing....
Posted by Wickering Banker :-) ---: on 17.07.06 at 19:39
Is it possible to get the records of the last Governments travel expenditure, so we can compare the two? Just out of interest of course.
Posted by Slowhand on 17.07.06 at 20:23
Can someone also explain where the $11m per year is then in the Annual Budget. $630k is miles away from the $11m budgetted for figure for this year.
Anyone know where the 'gap' is ?
Oh and by the way........ he did spend SIX nights in Dubai at $8k cost!!!
Posted by peterj on 17.07.06 at 20:52
Oh Phil, one of your funniest ever posts. You made me spit out a perfectly good mouthful of red wine when I read it. Off topic I know but that is also the funniest caption competition winner I have read so far. Two great chuckles in one night!
As always, keep up the good work.
Posted by Enigma on 17.07.06 at 21:38
I'm glad I'm not the only person who sees that each and every problem is answered with the word "independence" by the Premier. Did you guys catch this interview recently?
Reporter: So Mr. Scott, how do you feel about the trouble in Gaza?
Alex Scott: Independence.
Reporter: I see, so you think an independent Israel and independent Palestine would solve the crisis. Very insightful. Next question, how do you feel about the failing grades in education?
Alex Scott: Independence.
Reporter: Hmm, so you think a school system free of Government control would probably lead to competition and an increased yield in results. Very creative. Final question, how do you feel about the recent desire for a charter banning racist remarks in local electioneering?
Alex Scott: Independence.
Reporter: An election free of racist remarks? Wow. Now that would be progressive. Thanks, Mr. Premier.
This has been an exclusive interview; now, back to you, Phil.
Posted by jake on 18.07.06 at 09:04
Funny post, however in reading about the types of trips that were taken it all seemed fair to me. And the average daily costs don't appear particularly high compared to the money speant on average business trips in my firm.
Without comparisons it seems unfair to complain about overspending. And from the descriptions of events attended they seem exactly like the sort of travel I would want the government to take so that we don't remain as insular in our thinking as we have in the past.
Posted by Intrigued on 18.07.06 at 09:05
"Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield spent $71,872 on six trips, often travelling with a large entourage."
Large entourage? She went to agricultural shows in the Caribbean for fucks sake. Large entourage? Dubious benefit to Bermuda. And don't get me started on Brown.
Posted by sandgrownan on 18.07.06 at 10:09
There are two issues here:
1) It's clear that SOME of the trips were of dubious merit.
2) Of greater importance is that Government has little control over spending. It would cause little alarm if this laxity was confined to one area, but it seems to be widespread and the dollar trend goes upwards every year.
Government wants Bermudians to be prudent in the name of sustainable development, but shows no desire to trim its own excesses.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 18.07.06 at 10:18
They behave like kids in a candy store.
Posted by sandgrownan on 18.07.06 at 10:21
Our on island tourist budget base line is $200 per day. Often a bit more for an extra treat.
Regards, Bill
Posted by Bill Akin on 18.07.06 at 10:37
LOL Phil - loved this post.
I find it funny that P said he was going to "find alternative ways to get to work"
Why does he even need to take up a seat on the bus FFS - he lives 20 minutes away (on foot) from his office but he says he will only walk once a month - lazy fu**er!
What better alternative ways are there apart from cycling or going on foot? Are we going to see P skateboarding along East Broadway?
Posted by Lisa on 18.07.06 at 11:52
Government wants Bermudians to be prudent in the name of sustainable development, but shows no desire to trim its own excesses.
Perfecto !
Posted by observor on 18.07.06 at 13:04
Lisa, actually, I used to see P and Mrs. P walking every morning along Front Street at about 6.15 am!
Ah, now where is the Auditor General when you need him?
Posted by Tiggy on 18.07.06 at 13:43
Tiggy ... the Auditor General is still assembling his new office.
Posted by Darkside on 18.07.06 at 13:59
Darkside, coincidence? LOL!
Posted by Tiggy on 18.07.06 at 16:24
Tiggy ... everything happens for a reason.
Posted by Darkside on 18.07.06 at 16:43
Tiggy - well I wonder why P doesn't make a thing out of walking to work every day rather than claiming he is going to do it once a month.
Posted by Lisa on 18.07.06 at 19:33
compensation for travel in in dangerous environments
I suppose there's always the danger of choking on a Ferrero Rocher at the Ambassador's party. It is there fore wise to pay our politians for this risk when they travel.
Are we screening for nut allergies?
Posted by teacher on 18.07.06 at 20:10
Cycling to work is a good idea in principle but I get knocked off about once a year like clockwork. I doubt P would last that long amidst our nutty drivers.
Great post Phil.
Posted by xc on 18.07.06 at 21:22
You guys are only criticising them because they are black.
Posted by Brain Damage on 18.07.06 at 22:34
Brain Damage - yeah of course we are - it's got nothing at all to do with the fact that they spend ridiculous amounts of tax payers money.
Posted by Lisa on 18.07.06 at 23:27
"You guys are only criticising them because they are black"
Brain Damage - Is it fair to make racial slurs against these comments?
Posted by Teacher on 19.07.06 at 07:32
Brain Dead, er sorry, Brain Damage .... how do you know which of us are black or white? Are you saying that the posters here who are black are criticising them for that reason also? Or could it have to do with something like maybe they are screwing us?
Posted by RedOnion on 19.07.06 at 08:55
There is too much money floating around and being eaten up, unaccounted for. In business, every dollar of expenses has to be listed and submitted, in my experience. That means if you give someone a $3 tip, write it down. Every single dollar. This is called respect, respect for the source of those dollars--in this case, the public's taxes. What they're doing is unacceptable if they are not justifying every trip, every person on that trip, and how every dollar is being spent. That is basic.
Posted by Raptor on 19.07.06 at 09:26
Remember from a previous post that the government took away the Accountant Generals ability to audit Minister's spending on credit cards. They obviously had plans to do some serious travelling without accountability. Then they pulled a fast one to stop senators from delaying pay rises, what's next? Unlimited pension contributions?
Posted by Ali on 19.07.06 at 16:58
ROLF...HAHAHAHA.....LOLOLOL
What a bunch of PLONKERS......
The subject was satirical right?
Re think my comment you bunch of left wing namby pamby "gonna fix the world" fags.....
HAHAHAHAHA
Posted by Brain Damage on 19.07.06 at 19:11
"Re think my comment you bunch of left wing namby pamby "gonna fix the world" fags....."
Um Um - as in right wing hard ass "let's screw the world" bunch of homo sapiens?
Posted by SmokingGun on 19.07.06 at 19:22
yup....
Posted by Brain Damage on 19.07.06 at 19:54
How did they manage it though? Were they flying on gold seats on a solid gold plane whilst drinking gold?
Posted by Roger on 19.07.06 at 22:53
The PLP travel binge continues, with Minister Butterfield in Jamaica again for the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show. She seems to hit most of them in the region.
I am sure the lessons she learns will be of great value to Bermuda. This year's theme: 'Advancing Rural Development through Agriculture'.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 08.08.06 at 13:47
Tiger - your point has definite plantation connotations and so has no relevance in these enlightened times of transparency.
Posted by Pompous G. Winbag III Jnr. on 08.08.06 at 14:04