With a forecast for government revenue to surpass $2 billion, it was no surprise that the Budget was a bit of a sweetheart budget – or more to the point, a great big giveaway budget.
It hit all the right spots – putting money into people’s pockets, addressing cost of living issues, pleasing workers and businesses and putting in fiscal guidelines for the use of corporate income tax revenue to pay off debt over the next three years.
David Burt, the minister of finance and Premier, also committed to paying off more than $600 million in debt, freeing up $25 million in interest payments.
In what was a 2-hour budget speech, Mr Burt outlined a raft of investments – roads, the hospital, health care, infrastructure like Tynes Bay and housing, which, in per centage terms, got one of the largest budget increases, some 42 per cent.
But is there a fly in the ointment? It was a short mention, three paragraphs in a nearly 60 page speech: labour reform and the relaxation of protected job categories.
One short line acknowledged the danger of wage inflation – but there is also the issue of supply. If there is little to no labour supply (because everyone is working) it could also stymy projects.
Next week the One Bermuda Alliance will deliver its Budget reply – what will they find to criticize?
https://youtu.be/NQDzn4zGsvw?si=Jkgi-cVSqIKjbmUS

Budget day is tomorrow and the Finance Minister will have around $600m extra to play with thanks to the corporate income tax revenue.

Cost-of-livingwill be at the forefront and expect to see measures to put more money in ourpockets as well as efforts to include more items in the duty-free bucket.

But what else? What long-term planning will we see – there is money for it – how much of the CIT revenue be used to pay off the debt?

Why are judges talking about their pay? Well, it is about judicial independence, especially as they witness more cases of citizens vs the government in the courts.

They also raise the epidemic of violent crime, insisting that life skills work should start with children aged as young as 5.

· Listening to the Budget tomorrow – let us know your thoughts, email thenewsnavs@gmail.com or Whatsapp 534 2205

Can the One Bermuda Alliance rebuild public trust? Is the UK quietly questioning Bermuda’s governance? And why are more than 1,100 Bermudians still unhoused?In this episode, we break down the growing trust deficit in Bermuda politics, examine renewed scrutiny from the UK House of Lords over the Overseas Territories, and confront the harsh reality of Bermuda’s homelessness crisis amid rising cost-of-living pressures.As temperatures drop and political rhetoric heats up, we ask the uncomfortable but necessary questions about accountability, leadership, and whether real solutions are on the table.If trust is gained in teaspoons and lost in buckets — where does Bermuda stand today? Listen in to another episode of The News Navigators, Bermuda's only current affairs podcast!