Wayne Furbert’s Transport Tenure: Overpaid, Underperforming, and Failing Bermuda’s PSV Industry
Has Minister Furbert fulfilled the responsibilities outlined in his job description and justified his compensation?
Wayne Furbert of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) was appointed as Bermuda’s Minister of Transport for the third time in his 30+ years of political service during a cabinet reshuffle in October 2022. Since assuming office, Minister Furbert has introduced no significant public service vehicle (PSV) legislation or initiatives aimed at addressing critical issues raised by the transport industry, residents, and tourists. According to the government’s official website, the Transport Minister’s role is to “develop and direct Government transportation policies and programs” and “take a leadership role in ensuring that all facets of the transportation system work together effectively, supporting both Bermuda’s tourism product and the needs of residents.”
Let’s examine his tenure since October 2022
Promises Without Action: The Early Months
Upon his appointment, Minister Furbert was questioned by the media about his plans. His response was that it was “too early to say” what he intended to tackle but noted he would leverage his background as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to “look at improving efficiencies.” However, his initial months in office were largely spent addressing airport policies and partnerships, with minimal attention given to pressing issues in the PSV sector.
In February 2023, Furbert finally acknowledged the challenges faced by the PSV industry, stating, “There are some transportation challenges. We found out that 81 taxis are off the road. We have 600 taxi permits, and 81 were off the road for one reason or another.” He further commented, “We’re working with them, and hopefully, we can make an announcement,” but failed to elaborate on any specific solutions. No policy, legislation, or concrete actions followed. When the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association (BTOA) requested an updated active taxi list for 2024, it was revealed that over 50 taxis were still off the road, indicating no significant progress had been made.
2023: A Year of Avoidance and Inaction
Throughout the remainder of 2023, Minister Furbert avoided meeting requests from the BTOA and introduced no PSV-related policy or legislation. Despite repeated calls for collaboration and transparency, he remained silent on critical issues affecting the industry.
2024: Token Measures Amid Mounting Criticism
At the start of 2024, there were still no new policies or initiatives related to PSVs. In April 2024, the Minister introduced a 15% taxi meter rate increase and a pilot program to allow private cars to operate as PSVs through a ride-share system. While this pilot program was approved by the House of Assembly and the Senate, it faced strong opposition from key stakeholders in the tourism and transport industries, who raised concerns about safety and data privacy risks—concerns the Minister has yet to address.
The taxi meter rate increase was implemented without sufficient collaboration or explanation regarding how the rate was determined. This lack of transparency led to further distrust and confusion among operators and customers, especially as the rollout of analog meter updates was poorly handled.
Additionally, the Minister was credited for the introduction of 70 electric buses. However, it should be noted that these buses were ordered and procured by previous transport ministers, and Furbert merely oversaw their deployment. In May 2024, he introduced a digital payment solution for public buses, but ironically, the new electric buses were not equipped to accept digital payments, rendering the initiative ineffective.
Later in October 2024, the Minister announced new payroll tax rates for minibusses and an updated fare structure aligning taxi rates with minibusses. While these measures were introduced, they did little to address the broader, long-standing issues faced by the PSV sector.
Failure to Address Core Issues
Despite being in office for over two years, Minister Furbert has failed to deliver meaningful legislation or policy to improve the PSV industry. Key concerns remain unaddressed:
- Customer Issues: No solutions have been introduced to reduce long wait times, improve taxi availability, or handle customer complaints about operators.
- Taxi Owners’ Concerns: Issues such as the declining value of taxi permits, lack of access to loans and business banking services, and other long-standing grievances have been ignored.
- Taxi Operators’ Concerns: There has been no action to combat illegal ride-share services, such as Island Go, which continue to operate without proper regulation.
- Tourism and Port Transport: Despite the growing demand for transport services at ports and tourist hotspots, the Minister has failed to utilize the existing PSV fleet effectively.
A Disappointing Tenure
It is evident that Minister Wayne Furbert has been overpaid and has underdelivered in his role as Transport Minister for the third time. His CPA background has not translated into improved efficiencies or meaningful advancements in the PSV sector. His lack of action, transparency, and engagement with key stakeholders highlights a clear failure in leadership. Based on his track record, Furbert should not be considered for continuation in this role. The PSV industry requires proactive, solution-oriented leadership—qualities Furbert has not demonstrated during his tenure.
Share Your Views!
Share your views on YouTube comments or the Facebook, Instagram, Or LinkedIn comments of this article, or contact the BTOA directly at info@btoa.bm.
