The returning politician talks housing crisis, immigration, cost of living, and Pathways to Status…
Falling population numbers and failing immigration policy have had and continue to have a detrimental effect on our cost of living.
This is a theme that runs throughout our extended interview with Michael Fahy, Shadow Minister of Housing & Municipalities, and Home Affairs.
At the open of his conversation with Gary Foster Skelton, Mr Fahy points to the first PLP Government’s term limit policy as a genesis of the housing crisis. Incoming guest workers, he says, shifted from family homes to 1 or 2 bedroom apartments, pushing Bermudians out of the space.
He says we need to look at housing and immigration policy in tandem, consider changes to enable more city living, and potentially have renewable energy requirements for new builds.
On the cost of living, Mr Fahy isn’t convinced that the PLP’s planned oversight of grocery store prices – in particular, a price tracker – is going to help keep prices down.
Throughout, Mr Fahy cites our population numbers as a factor impacting living costs.
Mr Fahy also responds to questions about his political history, namely the OBA government’s Pathways to Status policy. He asserts that the PLP’s response, while politically effective, divided the community and created an unwelcome attitude to potential investors.
