March 9, 2014

Dear Sir,

We expect the One Bermuda Alliance government to govern and to do so better then what we received from November 1998 to December 2012 our date with destiny being the glitzy promise of the Progressive Labour Party. There were many areas of criticism that had merit as would be expected, as we do have an adversarial Parliamentary democracy with the opposition having its say in a robust legislature. I am satisfied with the overall performance of the OBA government so far and am not surprised with the more than eager attempts of the PLP to derail them in their mission for recovery of our economy and getting our people back to work. Forgive me for glancing in the rear view mirror prior to 1998 to see full and over employment, it is not that difficult to hear Sir John Swan often remarking on the floor of the House how Bermuda was an economic miracle!

The management of our affairs had nothing to do with luck or winning the lottery but with good governance and proven ability along side sound conservative management that provided a standard of living enviable to the rest of the smaller islands of the world. The OBA must stay the course and hold the line for Bermuda and resist the cat calls from those who stand wrong for Bermudians. The OBA are on a good course and need to be encouraged to continue and not worry about reelection as the people get the government they deserve in a democracy, after all the electorate are always right even it when does not please everybody.

The people have a right to lampoon this administration especially those who did not vote for them but the policies of the OBA are right for the country and mistakes will be made, but this government will succeed make no mistake about it if they enjoy this term of office and the next. Our crippling debt must be addressed and not kicked down the road by those who posit deferral as the eternal hope it will just go away.

I like many other Bermudians have a vested interested in rescue of this country’s fortunes as a new senior and I’m most concerned about younger people and the myriad of economic issues facing them. The opposition failed us most miserably and need to serve their time on the benches of opposition for the good of this country.

Before they came into power we were given a public holiday to celebrate, the OBA would not dare to engage in such a display of the self serving abuse of authority! Some may have rejoiced then but would find such a holiday today revolting. To the OBA your trial by fire will get seven times hotter and public service is often thankless and bitter, but Bermuda needs you and you must press on as the need for the survival of our wonderful country has never been greater!

It matters who is the government at this critical period of our history when we must have the best people at the helm to maintain and control the direction of our own destiny! The prospect of people from the outside of our country coming in and telling us what to do is not only unacceptable but is a most frightening spectre. The most damaging criticisms of government is that of broken promises, OK, this is fair comment.

If governance were an exact science we would live in a perfect world! Alas we do not and responsive governance is a moving target and the facts take us to places often unforeseen and therefore may cause realignment of our focus and direction. Every administration has to make adjustment on promises and direction when viewing the challenges through the lens of unfettered information not filtered through political bias. To the OBA I encourage you to press on to do the job which you asked us to elect you to do!

WAYNE B SCOTT