August 27, 2014

Dear Sir,

I heard the hurt, frustration and anguish. In April of this year the Bermuda Trade Union Congress met to discuss plans for May 1st, commonly known as May Day or International Worker’s Day.

In the past efforts to do something significant to mark this day had been relatively fruitless.

Thus a more collective and collaborative approach was decided upon for 2014.

It was agreed that we would organise something that the whole community could rally behind.

So, we invited community representatives to the meeting and the idea of a campaign for equality, jobs and justice was born.

Getting out into the community to hear the struggles and challenges that people were encountering was agreed as the first step in formulating the Campaign.

This process would culminate on May 1st, with a mass march at which time the Campaign would present the Government and the Opposition, with a manifesto.

The manifesto would outline the expectations of the people, gathered from a series of community meetings, around the areas of equality, jobs, and justice.

Under the umbrella of the People’s Campaign for Equality, Jobs, and Justice, six town hall meetings were arranged over a two-week period.

The meeting format was simple, introduce the intent of the campaign, namely to listen to the concerns and issues of the people, and then to formulate them into a document — the manifesto — and then to organise a march which would culminate in the presentation of the manifesto to the Government and Opposition.

What came out of the meetings was unexpected and heartfelt.

At every meeting the people, our Bermuda people, poured out their hurts, frustrations and anguish.

We witnessed people standing in front of hundreds, weeping as they shared the reality of their situations.

Expressions of hopelessness in a country filled with so much promise was conveyed.

Young people expressed feelings of displacement and feelings of abandonment living in a country in which the opportunity to obtain employment that would enable them to obtain a descent standard of living and provide for a family had become shattered hopes.

People had disconnected from their birth place and the concept of building a life on their Island home had eroded.

Over the two week period which followed the weight of the concerns and problems mounted and the People’s Campaign naturally evolved from a body planning to have a major rally and march to a group devoted to ensuring that those that feel displaced and left behind have a robust voice.

We realised that if not the People’s Campaign, then who else was going to speak up on behalf of the People.

The People’s Campaign is committed to being that voice and pushing for change for the betterment of the Country.

The Campaign and its representatives are referred to as many things, and we are subjected to the negative perceptions and judgments of many, most of which are derived from limited information.

Initiating and fighting for change is not a battle easily won and we will remain steadfast in giving voice to our people and their concerns.

We know who we are, those who have taken the time to attend meetings and get involved know who the People’s Campaign are and most importantly God knows who we are!

I heard, saw and felt the pain, and it is real.

What is most important in this movement is the intent, securing equality, jobs and justice for all!

JASON HAYWARD

People’s Campaign Representative