August 22, 2014

Dear Sir,

Although the Progressive Labour Party was formed out of a struggle back in the 1960s for equal rights and justice, given its history and the social and economic evolution and devolution in some cases, it is unwise to assume that the political progress of the country and the goal of equality should be left in the hands of the organisation alone or unattended.

Given the current dynamics and observations of the last decade it has become painfully clear that political reform which empowers the electorate and brings them into the equation is not and has not been the objective of either party.

The current construct gives near absolute power to the ministers with a solid, wall-like ringed fence protecting ministerial decisions.

This isn’t to say their decisions are wrong or right, but that their decision-making should not have such absolute power without the public mechanism to repeal.

Proof of that is Minister Michael Fahy of the One Bermuda Alliance’s recent decisions that squashed controversy and debate. Putting it bluntly, the public fear two things:

1. That a return of the PLP without any change, will send the country backwards into a double or triple dip economic spiral and empower uncontrollable ministers.

2. That the OBA is on a current “snatch and grab” course to forever entrench the racial polarisation which benefits the status quo.

Neither position is something the public want and both perceptions are adding to the disillusionment of the general public.

Mr and Ms Bermuda want to get on with their lives with a plan that engages everyone — hopefully harmoniously. At the moment it’s a “my way, or get out of the way, Jack”.

It’s clear. You can see it translate into government stances and pervades the atmosphere.

If the PLP were smart, in my opinion, they would employ old wisdom and don’t fight your opponent, take away their weapons by dropping yours and rearranging the battle strategy.

The OBA was to be the reform party and now it isn’t and has proven to not be interested because it was simply campaign rhetoric.

Get real and become the real organisation of political reform and not simply the organisation hell bent on regaining power by any means.

Roll back the clock as in the beginning of the organisation and rethink where it is that Bermuda needs to be today — not where labour needs to be, not where black people need to be, but where Bermuda needs to be.

Employ people with the understanding of what we as a country have as potential and with vision aim for it. The PLP needs to submit to a change agency that can remake it into something contemporaneous.

Marc Bean often spouts the language but the reality of his words means in truth, a revolution of sorts for the party and he has been backed into neutral by continuing with old methodology even though new words. Just like the old biblical: “How can you put new wine into old caches.”

KHALID WASI