Dear Sir,

Having attended the OBA town hall meeting on March 31, it seems the letter writer “Future Beckons” is in the camp of those who criticise everything the OBA Government does to inject life into our economy and get Bermudians back to work.

The writer first insults the attendees, labelling them a “rent-a-crowd” but conveniently ignores the opposition’s “rent-a-heckler” group that were in attendance. Opposition Parliamentarians were present, including Senator Ming, none of whom asked any questions.

Contrary to the writer’s assessment of the evening, some in attendance saw honest and transparent presentations made by the Ministers, which were aimed at building consensus and certainly gave East End residents reasons to get excited about what is happening now and what is planned for the future.

East End MPs Bascome, Outerbridge and Roberts-Holshouser were in attendance as hosts and available for any member of the public to discuss their concerns and ask questions.

Premier Dunkley outlined how the government has assisted the Corporation of St George’s, including the $750,000 injection to keep staff employed and municipal operations ongoing, how a bill was passed by Parliamentarians to levy a tax on imported fuel that now helps fund the Corporation, how ambulance services are now on call as well as the many private and public initiatives planned that will breathe new life into the East End. The audience also heard that, contrary to misinformation circulating in the community, Government has not made a decision to close East End Primary and consultation is ongoing. Minister Crockwell spoke very positively about the planned hotel development at the Club Med site with the aim of shovels being in the ground this year.

Minister Richards clearly explained why we need a new airport and how one can be built without further adding to our already crippling debt. He even showed video of a waterfall of water pouring into the arrivals hall during one of the hurricanes last year. If anyone doubts the need for a new airport, simply ask anyone who works there.

Minister Cannonier was as open and transparent as a politician can be! He acknowledged the many issues we face in terms of infrastructure; recycling, roads, water, sewage and so on. And he was very open about the costs and difficulties of fixing all the problems.

Future Beckons wants the Government to simply snap their fingers and have everything fixed using the latest technology. The problem, however, is that we have no money to instantly fix these problems which have been many years in the making. The Island didn’t start falling apart in December, 2012.

The writer’s questions show a lack of understanding of how large projects such as airports and hotels are financed and built. The former Government tried similar projects which led to approximately half a billion dollars of overruns and mistakes. Berkeley, the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Police/Court Building, Heritage Wharf, Port Royal – just to name a few. So many questions from Future Beckons, yet the opportunity to question Ministers and MPs was available to all on March 31. They can also be contacted any time by any member of the public if they have questions, ideas, proposals and so on. If the writer has proposals on how we can do things better, faster, cheaper – bring them on. Put your money where your mouth is and get off your fence.

The OBA is working to get Bermudians back to work. To do that they need to attract foreign money for developments that requires local labour and expertise. This has been true throughout our 400-year history.

The OBA has pushed forward on PATI, a travel expenses website, and other initiatives on transparency that are an inconvenient truth to the Opposition camp as they go about their daily attacks to discredit any positive initiatives moved forward by the OBA. I, for one, am encouraged and excited about the future for St George’s and the East End and look forward to arriving home at our brand new airport, catching a water taxi into the Olde Towne, zipping up the hill and waging a few bets on the Casino tables.

The future is now