Dear Sir,

The often-made comment that the Bermuda Civil Service is too large is very true and very obvious. We passed long ago the point of maximum benefit. We need a bold leader for this job. It should not be contracted so somebody foreign can be blamed for it. We have local experts who can research and plan a town-size government with adjustments for a semi-independent, tiny political unit. For what are we waiting?

Here is a plan. Start from the top:

1, We have too many MCPs. Solution: in each electoral district elect one, not two, MCPs and instantly solve our space problem

2, We have too many ministers/ministries. Solution: cut the number to five unilaterally now. Both parties multiply ministries so more of the faithful can get bigger salaries. After it has been done, let us by constitutional conference agree to a standard organisation plan.

3, Rationalise the civil service. Abandon the colonial format completely. Adopt a small-town business plan with a business work ethic and an island manager. We will leave behind the old colonial service and reorganise into five departments, researching former government organisation charts. We will employ former civil servants in the new organisation where possible. Give notice now to everyone who has not had 12 years in government that they may be made redundant. Be generous with severance pay.

4, Eliminate all laws that feed unnecessary procedures. We have lazily mimicked larger countries — in education, law and in other areas — instead of working out suitable, simpler Bermudian versions. Promote competition not monopoly in professions. Return to the old ways and the former kinder, simpler and more logical administration. Let us start acting like the small place we are.

5, Follow the British Civil Service. Return to professional administrators. Stop using building projects to steal tax money legally. Keep politicians out of administration. Return local parish responsibilities. Set up an alternate three JP lay parish court that is concerned more with truth than law, with the professional help of a legal adviser. Give the accused a choice. Keep court fees local! It may help innocently accused persons to prove their innocence without spending $100,000 they do not have.

6, Use local government for schools, too. Go back to independent head teachers legally outside the civil service. Modify pay scales so that eminently successful teachers can be upgraded without jumping through hoops. In the same process, downgrade poor teachers no matter what their qualifications. Put “the people” in charge with governing bodies so communities can solve community problems, working with heads again responsible for their own schools. Communities with the professional help of a head teacher can run schools better than politicians.

We seldom need experts because unlike the British, who used non-technical administrators in the civil service, we have installed experts in every department. We continue to call in experts for political and “pass the buck” reasons. Let the heads be responsible for their own work, but be forgiving about wrong decisions.

Now who will tie the bell on the cat?

Yours sincerely,

BERTRAM GUISHARD