Dear Sir,

In reading the New Year’s Honours List from Bermuda, notably 90 per cent recognition was given to those who successfully brought forth the 35th America’s Cup.

And therein is the insight of why the One Bermuda Alliance resoundingly lost the last General Election.

Because, although the judiciary held the island together, as the Progressive Labour Party socially ripped it apart, not one judge was recognised for their unfailing contribution to the social and legal stability of Bermuda in 2017.

But as the OBA declared legal war on Ewart Brown in the United States — deserved or not, it is debatable — it was the judiciary in Bermuda that kept the island socially stable so that AC35 could be realised.

The OBA passed its political responsibility on to the courts of Bermuda, and the courts guided Bermuda through its most socially turbulent times in 2017.

So I must wonder why the OBA did not even consider recognising members of the judiciary for the New Year’s Honours List?

And please note that the OBA had its list well thought through, ready and available to turn over to Government House in time for December 2017, with more confidence than it had going into the General Election when it was sucker-punched by the PLP.

The judiciary worked tirelessly in 2017 to the benefit of Bermuda, and most notably in keeping the OBA’s tenure stable.

So it was the OBA that should have demonstrated political gratitude in its honours list, but instead the OBA chose to recognise money over the rule of law, rather than money and the rule of law.

To the judiciary, hopefully lesson learnt.

VALIRIE MARCIA AKINSTALL

London, England