“I believe that party politics is the basis of our demise.”

The idea of independents in the House has been raised by a few persons, with the resounding response being: “It will never happen” or “They just simply do not want it to happen.”

From where I sit, we should never say never. All things are possible.

The problem with independent candidates as of late is that:

1, They have always presented themselves too late

2, They lack a plan to be successful

3, They lack strong support systems

4, The education component, outlining the benefits of independent-thinking people in the House under the present system, never gets the attention it deserves

The only message that gets driven home is the idea of splitting votes. We need to go beyond that and address this situation of successful, strong and trustworthy independents in the House.

Imagine a situation where our strongest minds from both sides are forced to work together because the presence of the independents relieved either party of total control.

In other words, imagine Bob Richards and David Burt sitting at the same table strategising about the best way forward, rather than arguing about any idea put forward. As a country, we are not in a good place, as stated by both parties. After this election is over, the work begins.

We need all hands on deck — not the One Bermuda Alliance or Progressive Labour Party deck, but the Bermuda deck. We are not ready to work together and I am not sure what it will take for us to buy into the motto of the Bermuda Industrial Union: “United we stand, divided we fall.”

OK, I have said my piece, which by the way, I am entitled to. Talk about me as much as you please; the more you talk, I’ll stay on my knees.

Only the good Lord above can save us from ourselves. I now need a Dark ‘N Stormy with lemon, not lime.

Always think positive and outside of the box when we can. At this time, the Kool-Aid is either red or green.

Which one are you drinking or can I interest you in a Dark ‘N Stormy?

•Wendell “Shine” Hayward, a Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour recipient in 1998, has been among Bermuda’s pre-eminent musicians in a career spanning three decades

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