On December 2, members of our community converged upon the grounds outside the House of Assembly, in response to a call from the Leader of the Opposition, together with the People’s Campaign, Move Bermuda and the unions — which I will call the “Combined Opposition” — to protest against the debating of the airport Bill. I am a supporter of peaceful protesting. Everyone should have the right to gather to express displeasure or support on issues and matters that affect us. The airport legislation is not something that in any way affects one’s civil liberties or guaranteed freedom; however, it is still a very emotive issue for many.

It is disappointing that the protesters went beyond legal protesting to illegally blocking the entrances to the House of Assembly so that Members of Parliament could not conduct the business of the country.

The Opposition leader made a statement, saying “this is the people’s House and the people are making a statement ...”

With all due respect, I have to differ with him on this point: the House of Assembly is not the people’s House; it is the House of the representatives of the people. It is the place that has been designated as the location to conduct the parliamentary business of Bermuda by those who have been elected by the people of Bermuda, and this is the second time this year that the Combined Opposition has forced the shutdown of Parliament.

We must not lose sight that Bermuda is an international financial centre. The most fundamental characteristic that made Bermuda palatable to businesses, and propelled promoters, executives and investors to set up businesses and invest their money here, was our political and economic stability. We know that our sustenance as a country is based on two pillars — international business and tourism — but tourism lags way behind international business as Bermuda’s principal revenue generator, and has done for years.

We cannot continue to be subject to political swings or civil unrest if we are going to be taken seriously as a reputable jurisdiction. Consider the African state of Liberia, whose offshore legislation was ruined by civil war and political turmoil. Political instability left in ruins most of that country’s economic and social infrastructure.

The big picture is this: political stability and our economic growth are inseparable. Our economy will not be able to take advantage of new opportunities as and when they present themselves if this instability continues. We will be unable to participate in and take advantage of changes that occur in the world economy if we continue down the path of self-sabotage.

In 2014, a report published by a United Nations think-tank, UncTad, found that multinational companies registered more profits in Bermuda than in China, Canada or Germany. These Bermudian-registered companies pay the Bermuda Government annual government fees in return for not having any Bermuda Government taxes imposed on their income or profits or any of the profits that they earn from their worldwide business. The report showed that companies from a sample of 26 developed countries booked $43.7 billion of income on our island in 2014. Do you realise that this equates to 779.4 per cent of Bermuda’s gross domestic product.

The perception that Bermuda is politically unstable will not only have a direct effect on the flow of foreign direct investment to Bermuda, but will lead inevitably to economic inefficiencies. No company, investor or business executive will want to invest here, and no business will stay here if the Government continues to be subjected to what, quite frankly, is anarchy. The ability of Bermuda to be able to manage its affairs and to conduct its business in a politically secure environment is essential to its survival. Whether we like it or not, foreign direct investment is what creates jobs, what contributes to our general knowledge base and what keeps us financially afloat.

The world is watching us and you can bet your boots that investors and business executives are making their strategic business, investment and financial decisions based on the behaviour that we display as a country. With Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and any other form of social media, we are “on blast” in virtually seconds. We are living in a global world and our investors and business partners have choices. They do not have to invest their time, money or resources in Bermuda.

There has been much talk that, should the airport deal progress, the One Bermuda Alliance government will, among other things, be leaving a legacy of debt for our children, their children’s children, and so on. This is a fallacy because our legacy of debt is already en train and well established for future generations, facilitated by multiple cost overruns to the tune of about $144 million on projects such as the Berkeley Institute, Port Royal Golf Course, Heritage Wharf and the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building.

What is scary is the potential legacy that is being set up for our children if the parliamentary process continues to be impeded. That legacy will be of a banana republic that is a geographical and financial risk; the potential for current projects to be abandoned, leading to a loss of current and future investment; the breakdown of business and social relationships with our international partners, as well as the breakdown of local business and social relationships.

This will result in a further breakdown of our economic base because we will lose foreign direct investment, leading to a substantial loss of government revenues, properties not being rented, local businesses not being financially supported, and eventually closing, and new businesses not being established, which leads to further unemployment and continued despair and despondency for Bermudians.

Accordingly, the calls by Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert and others for workers to down tools and protest will go unheeded. Why? Well, no one will be working because there will not be any jobs.

To those union members who do not want to participate in work stoppages that are not related specifically to labour disputes, cancel your subscription to Group Think Inc. Follow your own convictions. You do not have to participate in emotional contagion. Furbert and Jason Hayward, president of the Bermuda Public Services Union, get their pay cheques whether they are at their desks working or promoting protests at the House of Assembly.

Maybe they should buy your groceries or pay your utility bills when your pay cheque comes up short; I don’t know, but keep in mind that they get paid, no matter what.

During this cooling-off period, we all need to take a step back and actively contemplate whether our existing and future international business partners are going to want to partner with and/or interact with this Bermuda when the perceived approach to conflict dispute is revolution, not resolution, and the preferred means of holding a conversation is by confrontation.

“Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional!” (Max Lucado)

We all, including the OBA government, have to learn how to communicate better and be more collaborative in our approach because this Bermuda is the only Bermuda that we have.

•Leah Scott is a government backbencher and the MP for Southampton East Central (Constituency 30)

UPDATE: this opinion has been amended to remove the comment that intimated that the Leader of the Opposition was a lawbreaker during the December 2 protests