I do not normally think of bad news as good news, but the report in The Royal Gazette last week that Bermuda was running out of cement is one instance where that crossed my mind.

Contractor demand for cement had literally emptied the Dockyard silos, where the island’s supply is stored, with contractors in line for the next shipment to arrive.

Cement supplier Maxcem said the shortage was owing to a “drastic spike” in demand — jumping some 40 per cent in January/February compared with the same months last year.

But demand has been growing for some time now, as we have seen with Department of Statistics reports of rising sales of building materials — 17 per cent higher in January, month on month.

Doing more and hiring more is the new reality for Bermuda’s construction industry, and it has taken years of work by this government to bring about restoring a level of confidence in Bermuda that makes it possible for investors to commit their dollars to help us build our future.

Of course, the Opposition does not want anyone to see this new reality. Jamahl Simmons keeps talking about “jobs disappearing” under the OBA government. And the Leader of the Opposition, David Burt, in his Reply to the Budget decried the Government’s “missing plan for economic growth that will create jobs”.

Well, I would ask these two gentlemen to look around — at the hyper-busy developments at Morgan’s Point, at America’s Cup preparations in Dockyard, at St George’s Harbour improvements for renewed cruise ship business, at the just-completed Loren hotel, with dozens of new jobs, and at the rebuild of Surf Side, now known as Azure.

There was another Royal Gazette story last Thursday that put more flesh on the bones of GDP growth, and rising demand for cement and building materials — the renovation of Moresby House at HMS Malabar involving 20 to 30 workers from two local contractors. This is work, good work, for Bermudian workers. Beyond the sounds of construction, the Office of the Tax Commissioner reports 2,030 new jobs on the island since 2013. This is not a net figure — jobs come and go — but it is a figure that indicates higher levels of workplace activity, whether in corporate offices or at worksites around the island.

The job situation is going to get better in the days ahead. The airport is soon set to break ground, creating hundreds of construction jobs, and the start of training and new career opportunities for anyone who wants to be involved in civil aviation.

Then there is the St Regis hotel development in St George’s. A new hotel has been promised for decades and St Georgians can be forgiven for being cynical about it and for being misled and played. But that is going to change soon.

Ground will be broken for the new hotel, and with it will come construction jobs, career opportunities and steady traffic, and trade for St George’s businesses serving the hotel and its guests.

All of these developments are what the Government has been working hard to bring about, making it possible for Bermudians and their families to move their lives forward. It is happening for many right now — real progress. But there is still much more to do and we are going to keep working to make it happen for as many as we can.

Michael H. Dunkley is the Premier of Bermuda and the MP for Smith’s North (Constituency 10)