Dear Sir,

Here is part four of my observations with some out-of-the-box ideas for consideration to help to address some of our self-inflicted wounds.

As a businessman looking to be part of the solution:

1, The Chamber of Commerce needs to help to explain the cornerstones of capitalism: achieving growth and creating jobs. Take the issue out of the political realm. Explain benefits at a street level

2, The chamber should also explain the direct economic benefits of multiplier effect: more residents, more money, more spending, more economic activity, more jobs

3, The political parties need to agree a number and process to help to replenish our depleting population, while making sure that Bermudians are not disadvantaged with job opportunities

4, The union needs to invest in providing potential investors in Bermudian with reasons to consider trusting Bermuda’s labour force in the future as a partner to encourage investment in Bermuda; start courting these investors, not frightening them away

5, The union also needs to change its member mandate to focus on upgrading the skills of its membership through re-education to add value to potential investors and to enable the enhancing of members’ paycheques

6, As a white Bermudian, I am of the opinion that we also badly need somebody of stature from within the black Bermudian community, without a political agenda, to map out a simple plan to explain for the white community how painful past histories/practices can be acknowledged and addressed. We want to know how to begin the process of racial healing, building bridges and creating interracial trust, attacking the frustrating and hurtful racial divide between our peoples created mostly by our party politics

7, Lastly, we must be aware when we are committing economic suicide. We all need to be willing to continually and consistently encourage the best opportunities for our tiny island and its people. We need to recognise when we are simply “warring” to win political battles, but are essentially losing the country’s economic-opportunity war. We need to listen to each other more carefully. We also would be wise to protest emotional issues differently and smarter. Collectively, we all need to focus on the importance of providing a unified reason for investor confidence or we all end up losing and the economic suffering will only continue.

United we stand or divided we will continue to fall.

BERMUDA BUSINESSMAN