hat we all knew would come to pass, has. Cabinet incompetence has destroyed Bermuda Homes for People (BHP), which formally disconnected itself from Government's public relations life support systems; the latest casualty of The Social Agenda. And don't let the latest promises fool you, the project isn't "postponed", it's dead.

In fact, the housing portfolio is in such dire straits that even the mobile homes are homeless, and immobile; parked out of sight gathering dust while the Minister ponders their home.

What's revealing about the BHP collapse isn't that it failed, it's that no-one's surprised; not the lottery winners, not those who paid deposits, not the Opposition who predicted this long ago and definitely not a jaded public resigned to either failure or scandal at most Ministries, but in particular Housing.

If it wasn't so predictable it would be sad. If the affordable housing crisis wasn't so acute it would be comical. But it's not. The implosion of the latest housing initiative and the hopes of too many is a tragedy.

That's not entirely fair though. There have been several successes, even at the redundantly named BHP. Why the redundancy, the equivalent of saying "Paget Kennels for Dogs"? Well, because all the previous projects haven't been for the people, they've been for the politicians.

Take Bermuda Homes for Premiers for example. Bermuda Homes for Premiers is a testament to Cabinet efficiency with the right motivation, achieving unprecedented success providing two Premiers different, and freshly renovated residences, as a compliment to Camden, the entertaining residence.

Premier Scott's housing situation was evidently so severe that he has yet to move into "Clifton", formerly the Chief Justice's home. According to the Premier's PR flack, Mr. Scott is sacrificing on our behalf, reluctant to divert critical Works and Engineering resources from other projects.

Or perhaps the usurpation of the Chief Justice's residence wasn't really necessary in the first place, occurring solely as signal to the Governor that "The Man" is the boss, after Sir John Vereker failed to heed Cabinet's advice on the appointment? It couldn't be the latter could it? That would be juvenile.

But wait, there's more. Bermuda Homes for Ministers for example. Unlike Bermuda Homes for Premiers, this initiative doesn't house Cabinet Ministers; it manages their real estate portfolios through the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC).

In Dr. Brown's case BHM even facilitated the sale of his Flatts property to the BHC ? after the BHC renovated it at its own expense ? for an inflated post-renovation price; all in the name of increasing the affordable housing pool, of course.

And least we forget Bermuda Cars for Ministers, Bermuda Travel for Ministers, Bermuda Credit Cards for Ministers. But I digress.

If the Government felt the same sense of urgency at housing "people" as housing Premiers they might get somewhere. Instead we'll hear that familiar refrain: "Another chance, give us another chance. It's not our fault. More time, give us more time."

abinet isn't committed to public policy, they're addicted to public relations, spending our tax dollars to buy more time and more perks. The results are self-evident.

Day after day, failed initiative after failed initiative, scandal after scandal, we're treated to press conferences trotting out the usual litany of excuses and finger pointing, followed by hype promising an imminent turnaround, again.

The creative but doomed Bermuda Homes for People saga is all too illustrative of the cynicism, desperation and callous manipulation of this hapless government.

Only three short months ago, amid a climate of uncertainty, Government staged a high-profile publicity stunt known as the Bermuda Homes for People Lottery, surely aware that the project was closer to failure than success.

Undeterred, the Premier and his Housing Minister used the hopes and dreams of potential homeowners as currency to acquire more time, three months to be precise. The manufactured public scenes of Bermudians literally dancing in their seats at the news that they'd won a house in the BHP lottery will live in infamy. All that remains today is a short lived photo-op and a gushing headline.

A responsible government, a caring government, a competent government would have ensured that the project was secured, financed and well underway before raising the aspirations of Bermudians. Using aspiring homeowners as props in a stage-managed public relations sham is disgraceful.

The public are so justifiably cynical that there's been relatively little reaction to the announcement of BHP's collapse. Instead there's only resignation; no not a Cabinet one, just that of a jaded and spurned public, resigned to these outcomes.

It's all too typical. The seven year parade of empty promises and grandly titled initiatives heralding the next big thing will continue unabated. Bermuda isn't at a crossroads as the Premier said in his televised speech, we're trapped in a house of smoke and mirrors. Political vaporware is the primary product of the New Bermuda, spewed out as glossy mailings, newspaper ads, press conferences and self-congratulatory speeches promising that more will be promised.

But there's an elephant in the room, a huge one.

Few people are willing to say it out loud but everyone is thinking it: If this Government is so incompetent that they can't build a house, what makes them think they can build a country?