The issue of trust is one of the most important qualities of human existence. Trust pertains to our moral and ethical values. As a consequence, it goes to the very core of who we are. There is an old axiom that "reputation" is what people think you are, but "trustworthiness" is really what you are.

The Oxford Dictionary defines trust as a "firm belief in reliability, honesty, veracity, justice, strength…." Implicit in the idea of trust is that it requires no "evidence" or "examination".

Taking something "on trust" means just that. Simply put, trust = confidence. The opposite of trust, distrust = suspicion. When you trust people you have confidence in them. When you distrust people, you are suspicious of them. Without trust, very little business would ever get done in this world. And the business that is accomplished without trust, will always be slow, ponderous, frustrating and painful. Trust, more than money, makes the world go around.

The current economic trauma we are living through is fundamentally a crisis of trust. Notwithstanding the election of President Barack Obama and his message of hope, the deepening distrust has clearly permeated both public and private sectors. This is serious because trust is the underpinning of a healthy economy and a vibrant democracy.

Sadly the distrustful era we are living in is mired in a culture of partisanship, second-guessing and blame. Politicians, public servants and business leaders need to accept that accountability, transparency, scrutiny and integrity are all parts of their job. Our institutions are deeply rooted in the Westminster System, a system with a political culture of laws, conventions and codes of conduct.

It's clear that the trust relationship between politicians and the public is changing. In the current economic and social times it's no surprise that the bar continues to rise when it comes to transparency and accountability. Given the current challenges facing the country, we need a fresh commitment to these ideals.

The glue that holds all relationships together, including the relationship between the leader and the led, is trust, and trust is based on integrity. People, when rightly and fully trusted will return trust. Without trust, words become hollow. He or she who does not trust enough, will not be trusted.

Public office holders will always be held to high standards of behaviour and will be governed by specific codes of conduct including values and ethics codes. The public and the media will increasingly hold the office holder accountable for blame and results.

Suggestions to rebuilding trust may lie, not so much in trying to restore it through quick hits, spin-doctoring, or bursts of legislation and new rules, but rather in modelling both core values and new behaviours that are likely to earn trust over time. Some of these include:

¦ Clearly and consistently articulating, modelling and vigorously reinforcing public service values;

¦ Placing an even greater premium on service quality and direct interaction with Bermudians;

¦ Applying a new emphasis on accountability and transparency;

¦ Developing new and renewed relationships by Government to partner with the private sector.

Trust inspires confidence, hope, reliability, responsibility, predictability and integrity. It used to be said that a "man's word was his bond", that you could take what a person said and trust it completely. Now we say "get it in writing and let our lawyers look at it". In this rapidly changing world that we live in, trust seems to be more the exception than the rule. Warren Buffett, thought of as one of the most honest CEOs, and one who doesn't mind sharing his investment success said that "lack of trust brings about fear".

Trust is a critical element in all human interactions, but how can we trust anyone when there is an absence of integrity behind a person's words and actions. Another old axiom fits perfectly here "say what you mean, and mean what you say".

If all of us did just that, then our society would be better and we might be able to trust one another again. I come to the conclusion that trust is a most important quality in both one's personal and professional life. Trust is a relationship of reliance. A trusted individual is presumed to seek to fulfil ethical codes, laws and their previous promises.

A trusted individual is a confident person who exhibits fundamental civility and simple courtesy. The lack of civility is primarily caused by the lack of trust. It is becoming much more commonplace to witness public displays of rudeness, arrogance and disrespect.

One writer termed it "the age of rage" — road rage, workplace rage, political rage, etc. Too many today take their cues from a polarising political culture. Civility demands mutual trust and respect. At its core it means respecting the other person's point of view, their diversity and difference.

Trust means being able to predict what other people will do when situations occur. Trust is integral to the idea of social influence. It is easier to influence or persuade someone who is trusting. Once trust is lost, it is very hard to regain.

Author, Barbara Misztal points out three basic things that trust does in the lives of people: it makes social life predictable, it creates a sense of community, and it makes it easier for people to work together. Trust is both an emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you expose your vulnerabilities to people, but believing they will not take advantage of your openness.

Logically, it is where you have assessed the probabilities of gain and loss, calculating expected utility based on hard performance data, and concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner.

In practice, trust is a bit of both. I trust you because I have experienced your trustworthiness and because I have faith in human nature. We feel trust. Emotions associated with trust include companionship, friendship, love, agreement, relaxation, and comfort. We all need to learn about trust, how it works and how to build it.

If we do it well, other people will give you the earth. If you betray them, they will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Trust is the glue that keeps everything together. Mistrust is the enemy of promise and hope.