Every year, the Government delivers a budget, but it is not just numbers on a page. A budget shows what a government values, who it fights for, and where it plans to take the country over the next fiscal year.

Here is how the budget process works: first, the Minister of Finance delivers the Budget Statement, laying out the Government’s priorities. This is the culmination of months of work in each ministry, identifying the most pressing matters and where savings could be made. Then, the Opposition replies, usually with more of the same, old rhetoric — “open the immigration floodgates”, “cut government workers’ jobs”.

After that, over the next two weeks, every ministry gets debated in what is called “The Committee of Supply”. That is an opportunity for every minister to lay out the financial priorities for their ministry and a chance for opposition members to hold ministers accountable and push their party’s agenda.

As it stands, Bermuda is turning a corner. We have a budget surplus, the second in two years. Jobs are up. Salaries are going up. Yet, despite that, greed, global uncertainty, housing shortages and a cost-of-living crisis enveloping the globe are causing too many of us to struggle and feel left behind.

That’s why we are cutting duties on fuel, vehicle parts and construction materials.

It is also why taxes on mobile phones and private-vehicle licensing fees are coming down.

We are investing in new ferries, better roads, a new asphalt plant and modern waste facilities.

We are also investing in healthcare reform, giving free annual doctor’s visits under FutureCare and HIP, making prescriptions more affordable for more people and giving our seniors faster access to home care, while guaranteeing greater access to personal-care items for seniors in rest and nursing homes.

We’re providing more affordable housing, investing in new schools and more scholarships, and strengthening the Bermuda Police Service.

We are doing all of these things because we believe that when our economy is doing well, it should not be only the wealthy and privileged that come out ahead.

If there is just one hard-working Bermudian being left behind, we know that our work is not done. So we will keep pushing for better workers’ pay, keep fighting against greed and exploitation, and stay focused on keeping our promise to you.

The path towards a fairer Bermuda for everyone isn’t a fast or easy one, but Bermuda has a government today that is investing in what will help get us there ... together.

• Paul Wilmot is the government MP for Warwick North Central (Constituency 27)