The decision to reappoint Diallo Rabain as Minister of Education has been made purely because of his loyalty to the Premier and has nothing to do with what is best for our children who attend public schools.

If children are our future, and if we neglect to properly educate them so that they are ready to enter the workforce or go on to higher learning, then not only is their future bleak but so is Bermuda’s.

There is report after report on what solutions can resolve the multitude of familiar problems such as our infrastructure, societal issues, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, gangs, prison, debt and education. Nothing changes because supporters of the Progressive Labour Party, when they feel let down, show their disdain by not coming out to vote versus voting for the Opposition. I am a PLP member, and I admit that I have on occasion not voted at all.

There is a solution, though. It requires courage to lean into adversity when you know you are up against well-entrenched opponents.

For example, I ran for the PLP at the age of 24 in Pembroke West Central, a United Bermuda Party stronghold at the time. I, David Allen MP, Barbara Ball MP, Kathleen Bell and Doreen Lightbourne were the only White people to support the PLP openly at that time. It had its consequences.

If you are not happy but are a pure labour supporter, then go to the Reginald A Burrows Building (formerly Alaska Hall) and pay the $25 membership fee. The number of delegates your branch can send to the PLP Annual General Conference is determined by the size of the branch's membership. To become a delegate, you must be elected by your specific constituency branch.

Please do not be deterred if the PLP Member of Parliament for your constituency is a loyal crony to our autocratic premier, or if the majority of members in a particular branch are loyal to the Premier; continue to indicate your worth to be chosen as a delegate.

It is a shame that the party has moved away from grassroots branch meetings to the meet-and-greet events that are all fluff and no substance. Or branch meetings called where members are spoken to and presentations made without any clear dialogue on the elephant in the room, which is failure in critical areas such as education, health services, equitable taxation, uncontrolled rental market and poor fiscal decision-making.

Be a part of the wave that seeks a change in style, intellect and direction that new leadership could possibly bring to our country.

Remember, the last General Election was one of the all-time lowest turnouts, and this is because PLP supporters stayed home. This silent action did not send the message; instead, it emboldened the Premier. Now his mentee, Jason Hayward, who appears to have little respect for older members, could potentially take the torch using the same autocratic grip.

Furthermore, it is very apparent that the existing male-dominated Cabinet is not in tune with the issues important to women; there is an air of misogyny.

If only men challenge the leadership, let us hope the winner has more respect for the opinion of women and of its older members. And that they are open-minded to people approaching them on the street, just as Dame Lois Browne-Evans, L. Frederick Wade and Sir John Swan were.

On the topic of education, 40 per cent of Bermuda’s children attend private schools. Globally, about 18 per cent of primary and secondary students attend private schools. Bermudians are risking their financial security that affects them in later years at retirement because they are digging into what should be savings to send their children to private schools.

When I was young, children attended private schools primarily for four reasons; their families were rich, and/or they were racist, their parents were expatriates, or they attended for religious reasons. It is incredible to say this, but more children were getting a proper education under the former UBP than under our present labour party.

Someone posted the following on social media: “I can think of ten of my Eighties high school teachers who can easily handle this job. The minister needs to be that type of person.”

When I served as aide to the Opposition leader, the late L. Frederick Wade, there was a big conversation around the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968. A number of educators who supported the PLP back then wanted to run for Parliament. However, this order states that public school teachers must resign their employment before they can run for public office.

The PLP promised under the late Mr Wade’s leadership that they would change that requirement. I do not believe this legislation has changed, but I could be wrong. It would be helpful for educators or past educators to run as candidates in the next General Election.

• Cheryl Pooley is a former Progressive Labour Party political candidate and a political commentator