There are Bermudian families living in overcrowded conditions, seniors struggling to find affordable accommodation and working people who simply cannot find somewhere they can afford to live.

All they know is that every day is a struggle, every week life becomes more uncertain and every month the impact of not having the housing they need is being felt.

Getting every Bermudian experiencing this into new, affordable, safe housing is our priority and speed is of the essence.

Our approach has been criticised, dismissed and has seen attempts to block or slow down what we are trying to do in the interest of our people and our country.

The One Bermuda Alliance — including MP Michael Fahy — as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition have a role to play in keeping the government accountable. No one questions that. So they can continue writing columns and asking questions. We will answer legitimate questions about the programme and the expenditure of public funds as is expected.

But Bermudians who need housing cannot live in an OBA opinion column, they cannot shelter under OBA political waffle and they cannot wait for us to take the OBA’s slower approach.

When you have a roof over your head and know that you will be able to stay in your home for years to come, it is easy to believe that going slower is the best approach. When your housing situation is secure it can be easy to ignore or dismiss the desperation and suffering of people whose lives and experiences you’ve never lived.

Who feels it knows it.

The people told us clearly in the last election that one of our top priorities is to address our housing crisis and not just talk about it.

We heard that message loud and clear and are doing what we were elected to do. Did the OBA get the same message?

While the OBA keeps talking, complaining and obstructing, we are focused on getting homes built and getting Bermudians into them as quickly and as safely as possible.

• Zane DeSilva is the Minister of Housing and Municipalities and the Progressive Labour Party MP for Southampton East