Yesterday’s Premier’s Question Period raised a straightforward issue: how should Bermudians measure the performance of their Government?" Minister Jason Hayward, while seeking to become Premier, has spoken about the need for better execution on major issues facing Bermuda. Curtis Dickinson has made integrity and telling Bermudians the truth central to his campaign.

Those are important standards by which any Government can be judged. Yesterday, I asked the Premier why, after nine years of his leadership, the candidates seeking to replace him are campaigning on those issues. Rather than directly address that question, the Premier pointed to other areas where his Government says it has delivered.

The same thing happened when I asked about economic diversification.

I specifically raised the Arbitration Centre, casino gaming, vertical farming and the Fisheries Development Centre and asked two simple questions: how many permanent Bermudian jobs have these initiatives created, and what tangible impact have they had on diversifying Bermuda’s economy?

Again, the Premier pointed elsewhere. Among the examples he cited were the approximately 500 jobs associated with the reopening of the Fairmont Southampton. Those jobs matter. The reopening of the Fairmont is important for Bermuda, and the employment opportunities should be welcomed. But restoring hotel employment within Bermuda’s long-established tourism industry is not an answer to a question about diversifying our economy.

Diversification means broadening Bermuda’s economic base so that we are less dependent on the industries upon which we already rely. That is why execution matters. Announcing an Arbitration Centre is not the same as having one operating. Announcing casino gaming is not the same as establishing an operating industry.

Announcing vertical farming or a Fisheries Development Centre is not the same as producing jobs, investment and measurable economic activity.

Government should receive credit when it delivers. But delivery in one area cannot substitute for an answer about a lack of delivery in another. Integrity means being prepared to account for the commitments you have made. Execution means turning those commitments into measurable results.

Bermudians deserve both.

• Ben Smith is the Opposition Leader and the One Bermuda Alliance MP for Smith’s South