The last few days have been busy in terms of news stories. One that many may have missed concerned an agreement by the Island’s two major unions, the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Bermuda Public Services Union to work with Government to implement the cost-saving measures put forward by the SAGE Commission.

Acknowledging that the Island’s $331 million debt burden is not sustainable — and that Government needs to have a long-term, cost-cutting strategic plan — both the Bermuda Public Service Union and the Bermuda Industrial Union have agreed to hold talks, and have also put forward a number of their own revenue-generating ideas to be used in tandem with the cuts.

“The unions welcome dialogue with the Government on the development and implementation of a long-term strategic plan consisting of three to five years that will be beneficial for all Bermuda,” they said in a press release.

It seems to me that the unions might just have a better grasp of what ails the economy than the Opposition Progressive Labour Party. They understand that if something isn’t done about it, and done quickly, debt could sink this little ship we’re in. That is why, during the debate on the Sage report, I said “I look forward to the consultation with the Government and the Trade Unions because each group will have some insight into areas, which in the interest of public good, will allow us to reach consensus.”

They see that there is an opportunity for collabo\ration between themselves and the Government in the name of service to Bermuda … in the name of making sure that the dismal employment picture of today doesn’t become permanent.

That seems to be something the Opposition doesn’t grasp at all.

I listened closely to the debate on the SAGE Report in the House of Assembly on Friday, and came away dismayed. There is a deep partisan divide over the way forward.

It’s hard for me to understand how anyone, having listened to what has been said about Bermuda’s economy during the last year or so, could still not understand how we got into this mess, and how hard we are going to have to work to get out of it.

Speaking for the Progressive Labour Party, Shadow Finance Minister David Burt told the House that the SAGE Report’s recommendations constituted a road to economic ruin, an attempt to bust unions, promote a privatisation agenda and roll back workers’ rights. And he repeated that old line of the PLP’s, that our difficulties are simply the result of an economic downturn overseas.

Overspending on the part of the last government is just not part of the picture he is prepared to paint.

To me, Bermuda’s problems can be put quite simply. We’re like a family who have suddenly realised they have spent way more than they should have. Debt threatens to overwhelm them. What can they do to get themselves out of the mess they’re in?

Well, they don’t have to ask their banker for advice or more credit. It has to be obvious to everybody that they must do two things — they have to cut down on unnecessary expenditure, and they have to try to earn more money if they can.

This example on the smallest of scales is true also on the largest of scales. The City of Detroit in Michigan, which was forced recently to declare bankruptcy, is certainly now looking for ways to generate more revenue to get back on an economically-healthy path, but who on earth believes they won’t also be looking for ways to cut out unnecessary expenditure?

It’s easy for the PLP to say the Government has to stop looking for cuts and just find ways to earn more money because it sounds good and avoids the tough decisions. They know that’s a pipe dream because if you don’t control what you have to spend the additional revenue earned will be eaten up by the additional expenditure and you will still be in the hole.

I’m sure everybody, especially the unions and Government, would rather this was a problem that was easily fixed. The OBA certainly has no secret privatising, union-busting agenda in its back pocket. The party simply wants to do what it was elected to do — get Bermuda working again, and get the economy back onto a healthy, productive path.

What a shame the PLP can’t get swallow its pride and get on board with what everybody knows is the only way forward. In closing my comments during the Sage debate, I quoted H. Norman Schwarzkopf who said “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right things to do. The hard part is doing it.” We have to do the hard part. It’s time for true collaboration.