April 23, 2014

Dear Sir,

I am very concerned for the future of my island home. We are experiencing economic and social woes like none ever before. Job losses continue and more and more people are feeling at a lost as their lives are being adversely affected. The recent murder of one of our young sons has highlighted the fact that some of our youngsters are still grappling with serious crime with out consideration.

There seems to be some among us who could be trying to politically gain from our demise. You may ask how is that? In my humble opinion, fingers are being pointed, and questions asked that were not before. The government is blamed for our situation and is being painted as uncaring and against the lower and middle classes. That is so far from the truth. Where were the same voices when workers were not paid overtime, healthcosts were skyrocketing, and gang violence was threatening our way of life? The new government is trying its hardest to encourage investment, (by cutting term limits), reduce crime (more visible and affective police patrols), and reduce healthcare costs, (by cracking down on unnecessary costly diagnostic procedures). Still, politics are being played at a possible detriment to us all. Hopelessness seems to be spreading instead of hope.

We are at a crossroad where some bad decisions or ill thought out actions can sink us completely. Is that what we want, so that the only winners will be the power brokers, or do we want a Bermuda where all of us, regardless of our affiliations can prosper? I sincerely hope it is the latter.

This is not the time for political fighting, but the time for our leaders to come together and conjure up solutions, to the problems we are having. There are some signs of economic recovery, and we must encourage and implement, policies that will speed it up. Let us hope that cool heads prevail so that we can right this ship Bermuda, and get back on a steady course!

CHANGER