May 18, 2014

Dear Sir,

We need a serious reality check before we completely lose it, if we haven’t already. The latest controversy, Jetgate has impugned the integrity of the One Bermuda Alliance leadership.

Unfortunately flogging the premier and leaving the Minister of Tourism the Attorney General and for that matter the Minister of Finance out of the equation is not the answer.

Riling up anti sentiment against the Premier as though he was the solo architect of a scheme who dragged innocent others into a deal, seems more a publicity strategy then a cleansing.

The country gains nothing out of this saga, except perhaps in hindsight or reflection, it may if we think hard enough and take dose of honesty for a change be the cause to bring some light that can come of the situation.

The fear of the OBA collapsing is that it gives the country back possibly to the Progressive Labour Party who are not yet ready and who have a few characters on their benches that can equal or surpass the saga of Jetgate.

Even if we forgot the potential for corruption the PLP at this moment and time do not have the economic philosophy to turn the country around.

Unfortunately neither does this current OBA who has not evolved out of the old elitist formula of “leave it to the rich and powerful”.

Unfortunate but true, they don’t know how to create the environment for those who seek opportunity except to say follow the crumbs that fall of the table, or the euphemism of the invisible hand that causes a “trickle-down theory”.

Truth is, some semblance of what the OBA was supposed to stand for, must remain at the helm.

However to get cross public appeal a cosmetic change will not do it for them, it must be substantive and real.

I have espoused a few things which are now of public record and to lessen the burden on your eyes I will be quick and to the point on what must be done to save the country now.

1. So as to maintain some continuity, one by one in succession the leader along with the other two ministers must not just step down from cabinet, they need to vacate their seats in parliament.

2. There needs to be bi-elections in those seats in an orderly manner one after the other.

3. We need to bring three new individuals into those seats I have a good idea as to whom I think the country needs at this time.

4. We need to have a new leader from none of the current house members and hence a new cabinet and a new government senate, it will be a surrogate OBA

5. The thrust of the new government should be towards bipartisanship as a principle in order to build unity and economic recovery.

6. The new team need to be open with the public to articulate a position of “interim government to sustain the country for the next three to four years until there is a general election.

7. I believe the leader of the PLP Marc Bean is wise enough to agree with me but if for some reason he doesn’t due to pressure from the PLP which causes him not accept this proposal the country is in dire trouble. The situation is untenable.

KHALID WASI