Dear Sir,

It will be two years before there is another General Election and it is fair to assume that one of the two parties will form the next government. It has become a fate almost as predictable as ocean tides. Any change, if ever there is one, will come from within the parties themselves. We don’t have the luxury of having a large population with a diversity of interest. Instead, we have a country polarised by its own history of racial division.

As a contrast, we just witnessed a change of government in Canada, as Justin Trudeau and his Liberal party swept into power. More importantly, it was a desire to change that swept him into power, as many Canadians were no longer satisfied with complacency, lack of inspiration and political boredom.

It is always a treat to feel the euphoria of hope and the sense of goodwill expressed by an electorate who believe they are once again connected to the processes called government. I remember that feeling in 1998 and 2012. When the old “father knows best” attitude, or “it’s my turn to seek justice”, is put aside and the ideal of “let’s build it together” comes to rule is the day I think the majority want to see. However, it’s no use applauding happenings in Canada or acquainting ourselves with fantasies when any reference to our state of political affairs at home begs for enlightenment.

It would be nice if there was a people’s campaign or movement that was not attached to any other agenda except the political evolution and empowerment of the people. It is not simply about the term democracy; it’s about mobilising and connecting real power and inclusion of people to the decision processes that affect their lives. The saying is “if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck”. Well, my fellow Bermudians, if you feel alienated from the political process, it’s because you are. If you feel that you are between a rock and a hard place, it’s because you are. If you feel your opinion and the talents of many of the great minds around don’t matter, you are correct; it doesn’t matter.

For what it is worth, we evolved from an oligarchy of self-interested businessmen who ran the country rather efficiently, but for themselves. Unfortunately, aside from a few modifications offering soothing rights, no real idea of a style of inclusive governance has been expressed or even individual liberty as it relates to governance. Instead, we have one system designed by the oligarchs, viciously fought over by two rivals, each of whom are formatted as private clubs.

We choose either the devil we know best, or the one who has the lesser evils for the moment. It would be nice if for a change we could have an idea with a purpose as a vision of a country and a type of people with liberties that we would want to aspire towards.

At least when I began as a young person in a perhaps naive sense of the world, I thought life was a march upwards. I came to experience it as one step forward, two steps backward, a little to the left, then to the right and after decades to discover motion as sideways. I hate to be cynical or a pessimist, but where are our leaders? Or just listen with open ears for visionary direction and in a few sentences tell me what hope is offered. I don’t know any more so somebody tell me what do we need to do?

KHALID WASI