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Burt, then what?

David Burt, the Premier (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Of course, I’m going to be speaking prophetically when I say the inevitable demise is steadily approaching the Burt Administration. The bigger quandary is when it happens, what will take its place. Put more appropriately, what should take its place?

Pulling something down is easy and may even be necessary; however, building something better is not as easy a fix. We only need to look at Iraq and Libya for that example. As bad as something seems, it can easily get infinitely worse.

Bermuda will need a very strong coalition of people and groups to be able to transition from a Progressive Labour Party government to anything else. We have a labour union that can be disruptive at best and destructive at its worst. We have an international business sector that needs to be maintained within a civil environment. Not just civil, but judicious and sophisticated, and clean and pure of corruption to reflect the level of international interest Bermuda has as the third-largest insurance market in the world. We can’t blink at the seriousness of the proposition to change — if we blink, we could sink.

Unfortunately, because of the political and partisan environment that has set the stage for our present political status, we are landed with a bunch of politicians that we are forced to deal with for the foreseeable future or until new talent finds the gravitas to enter and give their service for the good of the country. It is quite evident that too many are there now for the paycheque and the pension for life.

The West End Warriors took to the street to save a school — a cause that was dear to the community of Somerset — yet how many Sandys politicians were there? Jamal Simmons was the only one there supporting his mother, who is one of the spearheads of the protest, but when the media approached him, his face looked like a deer trapped in the headlights.

Unless we go back, call a few veterans out of retirement and ask them to give us a couple more years, we are stuck with spineless individuals on the one hand and political novices on the other.

Stability invariably requires a bit of continuity, which can be provided only by people known to the political scene. That, mixed with a few new faces providing ingenuity to get the country to a new place, would be the perfect recipe.

It is time, but it is the time for those with talent and experience, not novices, apprentices or wannabes. The latter would lose grip of the country and mayhem would ensue. The reality is Bermuda is at the stage where it should be all hands on deck or it’s chaos. It’s time for consensus building, not party mavericks. We need the type of organisation and teamwork that can garner the greater support of the island. The vast majority of the island needs to be on board. I know it is possible, but it will not happen unless those who sit comfortably in their living rooms reading the news and pontificating get off their hinnies and volunteer effort.

Handled properly, this is a great moment. Even the PLP would actually be aided. Despite being the ruling party, it is an organisation that is haplessly floundering along at the moment as a fossilised carcass — unsuitable for the times and without the mechanism or the will to update; although certainly suitable for a leadership that can lay remotely from the electorate. That time is run out and the populace has no more tolerance for that kind of unresponsive and irresponsible relationship between those who are taxed and those who govern. The arrogance of this regime is palpable and the people responsible for the asset called Bermuda are despicable.

If this were a Cup Match game, I would be saying I’m calling on the old captain to come off the bench and put his pads on. We need an overnight batsman because we want to see another day. Or if my best bowler had bowled 18 overs straight and was knackered, I would say I am giving you a few minutes off and bringing you back from the southern end because I need five more overs — it is that desperate.

You get the picture, folks. Bermuda needs you now.

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Published April 10, 2023 at 8:00 am (Updated April 10, 2023 at 1:10 pm)

Burt, then what?

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