As a former Cabinet minister of the Bermuda Government that had administrative responsibility for municipalities for 4½ years, I am saddened by the state of the Town of St George.

In 2012, the Olde Towne was in decline. However, in working closely with the Corporation of St George, the following was accomplished:

• The Corporation of St George (Unesco World Heritage Fund and Levy) Act was passed, which enables the town to collect a tax on fuel landed at Ferry Reach, and spend on important projects in the Olde Towne

• Twelve regular cruise ship visits were contracted every year from 2017 through 2021

• A catamaran ferry was purpose-built by Norwegian Cruise Line to transport tourists from Dockyard to the East End, along with a yearly investment of $150,000 by NCL to sponsor tourism enhancement in co-operation with the Bermuda Tourism Authority

• In 2014, my ministry stepped in to give a cash injection of $750,000 to the corporation to enable bathroom upgrades, for emergency dock repairs and to purchase a new corporation vehicle

• Legislation was progressed to allow for the new marina to be built

• Of course, the St Regis-branded hotel broke ground and the St George’s golf course opened. This in turn led to the renovating of St George’s Club

• Dare I mention the new airport?

• The corporation remained in the hands of the people of St George, not ministerial appointments

There were many others. Why am I writing about all this? Well, frankly, because in the past few years St George, like its bigger but younger sibling, Hamilton, is deteriorating before our very eyes. At certain times of the day, the place seems like Zombieville. The most regular action comes from a few raucous “characters” who frequently grace the Town Square enjoying their libations, free wi-fi and piped-in music as they sit on benches covered by palmetto fronds.

Prominent historical buildings, both privately and publicly owned, remain boarded up in the centre of this United Nations World Heritage Site. The World Heritage Centre remains closed. The Deliverance replica, a mainstay of St George for generations, is gone. Shops sit empty and small businesses that were rightly convinced of the town’s potential, given the hotel development, seem to close as fast as they open.

The biggest things to happen in tourism-related development within the Olde Towne centre was the moving of the stockades, a row about a kitchen ventilator on a barely able-to-be-opened restaurant — only the grit and tenacity of its owner has saved the day — and the marina, perhaps a decade or more in process.

Soon, the corporation will be a government quango, run by appointees of the minister of the day, who may or may not really care about the Olde Towne. Whether or not you are a fan of local government, if you run for office in such a parochial environment, you have to assume those that do run actually care. No one can doubt the good intent and desire for success of the Olde Towne articulated by the mayor, Quinell Francis, whom I always found to be a pleasure to work with. So, what can be done?

Priority No 1 is to keep the structure of the corporation as it is at present. Ending the uncertainty and ensuring the corporation is allowed to continue will bring others to the table to assist and run its municipal affairs.

Priority No 2 needs to be introducing an empty-property tax. This is becoming evermore accepted in local councils across Britain. However, in order to create an immediate change, such a tax needs to be deliberately punitive. Again, the age-old issue of properties being stuck in probate, or trust disputes, or just not being economically viable enough to do anything with owing to lack of maintenance for decades is pervasive. We need to stop the rot. In a place such as St George, the problem is exacerbated.

As such, the tax should be a progressive tax — in other words, one that increases massively for every year a property remains empty or dilapidated. If a property is to be knocked down and there is no further development anticipated immediately, then green space creation should be mandatory. If nothing else, it may force the sale of some properties and mean redevelopment.

New builds or redevelopment must be kept within the look and feel of the Olde Towne. However, exploring different, less expensive building techniques needs to be urgently undertaken. Renovations of historical buildings are never easy or cheap but are beautiful when done properly. Have a good look at the renovated properties at the entrance to Dockyard to get an understanding of what can be done with drive and desire.

Priority No 3 should be to create an ongoing buzz through the introduction of a fish market. This is something I will explore in another piece, but globally fish markets are meccas for locals and tourists alike, and can be run year-round — it can also help to keep track of catches, etc.

Priority No 4 is to continue the clean-up of our forts and maintain them — a big shoutout to the work of the St George’s Foundation for the Fort Albert clean-up!

Is Fort William next?

Priority No 5 is fixing the transport issues. This means a bus schedule revamp — and while this will be problematic, it is now a national priority. Having express buses from Dockyard to St George’s and return, as the mayor herself suggested, would be a very handy addition. However, without things to actually do and see, why would someone come all that way?

While I am not a resident of St George, I believe firmly that with a few good people and a few changes, we can transform St George into a place we can all be proud of.

Instead, we fight. We fight over whether the old police station should be reopened — it never will, so sell it. We say no or hell no to new ideas and watch and complain when potential successes fade away. We like to find reasons to do nothing and put barriers in the way rather than doing things differently.

It took a heap of desire and tenacity to get shovels in the ground at St Regis against continued opposition to the project. Despite such, the hotel is there, but we have not met the challenge of providing a true tourism experience to visitors in return.

With our forts, our history, our architecture, beautiful views and our people, the Olde Towne should be a first-class destination. I hope it can be. Let’s get out of our own way!

• Michael Fahy was the Government Senate Leader and Cabinet minister in the One Bermuda Alliance government from 2012 to 2017. Share your ideas and views at opedfahy@gmail.com