Did you catch the results of the recent Cayman Islands election?

The new government in Cayman is now a coalition. Two recently formed parties united — joined by three independent MPs — thereby blocking the Progressives from forming the next government.

The snappy headline appears to be this: “Caymanians choose collaboration”.

It has been three months since Bermuda’s General Election. What snappy headline would you choose for our election outcome?

“More of the same”, perhaps? Or “50 per cent of voters did not vote”?

If you are reading this overseas, you might select “PLP denies overseas students’ right to vote”. And few could argue with this headline: “PLP clings to power despite losing popular vote”.

My article written after the election noted Sir John Swan’s reaction: that 2025 was “The apathy election”. No matter your political views, when half of Bermuda’s voters stay home, that is not good for democracy.

Another more nuanced result of Bermuda’s 2025 Election hit home to me when parliamentarians gathered for the mid-March Throne Speech. Looking around at seating changes in the House, there were many new legislators. In fact, 25 per cent of the House of Assembly is newly elected. If you add three further MPs — who won their by-elections in the run-up to 2025 — the total of newly elected swells to 12 MPs. A full one third of the House is new.

For those, like me, who are tired of David Burt’s “slash and burn” approach to politics, perhaps our new members — let’s christen them the Class of 2025 — will chart a different course. Why must Bermuda accept more of the same? Could we, like Cayman, achieve greater political collaboration?

Parliamentary custom grants all new MPs a “maiden speech”. Unlike in other debates, this first speech can be read from the printed page rather than delivered “off the cuff”. Maiden speeches are not to be interrupted. No “chirping” is allowed from other MPs. By custom, the Chamber remains silent while the new MP gives their first oration.

Most Bermudians don’t listen to their legislature on the radio. Yet the maiden speeches from the Class of 2025 give me some hope for greater collaboration. Perhaps the media might publish these 12 speeches as a series? Given they are one third of the House, how our 12 new MPs decide to engage with politics could help to promote much needed change.

Damned lies and statistics

An erstwhile visitor to Bermuda, the famed author Mark Twain, is credited with saying: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” Last week saw another parliamentary custom: the General Economic Debate. This debate happens annually to scrutinise Bermuda’s Budget. Sadly, Mr Twain was not wrong.

The Premier and Minister of Finance, David Burt, claimed to have achieved a $19.7 million budget surplus last year. This number was even printed in bold in the PLP’s Budget Statement.

However, One Bermuda Alliance shadow finance minister, Douglas De Couto, pointed out that the Premier’s so-called surplus omitted some $134 million of “off-balance sheet” spending by the Burt Government. This excluded spending meant last year actually had a budget deficit of $54 million — ie, not a surplus, but a loss.

Quite a difference.

If you missed it, last week’s Kevin Maybury cartoon illustrated why Bermuda’s Budget is not merely about statistics. The cartoon showed a giant wave about to sink our “ship of state”. Not good. The General Economic Debate taught us another important lesson: facts matter. Pretending all is well — when it is clearly not — helps no one. We must admit problems if we hope to solve them.

Dr De Couto’s concern is not mere politricks. The shadow minister has been echoed by Bermuda’s Fiscal Responsibility Panel. This is a panel of independent international economists appointed by ... wait for it ... the Premier. In the panel’s 2024 report, these economists used terms such as “regrettable”, “of particular concern”, and “should not be repeated” to describe the Burt Administration’s use of off-balance sheet spending to achieve policy goals.

Statistical arguments aside, the customary Budget debate this year also saw something completely uncustomary. During the middle of the shadow minister’s speech, Mr Burt got up and exited the chamber. He did not return for the entirety of the General Economic Debate. Doubtless, the Premier has many important obligations. Doubtless, the public will be informed why our finance minister walked out ...

One might think it would be an obligation for the finance minister to remain in Parliament for the General Economic Debate. Let us hope there is a justifiable reason for his surprising exit.

Back to elections and collaboration ... The present government was elected by less than 50 per cent of those voting. A mere 27 per cent of Bermuda’s total eligible voters cast votes for the PLP. Given that reality, is it not more important than ever for our government to be collaborative? To listen to the views of others?

And yet, only a few short weeks ago, during the Throne Speech debate, the Premier’s approach to collaboration was to tell the shadow finance minister to “sit down and listen”. Sadly, this is not the language of collaboration. Perhaps the Class of 2025 will bring us the change we need? We shall see ...

You said it

On a far lighter note, from time to time I like to share some “gems” that are heard in the House of Assembly. This one put a smile on my face. One MP, speaking about another MP, said this: “I don’t often agree with him, although he’s usually right.”

A real gem.

• Scott Pearman is the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs and the MP for Paget East (Constituency 22). He can be reached at spearman@oba.bm