When I was elected leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, I took a pause to take stock of and reflect on what matters most. There are so many issues: those we face now, those we anticipate and those that will surprise us. But the latter will not catch us off-guard when we act on a foundation of shared values and principles.

For the OBA, they are respect, integrity and social fairness through responsible spending.

Our actions are the embodiment of our values, principles and priorities. We can say we are many things, but the proof comes in how we respond and act each and every day — especially when we face challenges. It is one thing to say we are about respect, fairness and justice; quite another to honour those principles when faced with decisions, challenges and crises.

Public service is not a job; it’s a vocation. Community service has always been part of my life. It is what generations of my family modelled, what my wife, Miriam, and I have built our lives around and what drives me every day. The motivation to serve does not come from ambition, but from empathy — from seeing someone in need and knowing you can make a difference.

During my years working with young people and those entangled in the justice system, I’ve seen first-hand how someone is transformed for the better with resources, mentorship and opportunity. Everyone deserves support and a chance. It fuels hope and growth. That is what leadership should do — open doors, not close them.

Across the island, I have been listening — not as a politician, but as a fellow Bermudian. I know people are struggling to make ends meet, parents working multiple jobs to have a decent home, too many families shattered by gun violence, and young people questioning whether opportunity still exists for them here at home. These are not abstract issues; they are lived experiences, and if we don’t act now they will continue to be part of our future.

These are the challenges we face now, but there will be more. Some we will see coming, like a hurricane; others will strike without warning. And we will always know we are acting well when we allow our shared values to be our guide — respect, compassion, integrity and responsibility. This builds trust.

In Bermuda, trust is intrinsic to the way we live. We are a small community; neighbours working and raising our families side-by-side. The way we treat one another matters. When our shared values guide our actions, the bonds that hold our island together grow stronger.

Leadership is not about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, hearing and listening to every voice, building trust and working together to find solutions that stand the test of time.

That is how I intend to lead. When I was elected leader of the OBA, I committed to hold town halls to listen to everyone’s concerns. The dates of these opportunities for Bermudians to share their concerns, their hopes and their ideas, will be published on our website in the coming days.

The One Bermuda Alliance is becoming laser-focused on one goal: to make Bermuda a safer, healthier and more prosperous place for everyone.

Our caucus will continue to put forward solutions that will create real opportunities for Bermudians to live, work and participate in health and safety. And my commitment, as leader of the OBA, is to ensure that our values guide every decision, every conversation and every policy we advance.

They are not just political ideals; they are the foundation of the Bermuda we all want to build. Together.

• Robert King is the Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister of National Security and the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, and the MP for Smith’s North (Constituency 10)