As Tania Theriault says in the Royal Gazette's year in review in today's paper, 2001 will be remembered for one date: September 11.

Everything that occurred before that date will inevitably be remembered as just that - before the attacks - and it sometimes appears as if everything which has occurred since has in some way been affected by the attacks.

While the attacks have affected the United states most deeply, there is almost no country which has not been touched in some way and Bermuda is no exception.

The most direct effect was in the loss of two Bermudians, Boyd Gatton and Rhondelle Tankard, who were killed in the World Trade Center.

As Bermuda goes forward, it is important that their names not be forgotten.

Economically, the attacks and the ensuing US recession has been felt here and the effects will almost certainly be felt more severely in the next three months.

More broadly, the attacks emphasise the need for Bermuda to be an active participant in the world community. We cannot bury our heads in the sand or pretend that the world revolves around this tiny speck. The world's problems are ours and vice versa.

Nonetheless, this has been a momentous year on many fronts for the Island, even without the attacks.

Two major political changes, electoral boundaries changes and the looming grant of British citizenship rights to Bermudians will have a major effect on the Island in the future. How fairly the process of determining boundaries for new single seat constituencies is carried out will have a major effect on the confidence of the public in the political process and it if is not handled well, many people could vote with their feet, new British passports in hand.

Handled well, the Island could enjoy a new period of stability.

The fact that there are concerns over the issue says a great deal about the manner in which the Government manages its affairs. Too often, momentous decisions are made in secret and apparently by a small inner circle and are then foisted on the general public with little debate or consultation.

Sadly, there is little evidence that this will change, but it is worth noting that the one Minister who seems to go out of her way to consult and to come up with solutions that have general support, Paula Cox, is also the Minister who seems to have the broadest approval in the community as a whole.

She now has the task of improving education, an area where the Government has made positive changes, but must feel like it is in a nightmare where the goal of restoring public confidence in education seems to get further away the faster the Government runs.

Aside from education, the Government's primary focus in the next year must be on the economy and on tourism.

If Bermuda rides out this recession, it will be because of the stunning continued growth in international business. But Bermuda runs the risk of creating two communities as international business grows and tourism declines. One community will be largely white collar and highly skilled and paid. The other? White and blue collar employees of tourism related businesses, with few or no skills in a technologically advanced economy, who will get further and further behind and will find it harder and harder to make ends meet.

If that occurs, Bermuda has all the ingredients for a first class "wealth gap" which could cause deep resentment and social problems for the future.

Finding the solution, whether it is "balance", "sustainable development" or the revival of tourism, may be the community's greatest challenge in 2002.

Happy New Year to all our readers.