In the business world there is a well-known theory - the “kick-in-the-butt” theory. Even though the name is not technical, it is nevertheless quite descriptive of the results. Here is how the theory goes: whenever an industry receives a kick in the butt, it wakes up, revitalises itself and often goes on to record performance and earnings.

As I look back to the 1998 General Election results, which saw the Progressive Labour Party installed as government, I believe that there was a critical event that was clearly missed by the government. The winds of change were clearly blowing over the country. The people of the country were seeking a new direction and a new vision from their elected leaders. The people were asking for something new and different, perhaps for no other reason than they felt it was time for a change. Many people I have spoken with have confirmed this position.

The 1998 General Election was really about the need for change and transformation. We all know that, generally, political parties have their core supporters who will maintain their affiliation with their political party but the need for change and transformation largely outweighed the duty of strict party loyalty on that occasion.

As we now enter into another election year, we see many of the people of the country still grappling with the issue of the need for fundamental change. There are many people who believe that the PLP has not taken to itself the need to give proper direction and leadership to the country. Many say that the current PLP government has been seeking to fulfill its own self-interest and not the greater responsibility of providing good governance to the people.

The current mood of unanswered allegations against various government ministers has shaken public confidence. The failure to make affordable housing available to those in need has caused confusion and anger among those most in need. There has been an increase in community crime, particularly cycle thefts and break and enter offences, and many people are beginning to believe that the government is soft on crime. The United States government's Department of State has issued a travel advisory to American citizens travelling to Bermuda because of the incidents of offences against them.

The government appears to have stood by and watched our national drug intervention and treatment programmes go into disarray and closure. The government has passed a heavy debt-load for the clean-up of the base-lands property onto the shoulders of the people of Bermuda. There are growing concerns that the major construction project at the Berkeley site will not be delivered on time and that our school children will be both disrupted and displaced as a result. Additionally, people who understand major projects are saying that the school will not come in on budget.

Is this the kind of change the people of Bermuda envisioned when they gave the PLP an opportunity to govern? Is this the fundamental change that the people of Bermuda had in mind? I believe not. Indeed the people of Bermuda were challenging their political leaders to be infused with a new vision and to provide responsible direction for all the people. In fact, the PLP sensing the fundamental desire for change in the country adopted the political slogan, “A New Bermuda”. As we now have the benefit of scrutinising the PLP record of Government, is this what was meant by “A New Bermuda”?

As I listen to people share their views of the current PLP Government, some have characterised the experience as “old wine in old wine skins” and others have said it is “new wine in old wine skins.” Either position falls far short of what the people have expected of their Government. Frankly, many of the people I have spoke with have wanted “new wine in new wine skins”. I believe that the people of Bermuda have wanted a new and fundamentally different approach to leadership and governance.

Fortunately failure can be both redemptive and re-creative. When the United Bermuda Party was not successful in winning Government during the last General Election, it had to do some serious appraisal of itself. It had to take a careful look at itself. Self-examination is never easy under any circumstances but if there is to be growth, renewal and movement forward, the process of reflection and ownership of responsibility is critical. During this exercise we began to realise what the people of Bermuda were now requiring of Government. We began to fully realise the high premium that the people of Bermuda were willing to pay for a fundamental shift in governance. The world was changing at a rapid pace and if the greater well being of all Bermudians was to be addressed and we would assure a greater security for ourselves, then more inclusive programmes and policies were required of the leaders.

The courage of leadership must always include transparency. By this I mean that effective leaders must always be aware of what is going on around them and of the need to articulate change for the greater good of the organisation. Often there are very powerful forces for change, which exist both within the organisation and within the operating environments where they exist. This was true of Bermuda in 1998 and I believe that this is the reason that so many people have challenged the current government for its lack of transparency.

We here in Bermuda are island people. We live continuously with the background of the sea, which has many important lessons to teach us. One of the most basic truths of the sea is that when the tide comes in all the vessels on the shore are lifted to a higher place. I remember as a boy watching the tidal surge at the Spanish Point bay with fascination.

When the tide came in it did not matter what kind of vessel was in the bay. The humble homemade punt, the sailboat, the runabout, the cabin cruiser and the fishing boat were all raised when the tide came into the bay. The in-coming tide made no distinctions among the vessels. There were no special interests or self-interests to be satisfied and addressed. In the end, all benefited.

Similarly, I believe that the people of Bermuda want the tide to come in for everyone and for all of us to participate in this noble experiment called democracy. Some will no doubt view this position as simple na?vet? and lacking in political pragmatism, but let me hasten to point out that the very notion of democracy is for some the greatest na?vet?. Many of us still believe that the people require their leaders to possess a degree of idealism and who view strength of character and integrity as the primary core values for public leadership.

The challenge for any government will be to balance off all the interests of the people it serves and to prioritise critical responses to the needs of the people. This process is never easy but it is always essential and particularly during these days of challenge and change. This is the new wine in the new wineskins, which the people of Bermuda both desire and deserve from their government leaders. This is the standard, which the people of Bermuda will now require of those elected to serve them. I believe that this is the fundamental change and transformation, which is required of leadership here in Bermuda.