It was a supreme sacrifice when I ran for political office in 1981, but I lost and returned to the classroom and later went on to principal St. George’s Secondary School and Dellwood/Northlands.

In 1998 I was elected to Parliament and as a “Government” principal I had to give up my job. On the lead-up to that election I had to take leave until election day. I needed a job and thanks to Butterfield Excavation, I was immediately hired. I was ready to do anything and after a week of doing “anything”, I was put in the office. I stayed there until I was elected. Thereupon, I had 11 interviews and 13 job offers.

Being a principal I had always heard stories about Bermudian workers outside the school environment. Most were positive. Indeed, when I entered the profession in 1976 I was surrounded by professionals who made time and stayed after work. They often sacrificed their lunch breaks and used their own funds to purchase things for the children, without question. Near the end of my tenure, I have to honestly say, I noticed a change. If I summarised all of my observations and the numerous things that I have been told by employers, employees and mediators throughout Bermuda, I would say that things have changed. However, nobody wants to talk about that change, so we go about our business pretending that everything is all right until our surgeon shows up late for our life-saving operation.

I believe Bermudians still pride themselves on the importance of being on time. While we may joke about things starting late, this does not happen all of the time. In other words, it is not a part of our culture because it does not happen frequently, as in 90 percent or more events. We are a punctual people. Recently, concern has been raised about this core Bermudian value. Are we really making time most of the time and when we are not, do we freely, readily and without excuse try and make it up?

I believe Bermudians still pride themselves on dressing for church and work. There is no doubt about it, we are winning hands down, but recently concern has been raised that some of it might be paid for by employees dipping their hands into the till or failing to pay their rent, charge accounts or credit cards. Is this fact or fiction; a growing problem or just one reaching the surface? And, if it is a small problem, why do I hear that “a lot of Bermudians” are doing this and not just “some or a small minority”?

I believe Bermudians still pride themselves on hard work. Not only are we a hard-working people, but we are very talented and eager to learn. Recently, I have heard more complaints about people who start and fail to complete their assignments and those who “will do anything”, only to drop out a day or two later for a variety of reasons. Is this just a minority? Is the number growing, or is it a lie that needs to be buried?

Bermudians used to do numerous tasks to make the business a success even if it wasn’t in their job description. If we saw a piece of paper in our path we just picked it up and placed it in the trash can, but now we state, “It is not my job!!”

When I was at Butterfield Excavation working in the office, I noticed that the windows needed cleaning, so I just naturally cleaned them. A young lady arrived ten minutes early for an interview and upon seeing who I was, remarked, “Aren’t you Dale Butler, the former school principal, and now you are cleaning windows?” The next day the second candidate arrived and upon seeing me pick up trash dragged over the pavement by dogs, (diapers and all!) a similar remark was made and I was told the “workmen should have cleaned it”. (She was not aware they were on job sites.) The young ladies did not think it was part of my job.

I was from a generation that chipped in and did as much as possible. In the end it all paid off as in those days you would be the last to be laid off and the first to be rehired, or there might be an increase in salary or a promotion, etc. You did it without the slightest thought of a reward. That’s the type of people we were and so many of us still are. While our workforce is under stress, due to the shortage of affordable housing, drugs, alienation and the lack of entry-level jobs, the vast majority of us Bermudians still make good time, do our best every day and often tolerate a lot of foolishness that depresses us and raises our anger. In particular, we get angry when the minority fails to live up to standards and are often given chances only to give up, rather than ask for assistance and humble themselves.

In the coming weeks we are about to see hundreds of school graduates descend on our businesses from universities and high schools. They will be entering a workforce which is asking for experience and qualifications. If the employers’ needs and the employees’ skills do not match, we will have many employees saying they will “do anything”. The ideal situation is to be able to channel them in the areas most needed in Bermuda, but preliminary studies indicate that our graduates do not have much interest in those areas most needed, according to the ‘2001 Bermuda Occupations Outlook Handbook’.

The Island is desperate for administrative assistants, front desk receptionists, carpenters, masons, chefs and waiters, etc., but our young people want to be forensic scientists, actuaries and criminal lawyers. Counsellors advise them and they also bring in numerous professionals and have career fairs to inform our young people of the best options in Bermuda, but they cannot force a child to be an accountant if he/she wants to be a forensic scientist and if he/she doesn’t have the grades for either area. If young people have the academics and skills they will qualify, but if they don’t, what then? What will they do?

Anything? And, when given a chance to do anything, will they stay and learn, or will they disappear? This is not good because they will end up on financial assistance or may resort to drug use or importation.

Given our glorious past and excellent work ethic, we want people to enter the job market committed to learning a skill and not just being open to “anything” unless their goal is to be a Jack of All Trades.