This is an open letter from former United Bermuda Party Leader Michael Dunkley.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the countless calls and messages that I have received since December 18. I have been overwhelmed by the support and comfort that you have provided to both me and my family.

During this Christmas period many of you have requested that I continue in public service. Those of you who know me are well aware that I never give up especially after a setback or if I am being counted on to get a job done.

However before making a public comment on my future in public service I needed to make sure that I still had the full support of my family. My family has always been the most important thing in my life and they have given me so much strength and support in anything that I have done. As I am sure you can understand the election loss was very difficult for them. The Christmas Season has provided us with a great opportunity to be together, and with both daughters back from school, it has been a wonderful Christmas. During this period we have also had ample opportunity to discuss politics.

They are well aware that I still have a burning desire to serve and to contribute to the future well being of the island. They are aware that I still have a burning desire to work on bringing people together and to building our community. They are also aware that I still have a burning desire to make a difference by providing a message of hope, building respect, understanding and tolerance.

In this regard I am pleased to say that they are fully supportive of my continued involvement in public service and I am now taking this opportunity to let you know that now more than ever I am ready to serve. I am ready to work towards the Bermuda all of us want to live in, no matter what position I am in, no matter what setback I receive. I have a vision of what this Island can be, and the changes that should be made, and I will not give that up.

The recent election period has shown that we do have our challenges such as education, housing, crime and drugs, health care or better governance. In addition this election period also clearly demonstrated that now more than ever we need to work towards uniting as a community. No doubt the election created a lot of animosity and anger. The healing must take place.

It is time to stop the divide and disrespect; it is time to teach respect, tolerance, personal responsibility and an appreciation of our diversity.

It is time for hope not hate. It is time to look beyond acrimony and acknowledge that we need each other. We are too small a place to waste a single Bermudian. We need the strengths and creativity of every person on this island in order to make meaningful progress.

I love my island home, I have been blessed to be born, live and work in paradise. I intend to do what I can to protect our paradise for our children.

While I lost at the polls on December 18, I learned since that time that many are counting on me to continue in public service and I also learned that now more than ever I must do whatever I can to help bring us together and lay a foundation of hope for our future generations.

In closing, as another year comes to an end, I wish each and every one of you the best of health and happiness in 2008. While we will all experience our share of challenges in the New Year I am sure that with faith, and our family and friends providing support, together we can make our lives and our island home a better place tomorrow than it is today.

I would like to take this opportunity to challenge you with a New Year's resolution: Be the change you want to be and set a good example. Live by doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Live this way and we will bring that better Bermuda we all dream of closer. It is about striving for something better. Let us use this New Year to make a positive change.

God Bless you all. Happy New Year!