In a sense, Bermuda seems to have lost its way as a healthy and sound community, even though many positive events involving young people are providing a ray of hope for the future.

Recent publicity of what can happen when a wrong turn is taken early in life, highlights how crucial it is to focus on the qualities that inspire and build, while making every effort to widen the net to rescue those who for various reasons, adapt attitudes that place our society at risk.

As we prepare to enter a new year with hopes that things will improve, we must be mindful that a change of date does not mean a change in serious challenges that face every Bermudian who still yearns for a society based on truth, honesty, and decency as the main guideposts for living.

Somehow the Christmas festive season, at least at the time of this writing, may have had a calming effect throughout most of the community, although no one should let their guard down yet.

The Country continues to struggle to solve pressing problems such as gang warfare, illegal drug activity, which is at the root of various crimes, the economic downturn that is beginning to bite into every section of our community, proper health care especially for our seniors, the quality of our education and of course housing.

These are problems that are not going to fade away no matter how wild the New Year's Eve party is. After the horns, hats, and ribbons have been cleared and the effects of the champagne have worn off, Bermuda will awaken to find not much has changed except the date.

This is certainly not a time to play political games on serious issues that need the essence of common sense and transparency, to avoid the impression that certain initiatives are being mishandled at a time when every dollar is crucial to keeping our economic base sound.

It is also a time for the press to be very much on its toes in watching closely every aspect of developments that affect the community. This of course means that accuracy is vital in exposing anything that appears to have a negative undertone. The Bermudian people simply want the truth.

Any Government in a democratic society is faced with being scrutinised by the free press on various issues and in the interest of transparency, they should always be seen to welcome this unavoidable responsibility. In our small society where so many are entrenched in this or that political persuasion, it is often difficult to allow common sense to form a bridge of better understanding when it comes to sensitive matters.

Crime is of great concern to most law abiding Bermudians, who constantly see criminals behaving as though there is no need to fear real punishment. This view is expressed often and it should not be shrugged off as being out of step with so called modern methods of rehabilitation.

The criminal must not be allowed to waltz through the community with no regard for law and order irrespective of an individuals background. Few criminals are so mentally twisted that they do not know right from wrong. No citizen should be forced to live in a home that resembles a fort, simply because the criminal cares little about consequences.

The Police may not be perfect, but they certainly deserve credit for helping to provide a better sense of security throughout Bermuda, which has not fully recovered from a spate of horrific crimes that left the island stunned and bewildered.

The big question in the minds of many is can we really get a handle on this gang activity before it swallows more victims? No one really has the answer although there is no shortage of suggestions that even include bringing back the cat o nine tails. Something more than what is being applied needs to be considered.

Bermuda needs rebuilding, especially in the area of the family structure. This is where we really seem to have lost our way, and perhaps we might be paying the price for allowing values such as discipline and guidance to evaporate without any fuss.

Hopefully the new year will bring a fresh and honest approach to many of our problems, otherwise we might be forced to endure more of the unthinkable.