The Bermuda electorate recently has had to endure a barrage of bitter exchanges between high profile personalities regarding political matters, to a point where one can only wonder: where is the truth?

Charges and counter charges between supporters of the current Government, and others who feel the country is moving in the wrong direction, have, without a doubt, created new pockets of divisiveness, in both political camps at a time when we need political cohesion.

Bermuda is not a place where people are anxious to wash their political laundry in public. Hence, one almost needs a Geiger counter to detect how people feel deep down about one side or the other.

This is not difficult to understand, mainly because of our small, close-knit society where it is difficult not to cross paths daily with people who might not be on our most popular list. We learn to live with this, but when negative attitudes explode in the political arena, it often leaves the average citizen wondering who is looking out for them when it comes to vital issues of the day.

Many Bermudians from all sections of our community are fed up with so much emphasis on political survival for one Party or the other while the world economy is in a nose dive that without question will affect Bermuda.

It is easy for those at the very top of the power structure, who enjoy reasonable financial security, to say to the struggling mainstream 'we will make it through these tough times'. Not exactly music to the ears of many, who were having it rough making ends meet, even when the economic picture was much brighter.

They cannot be written off as poor planners, who simply failed to take advantage of the good times. Even if that was partially true, nevertheless they form an integral part of our society and without proper help will continue to form a major part of our social problems. Youth gangs do not start in the maternity ward.

Blind political allegiance on either side is a major stumbling block to meaningful progress for better cooperation in tackling a crisis. We need to pool our best brains and talents for the good of the Island and its people. Bermudians awaken every day to what many feel is a changed country, with crime on the upsweep, illegal drugs everywhere, housing difficulties, rising cost of living, a struggling tourist industry, reckless attitudes on our roads, and to rub salt into the wound, the collapsing world economy.

How on earth can our politicians find time to squabble about political image protection, while Bermudians yearn for solid sincere leadership, to guide us collectively through what could be a long dark economic night. The question is, do these politicians get it, or are they too busy preserving their status, to connect better with the people?

In a democracy, people have a right to question any leader's competence when they feel he or she has drifted from the values and goals that create respect, integrity and confidence. When this happens, those forming the inner circle of power, vigorously leap to defend their leader, which is normal, since a change in leadership would undoubtedly affect their status. Zimbabwe is a good example of this type of conduct that has plunged that country into the doldrums, with people there not only hungry for food, but for decency and justice.

Bermuda can ill afford to play political games when our everyday life is under threat from international economic events that keep expanding by the hour. Although the press is usually targeted for stoking political fires, they do have the extremely difficult job of seeking out the truth, to better inform the public, which is their role. While they might not be perfect, the situation without them is unthinkable.

Anywhere in the democratic world the free press is often frowned upon for exposing matters that paint a different picture than the one officials prefer to display. Nothing unusual there. The current Government would do well to listen to views, other than those who say exactly what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear.

Nothing could be more irritating than to constantly hear "for the good of the party" from both political groups when they really should be saying for the good of the people, and the country, first.

Truth will always be difficult to uncover in politics, and for that reason the press cannot afford to ignore sensitive issues even if it means rocking the political boat. How Bermuda will weather the approaching economic storm, will depend on how well authorities can step outside of their political boxes, in a spirit of cooperation, and concentrate on saving our island ship. Recently, in the United States, the Democrats and the Republicans had to do just that in a rescue mission for the US economy.

When a major hurricane is bearing down on Bermuda, and this occasionally happens, politics and even racial undertones are swept aside as the country buckles down as one people,needing each other for survival. If only that attitude could be applied now.

We have a choice. Place political Party image as the main priority, or look beyond politics to put the urgent needs of the people first. I doubt if there would be much of an argument over which is likely to get the most support.