The word hope stands for a belief that some significant change will occur at some time to make things better. In Bermuda the hope for many is that our leaders would leave no stone unturned, in helping to rekindle qualities such as accountability, transparency and, most of all, honesty in trying to build a better society.

Although Bermudians do not expect these values to flow like gushing water fall from all levels of leadership, they do expect far more from the country's leadership, in the face of potentially troubling economic times, that could very well affect every single person on our beautiful island.

After speaking with a number of people, there seems to be a feeling, although it is not clear how widespread it is, that our leadership is not as connected with the populace as it should be. Whether this is a lack of good public relations is up for debate. What is clear is that many people from all walks of life express concerns that they are only getting bits and pieces of the true economic picture, and live daily with inner fear of what the next day will bring.

When such a mood begins to take root, it also triggers a loss of trust which is so vital in the relationship between leaders of a country, and the people they represent. No one is expecting the Government to wave a magic wand to eradicate major problems, some of which have been festering for years, but they do yearn for a more inclusive and positive approach that involves being more open on issues, no matter how sensitive they may be.

In the coming months there are likely to be rumblings and clashes in the political arena, over who should be doing what about a number of pressing issues. What most Bermudians are hoping for is that those in responsible positions, both in the Government and the Opposition, will look beyond personal or party allegiance to seek what is best for the country and the people.

What many Bermudians would rather not see is more verbal bashing between politicians while key issues hang over the Island like illegal drug activity, widening cracks in our social infrastructure, almost out of control traffic, a weakened tourism industry and of course the effect of major financial institutions hitting the rocks in the midst of a global recession.

The year ahead is without a doubt going to be challenging for everyone, and if ever there was a need for joining forces it is now. The leader of the Bermuda Industrial Union, Chris Furbert, had it right, when he recently called for management and the Union to adopt a strategy of never leaving the bargaining table, no matter how heated things might get.

Obviously it takes two to tango, and such a posture would need the commitment of both sides. If I heard Mr. Furbert correctly, he also stressed that the workers must be mindful that economic conditions might dictate that new types of solutions being worked out, in order to get what is best for the worker and indeed management during difficult times.

While there are no easy solutions to any of our problems, our leaders have the responsibility to ensure that the populace is kept abreast of developments to avoid the claim by many, that they are being kept in the dark on too many issues.

In the coming year it would be good for Government to look more closely at its publicity machine, which should be the connecting link to the public. At the moment the "could not be reached or no comment" leaves an impression that various officials are shying away from tough questions.

We must be clear here: A Government is entitled to issue no comment statements at times, while they seek more facts on a particular matter. However, in some cases a no comment response is seen as the easy way to buy more time while trying to avoid unpleasant facts. Either way it leaves people to form their own conclusions. When that happens, too often the facts get twisted.

As we prepare to celebrate 400 years of history in Bermuda, we do so fully aware that while we have much to celebrate, it is important that we not lose sight of important issues that must be tackled, before we can make greater strides toward a stronger and safer society.

We can only achieve this, by working together as one people despite our differences. The ball is in our court.