Impact of Attitudinal Change

We live in an interconnected world which, at times, is motivation for us to take on the attitudes of people in big cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., London, Manchester or Toronto, but we are not a big city. Bermuda's small size gives Bermudians a direct influence of how the rest of the world looks at Bermuda.

We are essentially how we act, look and feel. If we act friendly and welcoming to our visitors and guest workers; if we feel good about Bermuda; if we respect our fellow Bermudians and residents; and if we take pride in the way we look, people in the outside world will reciprocate the feeling of goodness and respect. We seem to be developing "an anything goes culture", but before we seriously damage Bermuda, this trend must be reversed.

With falling community standards of overall behaviour, indifferent work ethics, lack of discipline on our roads, inappropriateness of our dress, especially in the workplace, we need a serious programme that will raise our overall standards of behaviour, courtesy and discipline.

If the whole community makes it a national priority to be respectful, cordial, decent and good-natured to our fellow Bermudians, guest workers and visitors, the insurmountable social ills, especially those faced by our young people, would, in my view, gradually decline.

We need to develop a finely balanced system that marries technology with cultural discipline, which includes integrity, equality, respect, tolerance and intelligence.

The purposeful change of behaviour on a community-wide basis would make a sizeable impact for the overall good of the country. Bermudians will be much more secure and happier and countries will look on us much more favourably as a place to emulate and visit.

It is worth reiterating that demonstrable attitudinal change for the good of the community should not be underestimated. Significant attitudinal change by the Government, the media, and every single Bermudian could have a profound effect for good on some of our major social and economic problems.

These include:

1. Law and Order

We need to change our aparently "laissez-faire" attitude towards crime and become activists within the confines of the law. Our mission should be to greatly assist the Police in resolving crime. Equally, the Police should create an environment in which the public feels that they are protected.

2. Economic Security

As international and local companies experience a shrinkage of business, many people live in great fear of working fewer hours or being made redundant.

In this unusual economic competitive environment, many workers have to change their attitudes and go the "extra mile" to give exemplary customer service in an effort to retain the business that they have and hopefully get new customers.

More importantly, we need to secure aspects of our economy that we have already built, together with growing our international business and tourism that will provide good and secure employment.

3. Upgrading our Educational System

Our attitude to our educational system should be to give our young people every opportunity to succeed. Our economy and our standard of living depends on a highly skilled population.

Because of the sophistication of our economy and social structure, we need a higher percentage of highly skilled people than many other jurisdictions in order to compete globally with countries that are in the same business as we are.

4. Customer Service

We hear via the media some horror stories about negative attitudes on the roads, inattentive staff in businesses, especially retail business and Government departments. However, I was very encouraged to hear recently from no less than five people, who independently told me what a pleasant experience they had at the Transport Control Department. The persons reported to me that there has been a real noticeable change in attitudes. The staff were helpful, efficient and courteous.

This has further reinforced my belief that attitude matters.