The past year may have lacked a catastrophic moment like 2003?s Hurricane Fabian but there were still storms aplenty across Bermuda?s political and social landscape.

The year started on a sombre note with the death of one of the Island?s favourite sons ? Finance Minister Eugene Cox.

Liked by virtually everybody, his passing seemed to mark the end of a more gentlemanly era of politics as debates in the House of Assembly got increasingly personal.

It also sparked a reshuffle with his daughter Paula predictably taking the reigns at Finance.

But the nation, and perhaps even the Progressive Labour Party, was shocked when Tourism and Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb walked out of cabinet sighting ?irreconcilable differences? with Alex Scott.

However many felt it had more to do with the Coco Reef deal which saw PLP supporter John Jefferis take charge of the former Stonington Beach property with a lease radically redrawn in his favour.

Ms Webb?s departure allowed Transport Minister Ewart Brown to increase his power base by adding the tourism brief. Dr. Brown was also given the task of crafting a report on how to move towards Independence after Premier Alex Scott gave the green light to start the debate on national sovereignty.

Critics see it as a diversion from more pressing problems at home but there is good news for the Government after the probe into the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal saw just one man and no politicians charged.

Meanwhile the Opposition continued to harry the Government on the Berkeley project which, with increasing delays and spiralling costs, saw contractors Pro-Active sacked.

It saw the Government clashing with its support base as the Bermuda Industrial Union continued to back the company it had helped prop all along.

Unions throughout Bermuda were in a militant mood with taxi drivers, BIU workers and teachers taking action while the Prison Officers were vocal over the performance of hated boss John Prescod who was then sacked.

While the statisticians told us crime was down, the fear of violence was all- pervasive and was personified in the astonishing clash between warring gangs at a football final at Wellington Oval.

It was a defining moment as shameless thugs armed with machetes and swords battled it out under the full view of thousands of spectators, including Cabinet members and the island?s media.

As the nation groped for answers town hall meetings probed the gang issue.

Islanders were also stricken by the housing issue as some slaved away on extra jobs to keep up with the soaring prices while others gave up the hope of ever getting on the property ladder.

Government?s indecision on the matter was seized on by the Opposition who also helped foster NIMBY-ism when answers were put forward, leading to plans for housing in Prospect to be shelved.

Salvation seemed to arrive when American businessman Clifford Schorer proposed a 200-home development in Southside.

Hundreds rushed to sign up for the lottery to buy one of the $199,000 houses.

But even before the year was out there were signs the wheels were beginning to come off as it was revealed business tenants at the site had not been given notice to leave and Mr. Schorer was not paying contractors at the Wyndham Bermuda Resort and Spa.