One Bermuda Alliance leadership rivals Bob Richards and Senator Craig Cannonier last night called for the people to play their part turning around Bermuda's economic problems.Speaking at their first public event since being announced contenders yesterday morning, Mr Richards told residents they need to believe Bermuda can recover from its perilous financial position, while Sen Cannonier urged St Georgians to come together to revitalise the Old Town.At Penno's Wharf, St George's, Mr Richards gave a presentation on Bermuda's financial situation, accusing the Progressive Labour Party, particularly Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox, of irresponsible spending to get the Island into debt of $1.2 billion.But he said the feeling of helplessness he witnesses on the streets is misplaced.“We need to turn this around,” the Shadow Finance Minister told the audience of around 50 people. I know in my heart and my head we can turn this around but it's going to take all Bermudians. Not just OBA, not just Government, but it has to be all hands on deck.“Many Bermudians have gone straight from denial into hopelessness in one fell swoop. Pessimism has descended on our people like a wet fog.”He said he's heard people saying the economy is going to get worse, but continued: “I say, to heck with that attitude. What we need on this Island is a strong dose of the power of positive thinking.”Mr Richards said matters could be improved by making Bermuda less unwelcoming to international business and revitalising tourism, and suggested ideas including a Bermuda Risk Institute. To cheers and claps from the room, he said an OBA Government would cut consultants and lavish Ministerial travel, and reduce Ministers' pay by ten percent. He said Ms Cox shows a defeatist attitude by blaming Bermuda's troubles on the global economic crisis.But he said: “We don't believe in helplessness and we don't believe in hopelessness. We believe in rolling up our sleeves. Get to work to turn this Country around. That's what we believe in. We believe in the people of Bermuda and their tenacity to hang in there and turn this thing around. We can fix it and we will.”Sen Cannonier spoke of how St George's has declined since its vibrant days, saying: “To see where we are today is a very, very painful experience.”He said following years of neglect under the PLP, the OBA would give opportunity to St George's and rebuild a community that works together.“We are here to work with, to complement this place, to make it what it used to be,” said the Senator, who grew up in St George's and still lives there. I believe that the meeting of the minds in this hall will provide the spark for Bermuda. Now that we are in a challenging position financially, we St Georgians must come together and explore what opportunities do exist for us.“We can't wait for Government. We have got to come up with ideas and explore opportunities. If Government can't seem to find solutions to make it happen, how do we make it happen? This is our St George's and we have got to find a way to make it happen.”Calling for people to join forces with the fledgling Opposition party, he continued: “It's not about what the OBA will do, it's about what you will do.“Partner us. We understand that by coming together we are the best of the best.“We are on the edge of becoming third world if we do not turn St George's around, if we do not come together and share our strengths and solutions that exist in our minds to turn this around.”