In recent months, two things have become increasingly clear about the One Bermuda Alliance: they have run out of ideas to create quality jobs for Bermudians and diversify our economy, and they are now in permanent election campaign mode.

Twenty-five months into their term in office, Bermuda is experiencing continued economic contraction, loss of jobs, business closures, and an OBA stuck in a recession-prolonging austerity cycle.

Yet instead of promoting ideas that will diversify the economy, create quality jobs, and end the recession, the OBA resorts to puerile attacks to deflect from their failure to turn around Bermuda’s economy.

The latest salvo from the OBA permanent campaign comes from Senator Vic Ball, whose opinion piece last week, Getting Serious About Improving the Economy, seems a repetition of previous OBA articles which try to reduce the entire Progressive Labour Party plan for the economy to online gaming and “marijuana”.

But that is where Senator Ball’s piece ended.

Nothing about the OBA’s plans, nothing about how they will reverse the 1,500 jobs lost under their watch, nothing about diversification, nothing about new industries for the future.

The PLP, under new leadership, has returned to its progressive roots and has advocated for the regulation of cannabis, but surely one would think that a Government desperate for tax revenue would at least examine that possibility and not dismiss it outright? Similarly with online gaming, an industry that drives the economy of other overseas territories — why not look to take some of their business in the same way they look to take it from Bermuda?

One would think that a Government desperate to create jobs would examine the industry, as called for by Independent Senator James Jardine, rather than dismiss it outright. The OBA and their permanent election campaign want you to forget about the PLP’s plan to create the Bermuda Fund to use a small portion of our public and private sector pension funds to invest in companies that bring jobs to our shores.

They want you to forget about the PLP’s plan to open up the local legal industry to allow international law firms on-Island to promote investment and drive more business to our shores.

They also want you to forget about the PLP’s proposals to invest in alternative energy on all Government buildings, which would provide short-term stimulus and long-term savings.

The OBA wants you to forget that while they have taken an austerity approach that has left our schools underfunded and our teachers lacking the supplies to teach their students, the PLP in February 2013 advocated for the creation of a Revenue and Government Earnings — or RAGE — Commission to bring more money into Government’s coffers.

The OBA and their permanent election campaign look to conceal the fact that the PLP in February 2013 pushed for a joint committee on immigration reform, so that both parties could agree a mutual path forward on this important topic. This is vital because Bermuda will not secure long-term investment if those considering investing in Bermuda believe that immigration policy may change after an election.

A joint stance on immigration reduces that political risk and improves the investment environment here at home. Waging a permanent election campaign that attacks ideas and offers no solutions may benefit the OBA, but it does not help the thousands of Bermudians who are out of work and looking for hope.

Twenty-five months into their term, the OBA must change their approach, recognise the necessity of presenting a unified position to potential investors, and finally start “getting serious about improving the economy”.

• David Burt is Deputy Leader of the Progressive Labour Party and MP for Pembroke West Central