Premier Paula Cox’s message to the country last Thursday night was rightly focused on the two issues of paramount importance to the Island crime and the economy.Having recently run into the first real problems she has experienced since becoming Premier six months ago, it was also intended to address criticisms and, perhaps, to demonstrate that she is fully in charge as her political honeymoon ends.The first problem was the resignation of National Security Minister David Burch. The second is the opposition from the trade unions to further concessions unless the Cabinet makes a symbolic cut of its own.In doing so, Ms Cox clearly also wanted to show the public that she understands the issues they are facing and is working to solve the problems facing the Island.On terms of style, the timing was curious. The night before Good Friday is not an optimum TV viewing time, and also meant that the speech would get little coverage in the printed media until Saturday at the earliest.Ms Cox’s tone was firm and she is clearly unapologetic for any decisions she has made. This included the episode when she met with the Police Commissioner which in turn sparked Mr Burch’s resignation.Many people were looking to see if she would respond to calls for Ministers to take a salary cut, and she did, saying it would not happen. She attempted to turn the fact that Ministers would keep their salaries into an act of courage, saying that to cut the salaries would be “appeasement”. It seems unlikely that this logic will persuade the general public or the unions due to protest tomorrow.She also spent some time discussing her reforms of Government structure and the need for civil servants to be more effective and productive. But it’s unlikely that her explanations, no matter how valid, will have gained much support before the Bermuda Public Service Union protest tomorrow.More concretely, Ms Cox announced a summer job initiative and a training programme in horticulture. And, accompanied by a great many caveats, she said she believed the economy is improving, pointing to the stability of the reinsurance industry, the start of four construction projects, and the improved first quarter tourism statistics.But it was not possible to discern what form Ms Cox sees the economy emerging in when recovery begins. And there was not much in the speech on the kind of high skill, high value jobs that Bermuda needs, although she did promise some as yet unannounced incentives for “job makers”, although they will be limited to those creating opportunities for Bermudians.On crime, Ms Cox heralded the appointments of former policemen Wayne Perinchief and Jonathan Smith as Minister and Parliamentary Secretary of National Security as a positive thing, rather than a decision forced by Mr Burch’s resignation.She also promised consideration of anti-gang legislation and reiterated that more CCTV cameras are being installed along with the X-ray machine for containers.And she rightly said the whole community needs to get involved in the anti-crime fight, but did not explain how that should happen.In all, this speech will not accomplish what Ms Cox wanted. She did show she understands what the public are going through and that they want solutions for crime and the economy. But she will have done little to mollify the trade unions.And, while her words on crime were undoubtedly heartfelt, there was little of substance stated on how Government plans to end the rise in gangs and violent crime or to bring about the kind of social changes that lie at the root of the gang problem.Ms Cox’s best hope remains that the economy will begin to improve this year, bringing with it jobs and perhaps a reduction in crime. But there was very little in this speech to suggest that Government can or will do anything substantial to bring that about.