June 11, 2013Dear Sir,Last week Bermuda quietly lost another young academic. I had the pleasure of working alongside Chris Worboys within the Bermuda Department of Energy from 2009-2011. Our primary task, among many others, was to author Bermuda’s first national energy policy: The 2011 Energy White Paper. This policy document had been recommended for decades prior to it being written and Chris had the vision, wisdom, and intellectual capacity beyond his years to lead a three-person team consisting of myself and (William) Allan Bean.Unfortunately in the fall of 2011, a few months after the White Paper was published, both Chris and I resigned from our positions after struggling to expedite the urgency for energy reform via formal channels. In allowing Chris to depart, the Civil Service lost the opportunity to employ both a current and future leader. After spending a couple of years working for a local alternative energy company, Chris has chosen to take his talents abroad.Separate but not unrelated to the story above, I wish to speak to the following three points:1. Bermuda cannot afford to lose young intellects that actively want to contribute to our economy and community. We must aggressively solicit and retain young professionals by creating workplaces and physical environments that allow for contribution, expression, appreciation, and growth opportunities.2. A Civil Service hiring freeze is disastrous. Had Chris and I not have been allowed an employment opportunity several years ago with the Department of Energy, we would not have gained insight into local public administration and its (intended) relationship with the private sector. Recommended solutions include a more thorough hiring and job evaluation process, removal of perceived tenured positions, and allowing young people employment opportunities beyond the current Cabinet Internship Programme.3. Minister Grant Gibbons’ recent statement that the authors of the 2011 Energy White Paper overstated the uptake of alternative energy technologies in Bermuda is misinformed. We conducted a wide-reaching and aggressive public consultation campaign that allowed the local energy utility, non-governmental organisations, local energy industry professionals, Government departments, and members of the public to influence our policy decisions. In short, the true author of the 2011 Energy White Paper was the community. What Minister Gibbons and many other senior public sector figures refuse to admit is that it is the lack of leadership and expertise among overpaid senior Government employees that are the biggest barriers to energy, and other necessary reform. Without changes in personnel and a competitive public sector job environment, we will be in the same situation five to ten years from now.Thank you again Chris Worboys for trying to lead by example. You presence will be missed by those of us who are able to read between the lines and refuse to accept mediocrity. Hopefully your foresight and vision will still be realised regardless of where you decide to apply yourself.TIAGO GARCIA