I NEVER realised that Bermuda's residents were so enamoured with politics.

The anti-corruption legislation promised after the discovery of the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal has yet to be seen.

The last report delivered by the Auditor General declared $800 million of public funds unaccounted for. Premier Alex Scott did as much as laugh when presented with a petition of 15,523 signatures by the group Bermudians for Referendum, an effort to make our Human Rights legislation more inclusive was completely ignored by Parliament . . . I suppose I could go on forever.

Such abuses barely seemed to register with the masses. And so it comes as some surprise to me that a week-old announcement is still of interest to so many people.

It seems that, privately at least, everyone is eager to express their opinion on former Tourism and Transport Minister Ewart Brown's challenge for the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party and the Government of Bermuda.

It makes it an interesting time for politics and politicking in Bermuda.

If you believe party stalwart Arthur Hodgson, there is but one choice: "Dr. Brown is a bright fellow. He sees things very clearly. The problem with people who see things very clearly is they are sometimes impatient with those who are not so bright."

Dr. Brown also has what it takes, according to former PLP senator Calvin Smith. In his words: "I believe that Dr. Ewart Brown is the only Bermudian on either side of the House that has the intelligence, passion, energy and boundless enthusiasm to lead us most successfully to the next level of economic and social expansion."

In announcing his intent to challenge last week, the good doctor was equally enthusiastic in his estimation of himself, telling the media he had increased tourism numbers and spending, improved efficiency at TCD, reduced airfares and brought new routes and provided the island with five fast ferries and computerised taxi dispatching.

"I want to bring the same ? if not more ? vision, strength, energy and resolve to get things done that I brought to the Tourism and Transport Ministries, to the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party and ultimately, to the leadership of Bermuda.

"I feel as if my abilities and my energy are beyond my current portfolios of Tourism and Transport. I believe I can serve Bermuda better and more productively as your leader."

The bare bones of the matter is that, yes, Dr. Brown has given us fast ferries, he has increased our airline routes and dramatically reduced the cost of flying to and from the island.

GPS, however, is a joke. Sadly, without a central dispatching company and/or strict enforcement, it was always bound to fail because the drivers were bullied into it.

With regard to tourism: Visitor arrivals went up in 2005, but figures from the Statistics Department indicate the rise was wholly in the cruise ship sector ? air arrivals actually went down by 2,000. Similarly, the hotel occupancy rate fell from 62.4 per cent to 56.9 per cent.

It has been claimed that lower air fares have improved arrivals for 2006, however, whether those numbers refer to holidaymakers or business travellers, I have no idea. Air arrivals from the United Kingdom have increased, but that's more to do with a better exchange rate than an effective tourism campaign.

As it stands, however, the Premier's legacy is far worse.

Try as I might, I cannot think of one thing Mr. Scott has successfully accomplished since he accepted the role of leader three years ago.

On the important issues of education, elder care and social programmes, he has failed. Just as dismal is his track record in the areas of sustainable development and human rights.

His 'social agenda' ? and here, I plead ignorance as to what that actually is ? has not improved any sector of my community. Believe me, Bermuda succeeds as an economy in spite of not because of, his efforts.

Under his watch, we've been poorly regulated and therefore targeted for bad financial practices by . That an economy as vibrant as ours doesn't know how it will pay for the much-debated acute care facility that has been proposed for the Botanical Gardens is ridiculous when, according to former United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons, we've been overtaxed by $211 million over the past four years.

Whoever secures the PLP leadership will face a difficult time cleaning up the mess our Government is in at present.