Here’s the thing, Mr Editor: ever tried putting toothpaste back in the tube? Try it some time. It isn’t easy. But that is what the OBA Government is facing and they need to be very, very careful here as they try to get back to running the country. The usual spin just won’t cut it.

We don’t need to be told that there are bigger more important issues at stake here than the sad, sorry debacle now known as the “Jetgate” affair. All of us understand the need to continue to turn this flagging economy around, to create more jobs and to make our streets safer. Please then spare us the self-serving rationalisations, the convenient allowances and accommodations, and reasons which are a parade of nothing more than dressed up excuses.

It won’t wash. It is not possible to unring the bell.

A Premier has resigned. It has all the appearances of having been forced, even though he went voluntarily. He made at least one initial cardinal mistake. He misled the Legislature. That personal explanation he first gave to the House a year ago on “Jetgate” turned out to be less than complete, economical with the truth on what happened and on what preceded the trip, and this on a matter that turned out to be critical not only to his own credibility but that of his colleagues, his party and the government they had promised to give us.

Further information started to eke out under pressure and under questioning from a relentless Opposition which, so it seemed, knew more about the trip than some of his colleagues. A good Opposition is not going to give up, nor will they based on how the Government has handled this matter to date. Censure motions on the individuals involved, or even a motion of no confidence, will come as no surprise, either or both of which may still happen.

One of his own Ministers, who accompanied him on the trip to Washington, went public with his version of events which was at variance from the Premier’s statement to the House on some material points. So it continued, like some kind of perverse water torture test, drip by drip by drip, as we learned more and more each week, capped by shock disclosures in the press, which continue.

They (and we) now know that these accusations and allegations could not simply be dismissed as colourful and so much foolishness — which was the Premier’s defence even as late as late Friday in the House.

This was a story that was never going to go away. You start off on the wrong foot, you end up on the wrong foot. No surprise there. The trip should never have been taken in the first place. It was a bad decision. It isn’t just that by all appearances it looked to be contrary to the Ministerial Code. Common sense dictates that you should never put yourself or your government in such a vulnerable position, no matter how laudable the goal.

The first credible response was the disclosure of “internal inquiries”. However, given the nature and extent of what was disclosed and alleged, you might think a more independent investigation was required. You had to wonder too, when they emerged from their Saturday meeting only to tell us that internal inquiries are continuing and that there was nothing further to report. Really? Maybe like me, you thought surely the people who know all there is to know were in that room. All they had to do was stand up, speak up, and tell the truth.

The truth: that is what the people of this country now deserve. The pure unadulterated truth of all that is alleged. Any attempt to sugarcoat it or spin it will be (1) immediately recognisable for what it is and (2) an insult to the intelligence of the voters of this island, supporters or not.

People deserve to know after all that they have been put through — and this from a party that promised us better: greater transparency, a higher degree of accountability, and a zero tolerance for unethical behaviour.

If this Government wants this second chance — and that is what this amounts to — they will need to appeal to the forgiving nature of their fellow Bermudians, most of whom actually do want to see Bermuda succeed. But they are going to have to stoop, and in all humility, tell us the truth of what occurred, come clean, as it is so often said; and it may well be that a further price will have to be paid by way of further resignations.

It may be hard and it may be different than what other administrations have done in the past. But so what? Past mistakes do not justify repetition.

One further comment: the need to be open and forthright goes just beyond this one matter. It is time to take PATI and the promise of freedom of information off the shelf and put them into play. You might also think they would want to now add campaign finance reform to their to-do list as well as get on with delivering on a promised right of recall of MPs.

Given all that has happened to date, the OBA is also going to need to be squeaky clean. Like Caesar’s wife: they must not only be above suspicion but seen to be above suspicion. On this score they are already facing their first test. Cabinet must be seen to be free of any and all possible conflicts of interest. A full time Minister is going to have to mean just that and what constitutes part-time spelled out for all to know and understand.

This was a new party that promised to do that which was different and difficult and to provide us with better governance. Now is a good time to put this into practice.

WORD for the week: fissiparous. Look it up. It’s worth remembering.

Happy Heritage Day everybody.