With all the recent hoopla over the Fairmont Southampton project, I felt like I needed to talk about the elephant in the room.

This government has now taken away our privilege of being able to dictate what investments in our country should look like or being able to choose and refuse who invests in our island. That ship sailed long ago as this country continued to allow the Progressive Labour Party to be in power for 20 of the past 25 years.

We all know why they keep doing this; it is the worst-kept secret in Bermuda. The supporters of the PLP are still waiting for “manna sent down from heaven”, which they were promised 25 years ago — and just like those who wander in the desert with no sense of direction, they still after all these years haven’t realised they have been hoodwinked. Kept in the desert by design and political strategy because the PLP learnt long ago that the divide within our country helps only one party in terms of optics and political capitalisation.

Some will say, where have I been the past couple of years? And, why now?

First, I had to get my professional designation — because, apparently, that’s still the only way to be respected these days — and I had to renew my calling and truly reflect on my time in politics. I’m happy to report that the reflection period is done, and I have renewed my calling to work for a better future for our country. I have been a candidate behind the scenes, an active member of my party for more than a year and I have been working through my new normal life. To be frankly honest, I have been struggling with finding the right words to put on paper to talk to you.

I’ve always tried to be thoughtful on what I say, and I always believe in quality over quantity — hence why I’m not constantly spouting off my mouth every two seconds, because I can if I wanted. I don’t believe in speaking for the sake of speaking so that people can constantly hear me and have my name in lights and on the top of every news article; the mere suggestion of it makes me queasy.

I want to always make sure that in some way I am adding to a thoughtful conversation. One in which we as an opposition can work alongside a government — although this one is clearly lost — to find and establish progress and growth for our future. I say this because in simplest of terms, their success is our shared success. Now you have a bitter minority of people that don’t believe in that style of politics, and I hope that history judges them accordingly.

One of my favourite quotes from my time studying politics in university came from President John F. Kennedy (more than likely his speechwriter): “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”. This is the epitome and underpinning sentiment of all democracies because that is the design — the ability to get up off your couch with your ideas and bring them into action and fruition.

There are so many people on the streets, in café’s, bars, homes, workplaces, churches — lest we forget the social-media warriors — that opine to have solved the world’s problems, yet the issues still exist. These people that I speak of have all this pent-up concern about the future, but lack the will to speak these words into action to solve the issues of the nation. They would rather sit there and watch the car crash so they can tell each other: “See, I told you it would crash.” Vindication in this space is the height of idiocy and speaks to self-harm that we tend to afflict on one another that has become prevalent across all areas of our nation.

Notwithstanding the present state of affairs that I describe above, I truly am optimistic about the future of our country. I believe that we are about to embark on a renaissance — you know I had to drop at least on Beyoncé reference — and coincidently the theme of Heritage Month next month. Why a renaissance? This is simple analysis of the number of future developments that are in the wings or being talked about as about to take off — how could we not be on the precipice? This leads us to a very important question: who should be at the helm for this renaissance? Who can we really trust to get these projects off the ground and redefine the way we do business through tax reform and meaningful healthcare for all?

We need true leadership in this country. We need a leader that is open and honest from Day 1. One that does not seek their own self-indulgence or grandeur but wants to actually lift those who deserve to be lifted. One that doesn’t focus on who is at the top but is trying to figure how we all can get to our self-determined top. We need someone that will recognise that we don’t all have to stay in this country but one that will recognise that some of us must leave and then come back to build the opportunities that didn’t exist for them — and a government who is willing to support.

The past 25 years have made it very clear that this government doesn’t want to achieve this reality. Why do I believe this? Very simple: how does solving the country’s problems benefit them? How would they be able to use race in guilting people into the voting patterns of the past?

The time is now to start having this and other real conversation so we can move into the future together as one community. I just attended the most recent Kappa Classic football tournament on Saturday, and I saw it there again as clear as day. We are not as divided as this government would want you to believe, and if we come together to solve our issues and leave them to reign in isolation for however long they have left in power, so be it.

This is our nation and our destiny, not theirs! They may believe they own it, but we have the power. Bermuda, let’s take it back and let’s stop waiting on a government that we all know we can’t truly rely on.

I truly believe that 2023 will be one of the biggest turning points in our nation’s political history. I am also a firm believer that a visionary leader will come out of the ranks of the One Bermuda Alliance. Now whether that happens in the OBA’s existing structure or another option appears, time will tell.

• Justin Mathias is a former senator and chairman of the One Bermuda Alliance