At times one could feel like a cobra with his sensory tongue out piercing the environment to sense what is in the air. I have been doing that lately and think the aftermath of Walter Roban’s cold-face support of the Fairmont Southampton special development order put a deadly chill even in the minds of those who expected that response — but not so crudely.

The bluntness sadly confirmed more than just the anticipated answer. But what a good portion of the population does not want to admit is that the decision was made a long time ago and that the SDO was a perfunctory exercise — a façade that could have been avoided.

The minister stood boldly in front of the camera and said that he read the advice of the planning department and simply disagreed with it — it was as simple as that!

He offered that as a carrot there would be the creation of about 100 construction jobs and 57 permanent hospitality jobs as a result. I presume we were all to forget that there were 700 direct hotel jobs lost, which did not include taxi drivers and delivery vehicles, entertainers, along other knock-on and ancillary workers from shops and other amenities of the hotel.

Chris Furbert, the president of the union that supports most of the former hotel employees who lost their jobs, seems to have forgotten rather quickly and easily. One would have thought since jump-starting the economy was the core issue, the solution would have been to open the hotel as soon as possible — like next season!

The air is laden with a sense of complete abandonment of the people by a leadership that is headlong into what is seen as the equivalent of a gold rush. Not by those who would say in biblical terms, “I go to prepare a place for thee, so that where I am you may also be.” But rather by those who would say, “I go to prepare a place for me, that where I am you cannot afford to go.”

This has become too clear; so clear that most cannot frame a clear sentence of rational support. If yesterday the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party was considered a little arrogant, today it is seen at a level of arrogance never known to this populace. The old oligarchy is beginning to look good by comparison.

Not that anyone would want to go back in time ... but to move forward with something looking worse and dystopian?

Cabinet is run by collective responsibility as a rule, and the backbenchers are to provide that counterbalance. The solidarity seen by the PLP MPs on this SDO matter is evidence of collective blindness. It appears even the potential loss of an election is not a deterrent. The public pulling back their support seems to be tolerated easier than the thought of losing a spot around the table for this project. Here we go again with another biblical statement: “No, not one.”

Is our legislation so weak that a minister can override the advice of the planning department and the objections of environmentalists and 6,000 petitioners with no legislative checks and balances?

Has the minister forsaken his oath to serve the country first?

Is there a duty of care that the country receives the best deal?

Has the country been informed of whether all options were given life and explored?

If not, was there a breach of the minister's fiduciary responsibility?

Is politics and governance a game where if you play hard you win?

If so, would it not be fair for society to choose “tough ball” also on the basis that the weak will be trampled upon?

If the public don’t count for anything, why should the leaders count?

The world seems to perpetuate modes; like this war against the hapless Palestinians, most of whom are non-combatant children, which has brought the opposite of what Israel intended because the world has more vociferously sided with the Palestinians.

In Bermuda today, the PLP cannot talk about the struggle for freedom any more, or about any civil cause, because it will fall on deaf ears. The party has lost that halo, which this crowd of leaders can never replace. This leadership has earned the title and is seen by many as the worst in the country’s history. No easy feat, that.