Anyone with eyes to see or ears to hear must acknowledge that we are entering into a period of massive global disruption that Bermuda will not be immune from.

For 500 years global power has emanated out of and been centred in the North Atlantic – Western Europe and more latterly the United States of America. For 80 years, the United States has been the world power, an empire in everything but name. However the unipolar world that emerged in the 1990s dominated by the US as the sole, unrivalled global power has now ended.

Bermuda has been an integral part of that unipolar world. That world afforded great advantage for us by way of our geographic sweet spot in the middle of the North Atlantic. That is what drove our tourism industry and currently the Bermuda based international business sector.

The 20th century was known as the American Century and as a consequence it was a Bermuda Century as well. As America and its power grew over the last eight decades our prosperity grew with it. How we view the world now and our place within it is in for a major course correction.

It’s going to be tough but we can bring about the change that Bermuda deserves. Independents can meet this challenge because they are committed to Bermuda and not to party. It will represent the closest we can get to direct democracy.

The existential question is what is Bermuda’s place in this new world? And do we have the leaders necessary today to navigate and establish a new Bermuda now in order to achieve a more sustainable and dynamic Bermuda over the next quarter century? Yes; but not in the present government or its feeble opposition.

An unsustainable status quo

Our ability to navigate the new world that is emerging and which presents great peril to us needs root-and-branch restructuring of constitutional and political order and that of our economy. We have also witnessed a major change in what became the engine of this economy which is international business. The employment footprint per company has dwindled even as more companies domicile here, which in previous op-eds I have discussed. With the prospect of artificial intelligence disrupting labour markets here and internationally that trend will accelerate. This will affect even highly paid professionals in terms of job losses in finance, law, and insurance – the employment backbone of our IB and financial services sectors.

As goes Bermuda …

However, the Bermuda electorate will be the ultimate disrupter politically in determining Bermuda’s fate by way of this upcoming by-election and the General Election to follow.

The OBA sees itself as the heir apparent to the PLP in becoming the next government. Bermuda, don’t be fooled. On the issues that count, they are not only in the same church but in the same pew as the PLP.

They have done nothing and will do nothing about the ruinous cost of living, a living wage, a healthcare system that works for everyone, and tackling the wide and increasing income and wealth inequality.

All of this as the gentrification of Bermuda takes place right before our eyes, making Bermuda unlivable for growing numbers of Bermuda. It also goes without saying very few of the political class even has an idea when it comes to the seismic changes that are occurring in the world.

A generational moment

This is not 2012. This is a political moment that will rival 1968 and 1998. The voters will not be on the couch this time. I predict they will be coming out in droves to vote for change. This is not the time to stay away from voting. It is the time to disrupt the current system. It is time to vote for independent candidates who have a broad view of what is happening and why and are focused on Bermuda and Bermudians and not party loyalty.

Voters in Sandys North, Constituency 36, can lead the movement by voting for Cire Bean – the independent candidate in the upcoming by-election. My brothers and sisters up west seize the moment and endorse the future by voting for Cire. He represents the future. More importantly he represents leadership that you can trust. Start the disruption that will spread across the country.

Bermudians are not stupid. They know what time it is and what’s at stake. We no longer have the luxury of electing run of the mill politicians who are nothing more than placeholders for the established parties. We need new creative solutions to get to a brighter, sustainable future.

Bermuda, this message is for you. Do not stay on that electoral couch. It is not your friend. To those voters in Constituency 36 and beyond, I know how disenchanted you are.

I know how your standard of living continues to erode. I know how you are terrified of getting sick because you can’t afford healthcare. I know that you hate having to choose between paying your rent and buying food for your children.

I know that some of you are scared that you might lose your job at any moment. Don’t do what some of you did in 2012 and 2020; over 10,000 registered voters that had voted in 2017 stayed at home. Vote for change. This means this time call time and reject the PLP, and the OBA. For that matter, reject the FDM again as you did last time.

Don’t be passive aggressive on election day. Just aggressive. Do it for Bermuda. Our future is at stake.

• Rolfe Commissiong was the Progressive Labour Party MP for Pembroke South East (Constituency 21) between December 2012 and August 2020, and the former chairman of the joint select committee considering the establishment of a living wage