Upon receiving the news of my dear father’s passing only days ago, I thought of something that he would recite from time to time. It’s better to learn a lesson than not to have learnt one at all. There are hard truths we all have to face and, God knows, I learnt mine — both personally and politically.

This is the Progressive Labour Party where the Art of the Leak is well established by the Haywards who now inhabit Alaska Hall. Look how they treated Damon Wade, their own chairman, whom they quieted with a government contract at the National Sports Centre. In this PLP, internal political cannibalism is prevalent — look no farther Curtis Dickinson, and Renée Ming.

These days, Trumpian-style elections conducted on social media, where the Art of the Smear is currency, can be found at Alaska Hall and the Cabinet Office. This has become the norm. I think it’s time to remind all of us at this moment in time why we are here.

Constituents of Pembroke Central, many of you have told me that they have not seen Jason Hayward in years. Maybe it’s because you cannot see through all of that smog and dirt falling upon your homes on Mount Hill, St John’s Road and the surrounding areas, and its impact upon your health and that of your children.

We are here to pass judgment on this government and its feckless opposition. This election will be a referendum on both. The One Bermuda Alliance, however, is not worthy of my time here. No. This one is dedicated to my opponent, Jason Hayward.

This is the same Jason Hayward who sought to destroy the living-wage initiative more than seven years ago, in an effort to advance himself politically, at the expense of the Black working poor and our eroding middle class. Remember, I was the chairman who invited him to sit on that joint select committee. Unbelievable.

The same Jason Hayward whose flawed public policies, including the granting of Permanent Resident’s Certificates, have contributed to Bermudians having to flock to Britain in droves.

This is a PLP where the men and women in its caucus have only one goal in mind, and that is to get their hands on a Cabinet-level salary. To ensure that this ruinous cost of living never affects them. This, of course, applies to the Premier as well where even some backbenchers have government contracts ― something unheard of in my time there. So much so that I thought it was an actual rule against it. But this is life on David Burt’s patronage plantation.

Mr Hayward would tell us that the PLP has produced significant job growth, but this is only at the expense of selling off the island. Overwhelmingly, that growth was in foreign labour and only a pitiful handful of Bermudians found employment during that year.

Pembroke Central, I will work hard not only to clean up Wayne Caines’s and Belco’s pollution, but also the dirty politics of Jason Hayward and the modern-day PLP, which have left you frustrated, demoralised and disrespected.

When I say this is not your grandfather and grandmother’s PLP, view the above as Exhibit A. This is only part of the story. It only confirms Mr Hayward’s utter desperation. Let us stay focused on Bermuda’s constitutional, political and economic renewal. Let us restore our solidarity with one another, and our dignity as Bermudians.

Constituents of Pembroke Central, as difficult as it may be, it’s time for change.

• Rolfe Commissiong is the independent candidate for Pembroke Central (Constituency 17)