The Premier should be commended for nothing other than his ingeniously selfish political strategy. The lengths he has gone to extend his tenure as a leader have not gone unnoticed. How will this leave the people of Bermuda, especially our young people?

Viewing the politics of the Progressive Labour Party delegates conference was like a fly on the wall. There is an obvious desire for new leadership from Curtis Dickinson from the public, but as the way the mechanism works, we do not have a say on the outcome. It is interesting to see where the future will lead us as a nation, for this clear divide between public and inner-party support is nothing less of a paradox.

What was once a robust and clear-cut Cabinet rooted in community, integrity and intellectual competence is now left in shambles. The loss of Cabinet members Renée Ming, Ernest Peets and Lawrence Scott, and experts such as Carika Weldon, show Bermuda that towing party lines is more critical than Bermudians. Further, it leaves us with the understanding that our leader has run into his Cabinet, rooting out who he sees as a threat or those who cannot be morally compromised. This is something expected of anyone in his position; nevertheless, it exposes him to unfavourable interpretations of his strength.

As an individual in the public eye, this does not shelter him from criticism or scrutiny. This is evident from the non-stop Twitter fingers on social media throughout the past few days. The question of the day is: “What will come in the next election?”

As conversations surround our economy and the abhorrent cost of living, the people of Bermuda should be greatly concerned about our reality. It is hard to say for sure if our next government will be a PLP one, or if there will be a low voter turnout, just like in 2020 — the lowest in a while. But action needs to be taken today, not on Election Day.

There have been abundant opinions and outcry within the public online, but we await to see action based on this sentiment. The words written on social media do not penetrate the guise of our government, nor will they move for immediate change — just as the words you are reading here do not. However, it is hoped that it will encourage you to become involved and become a political actor.

We can sit here and write for days, but we are tired of replaying the same broken record over and over again on the sidelines. It’s time we put the pen to action. It is clear that the Premier is thinking only for himself and does not care for the people of Bermuda. A cultish personality no longer impresses many inside and outside of the PLP.

Where does this leave the leaders of tomorrow? Today the lacklustre example sets the bar low. We need more future leaders of Bermuda who now see and know what kind of leader the country requires in order to move forward and prosper.