July 24, 2013Dear SirI am taking liberty to write as I’ve been following a young man who has been in the tourism and travel for over 17 years. Each time we chat, it is heartbreaking to hear his struggles because every time I think he’s making strides forward he reports that someone or something is hindering his progress. The good thing is that the ‘someone or something’ can easily be changed for the better.I thought it was just the previous Government but it’s the same with a new Government too; and yet, one of the new Government’s slogan is ‘it’s time for change’. I was thinking that since the previous Government failed to acknowledge and work with this young man the new Government would. In February 2013, he scheduled a meeting with the Minister of Tourism Development & Transport and the Minster was in Cabinet so he met with his consultant, with no follow-up from the Minster. June 19th, 2013 he sent a request to meet with the Premier and today it is July 23, 2013 (over one month) and he has not even been acknowledged with a meeting time and date. He said that the he’s been directed to the Minister of Tourism Development & Transport and up to today, they can’t arrange a meeting with him either and mention that he should meet with the Director. Shameful.He even went as far as to show me a comment in the media by the Minister of Tourism Development & Transport, Shawn Crockwell:— The Government of Bermuda believes that the future of Tourism lies with our youth and the Department of Tourism takes its role very seriously in doing its part to develop our future leaders of the Tourism industry.— The Minister concluded by saying the Government is committed to helping young Bermudians achieve excellence in the hospitality industry.The Minister’s comments must be written script.He has said time and time again, all he would like to do is share his story, see how he can align himself with the relevant people in the industry and be a ‘good global citizen’ (a phrase he commonly uses).For what he’s been through with the previous Government and the current one, I continue to ask him, if you receive such a hard time, why do you continue and his answer always remains the same: “I’m faithful.” I commend him for being so brave and holding on despite his hard times because I know I wouldn’t have lasted so long, especially 17 years come August 2013.In a time where the negative outweighs the positive, especially within a particular group of people, we should be pushing this young man and doing all we can do as a country to move him forward. It seems as though we want the good to become bad and do the unjust. I believe that outside the home, leadership is important and if our leadership can’t see someone that is good, we need to pack up.If you know him and know what he’s been through, your heart must hurt to see such a young man do so good but be treated in such an unfair manner. I am starting now, to do whatever I can so that things change and the next time I chat with him, it will be positive. Bermuda, if you are interested to play a part and turn ‘change that is the same’ into ‘it’s time for change’ let’s do this and push him on, he deserves it.R. Symondsrossymonds@gmail.com