May 4, 2014

Dear Sir,

It never ceases to amaze me, that a whole group of people, presumably intelligent but deaf; assemble and come together to march and demand that this Government stands by it’s platform promises, and provide jobs. I even saw a woman on TV with her arms raised and fists clenched shouting, “Now, Now, Now”.

They just don’t get it do they? Don’t they know or even remember, who put us in this tragic state? Why are we so coy and polite about the wasteful shenanigans that went on with the Progressive Labour Progressive Labour Party and who was responsible?

Most importantly, let us not forget they inherited a balanced budget and that disappeared like, butter in the sun! A drunken sailor would have been proud of those accomplishments!

The One Bermuda Alliance made these promises when they were electioneering, and never dreamed in their worst nightmare, that they would find what they found when taking over The Government and opening up, files, drawers. bank statements, financial dealings, over runs on building sites and missing money that could not be accounted for.

Which would have placed Bermuda unable to meet it’s commitments beyond a few months, and place this lovely little Island in default of it’s responsibility’s to meet the debt payments that had to be honoured.

Now Bob Richards is a fine Finance Minister but no orator, where Michael Faye, with his soft voice and explanatory ability’s could charm a pearl out of an oyster! he should be encouraged to come to the people and sit down and tell the “Man in the street”, I hate that expression, but it does somehow convey without, I hope, offending The People. Tell them what is happening, and when The Finance Minister tells us that “Things are turning around”, “We are almost there” — Why do we get the feeling that that does not apply to us! That I am hurting and don’t understand, and am scared, and if it is happening, why don’t I believe it? Simply because, what (Finance Minister) Bob Richards is saying, is not for us right now, what will be for us is, when these large company’s settle here, and not in the too far distance, they will jump start the economy, and then only then will we start to feel the warmth of money and recovery in a real meaningful way. So let us support this Government, try and be patient and understand. What they are doing right now is for us, and not only for the haves, but for all of Bermuda.

The Finance Minister means that he is courting big business from abroad and all over, offering tempting and coercing with benefits that meet the challenges of todays competitive markets, and that there is a good response, but it will take time. That is the time that is so difficult for The people with no jobs, who are suffering with a family, a mortgage maybe, and responsibility’s that have to be met. But with patience and understanding, and forums set up by Government to council and Listen, that would make all the difference to “The Mood” of the people, and help them understand and prepare for a difficult time, but if we all have one goal and feel that Government understands our difficulty’s. and confides in us to pull together, understanding that the recovery of the economy will benefit us all, and once again in time, Bermuda will flourish.

These big company’s will come with all their families and staff, and employees. They will have to employ extra, maybe hundreds, if a lot of company’s are made to feel welcome, and come and use the amenity’s of this Island.

With large arrivals and their families which is contemplated soon They will rent, eat, entertain, use taxis, and spend, all good for job employment. That is if they can forget the PLP who discouraged and offered a hostile reception, and were said to have said, literally “Go home and stop taking jobs from Bermudians! So they did, and now we see what that has meant for us. So it is up to all of us to welcome foreign investors.

Bermudians must take the lessons that have been so hurtful and not their fault, education, education, education, so that they can compete in any arena of commerce in the world. That our education in the past has failed many, will never again be acceptable, and to graduate to the next level without passing the standard, must not ever again be tolerated, we owe that much to the next generation as an apology to make our education system, the very best it can be.

I have an idea that works well in the villages in England. Place a large notice board, accessible for all to see, like city halls or post offices in every parish in Bermuda — Where people who want to do odd jobs and are available, and on the other side of this idea, people who need odd jobs done. This could open up a few dollars a day to help out. It could simply mean, washing a car, raking up leaves, cleaning windows, walking a dog, bringing a newspaper, pruning a bush, changing an electric light bulb, ideas off the top of my head, and I am sure there are thousands more.

Simply place your name and contact information on a piece of paper explaining what you want, pin it to the board and see what happens, you may be very surprised.

DIANA WILLIAMS