Dear Sir,

Why is it that all politicians have selective memories? Maybe some have not been around as long as some of our senior citizens.

May I remind the government senator Owen Darrell (“Forget me not: the OBA’s amnesia” — The Royal Gazette, May 24, 2022) that when the Progressive Labour Party became the Government in 1998, it inherited a surplus of $1.2 million. Twenty-four years later, there is a deficit of $2.9 billion.

On that particular point, my thoughts are: God help our grandchildren.

About 2007, a land swap was arranged by the PLP government for Southlands in exchange for Morgan’s Point. We were told Southlands would become a valuable addition to our national parks. Fifteen years later, the general public cannot enjoy these amenities, it is locked up and I have been advised it is totally overgrown with a number of invasive species.

Then there was the affordable housing project for Bermudians on South Shore in Warwick. Once built, I believe just one unit was sold. Why were the others not sold, being such a bargain as touted at the time? It appears the mortgage repayments plus the condominium fees were far above the range the average Bermudian could afford.

Another project, the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building, which houses the police and courts, was way over budget, but this did not really matter because the new Berkeley Institute was also over budget. Oh, and by the way, what about King’s Wharf at Dockyard? That, too, was a tad over the original estimate. (I say that tongue-in-cheek!)

What about the buildings that should have been maintained and were allowed to deteriorate? The old Deputy Governor’s residence, the lovely old house in the Botanical Gardens, Wantley House on Princess Street, where the concept of Berkeley Institute was formed (great historical interest to Bermuda), just to mention a few properties. I am sure there are many more, and the latest was Government House, which is in need of repair. TN Tatem school is a relatively new school and yet this was allowed to deteriorate, I guess, from poor maintenance and so it goes on.

From personal experience, maintenance for any property is an ongoing action; otherwise, it costs a pretty penny when it starts falling down around you.

I would like to suggest Mr Darrell does a little homework. Talking of homework, the education system has been bounced around for the past 40 years and no one has managed to get it right in that time. But that is another matter.

ANTONY SIESE

Paget