Dear Sir,

I have good news to share. The Government’s pothole “hotline” works. I sent in an e-mail on October 3, alerting the Department of Works and Engineering about the “crater” in the road in Spanish Point and one week later it was patched. Holes such as this are deadly for bike riders, and I have no doubt that this one was destined to kill.

There is more good news from the Government. The “news” section of its website is full of links to information telling us how it is improving the lives of all Bermudians.

Here is a sample of three weeks’ worth:

• The Department of Health announces the reopening of the St George’s Oral Health Clinic, after staffing changes

• Minister of National Security Michael Weeks officially proclaims this week as Fire Safety Awareness Week

• The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport advises that the nomination period is now open for members of the public to choose Bermuda’s next National Hero

• Minister Walter Roban travels to Brussels for the Green Overseas Climate Finance Forum

• The Ministry of Education celebrates World Teachers’ Day

• In the Mid-Year Budget Review, the Premier, David Burt, unveils a $25 million social services supplementary funding package, which he says “reflects our commitment to invest in tackling the social challenges facing Bermuda”

• Minister Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch tells us that the Government has invested record sums into increasing the island's housing stock

• Minister Diallo Rabain reports on the steady, demonstrable progress of the Education Reform

• Junior finance minister Jaché Adams announces the Government's plan to assist Bermudians in their dream of homeownership, by way of new legislation to allow them access to a large portion of their private retirement savings to use for mortgage down payments

• Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Owen Darrell says it was a “seismic boost for tourism” after it was reported that the financial transaction for the redevelopment of the Fairmont Southampton has closed

• The Premier announces that the Government has worked tirelessly over the past seven years to build a fairer and more equitable Bermuda, and its work has yielded progress, including lowering taxes, affordable housing, a first-ever minimum wage, increased childcare support and annual raises for seniors pensions

• David Burt recognises significant strides made in enhancing the Public Service's capacity and capabilities, and the dedication and hard work of public officers, who provide our essential services which add value to the community

• Minister Jason Hayward says there were signs of recovery and progress in the economy with the latest job statistics, including 952 new jobs between 2022 and 2023, bringing the total number to 32,866

How much good news can one actually digest?

I say that because the Government's version of the news is in stark contrast with what is happening on the ground. It is like they are living in an alternate universe of sorts and those sitting up on “The Hill” seem oblivious to the plight of those living downtown.

So here is a list of some of what is missing from the Government’s news website, and it gives a glimpse of what is actually going on in the lives of everyday Bermudians:

• The cost of living has skyrocketed, including groceries and electricity, and government financial assistance has risen steadily from $15 million in the year 2000 to the latest “Blue Book” estimate of $54 million for 2024-25

• There continues to be an insufficient supply of affordable housing for Bermudians and our homeless population is at a record high

• Bermudians are emigrating because they cannot afford to live or retire here

• Bermudians are worried about their safety as a result of rising gun violence and other crimes, including theft, break-ins and antisocial behaviour, all of which have soared over the past 20 years

• Bermudians have grave concerns about the reform of the public education system and its effectiveness

• Taxpayers are fed up with the poor delivery of public services, and one brave soul even went so far as to stop paying taxes, until her street-cleaning grievance (of 2½ years’ duration) has been resolved

• Bermudian parents of special-needs children attending the government Hope Academy are at the mercy of dissatisfied staff, who recently “downed tools” and closed the school, because their safety concerns of the facility’s work environment are not being met by the Ministry of Education

• Bermudians are worried about the Government's questionable expenditures of the people's tax dollars, particularly given the debt load we are carrying, our shrunken (revenue-generating) workforce and our increasing, dependent seniors population

• Bermudians are concerned about the Government's lack of commitment to a strategic debt-reduction plan, which the Auditor-General has been recommending every year for the past 15 years

• Bermudians are out of patience with having to accept a crumbling infrastructure, appalling road conditions, flooding from poor drainage, disappearing sidewalks and overgrown verges, the maintenance of which is what we pay taxes for

• Bermudians are experiencing a dangerous, highly contagious and potentially fatal pothole epidemic — despite the emergency “hotline” — which is out of control and apparently has no cure

• Bermudians are sadly watching their scarce green spaces and coastal lands being swallowed up by big development, owing to irresponsible, risky, unsustainable government policymaking, all in the name of the almighty dollar

So back to this alternate universe in which the Government exists — the one in which words such as “better”, “fairer”, “equity”, “caring” and “delivering” are spoken with regularity within the halls of the legislature. Words and promises that have been uttered by this government for seven years are now sounding hollow and stale, given the lack of progress on so many of our critical issues ... the sluggish economy, unsustainable debt levels and massive unfunded liabilities, serious social problems, failing education, astronomical cost of living, rising crime/gang activity, public safety concerns and our failing infrastructure.

But this government does have one consistent track record that it can hang its hat on. Getting re-elected, despite its lacklustre performance.

BEVERLEY CONNELL

Pembroke