The average Bermudian may not be an expert on the financial structure of this Island, but most of them from professional dish washers, to CEOs of large companies, know that if you are earning $25 and your bills are over $50, commonsense dictates that something is not working out.That maybe an over simplification of the dilemma that many Bermudian families are facing on a weekly basis, but in a way it tells part of the story of the mammoth challenge the new Government is confronted with in attempting to right the ship without causing greater hardship.The presentation of the new Budget was bold and frank and while few budgets are ever perfect, it appears much thought has been given to potential recovery through sacrificial measures that hopefully in the long term will help put Bermuda back on course.Some of the measures are quite positive such as raising import duties for cigarettes and alcohol, but going after seniors in the area of certain categories of vehicles should be given more thought. It is understood that due to loopholes in the system designed to help seniors, it was abused by some. Now seniors who purchased a car in E, F, G and H classes, will have to pay for their licence, although they never knew the goalposts would later be shifted.What seems grossly unfair is that because a system was not properly regulated to prevent abuse, seniors who complied with the law are now having to pay for those who took advantage of a sloppy arrangement they had nothing to do with.Most responsible seniors are willing to play their part in trying to rebuild the Island’s economy, but when the Government chooses to target seniors, many of them who are already struggling, it gives the impression the pledge to help seniors is not genuine.The One Bermuda Alliance certainly would not like to know seniors feel as though they have been victimised as a result of careless handling of a system put in place to make their lives more comfortable. The OBA certainly deserve a chance to make a difference, but they must think carefully at every step of the way, otherwise they might find themselves on the back foot scrambling to explain their actions.The problems facing Bermuda are numerous and complex and any Government of the day has to display transparency and accountability along with sensitivity in whatever steps they deem necessary, to pull Bermuda out the financial hole it finds itself.It is not too late for the OBA to revisit the licensing process for seniors in order to ensure that fairness and concern for doing the right thing is their main priority. Hopefully they will do just that.It is accepted that on a global scale many countries are battling to improve their economic base and our small Island is not exempt from a similar plight. It is not so much what Government plans are to improve our dismal economic state, but it is equally important to be in close touch with public sentiment along the way.The term limit issue need not have become a public fiasco if greater thought had been given to explaining why a change in the process was vital in helping to create more jobs. Without good public relations any political party could find itself in hot water over the slightest stumble.Bermuda can learn much from the recent election in America when Republicans lost touch with changing public sentiment on a number of issues including immigration policies. With ever-expanding diversity in the US, the GOP paid the ultimate price at the polls for not embracing fresh concerns from minority groups on a number of issues.In all fairness the OBA are just beginning their term in office and just as the PLP Government was given a chance, democracy has now provided the OBA with the opportunity to prove they can do the job of governing better.Bermudians will be watching them closely, and they have every right to speak out against anything they consider a major concern. In all of this, let us try to keep cool heads no matter how strong we feel about various issues.Our hope will lie in how well we work together.