The recent op-ed by One Bermuda Alliance senator Dwayne Robinson reinforces the key differences between the OBA and the Progressive Labour Party.

Look at the comment sections of our local media and see what its supporters are saying. Read the hatred masked by pen names and see the not-so-hidden racism and the continuous anti-Bermudian narratives.

The calls for a slashing of jobs in what they repeatedly refer to as a “bloated” Civil Service.

The OBA’s renewed pledge for “... a clear route to Bermudian status” means opening the immigration floodgates and further marginalising Bermudians in our own country.

In the lead-up to the 2012 election, the OBA promised to reform and not scrap term limits on work permits. That promise was broken in just a few months. It then attempted to give the children of guest workers the right to compete against our children for jobs and opportunities.

It tried to slash access to mammograms for our Bermudian women.

It preached “shared sacrifice” by cutting the wages of thousands of government workers while giving millions via the America’s Cup to those who least needed it.

It has promised many things. However, Bermudians have heard these promises before. When given the opportunity, it broke those promises and acted in a manner that Bermudians overwhelmingly voted the OBA out after only one term.

Regardless of what it promises, you must listen carefully to what it is saying — in speeches in Parliament and the words of its hardcore supporters online. At every turn, they have spoken out against measures to improve the lives of Bermudians and offered little solutions beyond “a clear route to Bermudian status”.

We know that we haven’t gotten everything right. We also know that many of the measures we have put in place to improve the lives of Bermudians have not reached everyone in need.

We know that people are hurting and, for where we have fallen short, we apologise. However, we continue to move towards a fairer Bermuda by delivering and committing to:

• More affordable housing

• A living wage

• Taking on the forces of greed that continue to exploit global economic conditions

• Increasing hotel development to provide more employment

• Investing in beautifying our roads and landscape to restore the beauty of the Bermuda that we are accustomed to

• Holding firm against opening the immigration floodgates and protecting the birthright of Bermudians

Much work is still needed to build the change Bermudians want, and every day, in every way, that is what we are working for. Others may say the right things and pretend to be on your side, but when have they ever been on your side?

When have they ever taken the side of government workers and stood by them through disagreements and differences of opinion? When have they ever taken the side of less fortunates beyond sweet words and promises?

The OBA agenda remains the same agenda that marginalised Bermudians:

• “Reduce government expenditure” to them means cutting Bermudian civil servant jobs, cutting support for the vulnerable, slashing scholarships, reducing access to mammograms and driving up the cost of healthcare

• “A clear route to Bermudian status” means opening the immigration floodgates and further marginalising Bermudians in our own country

Bermudians have seen this movie before.

• Lindsay Simmons, a government senator, is the Junior Minister of Social Development and Seniors and Home Affairs