Premier Ewart Brown last night reiterated his plan to step down in October, telling an audience in Hamilton that he was looking forward to speaking frankly in his final months as leader.

"One of the great pleasures that I will have over the next nine months is that I'm not running for re-election," he said at a Progressive Labour Party "open mic" night at Greg's Steakhouse. "You will get it live and direct from me."

Dr. Brown was responding to a question from a member of the public about why Government was considering closing down five primary schools as part of a restructuring of the education system.

The woman said public education in Bermuda used to be the envy of other countries and asked why that had changed.

The Premier told her that the closure proposal — affecting East End, Prospect, Gilbert Institute, Heron Bay and Dalton E. Tucker primary schools — was an idea under consideration and that nothing was decided.

He said the Island spent many years in denial about the demise of public education and that his Government admitted that there was a crisis in 2007, when Professor David Hopkins assessed the system.

"During the time I have been Premier, I have had more than a few disappointments but so far I'm truly disappointed that we have not been able to move faster in terms of changing the education system in Bermuda," said Dr. Brown. "I'm also learning why."

The Premier said many people paid lip service to wanting change but when it came to actions such as sacking poorly performing teachers, they shied away from it.

"Everybody wants to go to Heaven and nobody wants to die," he said. "We don't want to pay the price for change and improvement. We don't want to put in the work any more.

"We have become an instant gratification society: push the button, get what you want and if you don't get it right away, give up."

The Premier said there had been a deterioration in education, just as there had been a deterioration in family life.

He said parents no longer backed teachers but reacted with rage at suggestions that their "sweet angel" had misbehaved in class. "That's what we have in Bermuda and it's real," he said.

The meeting, attended by about 50 people, also heard questions on crime, GPS for taxis and the economy.

Home Affairs Minister David Burch said new Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva was doing "exceptionally well" after a month in the job.

And he said Government no longer wanted to be handed operational control of the Police from the Governor because officers were now being properly deployed.

"The Government wanted more proactive and aggressive policing in the country and that was the reason why we wanted operational control," he said.

"We have got what you, the citizens of this country, and we, the Government, asked for. I'm not going to go and sit in a corner and sulk."

Mr. DeSilva was sworn in on December 16, the day after the second fatal shooting that month. Two more gun murders have followed.

"What a way to start," said Senator Burch. "He's been there four weeks and he's had a bumpy ride. But I can tell you it's more about not just the Commissioner but the team. You can see it and sense it throughout the Police service."

The Minister added: "I can tell you that the Government of Bermuda and Government House and the Bermuda Police Service are on the same page and are moving forward together because this thing is bigger than just politics."

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox told the forum of the importance of "sustainable public finances" and said Ministers were having to consider carefully their spending priorities during the difficult economic times.