Residents will now be given the chance to communicate directly with the Premier after the introduction of a new e-mail facility.

The launch of AskYourPremier@gov.bm is in “keeping with the Premier’s commitment to ensuring openness and transparency with the Bermuda community,” said a Cabinet Office statement.

The e-mail address is “an effort to enhance and increase community engagement by connecting directly with residents,” the statement added.

Michael Dunkley, referring to his Cup Match address, said: “I touched on several important matters including our progress with hotel development and economic improvements, our commitment to growing jobs, our fight against crime, and our support for our youth and seniors.

“I also spoke about the importance of Government engaging more with the members of our community to ensure that we provided better communication about our policies and programmes and how they benefit and affect Bermudians.

“So today we have launched a new e-mail address with the intent of inviting all residents who have any questions or comments about our programmes and initiatives to contact me directly and I will aim to provide the information they seek.”

Mr Dunkley said he hoped that the new e-mail “would serve to initiate discussions on other matters of importance, such as the social issues facing the community”.

He added: “In recent months my colleagues and I have had moments of reflection as it relates to important community conversations.

“The levels of tensions and discourse are concerning. My hope is that engaging with residents and having frank, honest and collaborative discussions will be a step towards helping to unify our community.

“So in part, I see the introduction of the Ask Your Premier e-mail as an opportunity to directly hear from our community and get their feedback on how we can find ways to build bridges, heal our divisions and work together to so that we can progress as a people and as a country.”