Premier Craig Cannonier has vowed to renew the promise of Bermuda “to shake off past mistakes and reposition the Island to meet the people’s needs”.In a national address televised last night, he pledged to push forward the Government’s agenda of “renewal and recovery”.“We will move toward a decision on gaming. We will launch a Tourism Authority to finally apply performance accountability to the business of Bermuda tourism. We will introduce plans to extend the school day for the benefit of our students. Having completed extensive consultations, we will also move forward to reform our municipal governments,” he said.“Through it all, it is important that we make decisions based on the reality of Bermuda today.“Everything we are experiencing tells us we must chart a new course forward, doing things better. Everything tells us we must be about solutions — prepared to change what is not working — for the sake of building the strongest possible future.“For this Government, the first imperative is to get out-of-work Bermudians back to work, providing once again for their loved ones, growing pay cheques and new opportunities.”The address “highlighted the critical need for a plan to get our people back to work”, Opposition Leader Marc Bean said in a press release issued today.“With no plan in place, it is the duty of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party to present a plan that meets that criteria and that can be implemented as soon as possible.“In our official response to the Premier, we will present our vision for creating jobs, supporting business, expanding opportunity and diversifying our economy. It is our hope, that for the good of all Bermudians, that the OBA embrace our vision and work with us to get our people working again.”Mr Cannonier yesterday urged the people of Bermuda to “remember that nothing will be handed to us on a platter”.“We have to work for it. There may be no easy answers,” he said.“Through it all, we must do our best to work together — to look beyond differences that so often keep us apart. All of us have a role to play in the renewal of Bermuda, because all of us are in this boat together.”He recounted the work of the new One Bermuda Alliance Government over the past six months, “against a backdrop of unprecedented economic challenges, joblessness and violent crime”.As Premier, he said he has met with thousands of residents “across the length and breadth of the Island”.“What I have seen and heard has not only deepened my understanding of the challenges we face, but also raised my faith that we possess the right stuff to see us to a new day,” he said.“I am keenly aware of the hardships and struggles felt by so many. I am also excited by the energy and big dreams looking to break out and change lives.“I want you to know that this Government’s number one mission is to end the hardships and unlock the potential for the greater good. We will not let you down.“The Bermuda we inherited on December 17 was in deep trouble: with thousands unemployed, gang shootings, massive public debt, a depressed tourism industry and a government that had grown beyond our ability to pay for it.“The problems that had been growing for years were deep and getting worse. The recent downgrades by international ratings agencies only confirmed what the vast majority of us already knew — that the excesses of the past have jeopardised our future.“That is the stark reality confronting us today. Our job, as your government, is to stop the slide and start the recovery,” said Premier Cannonier.“But in recent years, Bermuda has become less attractive to investors, and we’ve paid the price in jobs, business closures, lost rents and lost confidence.“We’re working to change that, to make Bermuda a more attractive place to do business, with less red tape and more red carpet,” he added.“The Government’s overriding priority is to put in place conditions that lead to job creation. I have directed all my Ministers to make sure their decision-making considers ways to sustain and create jobs. I am here to report that we are making progress.”The biggest challenge he said “was the terrible state of Government finances — with debt growing at an alarming rate and Government spending tens of millions of dollars more each year than it was taking in”.“This situation was unsustainable and a threat to the very solvency of Bermuda,” said Premier Cannonier.“We’ve taken important first steps to impose discipline and control on public finances.“New rules were issued to all Government departments to hold their spending to budget allocations, with ministries required to file monthly reports to stop any slippage.“New rules were also issued to manage the debt. We set responsible targets for how much we can borrow — and for the cost of that borrowing — against what the Government takes in.“We raised the debt ceiling to set a responsible borrowing limit, and implemented a low-interest borrowing plan to finance expected deficits over the next three years — a scheme we believe will save Bermuda between $20 million and $40 million in borrowing costs.”Also noted was the appointment of the SAGE Commission to review Government operations to make recommendations later this year on how to make the Government could be more efficient.OBA chairman Thad Hollis said in response to the Premier’s speech: “Bermuda has never been in such a tight corner. I believe there is widespread understanding to paraphrase what the Premier said that there is no magic wand to be waved. Salvation will take time and patience, with steady leadership focused on both the big and little things.“The calm and rational way Craig Cannonier explained what is being done to renew the promise and prosperity of Bermuda makes the OBA proud he is our leader pursuing a vision that through unity, hard work and patience we can see our way to a better day for every Bermudian.”See the full copy of the speech in the related media section above.