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My colleagues and I are concerned, very concerned.

Like many Bermudians, we are concerned our island home is not doing as well as it should. Almost every category of 'national' life that measures our well being is on a downward track.

Who today can say that working families are doing better against the cost of living? Who can say that our tourism industry is doing well? Who can say that public education is working? Who can say our hospital is as good as ever? Who can say our neighbourhoods and streets are safer? Who can say labour relations are in good shape? Who can say our international business partners have never been happier with Bermuda?

Many people speak to me and it is clear they are worried.

In this environment, as Leader of the Opposition, I believe it is important to be constructive in the way we contribute our thoughts; not to criticize for the sake of criticizing but to put forward good ideas to make things better. That's the way my colleagues and I have tried to conduct the people's business, and I believe we have been faithful to that role since the election.

Last week, after the burial of young Kellon Hill, we held a press conference to put forward ideas to counter the situation captured by Pastor Damon Hendrickson, who said Bermuda had gone from "children raising children to children killing children."

Our statement was multi-dimensional, because we believe the situation presents a multi-dimensional challenge. We said it was important to first define the problem, to understand just what is happening to our children. We thought it important that the government form a special task force to help it focus on the matter, to determine what needs to be done and to coordinate policies so they do not work at cross-purposes. We proposed, among other things, parental responsibility legislation and ongoing youth summits "to listen and to learn what they have to say, to give them a voice and to hear their ideas."

Nine-point plan

Finally, we put forward a 9-point programme to clamp down on crime - something the government has simply failed to do effectively.

That night, the government held a 'Special Session of the Cabinet' to discuss "the pressing issue of the day."

The next morning they held a press conference to present a "collection of action plans" to end "the anti-social behaviour among our young people that is threatening our country's very way of life." They adopted some of our ideas, put forward others and re-stated existing programmes. Much of their statement listed ideas to clamp down on crime.

Make no mistake, this was a late-night scramble by the government to catch up to the public, and its presentation the next morning had more to do with knee jerk politics than the hard thinking necessary to make this country work better for our young people.

I fear we are seeing a rerun of August 2006 when a drive-by shooting prompted the PLP Government to launch its "Law and Good Order" programme, which petered into nothing within weeks of the shooting.

For the sake of Bermuda, we urge the Government to step back from the politics of the moment and make a real effort to get to the root of the problem. Set up the special responsibilities within the government to ensure the development of effective policies and accountability for their success. We will support the right effort. We will not support the hodgepodge that was put out last week, if that constitutes the government's answer to the situation.

The challenge of youth alienation runs deep and requires complete dedication and focus. The situation will not get better without total commitment.

Unfortunately, the "Special Session of the Cabinet" was more style than substance, more government by the seat of its pants than careful planning. We've had too much of that lately. It's why people are concerned. It's why we are concerned. It's why you should be concerned.

Kim Swan, is the Leader of the United Bermuda

Party.

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