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If we measure society by the way we treat our most vulnerable people then in my view we as Bermudians have failed.

The most obvious example of that failure is before our eyes every day when we drive past the multi-million dollar emissions testing facility at the Transport Control Department.

If you look east, sitting in the shadow of this monument to misguided spending, are several buildings that have the appearance of temporary construction site offices. The outside walls are warped from dampness, crumbling air conditioners cling to windows, roofs sag in disrepair and fencing is dilapidated.

Many people passing by might think the buildings are abandoned, until they see a sign that says Emergency Housing Complex.

If there is nothing else in Bermuda that demonstrates the Government's failure to assist those on the bottom rung of society, it is this.

Pay a visit to the complex and see for yourself. It is a disgrace and should be an embarrassment to the Government. After all, the PLP vision called for a "New Bermuda, in which the talents of every Bermudian will be mobilized in building a humane society, in which social and economic justice is a reality, not just an ideal." It is clear in comparing the housing complex and the new TCD building that the vision has been either forgotten or badly interpreted.

For years the Salvation Army has run the Government-owned complex and run it well.

However, the facility is underfunded and oversubscribed.

In 2006, one Government MP said she was sick and tired of the Salvation Army begging for money whilst only a year before the then PLP Minister for Housing said Government was looking to replace the dilapidated Salvation Army homeless facility with a new shelter for more than 100. But there was no timetable for work and, until now, no result.

Also in 2005, the manager of the Emergency Housing Complex reportedly said that replacing the current six-unit complex with a much larger building should be considered.

He also said fencing security should be upgraded and more effective 'in house' treatment programmes created. At the end of 2004, Maj. Rowe of the Salvation Army said: "You need a purpose-built facility designed for various levels of housing, designed for issues that grab people there. I think they [the Government] know that but there doesn't seem to be the commitment to find the funding to make that happen."

I would suggest that rather than spend big dollars on a U.S.-based PR firm to spin Government failures into successes, the Government simply follow its vision of "building a humane society" by adequately funding the Emergency Housing Complex and assisting those in real need or, indeed, building a purpose-built facility.

Failing to do so flies in the face of another pronouncement by Dr Brown in the PLP 2007 platform which was as follows:

"We have learnt the art and science of government and we conscientiously practice it to the greatest good of the greatest number of the Bermudian people." Such a pronouncement is laughable if it were not so sad. However the United Bermuda Party would fully support such an initiative and in fact proposed a purpose built facility last year.

Finally, I must close by sharing with you a parable that was on the www.newonion.com blog site which, like the TCD building vs. the Emergency Housing complex, speaks for itself in terms of this Government's failure to properly provide for those most in need of help.

An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them: "A fight is going on inside me...It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride and superiority. The other wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside of you and every other person too." They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied..."The one I feed."

Michael M. Fahy is chairman of the United Bermuda Party.[[In-content Ad]]

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