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[[In-content Ad]]You can say what you want about the unpredictable Dr. Brown: For once he's given us plenty of warning. He's out of here in October.

I don't remember any Premier giving this kind of advance notice. They're usually deposed in the dead of night, and there's a new guy in charge by the time we're eating breakfast.

It's a strange kind of democracy, but it's the kind we've got right now. So we ought to take advantage of the seven month lead-time Dr. Brown has given us, and try to figure out what kind of replacement we want.

Not who, exactly. That debate has started already with names - mostly that of Finance Minister Paula Cox - being pushed up and pushed down.

I'm talking about what. What does Bermuda need in a Premier, at this point in her history? Instead of talking so much about who's got support from the PLP branches and that kind of thing, why not use the luxury of time to consider for once what would actually be good for the people of Bermuda.

The first quality we need, perhaps, is vision. Too often we don't have a clue what our leaders see as Bermuda's ideal future, let alone the ideal way to get there.

Even on the day-to-day level there's been too much aimlessness. Policies clash with each other. We allow larger and larger trucks and cars, for example, and throw planning regulations out the window, and then call for environmental awareness and spend millions trying to attract tourists.

We're going to need a leader with conviction and determination - somebody with the ability to make and enforce difficult decisions.

This is especially important in difficult financial era ahead.

But it's also an era of historic opportunity. The PLP faces a weak and splintered opposition. It doesn't need to grovel for every vote and fear every voice of protest.

So now is the time for a leader with the guts to tackle a long list of controversial problems, including government spending and public debt, crime and civil disorder, public education, the environment, workplace regulations and work permit restrictions, and open democratic reforms.

(Dr. Brown has much of the bull-headed determination we should be looking for here, but unfortunately focused them on GPS regulations for taxicabs.)

Racial inequity

We need a leader who has the ability and willingness to tackle racial inequity, and racial segregation, in serious, practical and meaningful ways.

When it comes to race, they say some people "get it" and some people don't. We obviously need a leader who gets it.

But in ways that are often hard to define, a few people not only understand complex and painful racial situations, but have the gift of being understood - of being trusted communicators and motivators.

They don't just lecture: They make people believe in a better world and show them how to get there.

So if we get to pick and choose, let's choose one of those kinds of leaders too.

If we're going to tackle the big and controversial items - as we must - we're also going to need a dynamic leader.

People need somebody inspirational at the helm when they're sailing in rough water. They need somebody who can touch them on an emotional level, and who can feel and respond to their moods.

This is not the time for a technocrat, no matter how skilled.

We are going to require honesty, of course, and I'd have put it first on the list if it wasn't so obvious.

But in addition to basic truthfulness, we need honesty of intentions. People need to know that the leader means what he or she says, and says what he or she means.

Recent political history has given Bermudians plenty of justified skepticism and distrust. We need a leader with high ethical and moral standards. They must be squeaky clean - and willing to impose the same standards on the rest of the government.

We need the kind of honesty that will end the common political practice of sticking with failed policies rather than admit mistakes, or implementing policies and programmes that cover up problems rather than deal with them honestly.

We can't afford baggage - no "scores to settle" kind of thing. We need a leader who will stand up for the best interests of Bermuda, pure and simple.

Conciliator

That means we need a leader who is not bound by tradition, habits, and the way things always are.

We should, of course, have a leader who is a good conciliator - who can be an honest broker when tensions arise between Bermudians and international business, between black and white, between political parties.

A sense of humour, of course, is essential.

We should insist on an open and articulate leader. How many times have you wondered in recent years what a premier was trying to say, or what they were really thinking, or really trying to accomplish?

By now you are thinking these qualities are fine to wish for, but maybe we should get real.

It's true. We're pulling fish from a shallow pond of water here. We aren't likely to get major trophy-winners.

Which brings me to some a couple more qualities we badly need, because we're not likely to get a brilliant and dynamic saviour.

Maybe we don't even want somebody who's particularly intelligent.

More than that, we need a leader who will recognize their own limitations, sincerely listen to others and be willing to re-think their plans and beliefs.

We need somebody who respects civil service leaders and gets the most out of them too.

We need somebody who can forge alliances, and work comfortably alongside political rivals and get the most out of them, and out of all of us.

We're going to be hiring a new leader, and the candidates should know what we want and need.

This is an important business and the future of Bermuda and Bermudians depends on it.

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