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An open letter (imaginary) from the Premier.

Dear people of Bermuda,

I know in the past I have said and done many things for which I should ask your forgiveness. But, as actions speak louder than words, I have decided instead to begin a transformation with this first act, an open letter to my people, costing no more than the time and ink to write it.

Starting today, with this letter, I pledge an end to photo ops where the result appears to bring more benefit to my political career than to the people of Bermuda. I will stay fully in the background, and out of the picture, when Cabinet Ministers are giving media conferences about their portfolios. And I will be on the scene when there is bad news in my or other Cabinet portfolios.

I pledge to provide answers - straightforward, timely concise and to the point - when questions are raised about any aspect of governance. If a question, because of its content or style of delivery, appears to or gives offence, I will state that offence but not use it as a reason to not answer the question.

I realise it has caused many of you embarrassment to have those closest to your Premier be embroiled in scandals involving unethical or even illegal activities. I trust you won't hold me accountable for the alleged sins of others - although I must confess that my donating Bermuda's money to my son's fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion was not exactly setting a good example. It won't happen again.

I do expect you to take me to task for the baggage Andre Curtis has saddled us all with. But let me remind you of the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' and leave it at that.

My boating, golfing and partying buddy Premier Michael Misick has brought embarrassment to the Turks & Caicos Islands through his alleged deeds. When I remember the words of counsel, as from my own mother or grandmother, that one is known by the company one keeps, I cannot hold my head high. It will be hard, I know, but I do pledge to choose more statesmanlike associates.

I expect you to hold me accountable for not proceeding swiftly to reform Bermuda's outdated laws dealing with corruption. And, as transparency is the key ingredient to insure good governance, I accept your well-justified chastisement for delaying legislation on Public Access to Information (PATI).

I acknowledge the flawed practices of awarding contracts without going through even the motions of putting them out to tender. I regret pushing ahead with projects like the dock and landfilling at Dockyard without proper environmental impact assessments or Planning approval. I regret the turmoil I caused to the taxi and trucking industries.

Most of all, I wish I had entrained the heart and spirit of Gandhi, Mandela and Dr. King in dealing with race issues. I wish I had promoted healing. Instead I let petty vengeance and political payoff rule my thoughts, words and actions.

I can't retrace those steps. But I can begin a new path. And you will know I am sincere because this Christmas I will not yield to the temptation to posture myself on a photo Christmas card, the cost of which I will have to spin and justify. Instead, I will just publish this letter pledging the best Christmas present any leader could give to his people: honesty, integrity, transparency, humility and grace.

Merry Christmas to all,

Your reformed Premier[[In-content Ad]]

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