Column: Investments, Leadership & More
[Opinion column written by Justin Mathias]
With all the recent hoopla of South P project, I felt like I needed to talk about the elephant in the room.
This government has now taken away our privilege of being able to dictate what investments in our country should look like or being able to choose and refuse who invests in our island. That ship sailed long ago after this country has continued to allow the PLP to be in power for 20 of the last 25 years.
We all know why they keep doing this, it is the worst known secret in Bermuda. The supporters of the PLP are still waiting for ‘mana sent down from heaven’ that they were promised 25 years ago and just like those that wander in the desert with no sense of direction they still after all the years haven’t realized they have been hoodwinked. Kept in the desert because of design and political strategy because PLP learnt long ago that the divide within our Country only helps one party in terms of optics and political capitalization.
Some will say where have I been in the last couple of years and why now. Firstly, I had to get my professional designation [because apparently that’s still the only way to be respected these days] and I had to renew my calling and truly reflect on my time in politics. I’m happy to report that the reflection period is done, and I have renewed my calling to work for a better future for our country. I have been a candidate behind the scenes and been an active member of my party for over a year and I have been working through my new normal life. To be frankly honest, I have been struggling with finding the right words to put on paper to talk to you.
I’ve always tried to be thoughtful on what I say, and I always believe in quality over quantity [hence why I’m not constantly spouting off my mouth every two seconds- because I can if I wanted]. I don’t believe in speaking for the sake of speaking so that people can constantly hear me and have my name in lights and on the top of every news article, and it makes me queasy at the mere suggestion of it.
I want to all ways make sure that in some way I am adding to a thoughtful conversation. One in which we as an opposition work alongside a government that is clearly lost – to find and establish progress and growth for our future. I say this because in simplest of terms their success is our shared success. Now you have a bitter minority of people that don’t believe in that style of politics, and I hope that history judges them accordingly.
One of my favorite quotes from my time studying politics in university came from President JFK [more then likely his speech writer]: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. This is the epitome and underpinning sentiment of all democracies because that is the design – the ability to get up off your couch with your ideas and bring them into action and fruition.
There are so many people on the streets, café’s, bars, homes, workplaces, churches and lest we forget the social media warriors that have solved the world’s problem yet the issues still exist. These people that I speak of have all this pent-up concern about the future but lack the will to speak these words into action to solve the issues of the nation. They would rather sit there and watch the car crash so they can tell each other: “see, I told you it would crash”. Vindication in this space is the height of idiocracy and speaks to self-harm that we tend to afflict on one another that has become prevalent across all areas of our nation.
Notwithstanding the current state of affairs that I describe above, I truly am optimistic about the future of our country. I believe that we are about to embark on a Renaissance [you know I had to drop at least on Beyonce reference] and coincidently the theme of heritage month next month. Why a renaissance? This is also simple to analysis with the number of future developments that are in the wings or being talked about that are about to takeoff – how could we not be on the precipice? This leads us to a very important question, who should be at the helm for this Renaissance? Who can we really trust to get these projects off the ground and redefine the way we do business through tax reform and meaningful healthcare for all?
We need true leadership in this country. We need a leader that is open and honest from day one. One that does not seek their own self-indulgence or grandeur but wants to actually lift those who deserve to be lifted. One that doesn’t focus on who is at the top but is trying to figure how we all can get to our self-determined top. We need someone that will recognize that we don’t all have to stay in this country but one that will recognize that some of us must leave and then come back to build the opportunities that didn’t exist for them – and a government who is willing to support.
The last 25 years have made it very clear that this government doesn’t want to achieve this reality. Why do I believe this? Very simple, how does solving the country’s problems benefit them? How would they be able to use race in guilting people into the voting patterns of the past?
The time is now to start having this and other real conversation so we can move into the future together as One community. I just attended the most recent Kappa tournament on Saturday, and I saw it there again as clear as day. We are not as divided as this government would want you to believe and if we come together to solve our issues and leave them to reign in isolation for however long they have left in power – so be it.
This is our nation and our destiny, not theirs! They might believe they own it, but we have the power. Bermuda let’s take it back, and let’s stop waiting on a government that we all know we can’t truly rely on.
I truly believe that 2023 will be one of the biggest turning points in our nation’s political history. I am also a firm believer that a visionary leader will come out of the ranks of the OBA. Now whether that happens in the OBA’s current structure, or another option appears – time will tell.
- Justin Mathias, CPA, former Senator & former Chairman of OBA
You had me until the end when you stated a visionary leader will come out of the oba aka UBP. Why couldn’t you say my hopes is that a visionary leader will come out of the PLP or OBA.
CV Jim Woolridge UBP deputy premier and tourism minister stated in his book some famous words. “Those little white boys don’t mind you being in charge as long as they can tell you what to do”
Stop wasting your time and distance yourself from a party that changed it’s name just to win BLACK VOTES!
Keep up the big lie. Never give up on the big lie!
Seeing you love to regurgitate that old JW comment are you familiar with the late Eva Hodgson’s quote on what would happen to Bermuda if all white people left versus if all black people left ?
A long piece lacking implementable solutions and that is the problem in Bermuda with both sides playing cops and robbers. Meanwhile back on the farm it is obvious once and for all we are left to figure it out ourselves.