Column: David Dodwell On Independents
[Opinion column written by David Dodwell]
As a proud member of Parliament for over a decade, then a loyal party supporter and a former Minister of the Government, I have always believed that those that retire from politics should stay away from political debate, leaving it to the next generation and those actively involved.
However, when Sir John boldly stepped forward and offered himself as an independent candidate and discussed his deep concerns about Bermuda, I was compelled to join that independent movement and have tried to support the growing number of candidates as they joined the ranks of this swelling group of future leaders. And while I was unable to run in this election, had I been able to do so, I would have been equally proud to be an independent candidate.
It is very clear that Bermuda is in bad shape. When I hear of the struggle so many folks are having just to survive, discuss with many their frustrations and their belief that the only way forward with hope for them is to consider moving abroad, when I see the delays in getting decisions from Government, witness the state of our roads and public buildings and consider the implications of the massive debt of my children, I can only conclude that the current system is broken, that we need an alternative and the Independent movement is the first sign of hope I have felt in our future for some time.
The party system has evolved into bitterness and rancor. It divides our community, it disallows good ideas coming from the other side, just because it is the other side. It rewards loyalists and punishes political opposition and by doing so, it eliminates at least half of our people from being part of the necessary fix.
We must change the way we are governed. The PLP has held control of Government for most of the last 25 years – yet still tries to blame past political figures for their failure to meet the needs of our people. Both parties spend more time damning those against them than working for solutions – no wonder so many young folks are saying they want nothing to do with politics. I respect many in both the parties but the system they are part of is not working. It’s time to change it for the sake of Bermuda.
On Tuesday, we all need to make a very clear statement that we do not think that what is happening in Bermuda today is fair. We do not think that spending time criticizing others and trying to instill fear in the electorate is the way forward. And castigating anyone with different ideas is totally counterproductive to working out the many problems we face.
Yes, the world is in a mess! But in the past, Bermuda has been able to stand head and shoulders above the rest, it has been the envy of the world in its ability to manage itself through crisis. We need to recapture the belief in ourselves. We need to find hope again. To do that we need leadership that is determined to unite us, bring us together as one people, sharing a common destiny. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder and find solutions. We can do this, but we need to work together.
The only folks who talk about this with intent and purpose are the independent candidates. So, I hope we can send the right message on the 18th by voting for hope and for a Bermuda that works together. We can do that by voting for our independent candidates wherever we can.
- David Dodwell
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Mr Dodwell.
GOOO MORNING
Having read your political comment twice over which kind of leave me cold. as i say this lame duck island is not goin any where fast.
I was was wanting to find some substance in what you had to say only to be disalusioned with party politics the other partly directing us away from that which you were an ardent follower.
How can an un- tested organisation of just comprising reqgular people be better than the other eperianced two as you chamopione one
A new and better set of ideals in the form of HOPE will no float but not, for more, of what many Bermudians have had enough of being manipulated.
To be blunt , hope will not put food on the table.
Money to buy food and pays rent work it does as it appears that Bermudian are too lazy to supplement our cost of living with home grown.
Who grows carrorts when they can pick a bunch off the shelf ?
The last thing on my mind was to ask you for more an better ideas. give you party a reason to go into battle . The PLP has a blind eye an a deaf ear and that is not any good idear unless it is theirs .
The damage has been done.
i have a good idea where Bermuda is headed . it is not a happy place.
Now all that has become my first thought as you have given your all me too to Bermuda you know what works but that is needing some improvement in the form of better marketing planning to beat” Sandles ” at the game . Try small discounts and insantives the visitors are in to that every body love a good deal . .
You know where Bermuda went wrong an much as I do. OTHER PEOPLE MONEY BURN HOLES IN THEIR POCKETS .
OUT TAXATION BURDEN straddles every body.
My tax money go to provide other people with housing because they are too lazy to build their owe. Bermudians Beach is a miscuided moniumental disaster .
People will always follow the money as the hand outs will changes elections . who is goin to say no?
I know what it will take and make Bermuda great again .
Not a three party system with independent people will automatically amalgamate everyone. we will have a broken. BERMUDA. .
As three( party) system further divides the electorate, sad to say there is so much division in Bermuda for people to come together there has to be trust, Bermuda as business we can not keep ripping one another off . living costs is not there be further eroded by demand for our tax money for failed capitol projects .
Toward the end of you comments i was looking for the one ray of light that would save Bermuds from sinking beneath the waves you are lock stock and barrel in the game of prosperity at the Reefs , iI hope .
Mr Dodwell i see that you end your comment with the word “”"”"”HOPE”"”"”"”" we do no longer have a ” Ray of Hope” we can not live on the promice of hope . i am not being unkind but only truthfull.
i I /we want to wake up from our financial Night Mare.
All I / we can look forward to is a failing of a future Government.
They now wants to build a new st Davids swing bridge i would fill in the chanerl up to 90% each way and build a little bridge .