Vexed Bermoothes

One of my favorite local blogs recently asked what distinguishes the two parties in this election. Here’s my opinion.

The PLP campaign has been about solidifying its traditional core constituency. Rather than lay out plans for the future, the campaign focussed on “keeping the PLP in power.” The emotional noise level has been very high in order to distract attention from the topics of ethics and leadership. Notably, the PLP platform includes only 28 vague high-level proposals.

The UBP has stayed calm and has stressed inclusion and responsiveness. I agree with this credo very much:

It’s time for hope, not hate. It’s time to look beyond acrimony and acknowledge that we need each other. We are too small a place to waste a single Bermudian. We need the strengths and talents and creativity of every individual on this island in order to make meaningful progress.

The UBP have taken kick after kick for 10 years and seem to have learned humility. Notably, their platform contains significant reform and modernization for the Bermuda Government, detailed in more than 300 specific street-level proposals. If they don’t deliver, you’ll be able to hold them accountable.

And that’s the key difference. Those who have worked closely with (many of the) PLP leaders know that they are not strong in managerial discipline. Failing to set goals or to plan, they resort to inappropriate and inconsistent micro-management that often steps over the line into political interference. In fact, some PLP ministers are only in their comfort zone when “buying stuff” believing that this grandstanding passes for achievement.

The UBP platform is very clear on the goals – there is no doubt about what they stand for. There will be no “we had to deceive you” and no “Saturday Group” backroom deals because the plan is there in writing.