Walking the plank: Bermuda leaders, looking to put their stamp on a unified nation, push for independence. Critics claim the governing Progressive Labour Party is committing political suicide. Neither voters nor big business support independence. One CEO says his firm is ready to move to Ireland should unfavorable political winds buffet his corporation

Risk & Insurance, March, 2005 by Roger Crombie

The leadership of the PLP believes that Bermudians are not comfortable with the status quo, because for 400 years, the status of Bermuda's community has been one of inequality. Segregation between blacks and whites only ended in 1959. Independence would draw a line under the unhappy past and allow the country to go forward onto the world stage with justice for all. The PLP was elected on a platform of changing the status quo; independence is the ultimate change.

Scott has appointed a commission to look into the subject. The opposition United Bermuda Party, however, has declined to serve on it.

Independence is an emotional issue. Not having it is a precondition to understanding its importance.

Like teenagers longing to stand on their own two feet, the PLP leadership and their supporters on this subject would argue that it is time for Bermuda to leave the nest and stand tall among the global community of nations. "Throughout history, great men and women have fought great battles for statehood," one PLP leader told Risk & Insurance[R]. "We may not be great men and women, but we share the desire for statehood, the need to say 'this is my country.' And we are the first men and women in 400 years with the desire to say it, the ability to say it, and the opportunity to make saying it possible."

RELATED ARTICLE: Queen's representative welcomes "open debate" on independence.

Bermuda is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, administered under a 1968 constitution that provides for an extensive degree of self-government, with certain responsibilities, including public security, reserved to the governor, the queen's representative. Bermuda became Britain's second colony, after Virginia, early in the 17th century. Bermuda has been Britain's oldest colony.

Gov. Sir John Vereker says the British Crown is prepared to grant Bermudians their independence, should they want it.

"I welcome the discussion on independence for Bermuda, which the government of Bermuda has now set in hand through the Bermuda Independence Commission," he said. "The political party, which at present forms the government of Bermuda, is committed to independence so it is natural, and healthy, to have an open debate. We look forward to participating in that, in order to clarify the position on issues which will involve the United Kingdom, including nationality and citizenship, and the nature of post-independence relationships."

But so far, neither voters nor the immensely powerful corporate interests that have made the island one of the world's wealthiest, seem to want independence. In any event, setting in motion the wheels of independence is likely to take many years.

"When that debate has drawn to a conclusion, the matter will need to be settled one way or another--to move to the next stage, the active negotiation of independence arrangements, or to put the issue aside for another substantial period," the governor said. "That decision, either way, must reflect the clearly expressed wish of the people of Bermuda. I hope that a consensus will emerge in Bermuda as to the means of that expression; it is, however, ultimately for the United Kingdom to determine what mechanism would legitimately convey the wishes of the people.