Should Bermuda proceed to independence, and what should be the process by which this decision is made?

These two elements of a question being explored by the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC), which was established by the government of the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP).

A recent poll conducted in Bermuda revealed that 65% are against independence while only 35% are for it. The views expressed in the poll are based largely upon politically charged arguments made by both the ruling PLP and its main opposition, the United Bermuda Party (UBP).

Therefore, its no surprise that the BIC is concerned with how to educate the citizens of Bermuda about the gains and losses of independence for Bermuda. The decision about independence is too important to be made only on the basis of political rhetoric.
Bermuda is Britain's oldest colony. In 2002, it was designated as a British Overseas Territory and is self-governing with a high degree of control regarding its own affairs. Bermudans are entitled to be both Bermudan and British citizens with the right to live and work in the European Community as a whole.
Bermuda is often linked to the Caribbean, although it is nearly 1,000 miles away from the region. Its present links to the Caribbean are recent and few. The most significant of these are its associate membership of CARICOM and its participation in both the Caribbean Hotels Association and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

The population of Bermuda is 65,000, and is comprised of white and black people. The island has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, equivalent to that of the United States of America. Its unemployment level is low at 5%, and it has enjoyed an average growth of its economy of about 2% over the last six years. What makes this remarkable is the fact that Bermuda has virtually no natural resources and virtually no industry.

Bermuda derives its income from the financial services and tourist industry. Over 500,000 tourists (mostly Americans) visit the island every year, and over 13,000 offshore companies are registered there. What also contributes to its success are: a stable political climate, successful courtship of foreign investment, good legal machinery, and sound macro-economic policies.
Defense of Bermuda is the responsibility of Britain, and it plays a role in its internal security arrangements and external relations. These burdens do not fall to the Bermudan government and Bermudan taxpayers as they do in the independent small countries in the Caribbean.

Why then should Bermuda want independence from Britain? Of all the British Overseas territories, it enjoys more self-government and it does not have to bear the cost of its external relations and defense. In fact, as former Premier, Sir John Swan, famously put it in 1982: “With the Americans to feed us and the British to defend us, who needs independence?”

There is a very complex answer to this question. In part, it relates to the racial divide in the country. The majority of the white population opposes independence while a large number of the black population (but not an overwhelming majority) support it.

The question of Bermudan independence has been discussed since the mid-1960’s when Britain was anxious to be rid of its colonies and successive British governments, both Labor and Conservative, set themselves on an active campaign to do so.

In fact, the 1968 Bermuda Constitution was drafted in contemplation of Bermuda moving to independence shortly, and the PLP had actually proposed it that same year.
In the 1970’s, having successfully opposed independence, the UBP switched and began advocating it, but decided to hold a referendum on the question in 1995.
The day before the referendum was to be held, Bermuda was hit by a hurricane. The referendum was eventually held with only a 59% turn-out, but 73% of the voters opposed independence, and there the matter rested until late 2004 when Premier Scott raised it again.

However, this time, the Premier declared that there was no need for a referendum on the issue. What he feels is required is the education of the public about independence. Thereafter a general election would decide which political party leads the country to sever its status as a British Overseas territory. This is why he created the BIC and it charged with the task of providing such information.

In response, the opposition UBP, through its leader Grant Gibbons, has refused to nominate a member of his party to the BIC and has insisted a referendum be held in order to determine the views of the electorate.

In February of this year, Mr. Bill Ramell, a British Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wrote to the Heads of Government of the Overseas Territories indicating the British government’s preference for a referendum. Mr. Ramell will find himself hard pressed to defend this position, because in the Caribbean countries independence was granted without a referendum.

However, Mr Ramell’s position, while important, is not the critical factor in whether or not Bermuda should hold a referendum. The vital consideration is the attitude of the Bermudan electorate, and current polls indicate that 65% of them want a referendum.

If there were an active clamoring for independence by the majority of Bermudans, then their right to such independence would dictate the decision regardless of the economic or financial consequences. But, there is no such outcry. There is only doubt.

After all, to become an independent nation is no trifling matter for a small state regardless of how prosperous it might be. Small states in both the Caribbean and Pacific can readily attest to high and increasing costs of maintaining security and participating in international affairs, as well as to the lack of human resources to carry out the tasks. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), though they are doing so as a ‘Community of Sovereign States’ are moving toward streamlining the functioning of independence in their individual and collective interest.

Years of experience has taught CARICOM countries that ‘going it alone’ is not a viable option in today’s global community. Therefore, Bermudans should be given the right of a referendum to choose their path. And, they should be fully informed of both the benefits and pitfalls surrounding the question of independence on which they are asked to decide.

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