Bermuda's Premier Rules Out Independence Before 2025

HAMILTON, Bermuda — Premier David Burt has ruled out seeking independence from Britain during the lifetime of the current parliament due to end in 2025, but says Bermuda needs to have a serious conversation about the thorny issue of sovereignty.

Premier David BurtBurt, who is also Finance Minister, used a post-Throne Speech news conference on Monday to declare that a new study on self-governance would “help educate the populace” on the island, which has a population of 64,000 and is currently US$3.35 billion in debt, about going it alone.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected cutting ties with Britain in a referendum 27 years ago and opinion polls since have shown little thirst to change the status quo.

Burt’s comments came after it was revealed that the study, Assessment of Self-Governance Sufficiency in Conformity with Internationally-recognized Standards, by US Virgin Islander, Dr Carlyle Corbin, was commissioned and received by the Bermuda government.

During the Throne Speech it was disclosed that the document considered the “full range of self-government options for Bermuda”.

Burt said he had not fully read the report, did not recall when it was commissioned and twice declined to answer questions on why the study had been kept secret until last Friday when it was revealed during the Throne Speech outlining government plans for the year ahead.

Burt, who led the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) to landslide victories over the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) in the past two general elections, in 2017 and 2020, but plans to step down in four years’ time, said “a referendum on sovereignty is not planned for this current parliament.

“But that does not mean that we cannot discuss and educate the populace on issues related to self-governance.”

Alex Scott, PLP premier between 2003 and 2006, said at the weekend he was encouraged to hear a report was submitted by an international adviser on self-governance to show options for Bermuda.

Scott added that findings from the Bermuda Independence Commission, appointed by him in 2004, meant that the groundwork had already been laid.

“It’s encouraging because now it would appear that the government of the day, if I understand it … is formalising once again an approach to the issue of sovereignty or independence. I think the language is important. We always used to refer to it as independence; in my view there are no longer any independent countries, they are interdependent,” he told the Royal Gazette newspaper.

Sir John Swan, who was premier of the now-defunct United Bermuda Party for 13 years before stepping down as leader soon after the public rejected his push for independence in a 1995 referendum, said he looked forward to reading Corbin’s report and hoped it would be read by Bermuda residents so that there could be public talks about it.

OBA leader, Cole Simons,  said in the wake of the Throne Speech “how could the PLP government raise the topic of independence at a time like this?

“Families are trying to figure out how they are going to eat and pay bills and are worrying about their futures. To raise independence at this juncture is yet another stark reminder that Premier [David] Burt and his government have truly lost touch with the people.”

Burt insisted on Monday that voters needed informed dialogue on the emotive issue.

“In Bermuda we cannot have mature conversations about self-governance, about modifying our constitutional arrangements and progress which are things which are mandated under the United Nations charters.

“So, from that perspective, I think it is interesting that we always … anytime anything is mentioned about alternate constitutional arrangements, that it creates a firestorm of controversy and criticism.

“The conversations will continue to happen because it is necessary and right for all persons to understand what are the options for their government. And it is important to know that as United Nations resolutions have indicated that all administering powers should be working towards self-governance for their individual territories.

“That is a United Nations dictate, that is not a Bermuda dictate,” Burt said, adding that the study was intended to “educate” the people of Bermuda.

“The report itself is a very long one. It will be going to cabinet and we will share it with the public. It is about educating the citizens of this country. Every time we speak about self-governance, every time we speak about change to the constitutional arrangements, it breaks down into back and forth on things which don’t necessarily reflect the reality.

“And, if we are going to have a serious conversation in this country, as all Overseas Territories are having, as the UK government asks territories to look at their constitutional arrangements … I think that it makes sense to have a comprehensive report that can be shared so that persons can actually know, understand, discuss, what self-governance means.”

Burt said it was PLP’s policy that if Bermuda, a 21-square-mile island in the North Atlantic, became a sovereign state, it would be a full member of the Commonwealth, retain the British monarch as head of state and keep the Privy Council in London as the highest court of appeal.

A Government House spokeswoman said Governor Rena Lalgie had not seen a copy of the report.

“The UK government maintains a longstanding position on independence for the Overseas Territories, which is that any change must be on the basis of the clear and constitutionally expressed wish of the people,” the spokeswoman said.