General Election in Bermuda

The oldest self-governing British Overseas Territory goes to the polls tomorrow. Bermuda’s parliament held its first session in 1620, making it the third-oldest continuous parliament in the World.

The last election was before my time here in December 2007, when the controlling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) won a third term in power with 22 seats against 14 for the opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP).

The UBP was the countries oldest party but ceased to exist officially last summer after the majority of its members joined a newly formed party called One Bermuda Alliance (OBA). Former UBP leader Kim Swan and MP Charlie Swan, both influential, have announced they will contest this election as independents, two of 14 that potentially have a big say in the outcome of the vote.

There are 36 constituencies around the island with each one having around 1,100 or so eligible voters. Only about 1,500 votes separated the two parties in 2007 in the popular vote.

The race, which follows the UK model of lasting around 5 weeks, has been bitter and negative. I have heard little original positive creative thought and the PLP, with little to bang the drum about have spent every advert I have seen admitting they need to do better, but the other lot will be worse.

Sadly race is historically brought into Bermuda’s elections but it will take some radical change of voting habits for a change in government. I obviously can’t vote, but this is a small place and government has a lot of influence on international business on the island, though they seem unaware to the consequences of some of their behaviour.

A change in government may not immediately impact me and my family but the island needs refreshing, some new impetus and an inkling of how to reduce the $1.4 billion of government debt. An amount which is hard to fathom for a country of 65,000 people and which means that government pays around $85 million a year on interest on its debt, or nine percent of Government revenues. In 2007 the debt level stood at $255 million. The credit agencies watch with interest.

Unemployment is a new problem on the island, with about 9% of those able to work unemployed, the highest percentage since 1941. This even with expats leaving the island at faster pace than at anytime in the last 20 years. The tourism industry lacks invention and drive and this most idyllic and beautiful isle suddenly has uneducated and uninterested idiots shooting each other.

Bermudian people deserve better and need some new management, one that it’s citizens can be proud off and one it’s expats can believe in.

This wasn’t meant to be a party political broadcast, but sadly there aren’t many countries in the so-called first world that would re-elect a government with a 14-year record like the PLP, but in my mind they remain favourites as those are so blind they cannot see.