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I lived my first eighteen years in Bermuda's deeply segregated society [*], so I know the realities. From an individual perspective, 1958's racial segregation imposed deep personal and individual insults that had to be accepted and borne. After 1959, the actual insults began disappearing, although residual pain lingered.

On a national scale, the 350-year era of racial segregation saw a huge and stupid non-use, ill-use, and misuse of Bermuda's total national talent. Bermuda's white segregationist power structure deliberately shut out and turned away all input from all of black Bermuda. This meant that old Bermuda functioned like a two cylinder engine that only ever had one cylinder working - with the second cylinder deliberately starved of fuel and thus unable to add to the overall power output.

Despite that stupid system, Bermuda's tourism industry still re-commenced, grew, and thrived. From 1949 to 1959, Bermuda's Tourism Industry grew by more than 250 per cent. In the racial upheaval years, from 1960 to 1980, Tourism grew another 400 per cent. Despite firing first on just one cylinder (1949 - 1959); then sputtering fitfully on one and a half cylinders (from 1960 - 1980); us divided lot still managed to create part of the base for today's wealthy Bermudian society.

Now we're in 2009. Fifty years past 1959 and four hundred years past 1609. Is Bermuda finally running on two cylinders? Is Bermuda making full use of all the real national talent stored in the intellects of all Bermudians?  

Well, here's how 2008 Bermuda actually compares with 1958 Bermuda:

n In 1958, more than 80 per cent of Government employees were white. In 2008, 80 per cent were black;

n In 1958, no black Heads of Department in Government. In 2008, one white Permanent Secretary;

n In 1958, two Members of the eleven seat Legislative Council were black. All others were white. In 2008, three of the eleven Senators were white. All others were black;

n In 1958, there were six black members in the 36- seat House of Assembly. In 2008 there were five white members in the 36-seat House;

n In 1958, the segregated public education system was about 80 per cent black. In 2008, no change, still about 80 per cent black.

Bermuda has flipped colours and cylinders. In 1958, cylinder One was firing while cylinder Two was being starved. In 2008, cylinder Two was firing while cylinder One was being starved. In four hundred years, at no time has Bermuda operated with both cylinders working smoothly together.

That was just about acceptable in the relatively halcyon time of our expanding tourism industry. Then, the personal and human qualities of individual Bermudians would still swallow hurts and insults, filter through barriers, and make tourists comfortable in the natural living space shared by black and white Bermudians.

By the mid-nineties, Bermuda, Bermudians, and the world had changed. What matters most now are arcane things like Bermuda's legal system, Bermuda's insurance laws, Bermuda's financial services environment.

In 2009, Bermuda is a far more complex 'business model' than it ever was in those halcyon days of selling sun, sea, sand (and whispered sex).

High costs

Bermuda's new and current national business model requires a far different kind and a much higher quality of national input from, and participation by, all available Bermudians.

When I examine the evidence; when I listen to the rhetoric of elected representatives; I see and hear evidence of a Bermuda that has simply flipped its non-firing cylinders. I see and hear a Bermuda that is still running too rough and sputtering far too often in a global situation that demands smoother running.

Nationally and strategically, Bermuda's global position is similar to that of General Motors Corporation. Bermuda has high costs. Bermuda's 'product' can be replicated by other countries. Moving from Bermuda to cheaper jurisdictions makes good business sense.

Bermuda will be the only loser if Bermuda's business model fails - and as once-mighty GMC is proving, failure is possible. But there is no 'bailout' mechanism, no bailout opportunity, and no bailout 'godfather country' for Bermuda and its people. Bermudians can expect the global community to treat Bermuda the same way everyone treats millionaires who have suddenly fallen on genuine hard times.

So I'm bothered, mightily bothered, by the fact that nationally, even with a new Government, Bermuda seems still determinedly stuck in those stupid 'old ways'. Stuck, absolutely, in the bad old habit of shutting out a key part of its national population. Still operating on half-power. There are about 50,000 of us Bermudians. Out of us 50,000, am I the only Bermudian who sees  this?

* See 'Fine as Wine, From coloured boy to Bermudian Man', author - Larry Burchall. On sale at all bookstores and People's Pharmacy; Book Cellar; True Reflections; Caesar's Pharmacy.[[In-content Ad]]

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