Poverty in Paradise: A shocking portrait of Bermuda

Bermuda has been calling out for a documentary about the causes of the widening wealth gap and the resultant escalating crime and gun violence plaguing the island.

Lucinda Spurling’s documentary Poverty in Paradise: The Price We Pay is an excellent introductory investigation into our national crisis.

Extremely well researched, the documentary examines everything from the very origins of white supremacy and black disenfranchisement to lack of sufficient education and the influx of cheap overseas labour.

There are detailed statistics throughout in areas such as average incomes for non-professional families, employment rates and the island’s low rates of home ownership.

Did you know that one in 10 registered voters lost their jobs last year? Are you shocked that the high school leaving certificate is the highest qualification for 34 per cent  of the population? You probably wont be surprised that murder and firearm rates are at an all time high.

These are just some of the findings that start to make up the jigsaw of poverty in paradise.

While so many films labour over the world’s problems without giving any solid solutions, Spurling and producers the Coalition for the Protection of Children go as far as including a list of actions that governments, organizations and individuals can take which, they believe, can alleviate the problem. They include the need for affordable housing, wages that reflect the cost of living and the capping of interest and fees that collection firms are allowed to charge and reducing the wage deductions for those at the bottom of the pay scale.

The film opens with images of Bermuda’s idyllic shores — “when we see Bermuda what we see is pink shorts and international business”. Insufficient wages, lack of basic dietary and educational needs, drugs, violence and homelessness don’t factor into that image but this film lays it all bare.

One woman describes how she lived in caves and on beaches until she was seven months pregnant while we see families who are living with little food and no electricity.

Gulf Stream, the government-run dormitory for emergency housing came under heavy scrutiny in the film. One woman, who shares a small room with her five children there, says living there is like living in a prison. She explained how she tried to hold down a job but lost it due to the no babysitting policy at the dorm.

You can’t help but want to hear the government’s view and agencies that were heavily criticized but according to Spurling, they would not cooperate with the film.

Dale Butler is the only MP seen to put his head above the parapet.

The film prompted a lengthy question and answer session that had to be cut off in the end. A recurring question was “what can we as individuals do to help?”

Watching this film will certainly give you an idea of where to start.

Spurling’s film opened with Higher Ground by LookBermuda. It was an extremely ­comprehensive study of the recovery of Bermuda’s national bird the cahow from the brink of extinction.

Terrestrial conservation officer Jeremy Madeiros takes centre stage with cahow in hand and close to heart to explain the painstaking work that goes into caring for the few remaining pairs on the island.

His sweet, endearing nature shines through as does his single-minded determination to save these once abundant natives.

A touching and highly informative documentary.