Column: Foley On Independence, Caricom, More

[Opinion column written by OBA's Maurice Foley]

Every few years, the idea that Bermuda should become an independent country resurfaces; wrapped in emotion, history, and the promise of self-determination. But independence is not just about flags and anthems; it’s about whether we are truly prepared economically, socially, and educationally to stand on our own in a rapidly changing world.

At last week’s Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, Gil Tucker delivered one of the most honest and necessary messages our island has heard in years. He spoke plainly about the government’s lack of return on investment, the need for management change or a paradigm shift, and the importance of stronger ties between business and education.

He reminded us that globalization is no longer on the horizon, it’s here. Remote work, artificial intelligence, and borderless industries mean Bermudians are competing with the world whether we realize it or not. Our students must be equipped not only with degrees but with adaptable skills, creativity, and readiness for a global economy if we expect Bermuda to remain competitive.

Most importantly, Tucker called for the creation of an Education Authority, a body that would keep education out of politics and focus instead on results, innovation, and fairness. He urged that Bermuda’s future demands open and honest dialogue, that our young people need the tools to compete, and that we must be willing to compete ourselves.

He said what many of us already feel: we don’t execute. We talk, we plan, we study, but we rarely follow through. His message was simple but sobering:

“The old way is not going to work anymore.”

Days later, Premier David Burt spoke at the Progressive Labour Party’s 62nd anniversary gala, again raising the topic of independence. He called it a “personal tragedy” that he could not bring Bermuda to independence and said it would be a tragedy for the PLP if Bermuda lacked the courage to become a full member of Caricom. He reminded the audience that with only 65,000 people, Bermuda’s market is small, and that entrepreneurs should look to the region for opportunity.

“For the entrepreneurs in this room,” he said, “you should want to sell your goods and services to others inside of the region to make more money and build wealth for you and your families.”

The Premier is right that Bermuda’s future cannot exist in isolation. But before we talk about independence or Caricom membership, we must talk about readiness. Because Bermuda today is not ready for either and neither will be a saviour.

Joining Caricom or declaring independence will not fix the fundamentals that hold us back. It won’t close the achievement gap in our public schools. It won’t create the jobs we’ve failed to build. It won’t solve the trust deficit between people and government. If we can’t manage what we already control, what makes us believe managing more will make us stronger?

We must speak honestly about what “free movement” within Caricom could mean for Bermuda. We have young Black males struggling not for lack of potential, but for lack of opportunity, mentorship, and consistent investment in their development. Free movement will not help them. If anything, it could make life harder by bringing in new competition for jobs they already find difficult to secure and for salaries that are already too low to survive on.

Before opening the door wider, we must fix what’s broken at home. That means preparing our own young men and women to compete successfully in any environment. It means giving them real skills, apprenticeships, and pathways into trades, technology, and entrepreneurship. Otherwise, Caricom’s promise of opportunity will pass over them entirely.

At the same time, we need to create clear pathways for Bermudians abroad to return home; pathways that make sense economically, professionally, and socially. Many of our brightest young people are studying, working, and thriving overseas, but see no viable route to come back. High living costs, limited job openings, and outdated immigration or housing policies make the idea of returning unrealistic.

If we truly believe in independence, in self-determination, or even in regional integration, then we must also believe in bringing our people home. Bermuda’s future should not be a story of permanent departure, but of return, contribution, and renewal.

That’s why Tucker’s call for an Education Authority should not be dismissed as a passing comment; it should be the starting point of national renewal. Education must be the foundation of any independent or regionally integrated Bermuda. The backbone of our nation is public-school education, and if that backbone is weak, the entire structure collapses. We must depoliticize education, modernize our classrooms, train and empower teachers, and prepare young Bermudians to thrive not just locally, but globally.

And while we debate independence, the world is already moving ahead. Artificial Intelligence [AI] is here; it’s reshaping industries, redefining work, and transforming how economies function. Globalization has erased the comfort of distance. Jobs, ideas, and opportunities now move at the speed of technology. Bermuda cannot afford to stand still while the rest of the world is evolving.

We must prepare our students now for jobs that don’t yet exist, equipping them with creativity, digital literacy, and adaptability. Change is inevitable. The question is not whether it’s coming but whether we are ready for it.

That readiness requires leadership and courage. We have tough decisions to make on behalf of our children. Do we continue the cycle of political infighting and complacency, or do we finally commit to long-term reform that puts our young people first?

Because if we fail to prepare them for the next economy, then independence will mean very little. We’ll still be dependent on imported talent, imported innovation, and imported solutions.

The business community, too, has a crucial role. It must work hand-in-hand with education to ensure students graduate with real skills and exposure. It must see the Caribbean not as competition but as collaboration, where Bermudian talent can lead projects, form partnerships, and scale ideas beyond our shores.

At the same time, the conversation about independence or Caricom should not be decided behind closed doors or at party galas. This is not a partisan issue; it’s a generational one. No single leader or government should decide Bermuda’s destiny. If this government truly believes Bermuda is ready, then let the people decide. Let there be a national referendum.

Let Bermudians young and old, workers and students, business owners and educators have an open, informed, and transparent conversation about what independence or integration truly means for our people, our economy, and our children’s future.

Bermuda today is a place of resilience and pride but also frustration, stagnation, and widening gaps. Bermuda tomorrow can be a place of opportunity, innovation, and shared prosperity if we act now, together, with courage and conviction.

Our greatness will not come from isolation, nor from nostalgic slogans. It will come from preparation, partnership, and performance.

So, before we talk about flying our own flag, let’s first make sure our children have a country worth coming home to, a country that rewards knowledge, welcomes competition, and values integrity.

Because as Gil Tucker said:

“The old way is not going to work anymore.”

And if Bermuda truly wants to stand tall in the world, we must first learn how to stand together.

- Maurice Foley is a former One Bermuda Alliance senator

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