To build a Bermuda that works for Bermudians, we must face and deal with one simple fact: racial inequity is holding Bermuda back from reaching our full potential.

The systemic marginalisation of black Bermudians has significantly contributed to disparities in access to higher education, hiring, career advancement, wages, access to capital, home ownership and criminal sentencing.

It is also believed to be a contributing factor in the considerable emigration of young, educated Bermudians of colour during the height of Bermuda’s economic boom.

The systemic marginalisation of Bermudians based on race wastes our local talent, represents an impediment to our long-term economic growth and threatens the social stability of our Island. It must be addressed.

We can begin to break down the walls of institutional racism by starting to seriously, carefully and consistently evaluate how laws, policy and government spending negatively affect Bermudians of colour.

While laws that overtly discriminate against black Bermudians have long been struck from the books, there have been decisions over the years that, while on the surface appeared benign, further maintained or exacerbated inequality. A tool that can be used to address this is the equality impact assessment (EqIA). Used in various jurisdictions, the EqIA analyses the racial effects of public policy with the goal of maximising equity and inclusion. This new approach, where equity and inclusion are institutionally factored into the policy-making process would represent a considerable shift in how we approach governing and would allow future governments to more efficiently and effectively allocate resources towards levelling the racial playing field.

We analyse the impact of government decisions on the economy and on the environment. Why shouldn’t we take into account the impact of government decisions on the people who live and work alongside us in our community?

In jurisdictions that have begun using the EqIA, positive results have been achieved such as:

• Greater inclusion of minorities in the government of Madison, Wisconsin

• Changes in Philadelphia’s school discipline policies that disproportionately and unfairly targeted students of colour

• Reform of government-hiring background checks in Seattle, Washington, which were deemed to be unfairly excluding qualified applicants of colour

The EqIA by itself will not address all racial disparities, but, used effectively, they can help to remove or prevent them from occurring in the future. They should further be used to target gender discrimination and create greater equality for women. In the past, public policy was used as a tool of maintaining inequality and injustice, but today we can use it as a tool for creating greater equality and justice for all.

Today, we are in danger of losing the intellect and creativity of Bermudians who want nothing more than a fair chance to reach their potential. Bermuda is too small for any of our home-grown talent to be thrown away or forced to look elsewhere for a fair chance.

It is a national priority that we look at new ways to expand opportunity, end discrimination and work together to help our Island and our people to reach their full potential.

• Jamahl Simmons, a Progressive Labour Party back bencher, is the MP for Sandys South (Constituency 33)