Recently released documents have revealed details of the 1979 Constitutional Conference, which eventually led to the abolition of the expatriate vote in Bermuda.

The conference, held at Warwick Camp, came as a result of the 1977 riots and the subsequent Pitt Report, which called for major reforms of the legislative landscape on the island.

The Commonwealth Residential Vote — a measure first enacted in 1963, which allowed Commonwealth citizens who had been resident in Bermuda for three years to vote in Bermuda’s elections — was one of several key issues of discussion at the conference, with the opposition Progressive Labour Party calling for its abolition and the ruling United Bermuda Party seeking to extend the qualifying period to ten years.

While initially classified, a series of telegrams about the discussions sent by Richard Rand, then US Consul General, have been made declassified and were last month published on WikiLeaks.

In a message sent on January 29, 1979, Mr Rand wrote that the Constitutional Conference would be held the following month, adding that he had discussed the possibility of further civil disturbances to “support PLP demands” with the Governor, Sir Peter Ramsbotham.

While the conference was scheduled to take place in Bermuda, the Governor reportedly told the US Consul that the PLP had been pressing for it to be held in London, where they hoped to receive support from the British Labour Party.

Mr Rand wrote that he later discussed the main points to be tackled during the conference, including the expatriate vote, noting that the United Bermuda Party had proposed the three-year qualification period be extended to ten years.

“We both agreed that the expatriate vote would present no problem, and that the ten-year qualification period is an acceptably generous concession,” he wrote.

Weeks later, on February 17, Mr Rand wrote that Richard Posnett, representing the Foreign Commonwealth Office in the discussions, along with the Governor had become resigned to the fact that no significant reforms would emerge on the principal issues.

“They both considered that the conference was a success simply because it had lasted the whole week,” he added. “Today’s final session will be critical. Governor and Posnett are committed to emerge from conference with an agreement that both parties will sign.

“The mechanics at this point are unclear as the final positions of GOB and PLP delegations will be tabled today.”

On February 21, Mr Rand wrote that the conference had yielded “unexpected results”, although substantive resolution of the main issues had been deferred.

“In a surprise move, both parties agreed to delegate to the FCO authority to rule on the controversial issue of expatriate vote.

“The Premier and Opposition leader will both be travelling to London the last week in March to present their cases on expatriate vote to FCO Ted Rowlands, who is then to decide on the issue,” he wrote.

“The 12th-hour compromise, reached late on Saturday afternoon, does not have enthusiastic support of either political party. Conservative faction of UBP is unhappy with the Premier for digressing from party caucus’s firm stand on expatriate vote. PLP finds itself formally committed to going into next General Election under present electoral system.”

He noted that the expatriate vote — which was considered at the time the easiest point to resolve — had proven to be the issue that would threaten to finally deadlock the conference.

“PLP was reportedly unbending on its position that expatriate vote be abolished altogether,” Mr Rand wrote.

“Reportedly, governor and FCO’s Posnett passed most of Saturday morning and early afternoon alternately cajoling and threatening PLP delegation to accept a ten-year qualifying period for the expatriate vote.

“Governor was reportedly very agitated and visibly trembling when it appeared that conference would terminate with no issues being resolved.”

On February 28, Mr Rand wrote that he had again spoken with the Governor about discussions, and the Governor made it clear that he was frustrated with the PLP delegation.

“He repeated several times that he had informed the Opposition leader that he would get her 80 per cent of what she demanded, but if she pressed for more she risked getting nothing at all.

“He said that towards the close of the final session he almost had her agreement to permit FCO delegation to, then and there, decide the final issue ie the expatriate vote. Had that been accomplished, agreement documents could have been signed and conference could have been closed rather than temporarily adjourned.”

The Governor reportedly expressed confidence that his recommendation would be taken up by the FCO, with Mr Rand adding: “The governor’s proposed formula, as he described it, would be retroactive and, in addition, would provide the mechanics for eventually phasing out the expatriate vote altogether.

“Recommendations will not sit well with the UBP delegation, and may provide internal problems to premier. Governor, on the other hand, was more concerned about PLP reaction to such a decision which falls short of its demand for abolition.”

The expatriate vote was eliminated later that year by Lord Carrington following talks in London. However, those who were previously able to vote retained that right.