Bermuda is a society historically built on economic violence committed during 137 years of segregation. A society that not only threatened economic consequences to those that spoke out against oppression, but carried out those threats by pulling mortgages, firing those who dared to object to the oligarchy and destroying people’s businesses, lives, hopes and dreams.

The mantra was “toe the line or pay the price”. That price was predominantly paid by black Bermudians, and those few whites who chose to become agents of change.

Today, to Bermuda’s shame, this has transitioned into economic intimidation. The dictionary gives us menacing definitions as to what this means.

Intimidate (verb): 1, To make timid, to fill with fear; 2, To coerce, to deter, as with threats; 3, To frighten into submission, compliance or acquiescence.

Intimidation (noun): bullying, pressure, threat(s), menaces, coercion, arm-twisting (informal), browbeating, terrorisation.

The majority of us agree that bullying or harassment in the workplace is wrong, against people’s human rights and illegal. Yet it appears to be acceptable in Bermuda society for some to subtly or not so subtly threaten employees with “consequences”’ for taking certain political or social justice stances that are deemed inappropriate by those in control or against the perceived status quo. There is a continuing normalisation of this kind of malevolent behaviour, which speaks volumes to the embedded racism in our society and the continued harm it causes us all.

We are a society that calls for human rights, yet fails to make the connection to systemic oppression of this kind. Intimidation is destructive to the victim and uses manipulation to intentionally create feelings of fear, inadequacy, insecurity, poverty, continual distress and depression. If proven, it has repercussions for the company or individual, opening them up to the possibility of civil suits, loss of good name, and even criminal charges. Yet this bullying still continues.

The recession has worsened the situation, giving free rein to unscrupulous employers and managers. They have more power to insist employees do things, behave a certain way, take on tasks that are outside their job descriptions, reduce hours and benefits and, because of fear of job loss, employees are intimidated and fearful. An employer’s market all too often provides a playground for bullies who know they can get away with it, and helps them to force out employees to get costs down, some who have worked for a company for years.

Statistics reinforce this reality, black Bermudians are more likely to be hired last, fired or made redundant first, and earn less. Many black Bermudians can tell you a story about themselves, their family members, friends or acquaintances who have suffered fear and/or intimidation in the job environment or threat of job loss.

A culture of fear and silence has existed in the Bermudian community generationally; the oppression of the past manifests in our community today as structural racism, stereotypes, bias, prejudice and discrimination. Economic and political intimidation continue to be a way to control or punish those that think differently. Why is it that newcomers to the island learn within weeks to accept the stereotype that “Bermudians” are lazy? And they are not referring to white Bermudians.

We are a small island; people know people. Those taking legal action, going to the unions or approaching the Human Rights Commission in such a small jurisdiction bring with it the challenges of confidentiality and being labelled a troublemaker, and are put on the “list” of those to watch and by default denied the opportunity of future employment.

Refusing to hire someone or continuing to employ someone because of social-justice activism and/or political philosophy or affiliation is illegal. The use of economic intimidation, aka bullying, through the threat of job loss, reduction of hours, loss of benefits or promotion opportunities, and the other myriad ways that pressure and control can be brought to bear, is shameful, morally wrong and illegal.

The stress in our community is palpable and people are at breaking point, and as a society we should no longer tolerate and be complicit by remaining silent when we see this kind of hurtful and malicious behaviour.

Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda calls on our politicians to do the right thing and reintroduce some form of workforce equity legislation to ensure that black Bermudians have equal job access and opportunities to what are basic rights in their homeland.

We also call on those organisations representing business to do their part in effecting change by educating and providing guidelines on what bullying, discrimination and intimidation in the workplace look like in the Bermuda context.

On July 2, 2016, Shawn Crockwell stated in The Royal Gazette: “When I was growing up, my uncles told me stories about how if you went up against the establishment, you could get your mortgage pulled. I used to think it was an exaggeration. I don’t any more; I’m living it.”

He also referred to what he called “economic intimidation” upon receiving instructions from the Attorney-General, Trevor Moniz, forbidding all lawyers at Pettingill & Co from representing any client against the Government, which he said would damage 60 per cent of his practice.

On July 5 2016, at Curb’s monthly meeting, Mr Crockwell’s comments were discussed and “the president proposed that Curb needed to take a stance on this issue as the incidence of economic intimidation was on the rise.

Those present discussed in depth this subject, and a number present commented that they had been subject to economic intimidation and knew of others who had experienced intimidation in various forms”.

In March this year, the first draft of this opinion piece was submitted to the Curb Central Council and since then has gone through a number of reiterations before finally being agreed. Our sincere regret is that it was not written sooner.

• Lynne Winfield is the president of Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda