Independence not an issue that causes tourists
Tourists, unlike exempt companies, do not care whether or not a country is independent or not, Government Senate leader the Hon.Gerald Simons (UBP) said on Wednesday.
International businesses were particularly concerned that the Privy Council remained in place as the final court of appeal.
"Independence is like marriage -- it is a very serious undertaking not to be taken lightly,'' he said.
Compared to Caribbean countries that went independent in the 1960s, Bermuda was wealthier and has over 20 years experience of a two-party political system.
But while comparisons were inevitable, they were not useful, he said. Instead he said he was, "less worried with what the boys sitting under the rubber tree in Warwick think than what the people sitting in the boardrooms in Hamilton say ... Our standing in the world community is determined more by what those people say about Bermuda as what the boys on the wall think or do,'' he said.
Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) said people were more concerned with what was left out of the Green Paper. With Independence, he wanted to see electoral reform with a one-man-one vote system.
He also questioned whether it was Sir John Swan or the Hon. Irving Pearman leading the Island to Independence.
"It is important we get the Independence constitution right from the start,'' he said.
And even though Bermudians could be offered the option of becoming British citizens after 1997, this should not stop Bermuda from going independent, he said.
Sen. Alf Oughton (Independent) said the Green Paper was "a step in the right direction'' but there was still much left unsaid.
Contradictory statements by the Premier and Mr. Pearman had confused the issue, he said.
He added: "No one, not even the PLP, believes this is the right time.'' The cost of Independence could make Bermuda an expensive jurisdiction, he claimed.
One business told him it would send 50 percent of its profits to the Cayman Islands should Bermuda choose Independence.
With Independence, Bermuda's shores would be exposed to increased drug trafficking. The unforeseen cost of creating a Regiment marine division to patrol the coastline would further hike up the Independence tab.
Ministers salaries' would have to be raised exceed those of the Island's ambassadors.
Taking a swing at the UBP Sen. Terry Lister said: "Independence came out of Swan Pond -- out of nowhere.'' He accused the Premier of making up policy on Independence "on the go''.
Instead Independence should be decided at an election where both parties could properly set out their stand on the issue.
An independent Bermuda would bring the whole country together, but as always, he claimed, the issue was breaking down into a black-white issue.
Blacks not in favour of Independence had a right to their opinion. But some whites should stand up in its favour -- otherwise, it simply became a black-white issue, he said.
On cost he said: "If we can accommodate an airport surely we can accommodate Independence. Those who opposed Independence on a cost basis should be ashamed of themselves.'' And it was ridiculous, he said, to wait until Bermuda's social ills were solved before seeking Independence.
Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte (UBP) said the Green Paper should have suggested other options to going independent. "We are either dependent or independent.
There is no in between,'' she claimed.
For a country with no natural resources, it was the Island's legal and parliamentary systems, political stability and ingenuity in taking advantage of loopholes in other jurisdictions that made it successful.
Therefore Bermudians had to decide weight up the costs of tinkering with a system that had worked well.
Independence should be a slow, steady, evolutionary process achieved through negotiation, she said. "We would like to negotiate our form of Independence meeting our needs not Britain's needs.'' Business wanted to know that democratic principles would be solidly enshrined in the constitution so that Bermuda does not leave itself open to dictators as had other Commonwealth countries.
Myths such as the white myth that Independence equalled black majority rule, and the black myth that assumed Independence would solve Bermuda's social ills overnight should be dispelled.
Senators have mixed feelings about cutting ties with Britain From Page 6 "That putting up the flag and singing the national anthem is the answer to all our problems is another myth,'' she said.
To change Bermuda, issues such as education, competition rules and exchange controls should be tackled. "Constitutional change does not impact on our social agenda,'' she said. "Young Bermudians do not wake up worrying about the constitution.'' And cutting ties with Britain would not improve domestic affairs, nor would it make Bermuda a more loving country, she said.
Increasing the shipping registration also meant increased responsibilities and hefty bills if things went wrong.
Senate Vice-President Sen. Norma Astwood (Independent) said freeing the apron strings would liberate the spirit of Bermudians.
However, she also expressed a number of reservations on the issue. "We are such an impulsive society, we jump on any bandwagon and start dancing. It's the gombey syndrome,'' she said. "We consistently talk without enough information.'' In particular she expressed concerns over the future of the Island's internal security. With a decreasing birth rate, every eligible person would have to serve in the Regiment, she predicted.
On the economy, she admitted transitional problems could be anticipated until an equilibrium was reached. It would be optimistic to expect it to be "business as usual'' she said.
Bermuda would also lose its right to a Royal Commission to give an outside opinion on problems.
And Bermudians who have dual citizenship should live in the country in which they have most confidence, she added.
Independence was not something Bermuda needed now, she concluded.
Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) compared reading the Green Paper to reading a good novel.
He admitted he had had moments of being both for and against Independence.
"We must keep Bermuda moving in the direction she is moving,'' he said. On tourism, he said most visitors did not realise Bermuda was not an independent country adding Bermuda is regarded as amorphous with the Caribbean.
Bermuda's relationship with Britain was "like sleeping with an elephant -- we get crushed when it rolls over in its cradle''.
He warned that whether Bermuda went independent or not he would fiercely fight anyone who was against the forward progress of the Island.
His conclusion: "Don't mess with my Bermuda''.
Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP) asked what Bermuda is waiting for to go independent.
"Are we waiting to become the first country in history to be booted into Independence?'' she asked.
Older people, she said, wanted to see Independence now -- not in 30 years time.
She added Bermudians would be united by Independence.
However, she said the Green Paper lacked substance and too many people did not understand the ramifications of Independence. It was a decision to be calmly discussed and not rushed into, she added.
Sen. Gary Pitman (UBP) preceded his remarks with "you cannot please all people all of the time''.
The cost of Independence was also likely to be nearer the higher range of costs predicted by the Green Paper.
"Bermudians are practical and economical but proud,'' he said.
Turning to the shipping register, he said without the backing of Britain, larger ships were likely to pull out.
And even if Bermuda did not choose Independence now, the issue would remain on the agenda, he said.
Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said the Green Paper brought Bermuda to a very important crossroads.
She encouraged Bermudians to read the Green Paper -- one of the most important documents in recent history.
But she warned Bermudians of the possible consequences of choosing the Independence route.
Tourists were easily scared off and democratic rights could not be taken for granted.
"We cannot be sure we will never be run by a dictator.
All it takes is the stroke of a pen,'' she warned.
Senate President the Hon. Arnold Jackson made an emotive speech on the subject.
Independence was one of the most important steps in a country's development, he said.
Careful planning not high emotion was needed -- otherwise Independence would serve only as an outlet for revenge and hostility.
Bermuda had little else to offer besides tourism and business and should be extremely cautious ensuring they remained.
"If we become disruptive and disorganised to the extent we drive out trading partners away -- I don't know how we would feed ourselves,'' he said.