The Free Democratic Movement welcomes the recent statements by Michael Fahy and David Burt, the Premier, as they have brought renewed attention to an issue Bermuda can no longer afford to avoid. While much of the political theatre around immigration is familiar, our position is that it presents a valuable opportunity to move beyond fear and preservation towards clarity, purpose and sovereignty.

We welcome the Premier’s willingness to open the door to discussions around independence. This, more than any recycled debate about status, is the real issue that must be addressed. A mature country cannot be built on ambiguity. If we are serious about charting our own course, then we must be prepared to speak honestly about what it means to be Bermudian, who belongs, and how we build a stronger and more unified nation.

Let us be clear: the granting of status does not grow our population. It increases the number of individuals eligible to vote, and in a small democracy, that shift carries immense political implications. Many Bermudians understand this instinctively. The concern is not immigration itself, but the motive behind it. When proposals appear to serve political preservation over national development, people grow wary — and rightfully so.

Bermuda needs to grow. Our population must increase if we are to support a stable economy and ensure a high quality of life. But this growth must be balanced with protecting the cultural identity that defines who we are as a people.

To that end, the FDM continues to advocate for an immigration strategy focused on:

• Attracting Bermudians back home

• Inviting skilled and values-aligned individuals from the Caribbean and African continent who share historical and cultural connections with our people

• Maintaining and strengthening ties with traditional partners such as Britain, Canada and the United States

• Expanding our reach to Latin America, the Middle East and Asia — opening new pathways for economic partnership and mutual development

If we are going to talk about granting status to people living in Bermuda, then let’s be honest about what is on offer. Status is a second-tier designation that is being extended to individuals who already enjoy full, first-class citizenship in their own countries. Meanwhile, Bermudians are still not first-class citizens in our own land.

If we are to move forward as a people, we must go beyond patchwork solutions and begin the serious work of self-determination. That means taking full responsibility for who we are, who we welcome, and how we move forward as a free and self-governing people.

• Marc Bean is the leader of the Free Democratic Movement