David Burt, the Premier, has called it a “personal tragedy” that he was unable to bring Bermuda to independence as the leader of the Progressive Labour Party.

However, in a speech delivered last night at the 62nd annual PLP Gala, Mr Burt said it would also stand as a tragedy for the party if the island lacked the courage to come forward as a full member of Caricom.

Mr Burt added that some who stated that the island should not join Caricom “have endless businesses in all of the Caricom countries, making money hand over fist”.

He said: “If there is anything we have seen over the last few months or weeks, it’s that there is a region that we can learn from — and we can also share what we know with the region.

“For the entrepreneurs in this room, it’s important to remember that the market of Bermuda is 65,000. You should want to sell your goods and services to others inside of the region to make more money and build wealth for you and your families.

“That’s what this is about. So when they come with the scare tactics, which they do, when the news sites post the fake stories, which they will, don’t fall for the okey-dokey.

“Because at the very least, the PLP can say we will stand with our Caribbean brothers and sisters as full members of the Caribbean community.”

Mr Burt noted that the gala at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club would be his last at the party helm and urged that PLP members select a successor who would prioritise the party.

He told the gathering: “I cannot tell you the amount of times that I have had to swallow my pride because I must put party first — the amount of times I have had to hear the anger from my friends and supporters while inviting someone into the Cabinet who may not have supported me, because I know how important it is to put party first.”

Mr Burt added that the PLP was committed to free and fair internal elections, and urged the party to get behind whoever was elected to take the leadership.

He also highlighted the challenge posed by “fake news” spread on social media, highlighting that he had found himself the target of numerous unfounded rumours during his time in office.

Mr Burt said: “The only fake news that I want to be true is that I had a house, so I had somewhere to move to. Just a note: the Burts are still looking for their first house.

“It is incredibly hard to lead in a time of proliferation of fake news on the internet. People don’t seem to care about the impact that it has on family and friends, my children and everyone else.”

The event at the hotel’s packed ballroom also featured a keynote speech from E.P. Chet Greene, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, of Antigua and Barbuda.

Mr Greene urged the PLP to reflect on its history and embrace a younger generation to secure the future of the island.

He told attendees that the Caribbean region was enhancing co-operation, piloting free movement and working to make supply chains more efficient and effective — and asked the gathering if Bermuda wanted to be involved in shaping that change.

Mr Greene said Bermuda could establish pathways for Bermudian nurses and coders to work across the region, while opening the door for trade, supply resilience and capital investment.

He added: “As we consider the path ahead, this is a season of shaping terms before they harden. We all agree that windows do close.”

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