I certainly support independence and an increasingly close relationship with the islands of the Caribbean. With respect to the former, I am getting the distinct impression that irrational fears associated with Independence are abating. It seems to me that Bermudians readily will accept Independence, if they feel it is clearly the wish of the people.

It is also my view that public support of Independence is inextricably linked with a growing acceptance of Bermuda's associate membership with Caricom. To the extent that this relationship is seen as beneficial, support for Bermuda's Independence will follow swiftly.

No one will deny that the Independence debate started seriously with the formation of the Progressive Labour Party. Before that time, the only strong voice advocating independence was that of Mr. W. G. Brown, the grandfather of Walton Brown. 'WG' as he was fondly known, would raise the issue with whomsoever he met. Further, he would harass the Colonial Secretary with demands for information relating to the latest uttering of the United Nations on Independence of existing colonies. However, it was only when the issue of independence was endorsed by the fledgling Progressive Labour Party in the 1960s that the whole community began to take notice.

At the outset of the debate on Independence, the experience of the former British Caribbean colonies upon achieving independence was given as the reason why Bermuda should not seek Independence. I can still hear Jim Woolridge, "the voice of summer", declaring that "If we become independent, we will turn out just like those islands to the South of us".

While most members of the UBP believed that independence had reduced the islands to the South to a state of oppressive poverty, this view was shared also by some members of the PLP. And while it certainly was not politically correct for the membership of the Progressive Labour Party to publicly decry Independence, in private conversation, with the shutters down and the windows jammed shut, it was not unusual for party stalwarts to declare "You know I would never join the UBP, but I agree with what Jim says about independence."

Although the anti-Independence viewpoint was widespread among the rank and file of the UBP, the majority of the elected political leadership did not share that viewpoint. In fact, the Green Paper on Independence, prepared by the Sharpe government, noted that his government had no fear of independence but would never introduce it unless it was clearly the wish of the people of Bermuda.

There can be little doubt that this positive view of Independence held by Sir John Sharpe induced his successor, Sir John Swan, to test the will of the people by introducing a referendum on Independence.

And remember, Sir John Swan had to have the support of the UBP Parliamentary group in order to embark on that course. Given this support of his political colleagues, it is easy to see why Sir John Swan staked his political career on the achievement of independence.

History will record that the John Swan referendum was a testing moment for Bermuda. Had Sir John received the support of Bermuda's business community, the overwhelming majority of whom fully backed the United Bermuda Party, he would have succeeded in taking the island to Independence and as a result, the UBP certainly would have won the elections held in 1998 and 2003.

But what has all this to do with Bermuda's association with Caricom? In my view, the propaganda against Independence was achieved by exploiting deep seated feelings of inferiority that were held by too many black Bermudians. These feelings were created and nurtured by slavery, segregation and years of unequal participation in Bermuda's economy and were given expression by the oft-quoted statement that blacks cannot run a major business or any other major undertaking. Proof of this inability of blacks to manage a major undertaking was frequently provided by claiming that the Independence movement in the Caribbean had failed because the governments of the newly independent nations were black.

Surprisingly, this view prevailed despite the fact that most Bermudians of African descent came to Bermuda via the West Indies. Not only are our roots deeply entrenched in West Indian culture and history, it is fairly obvious that Bermudians of recent West Indian background are prominent among the leadership in Bermuda's business and political spheres of activity.

Given our strong Caribbean roots, why then do Bermudians characterise the independent governments of the Caribbean as failures? I believe Bermudians have this viewpoint because they have been conditioned to believe that Bermuda's standard of living is the sole criterion for success when comparing Bermuda with countries of the Caribbean. This self deception was able to survive as long as Bermudians were isolated from our southern neighbours. This has changed through the growing influence of Caricom.

Caricom was put into place after the failure of the West Indies Federation, the first attempt to mould most of the former British West Indian territories into a nation. Caricom was created to maintain the economic integration put into place by the defunct Federation. Economic integration encouraged not only inter-island trade but also inter-island travel. This in turn encouraged and facilitated non-economic activity such as the formation of inter-island conventions and conferences involving governments, trade unions, businesses and the growing importance of inter-island sporting events. Bermuda has long been a willing participant in all of these activities, although not a formal member of Caricom.

Attendance at the many functions was facilitated by the existence of Caricom and reinforced the growing confidence of black Bermudians that they could run their own affairs. If one has had the opportunity of listening to the oratory of the West Indian attendees to the many conferences and conventions, one cannot help but become increasingly aware that the shortcomings that are still apparent in the former British colonies are not a consequence of Independence but rather the result of the economic deprivation suffered by most of the islands while under colonial rule.

Clearly, in its quest for Independence, Bermuda has much to gain from an association with the islands to the south of us. We can learn from their mistakes and receive valuable instruction in the management of a micro-state that, quite frankly, mega-states like America and England are unable to provide. Make no mistake about it; the appointment of a black manager of a major enterprise has long stopped being a novelty in virtually all countries of the Caribbean.

Consequently, the experience of our Caribbean neighbours can be most instructive in inspiring young Bermudians to look forward to the opportunity of managing their own businesses and institutions, whether or not Bermuda becomes an independent nation.

calvin@therock.bm