On October 28th 2006, the delegates of the Progressive Labour Party voted the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown as leader of the PLP. I was very happy with the result, since I had supported Dr. Brown publicly from the moment he informed me of his intention to seek the Leadership of the PLP.

I have been asked since the election “Why were you so certain that Dr. Brown would win?” My response always seems to surprise the questioner. That response is “I had no idea that Dr. Brown would win but I had absolutely no doubt that he was the right person for the job of Premier at this stage of Bermuda’s history.”

At this date in time, I believe the island’s businesses are nearing the end of their massive investment in office blocks and luxury apartments. This investment has been ongoing for some time even though I have been told that some of the completed offices and apartments are not fully rented. Still the investors remain firmly of the belief that Bermuda is on the verge of a major expansion in the international company business and, as a consequence, an equally major influx of highly skilled personnel to staff these new businesses.

The new business expansion is expected to result from the expansion of existing companies and an influx of new ones. The need for new staffing will be necessary because of an expected shortage in the availability of Bermudians generally and of Bermudians possessing the required skills in particular.

Let us not forget that Bermuda’s statistical department has recently reported that the fertility rate has been declining for many decades and will continue to result in a shortage of new entrants into the work-force for some time to come.

What are the key resource requirements of this expected new level of activity? Firstly, there is a need for fast and efficient transportation both locally and internationally. Secondly, there will be a need for highly competent, efficient staff. Bermuda has vastly improved its transportation system by substantial investment in its ferry service.

This expansion in Bermuda’s local transportation capability means that tourists have ready access to the entire island; staffs of International companies have a greatly expanded range of dwelling opportunities; and Bermudians are experiencing a similar widening of opportunities for employment. Internationally, the Ministry of Transport has been actively seeking new carriers and new routes to Bermuda. To the extent that this initiative has been successful, it has stimulated the tourist trade as well as widened and improved the travel opportunities of the management of both local and international businesses.

The hotels clearly have sensed the opportunities and are vigourously upgrading their facilities. This activity is not only in response to a burgeoning demand by the Business traveller and the wealthy vacationer, it is also in response to the urgings of the Bermuda government.

But what has this to do with the need to elect Dr. Brown as the leader? The need for a leader of Dr. Brown’s calibre is necessary, if we are serious about the oft-stated claim of the need to make certain that the black majority is able and willing to exploit these new opportunities. To what extent will Bermuda’s blacks — other than Sir John Swan — be able to own these new office blocks? Can we be certain that young blacks are preparing themselves for the exciting and challenging positions that are opening up as a result of the current economic expansion?

Clearly, Bermuda’s new business expansion will create an increasing need for persons with skills in management which in turn will require an abundance of staffs with skills in writing, accounting, computers and communication. In addition, there must be an acceptance by both local and imported staffs that they must have deep respect for appropriate office behaviour and serious timekeeping. Thanks to know-how acquired while living in the United States, Dr. Brown has substantial experience in transforming exploited and generally neglected minorities into effective, productive workers. Bermuda requires managers with experience in affecting such transformations.

Who do we have among the political leaders who has both the management skill and the confidence in the ability of Bermuda’s black community to pursue these goals successfully apart from Dr. Brown? Who do have who can inspire black Bermudians to prepare themselves for the enormous task that awaits them? Who can accomplish this enormous task and still persuade Bermuda’s Business community, that they need to get involved in carrying out this transformation.

I am only too aware of a PLP that once ‘barefacedly’ harangued their black followers for wanting to seek financial assistance from Bermuda’s white businesses in order to finance their party. (This was one of the issues that resulted in the infamous expulsions). Yet, despite the fact that The PLP now partially control the government of Bermuda — remember we are still a colony — Bermuda’s economy is still overwhelmingly in the hands of white men and women.

This economic gap must be bridged very quickly and effectively. Dr. Brown has had this kind of experience thanks to his long exposure to the implementation of Affirmative Action while living in the United States. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for most black Bermudian political leaders, whether they be PLP or UBP, to trust the leaders of the white community. Too many members of the PLP are of the view that if the party got this far with very little assistance of white Bermudians, why do we need them now?

These members are obviously unaware of the extent to which financing by powerful white man made possible the victory of 1998. Clearly we must get over these attitudes, if Bermuda is to survive in the highly competitive global economy. On the other hand, the UBP continue to deceive themselves with the view that since they have a large black membership, they are the party best suited to take Bermuda into the new Millennium.

Both groups are misguided. Obviously, if the PLP do not continue to join forces with the progressive members of the white community, the party that they have nourished for so long will die on the wine. Further, if the UBP does not stop thinking that they must push blacks out in front of much more highly qualified whites, they may indeed become ‘obliterated’.

It is very necessary for Bermuda’s survival that the strengths of both parties are fully utilised in order to guarantee our chances of continuing as a very successful community. Bermudians need to remember that the International Businesses can leave this island almost overnight, if they perceive that our community is not doing the things that need to be done in order to make their continued existence a viable proposition.

I believe that a PLP led by Dr. Brown has the best chance not only of protecting Bermuda’s International Company business but of ensuring that all Bermudians benefit from their continued existence.calvin[AT]northrock.bm