Bermuda, with its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, presents a façade of unity and prosperity. However, beneath this surface lies a stark divide in the lived realities of Bermudians.

This division has never been more pronounced to me than in our national representation at the Olympics. Out of the team of eight Olympians, less than three are Black, and even fewer attended public school or completed their secondary education in Bermuda. From an outsider’s perspective, it might appear that Bermuda’s population is predominantly White and privately educated. Yet, this is far from the truth. Only 30 per cent of our population is White and less than 50 per cent have been privately educated.

What is causing this disparity? I think it is rooted in the inequitable admiration and reverence awarded to those who graduate from private schools, boarding schools or alike.

I attended public school for most of my academic years, and the quality of education I received was on par with, if not better than, that offered at some private schools on the island. Yet, when it comes to prestigious opportunities such as the Rhodes Scholarship, participating in and leading the National Youth Policy Working Group, representing Bermuda at Commonwealth conferences, being celebrated as “Bermudian young leader” and similar opportunities, privately educated young people seem to have a distinct advantage.

In 2022, I published a post on LinkedIn after attending the Annual Dinner of the Bermuda Society. Here is my LinkedIn post in full that underscores this point:

“Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending The Bermuda Society’s 34th Annual Dinner as a guest of the Government of Bermuda. It was an honour to be in the presence of such great company, especially two of my fellow former Youth Parliamentarians, McKenzie-Kohl H. Tuckett and Ywione Darrell. I thank Brandon Sousa at the Bermuda London Office and Sheba Raza from the Bermuda Society for the invitation. Bermuda’s young people are doing great things!

“However, in the midst of eating the lovely dinner prepared and served to us by the staff at the Armours Hall, I was struck with the stark realisation that while I was one of 13 students in attendance, I was the only graduate from the Bermuda public school system. And when I attend events such as these, I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to be one of the chosen few, as these kinds of opportunities are not often made available to students from our public schools.

“However, let me propose this: I shouldn’t have to be lucky to be invited into these spaces. While the Bermuda public school system hasn’t been the kindest to me as an openly queer student, the education I received was on par with, if not better than, that being offered at Bermuda’s many private schools.

“A testament to this: I can name many of my public-school peers who are wildly more successful, equally as brilliant, but are forced to work ten times as hard just to get a seat at the same table that is often offered to many private-school students just on the basis of who they are, who they know and where they were educated.

“With that said, if we truly aim to bring Bermuda forward, we must ensure our public-school students are afforded the same opportunities as private-school students. Lastly, I am reminded of a quote used during Franco Harris’s Toast to Bermuda last night: ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.’”

After my post, nothing much has changed in terms of those who are invited and the demographics of young people who make up the Junior Bermuda Society. I expected as much because this somewhat elusive organisation, just like our Olympic team, is representative of the image Bermuda likes to portray of itself to world. The Olympic team, composed predominantly of athletes who are visibly White and privately educated, does not mirror the racial and socioeconomic composition of Bermuda.

The disparities in education stem from and feed directly into the broader issues of race and class in a vicious cycle. In my high school, The Berkeley Institute, the number of White students could be counted on two hands. This demographic imbalance in public schools reflects the socioeconomic divide within Bermuda. Public schools predominantly serve Black and lower-income students, while private schools cater to a more affluent, and often whiter, non-Bermudian demographic. This segregation creates a cycle of inequality where access to high-quality education and prestigious opportunities is unequally distributed.

This disparity extends into politics.

Former Progressive Labour Party leader Marc Bean has made several assertions that cast a critical light on the PLP. He argues that the PLP, despite its roots in labour and advocating for the people, has adopted values that align more closely with White supremacy. This accusation is particularly resonant when considering both the ever-present and deepening divide between the two Bermudas and that many of the PLP's present leaders, including the Premier and the Minister of Education, attended private school.

How can the PLP claim to be a party for the people when many of its leaders were educated in an isolated, elite part of the Bermudian community?

So there may be some validity to Mr Bean’s claims after all ... let’s examine further.

The PLP’s shift from its original purpose to a more capitalist and elitist stance, as highlighted by Walton Brown in his book, Bermuda and the Struggles for Reform: Race Politics & Ideology, indicates a significant ideological shift. The party’s acceptance of the Black bourgeoisie has transformed its policies and priorities, moving away from its foundational labour-centric focus. The presence of former United Bermuda Party members, known for their anti-Black stances, within the PLP’s inner circle further complicates the party’s image.

This inclusion raises questions about the party’s commitment to its original mission and its alignment with elitist and potentially White supremacist ideologies. The PLP’s staunch opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, a stance widely recognised as a vestige of colonialism and White supremacy, highlights a troubling contradiction. This homophobia, entrenched in the party’s policies, undermines its claims of being pro-Black, pro-labour and progressive. With points alone, White supremacy seems to be a pervasive issue plaguing the PLP of today.

While the PLP claims to be for the people, I do not see any party that is committed to addressing the clear disparities that exist. All politicians, especially those that seem capable of rising to the ranks of leadership, regardless of party affiliation, seem to be cut from the same cloth — members of the upper economic class and political elite. How can we expect meaningful change if those in power have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo?

Bermuda’s political landscape is characterised by a lack of genuine commitment to addressing systemic inequalities. The rhetoric of progress and inclusivity rings hollow when the actions of those in power perpetuate the very disparities they claim to oppose. It is time for a reckoning, a thorough examination of our political institutions, and a genuine effort to bridge the gap between the two Bermudas.

The divide between public and private education in Bermuda is a microcosm of the larger issues of race and class that permeate our society. It is only through sustained and committed efforts that we can truly bridge the gap and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive and represent our jurisdiction on the world stage.

The PLP government must reconcile its past with its present and realign with the principles it was founded upon to truly serve the people of Bermuda.

If we are ever to witness true liberation for the people of Bermuda, the PLP and all other parties must put Bermuda first, party second and their personal allegiances third.

• Taj Donville-Outerbridge is an award-winning Bermudian human rights activist, writer and student at King’s College London. He also has a decade of experience in Bermuda’s political system. He can be reached via Instagram @_king.taj_ and e-mail at tdonvilleouterbridge@yahoo.com