…but older Bermudians are more active at the polls, says political pundit
Young Bermudians may be more accepting of granting status to some non-Bermudians.
Older black Bermudians, who recall status being weaponised to augment the white vote, feel differently.
This is the take from political commentator Cordell Riley, and it means the OBA government’s attempt to launch Pathways to Status will remain a thorny issue for the party – even 9 years on.
As new leader Robert King takes the helm of the OBA, Mr Riley suggests they have an uphill battle to show they have changed from the party that governed from 2012 to 2017.
This is especially true, he says, after former Cabinet Minister Michael Fahy – who brought forward Pathways in February 2016 – returned to politics and won an historical OBA stronghold in February’s General Election.
“To put him in a safe seat [Pembroke South West], rather than have him run in a marginal seat… that’s a message that’s being sent to the voters”, Mr Riley says.
“Is that a return to the days of 2012, or are you really changing?”
In a discussion with Gary Foster Skelton, Mr Riley acknowledged that younger Bermudians may be in favour of immigration reform and some version of pathways to status.
However – just like Brexit in the UK – it comes down to who is motivated enough to make their voices heard at the polls…
(WATCH the interview above)
