CONFIDE ITIAL
MR. PETER LLOYD'S CALL ON MR URE: 1500 ON WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH 1981
BACKGROUND: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BERMUDA
1. Sir R Posnett took up his appointment as Governor of Bermuda on 24 February succeeding Sir Peter Ramsbotham who left the territory on retirement on 31 December,
POLITICAL SITUATION
2. Sir R Posnett. has not inherited any major political problems 1980 was a quiet year and provided no opportunity for incipient racial tensions to surface. The December 1980 General Election. was very closely (but cleanly) fought. Both the United Bermuda Party (UBP), returned to power with 22 out of 40 seats, and the Opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) which gained 3 seats. to finish with a total of 18, were satisfied with the result. There is now a possibility that the PLP could (for the first time) form a government after the next election. It is now, moreover, becoming increasingly difficult to identify major policy differences between the two parties. * A Human Rights Bill will be a major feature of the new Parliament. One underlying problem for the future is the identification of the PLP as the 'black' party; unlike the UBP, which is multi-racial (although widely viewed as mainly representative of 'white' interests), the PLP has only token white membership and has made no effort to broaden its base.
PREMIER
3. Sir Peter Ramsbotham has suggested that Premier Gibbons will wish to step down before the next election. It will be hard to find a successor. Mr Gibbons believes Bermuda is ready for a black Premier. The key appointment of Police Commissioner will next month be filled by a black Bermudian. The Bermuda Regiment appointed its first black CO in 1980 and there are other examples of the process of 'Bermudianisation' in various fields.
/INDEPENDENCE
CONFIDENTIAL
The UBP's declared intention to reach a decision on a new electoral system may, however, prove contentious.