SIR RICHARD POSNETT'S CALLS ON MR RIDLEY AND THE PUS: 10.00 AND 12.15 RESPECTIVELY ON FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY. TALKING POINTS.
1. Sir Richard takes 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 Richard does not inherit 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, however,
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 prove contentious.
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