Page 33 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

Miss Carol Hill and Mrs. Georgine
Hill protest segregation at the
Bermudiana Theatre, which denied
entrance to blacks to watch repertory
theatre in 1951. The successful
protest was a precursor to the movie
theatre boycott in 1959. The 1959
boycott is commemorated by the
sculpture When Voices Rise shown
below and unveiled in 2009 in
Wesley Park – where nightly protest
meetings took place until segregation
in movie theatres ended.

courtesy the bermudian magazine

The advent of universal adult suffrage also brought about the other great change in
Bermuda politics – party politics. Before 1963, all members of parliament were inde-
pendents. In that year, the Progressive Labour Party was formed, partly out of recognition
that the changes to the franchise were going to require a new kind of leadership. The
new party contested the May 1963 election, and six MPs were elected under the PLP
banner, while another five black MPs were also elected – a record number.

In response, in August 1964 the United Bermuda Party was formed under the
leadership of Sir Henry Tucker.

Although Bermuda was moving to a modern constitutional system, it was not there yet.
In 1966, a Constitutional Conference was held in London. The majority report provided for
universal adult suffrage for all Bermudians aged 21 or over, 20 dual-seat constituencies,
and Bermuda’s first constitution. A minority report signed by the PLP differed widely from
the report and most fundamentally, called for 36 single-seat constituencies.

In 1968, the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 was passed. The plus vote was
abolished and the principle of one person, one vote was fully established. The When Voices Rise, 2009
constitution also established basic civil rights for all. By Chesley Trott

On May 22, 1968 the first general election held under the new Bermuda constitution
was held. The United Bermuda Party won 30 seats and the PLP 10.

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