Portuguese Bermudians have supported a call for a “truth and reconciliation” process to heal the rift between that group and Bermudians of African descent
Andrea Moniz-DeSousa, the Portuguese honorary consul in Bermuda has commended Michael Weeks, a former government minister, now a Progressive Labour Party backbencher, for speaking up on this issue. Ms Moniz-DeSousa said a good start would be to tackle immigration reform and the problems of mixed-status families many of which are of Portuguese descent.
Ms Moniz-DeSouza also backed a move to teach Portuguese in schools and said that it should be the island’s official second language.
“There is no “us and them”; we are all an integral part of this island, Bermuda. We are all Bermudians. All of us worked together to build this country.”
Michael Weeks, Progressive Labour Party backbencher
Mr Weeks had earlier drawn particular attention to the historically strained relationship between Portuguese Bermudians and African Bermudians and called for greater integration between the two communities. He felt the introduction of Portuguese as a second language would not only benefit persons of Portuguese descent but act as an acknowledgement of their contribution to the development of Bermuda. Trevor Moniz, a backbencher for the Opposition One Bermuda Alliance party, conceded that while the teaching of Portuguese in schools was important, immigration reform was paramount.
This year marks the 170th anniversary of the arrival of Portuguese immigrants in Bermuda and the government has created a special holiday which will be celebrated on November 4 to celebrate the ocassion.
