Your Excellency, Sir John SwanMr. Premier, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen.
At last I've achieved my ambition of making a proper visit to Bermuda! And it has been well worth waiting for.
Thank you for the very warm welcome which I have received and for the kind words in your speech, SirJohn SwanSir John.
It's ones oldest friends whom one appreciates most and that is undoubtedly true of Britain and Bermuda. We go back a very long way together, almost four hundred years in fact. [end p1]
I am one of the greatest admirers of the Royal Navy. But I do have to say that, as I travel the world, I constantly find myself visiting countries where the British first arrived as a result of a shipwreck!—And Bermuda is no exception. It was a great relief as we flew in this morning to see H.M.S. Arrow safely tied up alongside.
But I hope you notice that I am taking no chances. When President Bush met President Gorbachev in Malta, they planned for it to be on board ship. I am sticking to Bermuda's nice, safe, solid ground.
Mr Premier, Britain and Bermuda have had the closest possible links throughout those centuries. We have the two oldest parliaments in the world, and that really means something in today's world where we see [end p2] parliamentary democracy and the rule of law extending to ever more countries—both in Eastern Europe but also in this hemisphere. Britain and Bermuda are fortunate that they have enjoyed stable parliamentary government for so long. It is a great gift and a great source of strength, and we can both be proud of it.
And may I say what a privilege it was today to meet with your Cabinet and have such a very full and lively discussion, which made clear—if that were necessary—how very much Bermuda takes an interest and feels involved in all the great world issues. [end p3]
You have built a very successful country by your efforts and one which is very widely respected. And may I pay particular tribute to your premier, Sir John Swan. He has been a tower of strength to Bermuda, not just in your economic success but because of the work he does as an ambassador for Bermuda worldwide. He is very well-known internationally: and I know what a close and good friend he is to President Bush.
I have seen for myself this afternoon something of Bermuda's achievements and of your plans for future development I think they are very impressive. We all remember the terrible destruction done by Hurricane Emily in 1987 and the marvellous way in which Bermudians rallied round to rebuild and repair the damage, with some help too from your friends. [end p4]
I am sure that the opportunities for Bermuda will continue to grow, particularly when we achieve a single market in Europe, which we hope will be in 1992. We shall be ready to give Bermuda every help and advice with that. It is very important with your great financial skills that you should have free access to Europe's financial markets.
And I was very glad to hear of the establishment recently of the Britain-Bermuda society, with one of our great lord mayors of London, Sir Peter Gadsden, playing a leading role. [end p5]
We shall also be very ready to help you in the fight against drug trafficking. And I was delighted that your Minister of health attended our drugs summit in London this week and made an important contribution.
Of course, Bermudians have always been renowned businessmen. In 1775, you purloined gun-powder from the government magazine here in Bermuda and sent it to America, where it was used with great effect to defeat the British forces at Boston. In these days, you would call that spotting a good business opportunity.
We did get our revenge. Forty years later, the British attack on Washington, which led to the burning of the White House, was planned and launched from Bermuda. But I promise not to remind the George BushPresident of that tomorrow! [end p6] since then, Bermuda has been host on four occasions to meetings between American Presidents and British Prime ministers, and we thank you for that hospitality. It is a natural place for two great friends and allies to come together, and we are both delighted that you, Mr. Premier, will be closely associated with the occasion.
Your Excellency, Mr. Premier, distinguished guests, thank you for this dinner, thank you for the way in which you have received us, thank you on behalf of Britain for all the friendship and closeness over many centuries. [end p7]
No one who visits here can doubt that Bermuda has a great future, as an island of stability and prosperity in a fast changing world, under the strong leadership of your Premier. May I ask you all to join me in a toast to that future, to the happiness and success of the people of Bermuda, to Sir John and Lady Swan and to the continuing close links between Britain and Bermuda.