Bermuda will remain politically stable over the coming decade, and continue to benefit from a strong, independent judiciary based on the British legal system. Although party politics will remain largely divided along ethnic lines, this will not escalate into potentially destabilising political violence. Bermuda s score of --.- out of --- in our proprietary Long- Term Political Risk Index is well above the regional average of --.-, and underpins our view that the island will continue along its present, stable political trajectory over the next -- years. Following the forced resignation of prime minister Craig Cannonier in May ---- amid a corruption scandal known as Jetgate , new prime minister Michael Dunkley is seeking to combat the perception of government impropriety by imple- menting a new set of Public Access to Information regulations. These regulations are tentatively scheduled to go into effect in ----, and bode well for Bermuda s political risk profile over the coming decade. ...While the OBA leans more on affluent white Bermudians, the PLP derives most of its support from the island s black majority.
...The PLP, which lost power in ---- s general election, will be poorly positioned to capitalise on the government s falling popularity. According to polls, the PLP saw its support jump from --.- in ---- to --.- as of July ----. At the same time, the OBA saw its support fall from --.- to --.- . This rise, however, has come due to Bermuda s continued economic malaise, with the country remaining in recession even following the implementation of OBA policies intended to boost the island s economic growth, including measures to make it easier to open a new business. Moreover, the austerity policies have seen spending on some social services stagnate. ...However, given the PLP s inability to oppose OBA policy making, we believe that the country will be able to reform the financial system.
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