In a speech opening the Insurance Day Summit Bermuda, Premier Ewart Brown spoke in great length about the humanitarian decision to bring four innocent stateless refugees to our shores. Premier Brown:

You will have heard by now that the Government of Bermuda has taken in four Chinese Muslim refugees who were former detainees of Guantanamo Bay. The men are innocent, cleared of all charges and suspicion by the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration, the U.S. federal courts and just about any other agency that has seen the evidence.

Reintegrating innocent men into society – Uighurs in this case – is a crucial and necessary part of the Obama Administration’s plan to close the notorious prison at Guantanamo Bay. Overwhelmingly, the world supports the Obama Administration’s decision to shut down the detention centre.

But up until a few days ago, no country had taken exonerated detainees since President Obama announced the prison would close. Not a single country stepped up to the plate. Even American lawmakers could not find the political majority to do what was right.

While others said no, Bermuda welcomed these innocent people. And, as the Premier goes on to outline, the move was made within the confines of the law. Premier Brown:

I have said all along that this decision was an immigration matter with potential political overtones. I am gratified that on yesterday’s local news, two Queen’s Counsels told all of Bermuda that their legal opinion is exactly what ours was when we acted – immigration matters are within the right and control of the Bermuda government. Now, Government House and Great Britain disagree because of the political overtones. And the political overtones have played at a deafening pitch over the past few days, and have given me deep regret – not about the decision, because I know the decision was made for all the right reasons. I regret that the decision has caused my people disaffection and turmoil. It is a textbook lesson in political backlash.

But from where I stand political backlash has never been permission to walk away from what’s right.

It was back in 2001 that these Uighur men were snatched from freedom. It was almost a year ago that they were cleared 100% by U.S. courts. And country after country had an opportunity to take them, and many walked away. It was a long list I’m sure and Bermuda was not at the top. But when Bermuda was faced with an opportunity to do what’s right I could not walk away.

Being small does not mean we can not lead.

Immigration matters are within the control of the Bermuda Government. And, the Uighurs do not pose a threat to Bermudians. They are innocent people. When other countries failed, we led. Premier Brown:

It’s the story of the American ship Enterprise. In 1835 it was travelling between Virginia and South Carolina when a vicious storm drove the ship off course. They came to Bermuda for repairs and refreshment after a horrific tango with the Atlantic Ocean.

The Enterprise was carrying cargo of particular interest to Bermuda – she was carrying 78 slaves – whole families: men, women and children. Only one year earlier, in 1834, Bermuda had abolished slavery. So local Customs officials would not allow the Enterprise to leave Bermuda until the slaves on board had their shot at freedom.

All 78 slaves got their shot… and more than 70 of them got their freedom, three decades before the Emancipation Proclamation by the way. If those families returned to the United States they faced another generation in the vestiges of slavery.

Bermuda’s deed was a humanitarian act of the highest order. It was evidence of a small country taking on a role of international leadership. The actions of the Bermudians were heralded around the world and used in future cases to free slaves.

Being small does not mean we can not lead. Being small has never meant that… not even in 1835.

Yesterday, Bermuda enjoyed the good fortune of being heralded once again. Amnesty International, Reprieve, Human Rights Watch and the Constitution Project all voiced strong support and applauded Bermuda’s humanitarian act.

We also learned yesterday that Italy would take three former Guantanamo detainees onto Italian soil. And the European Union member states said they are ready to resettle criminally cleared detainees – up to 60 of them potentially.

The EU said from Brussels: “By supporting the U.S. determination to shut down Guantanamo, the EU hopes to contribute to the changing U.S. policies and help the U.S. turn the page.”

The EU is an organization of countries much larger than Bermuda with far more resources and they have followed our lead on a humanitarian issue.

Being small does not mean we can not lead.

Not only is this the morally right thing to do, but, it will also help us strengthen our ties with the United States. Premier Brown:

In many respects, as a result of this humanitarian decision, Bermuda has never been as close to the United States as she is right now – and it’s been 400 years.

Last night, President Obama acknowledged Bermuda’s leadership in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Berlusconi. "As I said before, Prime Minister Berlusconi's assistance on our efforts to close Guantanamo is very important to us,” the President said. Then he said, “I have to say, by the way, that Bermuda has done us a great service, as well, on that front, and I'm grateful to them."

The President voiced similar gratitude in a phone conversation last Thursday night. He called me because he wanted the people of Bermuda to know that by helping the United States close Guantanamo Bay, the world was becoming safer. As long as innocent men are housed there year after year, those who want to do harm to the west have the fuel they need to ignite hate in the hearts of many.

That’s why the U.S. Attorney General said Thursday that America is safer – not because the Uighurs were off U.S. soil, but because innocent men had been allowed to go free. Freedom is what innocent men deserve and that’s what we have facilitated, not unlike what we did in 1835.

Closing Guantanamo Bay makes all of the world, including Bermuda, safer. Premier Brown:

Our agreement to take four Chinese Muslim refugees from Guantanamo Bay was not part of a quid pro quo. I don’t have a “here’s what we got” list to hold up today. But what I do have is the supreme confidence that Bermuda’s relationship with the United States, its partnership with the United States, is better today than it was one week ago, one month ago, one year ago. That can only mean good things for the continued success of the country and the continued success of your companies.

We know that this is not a popular issue in some quarters, but, in the end, all we did was welcome four innocent men to our shores - men who are excited to be here and ready to contribute to Bermudian society.

Bermuda did what is morally right and we received good will from the United States at exactly the right time.