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Column: Foley On St. David鈥檚, People & More
[Opinion column written by OBA’s Maurice Foley]
I was born and raised in St. David鈥檚, shaped by a close-knit community with deep history, quiet strength, and untapped potential. Like many Bermudians, I left to pursue education abroad. I earned a master鈥檚 degree in management and spent years building businesses, collaborating with global partners, and gaining the kind of hands-on leadership experience that Bermuda says it wants.
Eventually, I came back, not because the pathway was clear, but because I knew the value of what I had to offer, and I believed in the importance of bringing it home.
Since returning, I鈥檝e worked to serve the community that raised me. From advocating for the redevelopment of Marginal Wharf, to reimagining unused public assets, to championing St. David鈥檚 as Bermuda鈥檚 tenth parish, my goal has been to contribute, not just with ideas, but with action.
But I have to be honest: the path home wasn鈥檛 easy. And for far too many Bermudians living abroad, it still isn鈥檛.
We say that our people are our greatest asset. But are they? If we really believed that, why is it so difficult for Bermudians to come back and thrive?
Let鈥檚 talk about the reality. Many Bermudians abroad are highly educated, deeply experienced, and passionate about contributing to their country. But when they look home, they see unaffordable housing, high living costs, a lack of job opportunities in their fields, and few real incentives to return. The cost of living is one of the biggest barriers to return, and it鈥檚 pricing out our own people.
What we鈥檙e seeing isn鈥檛 just a brain drain. It鈥檚 a slow, systemic push-out of Bermudians with global experience who feel there鈥檚 no room for them here. That鈥檚 not just a missed opportunity; it鈥檚 a failure in vision.
Yet there are two who returned, against the odds.
Jennifer Woods, the new CEO of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, came back after years abroad gaining world-class business experience. She now leads one of our most influential institutions. Her return should be celebrated, yes, but also studied. Because there are many others like her who haven鈥檛 come back, and might never, because the system doesn鈥檛 encourage it.
Dr. Kimberly Foley, M.D., is, in my opinion, one of the most decorated physicians in Bermuda. A pulmonologist, critical care specialist, sleep apnoea expert, and internal medicine doctor, she chose to return home to serve her country. That decision, like mine, was rooted in purpose, not convenience.
Both Jennifer and Kimberly are proof of what鈥檚 possible. But neither benefited from a clear national strategy to attract and retain global Bermudian talent. Their returns happened in spite of the system, not because of it.
That鈥檚 the core issue.
There is no intentional, sustained effort to map, engage, or reintegrate Bermudians abroad into our economy, institutions, or long-term development. No framework. No registry. No structured support. No pathway home.
And that鈥檚 what Bermuda needs most right now.
We don鈥檛 need another report or committee, we need political will, private sector alignment, and the courage to act. Not someday. Now.
Because what鈥檚 at stake isn鈥檛 just jobs or headlines, it鈥檚 Bermuda鈥檚 future. It鈥檚 whether we choose to grow from within or continue outsourcing leadership, innovation, and cultural identity while our own people are sidelined abroad.
I returned because I believe in St. David鈥檚. I believe in Bermuda. And I believe that our most valuable resource isn鈥檛 a corporate investment or a policy document, it鈥檚 our people.
But until we create an intentional pathway home, we will keep losing the very people we claim to value most.
So, I ask: Do we really believe Bermudians are our greatest resource? And if we do, what are we waiting for?
It鈥檚 time to bring them home.
– Maurice Foley, Opposition Senator, community advocate, entrepreneur and the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for constituency 3, St. David鈥檚
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