Yesterday (Jan. 19) the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, delivered a timely and impassioned address at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day recognition event hosted by Imagine Bermuda.

Minister Lightbourne addressed a large audience which included students from Whitney Institute, Bermuda Institute, Victor Scott and The Berkeley Institute. 

She began by expressing gratitude to the event organizers, including Mr. Glenn Fubler, for their steadfast commitment to uplifting Dr. King’s legacy and fostering civic dialogue on justice, equity, and social responsibility.

In her remarks, the Minister connected Dr. King’s global fight for civil rights with Bermuda’s own strong legacy of activism, from Dr. E.F. Gordon to the Theatre Boycott and the Progressive Group. 

She paid tribute to the historic presence of Ms. Izola Harvey and Ms. Florenz Maxwell, leaders of the 1959 boycott and members of the Progressive Group, calling them “a living reminder of the power of young Bermudians to change the course of history.”

Reaching the young people where they are, the Minister framed her message around the declaration “Don’t fumble the bag,” Minister Lightbourne called on Bermuda’s youth to actively protect and build upon the progress achieved by earlier generations.

“Your bag is taking the work that he devoted his life to and using it to secure a future for Bermuda,” she said. “You each have the ability to organize, to speak up, to demand better. The bag is your true power.”

The Minister also addressed Bermuda’s current socio-economic realities, including rising rents, the cost of living, and the need for more accessible housing, all key priorities under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“These pressures are real for many families, and they directly shape whether young people can build a life, a career, and a future here at home.”

Minister Lightbourne emphasized that government action alone is not enough. Echoing Dr. King’s belief in grassroots activism, she emphasized the importance of youth leadership, unity, and local organizing.

“You don’t have to be Martin Luther King Jr. to make a difference, but you must join a fight,” the Minister said.

And she encouraged attendees to find common purpose with their peers, to stay engaged, and remember that the inheritance passed down from their ancestors must be protected through action.

“These were ancestors who didn’t wait for someone else to fix Bermuda. They organized. They spoke up. They risked everything. That’s the bag they left you. That is your inheritance. Now here’s my question: What are you doing with it?”

Also in attendance yesterday were the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, Senate President Joan Dillas Wright, JP, and Sen. Mischa Fubler, JP.