In an engaging address delivered at The Gathering Midlife Revolution Women’s conference this past weekend, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, inspired a room of Bermudian women, mothers, mentors, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community builders with a call to ‘prepare in purpose’.
Hosted by Mrs. Elaine Butterfield, the event served as a unifying space to reflect on life’s transitions and the importance of being “ready” in the face of economic and social change.
Taking place at the Willowbank Resort, the Minister provided an opening keynote, titled “Retiring in Paradise: Bermuda’s Economic Trajectory and What It Means for Women,”.
With the anthem “Lioness on the Rise” by Queen Ifrica, Minister Lightbourne set the tone for a message that was both a tribute and a challenge, to honour the lioness within, and to prepare with courage and clarity for the next stage of life.
“Retirement is not an exit but rather a new entrance. It is not a withdrawal, it’s a redeployment of wisdom,” said Minister Lightbourne. And she reminded attendees that preparation is not a burden, it is an act of self-respect and a strategy of strength.
Minister Lightbourne shared her own transition into public life, offering a rare window into the vulnerability that often accompanies personal change. She spoke candidly to the questions many women silently carry:
- Can I retire here?
- Will my savings stretch?
- Will I be able to age in the place I love?
In response, she introduced the Lioness Playbook: P-R-E-P-A-R-E, a practical seven-step guide designed to empower women to protect their legacy, advocate for themselves, and retire with dignity. The playbook emphasises steps such as updating wills, reviewing financial habits, exploring health care benefits, and reconnecting with purpose.
This empowering message was grounded in action. Minister Lightbourne outlined key 2025 Budget initiatives designed to protect Bermuda’s seniors and strengthen economic security for women:
- Reforming the Contributory Pension Fund to ensure long-term sustainability
- Expanding home-based care benefits under FutureCare and HIP
- Launching Bermuda’s first senior daycare facility
- Advancing housing law reform and utility oversight to protect consumers
“These policies are promises to women who have poured their lives into building this island,” Minister Lightbourne concluded.
Minister Lightbourne closed with a rally call to each woman in the room saying, “You should not have to choose between love and land. Between age and agency. You have earned security, not scarcity.”