BERMUDA CONCLUDES PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON FULL CARICOM MEMBERSHIP

Bermuda closed its public consultation on becoming a full member of the regional Caricom grouping this past Sunday, May 31st, with the UK Overseas Territory still very divided on the matter.

The next step in the process, according to Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne, is for the government to review all feedback received and formulate an official position.

Bermuda, an Associate Member of Caricom, is seeking to upgrade its status to full membership, with those in favour, including members of the government, citing access to the group’s English-speaking skilled labour pool as one advantage.

However, the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) led by Premier E. David Burt has indicated that free movement is not a priority. Should Bermuda ultimately choose to seek full CARICOM membership, the final say will come from the group’s Council of Ministers. This has been one of the main talking points during the Bermuda public consultation and is expected to be a main feature when the government presents its position, expected later this year.

The territory has already received a ‘letter of entrustment’ from the UK, which clears the way for it to proceed with its request. However, there will be limitations to its involvement in CARICOM, especially on matters pertaining to foreign relations, which remain the remit of the UK.

Speaking in the Bermuda Parliament announcing the end of the public consultation, Home Affairs Minister Lightbourne addressed the thorny immigration-related issue: “Some have asked why the Government pursues a regional position while families face the cost of living at home. The answer is that the Government does both. Investment continues in healthcare, in affordable housing, in education, in social protections, in infrastructure, in cost-of-living relief, and in job creation.”

She also said: “The regional engagement runs alongside that domestic delivery. It does not compete with it. Responsible governance carries both at once.”

REFERENDUM DEMAND

Meanwhile, the opposition One Bermuda Alliance(OBA) is insisting that the matter of Bermuda becoming a full member of CARICOM should be decided by a referendum.

“The One Bermuda Alliance has been clear on CARICOM. We have called for a Green Paper, followed by a White Paper, followed by a referendum. It is arguable that the Story of Us is not a Green Paper since it falls woefully short on fully exploring the pros and cons of full CARICOM membership,” it says on its website.

The OBA leader, Michael Fahy, says: “We fully accept the emotional and cultural ties that exist between many Bermudians and our Caribbean friends. There is no doubting that in any way. What is of prime importance however, is that the Government lay out its case as to why associate membership is no longer appropriate for Bermuda and why full membership will benefit all Bermudians.”

Montserrat is presently the only UK Overseas Territory that has full membership status in the 15-member bloc. The other UK Caribbean Overseas Territories - Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands, are all Associate members.