CARICOM Public Consultation Ends On May 31
The public consultation on Bermuda becoming a full member of CARICOM will end on Sunday, May 31st, and the government has reminded people to please submit feedback by that date.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, Minister of Home Affairs, issued the following statement ahead of the close of the public consultation on Bermuda’s pursuit of full membership in the Caribbean Community [CARICOM]. The public consultation on the Green Paper, The Story of Us, will close on Sunday, 31 May 2026.
“The Ministry concluded its island-wide town hall series with a final session in St. George’s, completing an engagement that publicly opened in March 2026 with the release of the Green Paper. The consultation has included structured stakeholder sessions with public and private sector bodies, regional associations, faith communities, youth groups, and educational institutions, alongside public town halls and the online survey at togetherforcaricom.gov.bm.
“Across the engagement, the Ministry has heard supportive, undecided, and opposed views. The questions most frequently raised concern the cost of membership, the protection of Bermuda’s immigration and economic frameworks, the tangible return on a deeper regional position, and the timing of the pursuit alongside the Government’s domestic affordability agenda. The Ministry has tracked every concern on the record. Each will be addressed in the White Paper that follows this consultation.
“Members of the public are invited to visit TogetherForCaricom.gov.bm to review the Green Paper, complete the consultation survey, and submit feedback by Sunday, 31 May 2026.”
It feels as though Burt wants this as his legacy, and nothing to do with what people actually want.
He won’t put this to a referendum, because he knows he will lose.
Oppose this strongly. We are a democracy.
Let’s storm parliament if they try and force this through
Bermuda needs to acknowledge and celebrate our diverse community. Yes, some of us have descendants that came from the Caribbean, and some from a whole lot of other places. We are our own community and it is worth more to me for us to pull together to develop our own unique culture.
I cannot see any meaningful value in paying for having full membership in Caricom. Bermuda has too many issues that WE need to resolve together before we are further distracted with other foci that will not, I am convinced, help us sort ourselves out. No. No full membership to Caricom… but I do enjoy the cultural spirit of the Caribbean islands that adds to the blend of our local celebrations.
The feel good sales team have completed their mission. They have had their so called consulting meetings where they have pretended to listen. They didn’t.
Now it is onward railroading this waste of time and money through while we continue to bounce down our potholed roads.