Comments on: Michael Fahy On US, Visas, CARICOM & More

By: LOL

LOL — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:48:59 +0000

That’s hilarious.
You sound like Keir, drooling over trump.

Bermudas economy exists due to the charity of Tourists, and international business.

Bermudas has pink sand.

By: David R Smith

David R Smith — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:44:18 +0000

I am not sure what Caricom membership does for Bermuda ?
As a British colony we enjoy the benefits offered by the Uk, eg the right to work in UK, go to school and settle in the UK etc: and for that matter restrict UK expats / citizens from have the same privileges.(which is understandable)
Bermuda should focus on US trade, UK relationship and should be donating / spending 5 % of GDP on our regiment of be contributing this to the UK defense, US defense or NATO. The fact that 5% of Bermuda GDP is de minimus compared, does not absolve our responsibility. We should not be a “free loader”
Let’s focus on Bermuda issues:

A. Tourism – grade A (good job Premier Burt RE S Princess US $ and Elbow deals UK $)) –

B.International Business – grade A (good job Premier Burt as minister of finance, you have been a steward in reinsurance an envy of world)

C. Affordable Housing – “work in process” (Z Desilva thanks for thinking “out of the box” you have a challenge …. )

Respectfully

By: Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:43:08 +0000

If you say so. But CARICOM membership alone is not the issue.

The issue is that the attitude of the U.S. Government toward the named islands “does represent a clear downgrading of their favourability status in the eyes of the U.S. government.”

There are reasons (other than CARICOM membership) why the population of Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname have escaped U.S. sanctions on visiting the U.S. But the list of sanctioned islands also suggests commonality amongst most CARICOM members.

By: D Smith

D Smith — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:32:44 +0000

Montserrat has held full Caricom membership since 1974 , and yes the residents Have British and or BOTC passport just like us in Bermuda.

By: D Smith

D Smith — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:26:07 +0000

No lies in my statement just facts. Montserrat is British Overseas territory with full Caricom membership.
They have had full member since 1974. It’s people have BOTC and/or British passports just like Bermuda. The Caribbean countries affected by the visa ban did not get to that position by being apart of the caricom trade bloc.

By: Dsmith

Dsmith — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:58:24 +0000

They still have full caricom membership. Caricom membership doesn’t mean you have to give up your Bot or British passport. Stop the propaganda

By: LOL

LOL — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:20:09 +0000

Your lies and ignorance have ‘weakened’ you barely existent argument.
You’ve embarrassed yourself.

By: Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:18:08 +0000

As you say, Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory, not a CARICOM country. Residents of Montserrat have British and/ or BOTC passports.

It also worth pointing out that Montserrat has fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and is FATF compliant.

By: Hilarious

Hilarious — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:11:30 +0000

Feel free to chime in with an explanation as to why Montserrat is compliant with US visa processing while several other CARICOM countries are not. Just the facts, please.

US State Department – Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage
Last Updated: January 14, 2026

President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans. The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge.

Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

The Americas
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Nicaragua
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Uruguay

By: D Smith

D Smith — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:26:49 +0000

I find it very convenient the Mr. Fahy did not mention the British Overseas Territory Montserrat that has full caricom membership and does not appear on the list of 75 nations. I guess that weaken his argument.

By: Dsmith

Dsmith — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:17:30 +0000

I find it very convenient that Mr. Fahy left out The British overseas territory Montserrat, which is a full member state of caricom that does not appear on this list of 75 nations. Guess he can’t explain that one without weakening his argument.

By: Question

Question — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:41:39 +0000

An excellent point.