Column: Michael Scott On CARICOM & More
[Opinion column written by Michael Scott]
Alignment by Bermuda, our peoples, and our mixed economy of tourism and international finance, along with the independent nations of the Caribbean is strategic, native, natural and blood-lined.
Better-ism” in 21st Century Bermuda is not only an outdated, historic relic that is no longer helpful; it is also unkind.
The North Atlantic Ocean, meeting the Caribbean Sea at longitude 65°39′W, marks a geographic distance rather than a strategic separation. Over time, closer economic alignment and shared offshore business activity between Bermuda and Caribbean Overseas Territories have opened avenues for extending Bermuda’s financial expertise into CARICOM nations. Together with Bermuda’s established wealth management relationships with Africa and Asia, this context renders hollow, any suggestion that closer alignment with CARICOM is neither strategic nor opportune.
“Becoming part of a group of small nations whose economies are fundamentally different from ours and who have significant issues with our major trading partner, the USA is not in our best interest.” – Bob Richards, March 2026
The deployment of this thesis, in support of non membership with CARICOM contains inaccuracies that belie its purpose;
Pillar B of the Bermuda Tourism Policy focuses on airlift, hotel development, and vacation rentals, areas in which Bermuda currently competes with CARICOM nations. However, as full members of CARICOM, Bermuda and the region’s successful tourism destinations can move beyond competition toward greater partnership and shared effort. In a market that continues to attract visitors from the United States and Europe by air and sea, this shift has the potential to replace rivalry with collaboration to the benefit of Bermuda’s tourism economy.
Pillar A, encompassing international finance, wealth management and international insurance management, is an area where Bermuda already demonstrates global leadership and clear competitive advantage. The opportunity to extend this influence through engagement with CARICOM nations as full members represents a significant and largely untapped avenue for economic growth. To dismiss this prospect on the basis that it does not serve Bermuda’s interests overlooks both the strategic value and the long‑term economic potential such engagement can deliver.
Charles III and Mr. Carney
His Majesty the King Charles III and Prime Minister of Canada Mr Mark Carney are both proponents of linking hands.
Recently, in keeping with King Charles clear-eyedness of the benefits of the maintenance of a strong Commonwealth, hosted the President of Nigeria, President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle. King Charles III, in his speech at the royal banquet stated;
“We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage… are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service.”
The Carey Formula
I argue that this has direct relevance to Bermuda’s membership objectives. The value and strength of Bermuda’s Caribbean linkages have not diminished; they persist and are more relevant at this moment in our national evolution, a point reinforced by recent remarks from the Prime Minister of Canada.
“In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: to compete with each other for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact.” — Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
The analyses offered by His Majesty the King and Prime Minister Carney speak directly to Bermuda’s consideration of full membership in CARICOM. In that context, I commend Minister Lightbourne for initiating the Green Paper and for placing this important national question before the public for careful and informed consideration.
Those who have called for a pause in the process are entitled to their views, and those views deserve respect. In my view, however, this is a moment for plain speaking and careful judgement about Bermuda’s future direction. Full membership in CARICOM does not present a logical or geopolitical risk to Bermuda. Nor does it follow that membership, by association alone, would expose Bermuda to limitations on access to the United States.
Bermuda has a long‑standing history of United States pre‑clearance, a reality that sets us apart and must be part of any serious assessment. Its absence from recent geopolitical commentary, including analysis published in the Daily, leaves an incomplete picture for the public at a critical point in this discussion.
“…its ‘glaring omission’ was its failure to acknowledge the island’s heavy influences from the US, dating back to the establishment of military bases in 1940-42.”
“The radical divergence in economic development paths between Bermuda and the Caribbean has resulted in today’s state of development in Bermuda being totally different from that of the southern islands, now represented by Caricom.”
“None of the full members of Caricom feature the successful export of financial services like Bermuda, none.”
“Cosying up to a region that the US views negatively is not in our interests.” – Bob Richards,
May I respectfully offer a response to the projections raised and set out an alternative view. Following the decision by then Premier Dame Jennifer Smith to pursue and secure associate membership in CARICOM, full membership now presents Bermudians with an opportunity to deepen long‑standing Caribbean ties while advancing practical national interests. These include closer economic integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, expanded trade and mobility, a stronger collective voice in foreign affairs, and a fuller acknowledgement of Bermuda’s place within the Caribbean community.
Full membership also allows Bermuda to balance its historic relationship with the United Kingdom alongside fair and constructive regional engagement. For Bermudians, this approach opens avenues in employment, education, health cooperation, and regional leadership, converting shared history into purposeful advantage for the years ahead.
- Michael Scott, Former Attorney General
All of this word salad and not saying very much with it, a lawyer through and through.
The PLP has failed to give a comprehensive list of concrete, verifiable benefits and drawbacks of becoming a full CARICOM member. That is the key issue, which is still completely unresolved.
At this stage all we have is decision making with speculation fuelled by identity. That is not good governance, it’s just plain irresponsible.
‘Nuff said !
They don’t care. Their voting base will not complain and probably don’t even want to understand the pros and cons. They just fall in line to what the PLP say.
It’s clearly a done deal, with the highly paid jobs and travel perks already assigned.
“Better-ism” is not a word. Please learn basic English.
Why would we want to align ourselves with a bunch of penniless, disorganised countries a thousand miles away?
There is only one winner in this …. all those other countries!
We can’t afford this and thankfully the electorate sees that.
“Why would we want to align ourselves with a bunch of penniless, disorganised countries a thousand miles away?”
Because misery loves company?
We should not join Caricom for the same reasons Switzerland and Monaco have never joined the EU.