OBA’s Fahy On Caricom, Letter & More
[Updated] “We look forward to reviewing the Green Paper which should set out the pros and cons of CARICOM membership to Bermuda,” OBA MP Michael Fahy said.
Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy said, “The OBA is pleased to receive confirmation that the Government remains committed to the publication of a Green Paper given that its own Budget Book suggests that none would be forthcoming.
“We look forward to reviewing the Green Paper which should set out the pros and cons of CARICOM membership to Bermuda. Given the Government has repeatedly said that consultation would occur upon receipt of a draft membership agreement, which makes little sense to us until there has been consultation, we must assume that a draft agreement will also be forthcoming.
“What is of major interest in the Letter of Entrustment [PDF] tabled by the Minister following parliamentary questions is that:
“1. A further Letter of Entrustment is required before a final full membership agreement is reached.
“2. The UK Government will not approve any agreement for full membership unless it is clear the Bermuda Government abstains on matters that have a direct bearing on external relations, defense or security and also disassociate themselves from any statement made by CARICOM on such matters. This is a major point, given the uncertainty of world events involving Bermuda’s largest trading partner.
“3. The UK reserves the right to overrule or amend any agreements if they conflict with other international obligations, commitments, or policies of the UK and that the UK must give prior approval to the signing of any agreement by Bermuda in regard to CARICOM.
“These facts have not been adequately publicized by the Bermuda Government to date. With that said it is hoped that these conditions are not used as an artificial wedge to drive an independence debate in the same way the cannabis debate brought levels of uncertainty on the Government’s intent.
“The world is rife with uncertainty and now is not the time to debate the pros and cons of independence. We trust the Government will keep its undertaking to present the pros and cons of full CARICOM membership and outline fully how such membership will be beneficial to Bermudians. Given the lack of take up of the scholarship opportunities at the University of West Indies it would appear there is a lot of work to do.
“Finally, we call on the Government to give a definitive timeline for the publication of a White Paper, draft legislation and commit to a referendum on full membership so that the final decision is not left to a chosen few in Parliament.”
Update 8.22pm: The Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs welcomes the Opposition’s stated support for the publication of the Green Paper on Bermuda’s transition to Full CARICOM Membership. The paper is forthcoming and is a substantive, evidence-based document prepared for the benefit of all Bermudians.
“On the question of the Budget Book performance measures: the figures cited by the Shadow Minister are outdated. On February 23, the Ministry submitted revised performance measures to the Budget Office. Those corrected figures were formally circulated to all Members of the House on February 26. The Shadow Minister was in receipt of the updated information before making his public statement. The suggestion that Government anticipates no progress on the CARICOM process or the Green Paper is factually incorrect.
“On the Letter of Entrustment: the Minister tabled this document in full precisely because transparency is the standard this Government holds itself to. The conditions the Shadow Minister now highlights are not concealed facts. They are the documented framework within which Bermuda operates as a British Overseas Territory. They have been publicly available since the Letter was tabled. The Green Paper addresses these constitutional arrangements directly and in plain language.
“The Ministry notes that the OBA Government itself engaged with CARICOM under analogous entrustment arrangements. This process has never been a partisan one. It is a question of Bermuda’s strategic interest, and this Government is determined to let Bermudians answer it on the basis of full information.
“On the White Paper: the Green Paper initiates the public consultation process. A White Paper will follow that consultation. The timeline for the White Paper will be determined by the quality and breadth of public engagement. Government will not compress that process in order to meet an artificial deadline. When the Green Paper is available to the public Bermudians are encouraged to read it, engage with it, and participate in the consultation that follows.”
