Town Hall Held On Potential CARICOM Membership
Minister Alexa Lightbourne led a public town hall at St. Paul’s Centennial Church Hall as part of Bermuda’s ongoing consultation on a Green Paper exploring the island’s potential full membership in CARICOM.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, hosted a public town hall last evening as part of the Government of Bermuda’s ongoing consultation on the Green Paper proposing Bermuda’s full membership in the Caribbean Community [CARICOM].
“More than 80 members of the public gathered at St. Paul’s Centennial Church Hall for a structured panel discussion on what full CARICOM membership could mean for Bermuda’s future.
“Panellists included Minister Lightbourne, MP Chris Famous, and former Attorney General and legal practitioner Phil Perinchief. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dana Selassie.
“The town hall provided an open forum for attendees to ask questions, raise concerns, and share feedback directly with the Minister and technical officers from the Ministry.
“The evening’s discussion drew on key content from the Green Paper, including what would remain unchanged under full membership, the potential opportunities available to Bermuda, and how public input will inform future Government considerations.
“Participants received clear assurances on sovereignty and policy control. Bermuda would retain full authority over its immigration policies under full CARICOM membership, with no automatic right for CARICOM nationals to live or work in Bermuda. The work permit system and Bermuda’s financial services regulatory framework would remain fully protected.
“The panel also outlined the potential benefits of full membership: access to regional food security initiatives, stronger supply chain coordination, regional health cooperation, disaster preparedness through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency [CDEMA], and greater representation in international negotiations where Bermuda currently has no formal seat.
“The Green Paper is a consultation document. Its purpose is to invite Bermudians to weigh whether moving from Associate to Full CARICOM Membership could better position the island to address shared regional challenges, including rising food costs, workforce pressures, and climate and disaster vulnerability.
Minister Lightbourne said, “This process is about listening. Our responsibility as a Government is to ensure Bermudians have clear, factual information and a genuine opportunity to share their views, whether they support full CARICOM membership, have concerns about it, or remain undecided.
“Last evening’s discussion reflected the full range of perspectives in our community, and that diversity of opinion is both healthy and necessary. Full membership is not about giving anything up or rushing toward a conclusion. It is about carefully and responsibly considering whether having a vote and a voice at regional decision-making tables better serves Bermuda’s long-term interests. This Green Paper process exists so that the people of Bermuda can help shape what comes next.”
A Government spokesperson added, “The Minister thanked all attendees for their participation and encouraged continued engagement throughout the consultation period. Bermudians are invited to read the Green Paper, attend upcoming town hall meetings, complete the public survey, and submit questions and feedback online.
“Further information on the consultation process is available at TogetherForCaricom.gov.bm”
It truly is mind-boggling how despite these town hall meetings, “green paper” (because it’s mostly a propaganda manifesto more than a green paper) and the like, Minister Goggles and the rest of the PLP cannot offer a single comprehensive and fact-based list of potential benefits AND drawbacks of full CARICOM membership.
This government seems to be more concerned with the “Story of Us” is some wishy-washy idealistic sense where identity is a panacea for all Bermuda’s issues.
They should be far more concerned with the “Reality of Us”. The fact of the matter is that Caricom will not solve our ageing and declining population, cost of living, our potholed, ailing infrastructure and looming rising costs of healthcare. This is all a huge distraction from reality.
It’s clear the PLP have already decided to have Bermuda join as a full member. These are merely shows put on to try and show they want public input. They are politicians so only understand bureaucracy and how they can get their share of the financial benefits. Titles, committees and lots of travel.
I agree. Get on board little children get on board. The train to St. Davids is a coming…..
“Panellists included Minister Lightbourne, MP Chris Famous, and former Attorney General and legal practitioner Phil Perinchief.”
All current or former PLP members, so no balance in the discussion.
How much “security” was present in case someone like me asked an awkward question?
After watching the town hall meeting on CARICOM, I left disappointed. As someone who was genuinely interested in learning more, I found it to be a poor use of time.
The public needs facts, not emotional appeals or fearmongering. That approach does not help people make informed decisions.
Government, please remember that you are accountable to the people. We need clear information on how Bermuda would benefit, whether we have fully used our existing associate membership benefits, what the actual costs are, and what the wider implications would be.
We understand the cultural ties, but that alone is not enough. The public deserves meaningful, factual information in order to make an informed decision.
“The public needs facts, not emotional appeals or fearmongering”
That would be contrary to the PLP plan for remaining in power.
No real benefit in all of what has been circulated …but is there a benefit for plp Exec and their FF , come on Bermuda the plp have never pushed for any initiative unless it benefitted their circle
Lots of people were ready to stand behind you and let you take the first bullet. Come on man. Ya got friends. You don’t need security.
These “town hall” meetings are all smoke and mirrors, so the government can say the meetings were held for public input and the government “listened.” The decision has already been made.
What most people are not talking about is that a significant portion of the population within CARICOM countries lives in poverty and does not fully benefit from the organization. For instance, the average resident of Haiti and Jamaica often cannot afford to take two trips a year to the United States or maintain a high standard of living. Notably, Trinidad and Tobago, once the wealthiest member due to its natural resources, has officially exited CARICOM. Please let me know if I am wrong!
As someone with ancestral ties to St. Kitts and being black, I understand the historical context. However, it is crucial to recognize that Bermudians should not be categorized in the same manner as other Caribbean nations. Geographically, Bermuda is not located in the Caribbean, and culturally, we have distinct identities and upbringing, especially in terms of manners.
We need clarity on several issues, such as why is our Associate Membership in CARICOM not good enough. How will this affect our visa-free access to the United States, especially considering that almost all CARICOM nations face restrictions on visa renewals? What are the tangible benefits of membership? A referendum should be conducted to determine if the majority of Bermudians support full membership. Only if there is substantial support should we consider proceeding. I hope this matter is reconsidered, as I currently do not perceive significant benefits.
Town hall is a waste of time, trying to act like they are listening lol, I hope you all know the decision is already made. Lol
I walked away from the recent CARICOM Town Hall with the same feeling many of you did: zero “Information Gain.”
While Minister Lightbourne spoke passionately about “cultural ties” and “having a seat at the table,” we are still missing the concrete evidence required to justify such a significant shift in Bermuda’s status.
Here is why the current pitch isn’t landing:
The Cost-Benefit Gap: We’re looking at a membership fee of roughly $2 million annually. In a climate where our domestic infrastructure—from our roads to our schools—needs urgent investment, we need to know exactly how this “investment” pays us back.
Redundancy: Most of the benefits mentioned (health cooperation and disaster relief) are already available to us as an Associate Member. Why pay more for a “vote” that hasn’t been proven to impact our bottom line?
Vague Goals vs. Hard Realities: Cultural ties are wonderful, but they can be built through the arts, sports, and tourism without a formal political merger. We haven’t heard a single “trigger event” or economic crisis that only full CARICOM membership can solve.
We don’t need more “stories of us”—we need an Economic Impact Study. Until the Government provides clear, data-driven proof that this move lowers our cost of living or strengthens our economy, we are being asked to sign a contract without reading the fine print.
Be careful Bermuda. The PLP knows that a referendum will fail, the people don’t want this.
Which is why they will look to implement Caricom without one, ignoring the will of the people.
Starting to feel like we live in America.
Why on earth was Famous on this panel, we all know he’s just a “one trick pony”