Caricom Membership

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about the Government’s commitment to pursue full Caricom Membership.

Mr. Speaker, Bermuda became an associate member of Caricom in July of 2003. The application for Associate Membership was announced by the PLP Government by Premier Jennifer Smith in 2002. It was then followed by a process of wide public consultation to obtain public comment and feedback. Over the past 20 years Bermuda has participated as an Associate Member.

Mr. Speaker, communications and discussions have already begun with Her Excellency the Governor by the Premier on Bermuda’s intention to make an application for full membership of the Caribbean Community commonly known as Caricom. The discussion was followed by an official written communication to Government House to begin the official process of consideration by the British Government.

On Thursday 17 November 2023, during a bi-lateral meeting at the FCDO with Mr. David Rutley, the issue of a future application for full membership to Caricom was raised by Premier Burt directly with Mr Rutley. Mr. Rutley, who described himself as a fan of Caricom and the leadership role it provides for Caribbean countries and is very familiar with the Caribbean region and its issues, expressed support for Bermuda making an application. He encouraged Bermuda to begin the process and offer which we will oblige. I will also state that the Governor was also at the meeting which included other senior members of the FCDO team that regularly deals with matters related to the Overseas Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to describe what benefits have been received by Bermuda through our Associate Membership. These include:

Health, The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) provided public health support during covid and continues to provide support and information on ongoing public health matters.

Leadership, Caricom members stood with Overseas Territories like Bermuda when the UK sought to impose beneficial ownership rules on us. Also, Caricom continues to support us with the challenge within the financial services and banking of de-risking by US and other small islands.

Disaster recovery, Caricom members support each other following natural disasters, especially hurricanes. Bermuda has benefitted from their support. We have also lent support to other Caricom members.

Education, we have reestablished the opportunity for Bermudians to benefit from the University of West Indies (UWI), a world class institution, at a lower cost than in other countries

Athletics, Bermudians fully engage with CARIFTA, an avenue to advance sporting excellence of our youth.

Cultural exchange, Bermuda participates in Carifesta and other regional cultural activities as an avenue for our artists and cultural advocates

Research, Bermuda has the opportunity to have access and support from the regions’ most capable experts in key fields who work on key Caricom agencies. This allows us to benefit from the island perspective.

Economy, Bermuda participates with other members of Caricom as a collective, to make representations on banking and investment at an international level (i.e., supporting the Bridgetown Initiative which targets the financing problem by creating more sources from which developing countries can borrow to mitigate and recover from the climate crisis)

Mr. Speaker, we are now researching and exploring all that is required to make a full application. The official discussions have begun with the United Kingdom as to whether an entrustment is required or merely an amendment to the existing entrustment. Also, we are determining what will be needed for us to facilitate a full application, what steps are required and what may be the points of negotiation we would need to initiate with the Caricom Secretariat. We are reaching out to the Secretariat to obtain all the required information for the application. We are also consulting with other full members of Caricom about our future application to get feedback and guidance.

Mr. Speaker, the discussions have already begun about the process of consultation that we will have with our citizens. As was the case in 2002-2003 we know there will be interest and we want to have discussions with our community about Caricom, how full membership will impact Bermuda, the steps to be taken and what the future may look like as a full member of the regional international organization.

Mr. Speaker, although there have been recent comments in the media about matters related to Caricom and Bermuda as a member, we desire for a fully informed and healthy discussion to be had with all interested parties. It is important that people be allowed to ask questions, participate in discussions, look at positives and negatives, and, importantly, to get the facts and answers they deserve. This is the environment that was created in 2003 before the application for Associate Membership was made. It will be done so again. Once we receive further information such as the feedback required from the UK Government, Caricom Secretariat and other relevant organisations, the public will hear early in the New Year about the public consultation process. Our tasks now are to acquire all the information we need so we can be properly informed and have the relevant conversation with the Bermuda public.

Mr. Speaker, I must state emphatically that when it comes to our financial services, insurance and reinsurance industries, we must continue our strong relationships with North America, UK and Europe. It also needs be understood that, as a small island state, we identify and share the same characteristics with our family in the Caribbean. Right now, when it comes to issues around climate change, energy transition and environment, we stand with the Caribbean region, in purpose and experience. We are all challenged with the issues related to expensive polluting fossil fuels.

Mr. Speaker, we are already imbedded in organizations in the Caribbean such as The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) and the CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) in relation to advancing greater food security. We regularly work together with other islands on internal crime and security issues, and our legislative and regulatory models of the energy sector are similar to those established in the Caribbean region. We are using similar experiences to shape our regulations of fuels to control and regulate fuel costs. It should be noted that when fuels are priced globally, we are grouped with the Caribbean. We are strengthening our connections related to trade with the region. Many of the commercial services we enjoy in Bermuda are grouped with the wider Caribbean region.

Mr. Speaker, let us address the elephant in the room. This being the issue of immigration and free movement of labour. There have been comments made in the public that full membership of Caricom means mandatory requirements for us to have open borders to Caricom citizens. This is false Mr. Speaker.

Being a full member of Caricom actually allows Bermuda to have a voice and vote on matters of policy addressed by Caricom that impact the whole region, particularly the issue around correspondent banking and de-risking. As of now, the CARICOM members who have opted out of the free movement of labour are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Haiti, and Montserrat. These countries have not signed or ratified the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, which is one of the nine protocols that amend the Treaty of Chaguaramas to establish the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Therefore, they are not legally bound to grant the right of establishment, provision of services, or movement of capital to CARICOM nationals. However, they may still participate in other aspects of the CSME, such as trade in goods and services, and functional cooperation. Given Bermuda’s small size, I can already confirm that we would NOT accept the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons as a condition of membership. I must add we have not discussed or had sight to date of any conditions of membership set by Caricom, so such matters are to be determined.

Mr. Speaker, we must recognize that most Bermudians are inextricably linked to the Caribbean through people and culture. Bermuda’s history and connection goes back centuries with the region even before there was a United States of America, Canada or a European Union as we know it. Bermuda’s connection started with Caribbean from the beginning of settlement. Many Bermudian companies have established long-standing businesses in the Caribbean. We continue to have many of our workers in a variety of sectors coming from the Caribbean. Finally, the world is smaller, and we are directly and indirectly impacted by world events whether it is a war in Ukraine, a blockage of ships in the Suez, wildfires in Canada, or sandstorms from the Sahara.