(CMC) -The Bermuda government says it will hold two additional public consultations regarding the island’s moves towards membership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Home Affairs Minister, Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, said that the sessions will take place on May 14 and May 19 following earlier consultation events and are designed to bring the conversation directly to communities in the West End and East End of the island.
She said that the meetings build on the existing conversation related to CARICOM which the Ministry launched alongside a Green Paper, an online public survey, and a series of targeted stakeholder discussions spanning youth groups, community organisations, the education sector, the public and private sectors, unions, and healthcare.
The Green Paper outlines several areas where strengthened CARICOM engagement could deliver tangible benefits for Bermuda including expanded economic access to regional markets, trade, and investment; enhanced food security through stronger regional supply chains and resilience against global disruption; workforce mobility and skills exchange to support economic growth and opportunity for Bermudians; and deeper regional partnerships in climate resilience, disaster response, and shared services.
In November 2023, the David Burt Government announced that it was moving ahead with plans to join CARICOM following approval from the United Kingdom to do so.
But in July last year, Michael Fahy, the shadow minister of home affairs, called for a referendum to be held before Bermuda seeks full membership of CARICOM.
