Bermuda CARICOM question: Opposition OBA wants decision put to voters

The main opposition in Bermuda, One Bermuda Alliance (OBA), is urging the government to put any move toward full membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to a public referendum, insisting that Bermudians must be given clear information and a direct say before any final decision is made.

Shadow Minister of Home and Community Affairs Dwayne Robinson said the issue was not about rejecting regional ties, but about ensuring transparency and clarity on what full membership would mean in practice.

“Let me be clear. This is not about rejecting the Caribbean. It is well known that many Bermudian families, including my own, share cultural, sporting, historical, and community ties across the region,” Robinson said in a statement.

He said those links should be respected and strengthened, but argued that cultural connection is distinct from full institutional membership.

“The question before Bermuda is practical. What does it cost? How will our Government navigate the current geo-political climate within the Caribbean region? What new benefits would Bermudians receive that we do not already have as an Associate Member?” he said.

Robinson said the OBA believes Bermuda’s current status as an associate member remains the most appropriate arrangement, arguing it allows the territory to maintain regional relationships while protecting its constitutional and economic framework.

He also questioned whether Bermudians would benefit significantly from full membership, and warned of potential constraints linked to Bermuda’s constitutional status as a British Overseas Territory.

“Bermuda would face many restrictions as a full CARICOM member because we are still an overseas territory of the United Kingdom,” he said, adding that this could require abstaining from certain decisions while still contributing financially.

Robinson further pressed the government to clarify costs, saying public concerns over living expenses meant any new commitments must be carefully justified.

“If the government wants Bermuda to take on new obligations, it must show the public what we will receive in return in clear, measurable terms,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, meanwhile, defended the government’s consultation process, saying extensive public engagement had already taken place and that all concerns raised would be addressed in a forthcoming White Paper.

“Bermuda, you shared your views, filled Centennial Hall, St James Church Hall, and Penno’s Wharf,” she said, noting participation through public meetings and an online survey.

She said issues raised included cost, timing, and concerns about border policy implications, adding that the government was compiling consultation findings alongside input from the United Kingdom and discussions with the CARICOM Secretariat.

Lightbourne said the government’s approach was driven by broader economic pressures facing Bermudians.

“For most of us, CARICOM is not the issue keeping us awake at night. The cost of living, the price of groceries, healthcare expenses and finding affordable housing are where many are focused,” she said.

She added that regional integration was being considered as one of several possible tools to strengthen Bermuda’s long-term resilience, not as a solution to immediate domestic challenges.

Describing the decision as a strategic crossroads, Lightbourne said Bermuda must weigh whether deeper regional partnerships could deliver new opportunities without compromising its identity.

Robinson, however, warned that full membership could bring limited influence under Bermuda’s current constitutional arrangements, arguing that the territory would have reduced voting power while still bearing costs.

He also accused the government of failing to provide consistent estimates, saying earlier figures had shifted during the consultation process.

“This is not fearmongering. It is responsible scrutiny,” he said.

Lightbourne responded by framing the debate in broader historical terms, pointing to Bermuda’s tradition of political evolution and self-determination.

“Progress is in our name because progress is the assignment,” she said, adding that Bermudians have long demonstrated a willingness to consider new ideas when they believe those ideas serve the national interest.

caribbeannationalweekly.com