Opposition legislator calls for referendum on Bermuda’s CARICOM membership

Shadow Minister for Municipalities, Housing, and Home Affairs Michael Fahy is calling on the Government of Bermuda to commit to a referendum on the question of full CARICOM membership, citing the need for transparency, public input, and clarity on policy direction.

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During the most recent sitting of the House of Assembly, Fahy submitted a series of parliamentary questions to the Minister of Home Affairs seeking details on Bermuda’s plans for CARICOM integration. His questions focused on three key issues: the timeline for publishing a Green Paper on full CARICOM membership, the Government’s stance on the free movement of CARICOM nationals, and whether Bermudians would get a direct vote on the matter through a referendum.

In response, the Minister advised that:

• A Green Paper is expected in the first quarter of next year, pending receipt of a draft agreement from the CARICOM Secretariat.

• Free movement of CARICOM nationals is not under consideration by the Government.

• The issue of full membership will not be put to the public by referendum.

  

Fahy expressed concern about the Government’s position, arguing that the question of full membership has far-reaching implications for Bermuda’s economy, culture, immigration policy, and sovereignty.

“A referendum is essential to ensure that Bermudians have a say in this critical decision,” Fahy stated. “It is not a decision that should be left to Members of Parliament, especially where the Government will likely instruct its members to vote a certain way.”

Fahy questioned why the Government had previously solicited public opinion on lesser issues through surveys—such as updating signage laws and lowering the cost of living—yet was unwilling to engage the public directly on a matter of national significance.

He also criticized the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) for what he described as attacks on the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) for asking legitimate questions about CARICOM. “No one in the OBA is afraid of CARICOM,” he said. “What Bermudians should be afraid of is a government that cannot tell the difference between transparency and propaganda.”

The Shadow Minister pointed to what he sees as inconsistencies in the Government’s approach, highlighting that while the PLP supports closer ties with the Caribbean region, it has rejected any discussion of free movement—a central pillar of CARICOM’s integration goals outlined in Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Fahy suggested that limited free movement could help address Bermuda’s long-standing population and labour force challenges. “This must be explored, not rejected outright,” he said, adding that the PLP’s stance may be a factor in delays from the CARICOM Secretariat in delivering a draft membership agreement.

The OBA, he concluded, supports a process rooted in open debate and a full analysis of the pros and cons of joining CARICOM. “Our concern is with the process to date, which has been slow on details and fast on rhetoric.”