HAMILTON, Bermuda - Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban says joining organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will help Bermuda represent its interests better internationally and build important relationships.
Deputy Premier and Home Affairs Minister Walton Roban (Right) in interview with Royal Gazette reporter Jeremey Deacon (Royal Gazette video)Roban, who has had CARICOM put under his remit after a change in ministerial responsibilities , said “I believe that the Bermuda we are in now is very different from 20 years ago. The world around us is very much changed, even though we remain an overseas territory.
“Bermuda now is a very mature island community with a very maturely developed economy that is international in nature,” he said in an interview with the Royal Gazette newspaper.
He said as a result, Bermuda now found itself reaching out further than it has ever done, noting that a good example was Premier David Burt’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to cultivate business relationships.
“This would’ve been unheard of in the 1980s and certainly in the 1960s. And in fact, it might’ve been just over a decade ago, this was not something that would’ve been thought about.”
“Some of these relationships can be much better handled as part of larger international bodies that are respected. We know that if we’re a part of this body and we are in this part of the world, then our voice can be much more easily heard than if we’re alone.
“So part of this is an effort to realise the world that we live in and that we need to build relationships and have solid relationships with global bodies, with global organisations that can help us to best represent our interests.”
The government has said that London has “expressed support for Bermuda making an application” to join CARICOM as a full member.
Government said before any steps can be taken, Britain has to grant Bermuda a Letter of Entrustment, which was granted when the island became a CARICOM Associate member.
Roban said the process of full membership has not been spelt out and that “persons at the highest level of the CARICOM Secretariat” require as a first step, a copy of the letter from the UK government “so that all the information that would answer your question and any of our questions can be dispensed to us”.
“Until we get that Entrustment from the British, I cannot even receive any information from CARICOM,” Roban told the newspaper.
Bermuda became an Associate Member in July 2003. It is one of five Associate Members of CARICOM, the others being, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In November, Governor Rena Lalgie, delivering the traditional Throne Speech setting out the government priorities for the year, said ”the vision of former Premier…. Dame Jennifer Smith, was for Bermuda to strengthen the historic, familial, and cultural ties to the Caribbean.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of Bermuda’s entry into CARICOM as Associate Member. In this anniversary year, the Government will renew the vision of Dame Jennifer, initiating a consultation process leading to full membership in CARICOM”.
Roban acknowledged that since the announcement, some Bermudians, incluing former premier Sir John Swan, have spoken out against full CARICOM membership, but rejected the notion that the government has been placed on the back foot as a result.
“We were transparent of our intentions from the beginning and the Throne Speech is where this should happen, and we did it there. The fact that some people have some contrary opinions to that, that’s their business.”
