Consultation Process On Caricom Membership

The Government announced in the 2023 Throne Speech that they will be “initiating a consultation process leading to full membership in Caricom.”

The relevant extract stated, “The vision of former Premier, the Hon. 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 members. In this anniversary year, the Government will renew the vision of Dame Jennifer, initiating a consultation process leading to full membership in Caricom.”

Premier Burt at the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government earlier this year:

According to the Caricom website, “The Caribbean Community [CARICOM] is a grouping of twenty countries: fifteen Member States and five Associate Members. It is home to approximately sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30, and from the main ethnic groups of Indigenous Peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese. The Community is multi-lingual; with English as the major language complemented by French and Dutch and variations of these, as well as African and Asian expressions.

“Stretching from The Bahamas in the north to Suriname and Guyana in South America, CARICOM comprises states that are considered developing countries, and except for Belize, in Central America and Guyana and Suriname in South America, all Members and Associate Members are island states.

“While these states are all relatively small, both in terms of population and size, there is also great diversity with regards to geography and population as well as the levels of economic and social development.”

Screenshot from the previous Caricom site showing the member states: