HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — The Bermuda Government says any future relationship with the 15-member regional integration grouping, Caribbean Community (Caricom), will be carefully structured to preserve the island’s fundamental characteristics.

Home Affairs Minister, Alexa Lightbourne, said that administrative visa processing changes do not diminish the standing, dignity or value of countries.

She said language suggesting that such changes “downgrade” countries and their citizens is neither diplomatically appropriate nor reflective of the mutual respect that should characterise regional discourse.

Her statement comes in response to concerns about United States immigration restrictions affecting various Caribbean countries.

Earlier this week, Michael Fahy, the shadow minister of home affairs, urged that Bermuda adopt a cautious approach with regards to gaining full membership of Caricom after the United States limited immigration from almost every Caribbean Community country except Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

“The question is not whether regional co-operation has value,” said Fahy, adding that the question “is whether full membership in a bloc whose members have just been collectively downgraded by our most important economic partner serves Bermuda’s best interests at this time”.

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, Fahy called for a referendum to be held before Bermuda seeks full membership of Caricom and said he was seeking to determine the date on which a Green Paper would be published regarding full Caricom membership for Bermuda.

In his latest statement on the Caricom issue, Fahy said that while the recent announcement by Washington does not stop citizens of the 75 listed countries, including the Caribbean, from visiting the US, it reflected a “clear downgrading of their favourability status in the eyes in the US Government”.

“Whether you agree with or oppose the policy of the administration of the US president is beside the point. The reality is that this shift has occurred and Bermuda must now carefully and pragmatically assess its implications.”

Fahy said that good standing with the US greatly impacted Bermuda’s business and financial markets, as well as tourism and aviation to the island, adding that the relationship meant approaching Caricom membership with “extreme caution” and lending “thorough scrutiny” to any decision involving it.

He said that the US is one of Bermuda’s most important economic partners — and that joining the network as a full member during a time of international tension could risk the relationship.

But in her statement, Lightbourne said that Bermuda’s British Overseas Territory (OT) status, constitution and legal system, robust financial services regulatory framework, tax structure, and established bilateral relationships would remain.

“The suggestion that regional cooperation would compromise these foundational elements misunderstands how Bermuda would approach any such arrangement,” she said, adding “This Government and our ministry remain committed to thorough public consultation and transparent decision-making regarding Caricom”.

Lightbourne said that this includes assessment of economic implications, stakeholder engagement and ensuring Bermudians have access to accurate, complete information about what any regional relationship would and would not entail.

She said the Government’s first commitment is to protecting Bermuda’s economic interests and international reputation.

“Regional cooperation represents an opportunity, not a risk. Bermuda’s prosperity has always depended on strategic engagement with the wider world, not isolation from it.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to approach this matter with the careful consideration it deserves, grounded in evidence rather than speculation, and focused on Bermuda’s long-term strategic interests,” Lightbourne added.