Premier Jennifer Smith has announced that the issue of Bermuda becoming a member of Caricom is to be put to the House of Assembly after she was given the actual terms and conditions last week.

During a three-day UK/Caribbean Forum in Guyana, the Premier met with Caricom Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington and other senior members to discuss Bermuda's future with the organisation.

A statement by Government Information Services (GIS) said: "The Premier was able to meet with Caricom Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington and other members of the Caricom Secretariat. The meeting was most productive and resulted in a document outlining the terms and conditions of Bermuda's associate membership and the fee for said membership.

"The terms of the Bermuda Government associate membership covers the following areas: functional co-operation in health, education, crime, drug control and security, youth sport and culture.

"As members of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Bermuda will also continue to pursue co-operation to strengthen regional approaches to tourism and work on joint security will be continued through the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police."

And the statement said that now the Premier knew the actual terms and conditions attached to Bermuda's application for associate membership in Caricom, the matter would be laid before Parliament for the House of Assembly's approval.

The GIS statement said the whole Guyana forum had been successful, in that both the UK and the Caribbean delegates were satisfied with the achievements gained. Caribbean countries highlighted concerns of the region and both sides discussed options for assistance in a number of areas.

And Premier Smith, who was attending as a member of the UK delegation, spoke on both the topics of HIV/AIDS and culture.

During the forum, members agreed statements on the current Middle East conflict, "expressing their firm support for international efforts to bring an end to the occupation".

And they said they wanted to ensure that information between the UK and the Caribbean was systematically exchanged.

And while in Georgetown, Guyana, the statement said the Premier also took advantage of the opportunity to build on her relationships with Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw, Minister with Responsibility for Overseas Territories Valerie Amos, and former Minister for Overseas Territories and currently Minister of State in the Lord Chancellor's Department, Barroness Patricia Scotland.