Five Governors from British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean met in Bermuda this week with Governor Sir John Vereker to discuss everything from disaster preparation to financial issues.

The subject of Independence was not broached, however, Sir John said last night.

“Curiously enough Independence did not come up,” he said.

The conference was about ways of working together rather than about individual countries. “Everyone knows what the situation is here,” Sir John added.

While Sunday was spent on the water and followed by a dinner at Verdmont, which the National Trust had kindly opened for their use, Sir John said Monday and Tuesday were packed with “intensive discussions” at Government House.

“We discussed matters of common interest... enhancing the way we work together,” he said.

The Constitutional review, currently underway further south (and not affecting Bermuda) was discussed, as well as mutual assistance arrangements between the islands.

For example, Sir John said officers from the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) have been deployed three times to help islands to the south - once for hurricane relief, once to investigate a crime and once to assist with some internal issues. The Regiment was also deployed this year for hurricane relief, he noted.

The Governors also shared lessons about disaster relief preparedness, where Bermuda fared well in comparison to the others.

“We're probably the most self-sufficient,” Sir John said.

Now the islands will concentrate on having the ability to deploy an extra-secure email link to an island in the path of a Category Five hurricane, as well as an extra pair of hands at the Government House of that island.

All the islands appear to be in the same position regarding international financial regulations and watchdogs, Sir John noted.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union, offshore regions savings tax, money laundering, and other financial oversight issues were all discussed.

Premier Alex Scott attended a reception at Government House with the Governors on Monday night, Sir John said. The Premier made a speech praising the conference.

Though admitting that, as host, it may be hard for him to judge the success of the conference, Sir John said he has chaired many such conferences in his time.

This one, he thought, was “well worthwhile”.

The subject of Independence for other British overseas territories is raised “every now and then”, Sir John said. The Governor of Turks and Caicos has indicated Independence is an “aspiration”, he added.