David Burt, attending what could be his final Joint Ministerial Council in London as Premier of Bermuda, has said that the Overseas Territories were adamant that the British Government needed to take a more realistic view of its responsibilities for their internal security.

Mr Burt told The Royal Gazette: “We are not dealing with European-style crime. We are dealing with American-style crime — I term them community terrorists — and we must deal with these matters. I think the message has been heard.”

He said: “The Overseas Territories are resolute in the fact that we believe that the UK Government is not doing enough on internal security, and that they need to take a different posture on the Overseas Territories.”

Mr Burt added: “I made the point that the UK would not ever allow some of what has taken place in some of the Caribbean OTs to take place in a Gibraltar or a Jersey, which is right next to their shores.

“They do understand and recognise that there is more to be done, and I actually do believe they are hearing the message coming from the Overseas Territories.”

The talks have been hosted this week by Stephen Doughty, the Minister of State for the Overseas Territories, with leaders and representatives from 13 territories to “set priorities for the year ahead, and hear their unique perspectives on how best to enhance our relationship to deliver greater security and prosperity”.

Mr Burt emphasised that the Bermuda Government carried its own weight in terms of funding for its policing and security resources.

He added: “The challenge is getting the actual human resources and other resources.

“The other day we had another Governor’s Council meeting. There was a request for additional matters related to police radar, which needed to be replaced. Those matters were approved immediately.

“Funding is not the issue. It’s the fact that operations and implementation of internal security are not matters for the Government. Those are matters for the UK Government and Government House.”

Mr Burt said another, unspecified OT leader has described a scenario that was “very challenging for him — to be in charge of a jurisdiction where they have significant issues with crime and violence, and it seems the UK is not putting its eye on the ball”.

While Mr Burt said Bermuda came with “a unique constitutional set-up” in comparison with Britain’s other territories abroad, its affairs remained within the British purview.

“We have a higher degree of self-governing than other countries, but we are not self-governing,” the Premier said.

He added: “The reality that Bermudians must understand is that ‘Overseas Territory’ is a new and fancy term for a colony. It’s all semantics.

“Nothing has changed insofar as the nature of the relationship.”

The Premier said that part of the JMC talks revolved around “whether or not the UK Government is comfortable with the relationship, do they wish that relationship to evolve or do they see us being here in the same place in the next 50 years”.

He added: “That’s a discussion we believe needs to be had.”

Mr Burt said that Whitehall had put it to the Overseas Territories to discuss and “revert”.

He explained: “The reality is, there are other jurisdictions, and all of them do not have the privileges that Bermuda does.

“The question is, from the UK perspective, whether or not they are prepared to countenance more rights, more internal self-government for the other territories, other than Bermuda.”

Mr Burt said he believed Bermuda had sent the smallest delegation to London for the talks out of the Caribbean Overseas Territories.

He added that part of the trip’s value came with separate talks, such as being able to address the Bermuda Business Development Agency’s forum, where the Premier delivered the opening remarks.

The beneficial ownership registers of several OTs, including Bermuda, came up in conversations.

Mr Burt said: “It is unfortunate the UK Government continues to bang this drum of beneficial ownership.”

He said the island was in full compliance with international standards, with a commitment for a register of beneficial ownership that would be “accessible to persons with legitimate interests by June 2026”.

“The Bermuda Government is going to move in line with international standards and not in line with UK dictates.”

Mr Burt added: “I do not believe it serves any of the purposes of the citizens who vote for us to continue to spend as much time on this topic as we have.”

He acknowledged that his visit this time as the Premier would likely be his last.

“That’s my expectation,” he said. “The JMC is typically in November. I leave office in October 2026.”

Mr Burt said that the next round of talks may come earlier next year, to coincide with the Commonwealth Games in July 2026.

However, he added: “I did make sure that I said my suitable goodbyes to everyone.”