Residents have been urged by a One Bermuda Alliance MP to demand a referendum on full membership of Caricom after the Premier confirmed that there is no intention to put the question to voters.

Michael Fahy, the shadow home affairs minister, insisted that his party believed the people of Bermuda should determine the matter.

A government spokeswoman responded that public outreach on the matter was continuing — and that neither “the timeline nor the manner of public engagement will be set by the Opposition”.

Mr Fahy’s comments came after Linda Smith asked questions in the House of Assembly last week, when the OBA MP told members that she took part in a telephone survey that sought feedback from respondents about whether they agreed with suggested benefits of full membership in the Caribbean Community.

She added: “The survey also asked whether participants feel that Caricom membership should be decided by a referendum and my question is, what are the plans for the participatory consultation on this?”

David Burt, the Premier, replied on Friday: “When the consultation begins, those plans will be revealed but I can share with the honourable member, as I said numerous times in this House, this will not be going to referendum.

“It will be decided by the people’s elected representatives right here in this House.”

Mr Fahy said later that the statement was “unequivocal” and that “this was admitted only after questions were posed by my colleague”.

He added: “There will be no referendum on Caricom.

“This is incredible. As yet there has been no Green Paper released which should reveal the pros and cons of Bermuda joining Caricom.

“There has been no real information provided to Bermudians at all on why this is being pursued.

“The Government continues to rely on their failure to obtain a draft agreement from the Caricom Secretariat as a reason for the lack of information.

“The whole matter has been mishandled and lacks transparency.

“The OBA remains of the view that a referendum is necessary to allow the people of Bermuda to decide. We have been clear on this for some time.

“We urge the community to speak with their MP to demand a referendum.”

Ms Smith told MPs on Friday: “The survey especially listed the following suggested benefits: expansion of economic and trade opportunities, greater energy alternatives, stronger food supply, better security, human development, environmental co-ordination, health and security, digital economy, university opportunities, and cultural opportunities.

“Participants were asked to rate their agreement to those suggestions.

“Now, given that the public has really been given no formal information on the cost, benefits or risks of Caricom, the questions did seem to me pretty premature.”

She asked what the Government’s plan was and a timeline for public awareness around the topic of full membership.

The Premier responded then that the administration awaited feedback from Britain.

He added: “We still intend on publishing the document but we’re not going to publish the document until we have the complete information.”

Ms Smith asked how data from the survey will be used “as part of the whole informational campaign”.

Mr Burt said that he could not answer a hypothetical question but added: “I’m certain that what will happen is that we will have a full and robust consultation as has been promised in the Throne Speech.”

The government spokeswoman insisted this week that the public had been kept apprised.

She said the Ministry of Home Affairs had “led direct outreach with key stakeholders and community partners to share information, hear perspectives and identify the issues that require further work”.

The spokeswoman said the views raised would guide the next phase of public engagement, with the Opposition also to be consulted.

She pointed out that Caricom-related questions were included in quarterly omnibus survey, with the feedback shaping “further outreach and communications”.

“The Premier again set out the Government’s position during Premier’s question time at Friday’s sitting of the House of Assembly, and the Minister of Home Affairs addressed Caricom during the motion to adjourn.”

She called it “irresponsible” to imply that the public had been given less than “the fullest possible suite of information”.

“Bermuda is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, and so by definition the UK Government’s views on key elements of the proposal for full membership are required.

“At every stage, the Government will keep the people updated as to the progress on this area.”

Pursuit of full Caricom membership surfaced in the 2023 Speech from the Throne.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in October that it was “working towards finalising its Caricom discussion document” ahead of “formal awareness efforts” that were scheduled to start last month.

Anticipated benefits of changing to full membership, as well as costs, were expected to be included in the document.

However, November came to a close without the release of a discussion paper and with no further information made public by the Government on an awareness campaign.

Caricom is an intergovernmental organisation with 15 full member-states, all in and around the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Bermuda, along with four other British Overseas Territories, and the Dutch island of Curaçao, is an associate member.