Attorney-General Kim Wilkerson told a parliamentary committee in Westminster yesterday that Bermuda would like a say in appointing the island’s governor.

Senate leader Ms Wilkerson, speaking via video link to the House of Lords Constitution Committee, responded to a question about how the relationship between Britain and the island could be improved.

“Bermuda certainly enjoys a high level of self-governance already and I believe we've made it clear that we are seeking more autonomy,” she said.

“One of the areas for improvement that we believe could be advanced is that a Bermudian representative should be on the panel that selects the governor.”

Ms Wilkerson, who is also the Minister of Justice, added: “When governors are deployed from the UK to the territories, I think an understanding of the culture in which they are coming to, the issues in that territory and for the territory to have some say about the compatibility of the governor for the territory would be beneficial and would be respectful.

“So that is one way in which we believe improvements could be made.”

Ms Wilkerson was one of five country representatives — the others were from Anguilla, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos — giving evidence to the committee, which is reviewing a joint 2023 declaration between Whitehall and the 14 British Overseas Territories.

The hour-and-a-half long hearing heard much frustration from the territories about their dealings with the British Government, with Anguilla’s representative, Blondell Cluff, describing Whitehall’s “civil service playbook” as “abusive at times”.

Ms Cluff, who was there in person, said the joint declaration, which was aimed at moving forward the relationship between the United Kingdom and the OTs, appeared to “have had little or no impact” and was not mentioned at the Joint Ministerial Council last year.

She said the guiding principle of “nothing about you without you” was “certainly not practised”. She later advised: “You do need to look at whether or not we are welcome within this family, because often we don't feel welcome.”

The territories were united in their wish for better dialogue with London, with Ms Wilkerson noting: “I think consultation — informed, mature, more respectful consultation — with the UK is certainly one of the desires of Bermuda …”

She mentioned specific areas where that was needed, touching on contentious topics such as financial transparency and cannabis legislation, and said the relationship needed to advance “towards the modern democracy and the partnership that we believe is the high line in the objectives of the joint declaration”.

The UK has insisted all the OTs must meet its deadlines for introducing public beneficial ownership registers in order to tackle illicit finance. David Burt, the Premier, has said Bermuda is already in full compliance with international standards.

Rena Lalgie, the former governor, reserved assent on the controversial Cannabis Licensing Act 2022, saying it was “inconsistent” with obligations held by the UK and Bermuda under UN Conventions.

Ms Cluff told the committee yesterday that the joint declaration acknowledged there should be more communication with the OTs when extending conventions or signing on to agreements that have an impact on them.

Several country representatives spoke of the need for an updated White Paper — an official policy document — with the last one published in 2012.

Ms Wilkerson agreed, calling for a “revised, modernised paper” to be used as the clear, guiding principle of the relationship between Britain and the OTs.

She said a new White Paper should prompt a review of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 and an assessment of whether it remained “fit for purpose and whether that genuinely reflects the territories as part of the UK family”.

The Attorney-General told the committee that Bermuda had a good relationship with Stephen Doughty, the Minister of State for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories.

“Certainly he's made his efforts to visit the territories; he was in Bermuda last year,” she said.

“I think making an effort to understand what our financial services sector looks like by being on the ground is important to us.”

She added that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office “does a good job in managing the OTs. Our recommendation was that the FCDO could be better resourced.

“We found that they are quite responsive but better resourced would improve that relationship.”

Ms Wilkerson mentioned the need for “parity” for British Overseas Territory citizen passport holders.

She also told the British peers that a priority for Bermuda was working with the FCDO on a “framework to engage further with the electorate on constitutional reform”.

She said: “Although Bermuda has one of the most advanced constitutions … among the overseas territories, like other OTs, like Anguilla, like the BVI, we are also, in order of priorities, seeking further constitutional autonomy and Bermuda is embarking on a process.”

Charles Misick, the Premier of Turks & Caicos, spoke of instability in near-neighbour Haiti and the impact of migration from that country.

Giving evidence via video link, he said: “Even with a settled government, I don't think that stability will come overnight and so we treat it … the same way you treat a chronic disease, a chronic non-communicable disease, except that this one may be communicable.”

Ms Wilkerson told the committee: “Given our geographical location, migration is not an issue for Bermuda.

“But certainly … we are paying attention to what is happening in the United States as it relates to its actions in other parts of the world, and so Bermuda is very much staying alert in that regard.”

The full public hearing yesterday can be viewed here.

The committee meets next Wednesday at 10.30am UK time, when representatives of St Helena, the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha are expected to give evidence.

• To read Bermuda’s written evidence for the Constitution Committee, see Related Media

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Bermuda evidence