Dear Sir,

Yesterday I attended a meeting at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s, which was organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, in connection with Bermuda considering full membership in the Caribbean community. In my opinion, the goal of this meeting was not to get input but rather a platform to promote its own agenda.

I don’t think, for one second, the Government panel had any interest whatsoever in the opinion of the people who attended; indeed, the panel provided their own questions; this went on for quite a while, until one attendee stood up and asked when the “audience” could ask questions.

The Government has put out a large information booklet entitled “The Story of Us ” – Green Paper on Bermuda’s Applicaton for Full Membership in the Caribbean Community, which I would urge every single Bermudian to read and study.

Bermuda is presently an “Associate Member”, along with solid countries such as Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Martinique and Turks and Caicos. However, Bermuda wants full membership to join 15 other Caribbean countries and you can read that list on page 8 of the booklet.

I would urge all Bermudians to turn to Page 11, under the heading “What is the CSME”, and the five banners at the bottom of the page. The one banner which caught my attention entitled, Free Movement of Skilled Persons, states the following: “Granting specific categories of workers with Caricom Skills Certificates, such as university graduates, artists, and media workers, the right to seek employment without a work permit”.

The Bermudian public has been assured that Bermuda would not allow freedom of movement within the Caribbean, yet this tells us the exact opposite. Bermuda would be inundated with workers wanting to move here as our wages are so much higher than in their own countries.

My last point is about the cost – think the figure of $2.5 million per annum for full membership was quoted; however, this will rise to more than $3 million per annum as the Bermuda Government representatives will have to attend meetings in the Caribbean on a regular basis. I can honestly suggest a few better ways to spend $3 million. For starters, we have so many homeless people who need help. Our roads are in a deplorable state and need money spent on them. Perhaps that money could go to some charities, who are in the front line to assist Bermudians in dire need of help.

If there was just one redeeming benefit to Bermudians in this proposal, I would wholeheartedly support this plan but, alas, there is not.

The fairest way forward surely is to have a referendum so all Bermudians can have a say in this suggested plan.

BRIDGET MARSHALL

Smith’s Parish