A poll of residents showed that Bermudians are “actively interested” in talks about the island’s potential deeper involvement in Caricom, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

The Government was “encouraged by the continued level of public engagement” on the topic of the island’s pursuit of full membership of the Caribbean Community.

It came after The Royal Gazette commissioned Narrative Research Bermuda to conduct a telephone-based questionnaire with a sample of 400 Bermuda residents.

Findings showed that 42 per cent of those surveyed supported full Caricom membership, 24 per cent were completely opposed, 21 per cent were somewhat against it and 13 per cent were unsure.

The results also demonstrated that 81 per cent of respondents supported a referendum on the issue — 2 per cent lower than the volume of those who supported it in a survey last year.

The home affairs ministry spokeswoman said: “While the results provide valuable insight into public sentiment, it would be inappropriate for the Government to speculate or make assumptions about the views or decision-making of individuals or demographic groups based solely on polling data.

“Public opinion on complex national issues is shaped by a wide range of factors, including personal experiences, economic considerations, individual priorities and differing perspectives on Bermuda’s future.”

She noted that residents have voiced a number of views on the topic through town halls, other surveys, stakeholder discussions and in writing.

The spokeswoman explained: “Different perspectives on an issue of this significance are neither unexpected nor unwelcome — indeed, they reinforce why the Government undertook a public consultation before making any decision.”

She said the consultation allowed Bermudians to “ask questions, challenge assumptions and help shape the national conversation”.

The spokeswoman added: “It has also shown that many people are seeking additional information about what full Caricom membership would and would not mean for Bermuda.”

A Green Paper published in March highlighted benefits for full membership, from cheaper everyday essentials to business connections and a White Paper is to follow.

The ministry spokeswoman noted that the Premier and Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, participated in the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom in St Lucia last week.

“Their engagement with regional leaders provided a valuable opportunity to discuss matters relevant to Bermuda’s consideration of full membership, gain further insight into the governance and operations of the community and ensure that Bermuda’s assessment is informed by the most current and comprehensive information available,” the spokeswoman said.

“This engagement forms part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the forthcoming White Paper provides Bermudians with the detailed facts and analysis necessary for informed decision-making.”