A call was made by East End residents for more time for consultation before Bermuda applies for full membership of the Caribbean Community.

While some residents questioned the timing of the island joining the regional organisation, some said the move could bring economic benefits, and at least two attendees opposed the move.

It came during a third town hall meeting that took place at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s last night.

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, acknowledged the input of attendees at the forum.

She said: “This is what this conversation is seeking to bear out … what I hear in the room is not now and the Government is seeking to act on behalf of those who are represented in the room and our community.

“If the community is saying not now, that means not now to what is represented as part of the Caricom secretariat and its objectives and its initiatives.”

A resident who works in the shipping industry, spoke of the benefits of trade by Bermudians with the Caribbean.

However, he said there was need for more discussions on Caricom membership across the island, a sentiment that was shared by others in the room.

He said: “The bogeyman stories have to stop because there are a lot of people in Bermuda who are making hundreds of millions from the Caribbean.

“The Caribbean is not as bad as most people think … I think more consultations need to happen and more transparency.

“Because the message is not clearly getting through from listening to this room tonight … I just want you all to look at it because we all live here.”

He noted that there are entities on the island, such as a Front Street bank, whose operations originate in the Caribbean.

Erica Smith, the executive director of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, and Michael Scott, the former attorney-general and government MP, were the other panellists at the forum, which drew more than 50 attendees.

A woman who raised concerns about the annual $2.8 million fee the island will pay to join the regional organisation with full membership said the Caricom member states are struggling among themselves in addressing relations with the United States.

She said this was “because they are all trying to work out their deals with the US to financially secure themselves”.

“Is this a wise decision … to make this move now?” she asked, as others murmured their answers in low tones.

Ms Lightbourne said the US has signalled the importance of Caricom in its interests.

Citing the visit of Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, to a recent Caricom forum, she said Washington is seeking to engage non-traditional trading partners, adding that there are “meaningful” conversations that happen behind the scenes.

Another resident said “a lot of people have a negative attitude about the islands in the Caribbean … that’s a reality that is out there and we have to overcome that”.

Ms Ligthbourne said while some shared that view of the Caribbean, “we are not that different, not at all”.

Kristin White, an East End businesswoman, noted the benefits, such as education as mentioned in the Green Paper, which the Government listed among the benefits of joining Caricom.

She said while she is in support of Bermuda exploring the benefits of joining the organisation, she was concerned the Government had an opportunity in the past to address education reform without full membership of Caricom.

A Green Paper, The Story of Us, on the Government’s move towards full Caricom membership was published in March and remains open for consultation.