Premier Alex Scott yesterday extolled the benefits of Bermuda?s membership of the Caribbean Community, as he gave a detailed report on his attendance at its Heads of Government?s annual meeting in St. Kitts.

But he questioned whether Bermuda would be well served by attending a UK-Caribbean Forum to be held in the United Kingdom next month.

Mr. Scott, who returned to the Island on Saturday, said Bermuda and Turks and Caicos, which are Associate Members of Caricom, were treated as full members, and given every opportunity to contribute at the regional meeting.

But he said he did not give a speech to the gathering of regional heads of state.

?I felt it important to listen and learn,? he said. ?Every opportunity to lay the groundwork for future associations that will benefit Bermuda was taken full advantage of,? he said.

Caricom had a vision that was ?far reaching in scope and Bermuda will be the benefactor from whatever association we may choose to have?, the Premier added.

?It is my intention, starting today, to establish an understanding here in Bermuda of the nature and worthiness of the Caricom community as an important regional partner.?

On the agenda in St. Kitts were the situation in Haiti, the 2007 Cricket World Cup Series, US-Caricom relations, HIV/AIDS and regional transportation issues.

He noted that the heads of Government continued discussions on a proposal to form a regional airline network, to include the carrier BWIA and discussed the state of Caribbean airline LIAT.

?I mention this issue because both airlines have expressed interest in a route to Bermuda,? the Premier said.

He said a report on crime and security was presented as a follow up to regional meetings and meetings between the UK Government and Caricom.

?They will again be the subject of the UK-Caribbean Forum in the United Kingdom in May, 2004, and the meeting with US Homeland Security,? he said.

?I might insert here that while the UK Government has extended an invitation to participate as an observer in the May, 2004, forum it would appear, unlike the treatment we were afforded at Caricom, that Bermuda would be relegated to sitting as an appendage to the actual meeting and it is questionable what role we might be assigned if we were to attend. So, we are wondering out loud whether it is in the interest of Bermuda to be there.?

At question time he said the matter would be brought up for Cabinet consideration.

He said the meeting noted that Bermuda was the first to send in a bid to host the 2007 World Cup Series, and that the Island was appointed, with other bidders, to a committee on the event.

The meeting also addressed external trade negotiations, and that Caricom had committed to relaunching negotiations with the World Trade Organisation (WTO),? Mr. Scott reported.

?In so doing, the region would review its strategies, in order to continue the pursuit of its priorities, such as special and differential treatment for smaller economies.?

Mr. Scott noted Finance Minister Paula Cox was exploring WTO membership.

And he said the heads of Government had recommitted themselves to a campaign to make Trinidad and Tobago the permanent headquarters of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) secretariat.

?I include this reference to FTAA to demonstrate how regional support of these Caricom nations can be sustained when backing the candidacy of a member nation or a country,? the Premier continued.

?There may come a time when we as a country will appreciate the support of the 16 members of Caricom... no man or island is an island in international circles.?