An opposition MP has questioned claims from the Government that it will consult the public before deciding whether Bermuda should become a full member of the Caribbean Community.

Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, spoke out after the ministry’s budget for the financial year was debated in the House of Assembly this week.

The Government responded last night that it remained on track with its plans, including consultation.

The Government’s Budget Book showed that one of the ministry’s goals this fiscal year is to complete comprehensive consultation on Caricom membership, “engage stakeholders and the public and deliver a White Paper for decision”.

Bermuda has been an associate member of the group since 2003.

Under parliamentary procedures, a White Paper putting forward a policy proposal is produced only after a Green Paper has been submitted laying out consultation guidelines, and after that consultation process is completed.

Mr Fahy raised the issue during the debate on Monday, when he asked Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, if there had been an error.

He said: “I think, based on the brief that the minister read, she made reference I think in the brief to a Green Paper, so I’m going to make the assumption that, in fact, it’s a misprint in the actual Budget Book.”

Mr Fahy added that he understood from the minister’s remarks that a draft membership agreement was in place “or has at least been exchanged” between the Government and Caricom.

He said that a draft membership agreement “would certainly suggest that a Green Paper is kind of a fait accompli in terms of what the Government's desires are”.

Mr Fahy said: “A Green Paper is to get opinions, to get input. But if, in fact, there is already a draft membership agreement for Caricom, it’s a bit strange.”

Ms Lightbourne replied: “Yes, it is an error. So, just to formally clarify that, it will be a Green Paper with a view to solicit the information from the Caricom secretariat, which is now still outstanding, but will also include the draft agreement, which is a standardised document that the Caricom secretariat provides to all who intend to seek Caricom membership.”

Mr Fahy also asked how much the initial phase of the project would cost.

He said: “I don’t see any specific line item necessarily for the costs that would be involved in both the Green Paper and eventual White Paper procedures. Again, that does not necessarily come cheaply.”

In response, Ms Lightbourne said: “In terms of the timeline, we are actually at the behest of the secretariat, and while we have made best efforts to engage with the office of the secretariat and express our desire to have better understanding of both the cost and the associated provisions that will be required of membership, we have not yet received that. It’s our intention to continue to seek the secretariat for our response.”

The Government’s intention to become a full member of Caricom was first mentioned in the 2023 Throne Speech, when it was said that a consultation process would be started.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette in March, David Burt, the Premier, maintained that pledge.

The One Bermuda Alliance has previously called for a referendum on the matter.

This week, Mr Fahy questioned whether full membership was a done deal.

He said: “During the debate they [the Government] said ‘we didn’t mean a White Paper, we meant a Green Paper’.

“There’s a big difference. That was interesting in that obviously they were jumping the gun when they published the Budget Book.

“What we’ve learnt is there will be a Green Paper this fiscal year. The minister was unable to share definitive timelines for what that looks like and couldn’t share any definitive timelines on an eventual White Paper.

“However, they have already requested a draft membership agreement from Caricom, and they’re waiting on the Caricom secretariat to send them a draft membership agreement.

“That leads to a whole raft of questions.

“It would appear that if you’re asking for a draft membership agreement, you’ve already made a decision, so the Green Paper and the White Paper — it’s a bit of a façade. It’s being used to have what I would probably say is pseudo-consultation.

“A decision is made, so it’s backing your way into consultation, but you’ve already made a decision. That’s how it came across.

“I think that’s a big thing, notwithstanding what the Premier says about they’re never going to accept freedom of movement of people — that’s a major goal of Caricom.

“If you’re going to be a full member, then take the good with the bad.”

Mr Burt said last year, after he travelled to Guyana to take part in the 46th Regular Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government, that it would be “incorrect to conclude that full membership means freedom of movement for citizens of other member states to Bermuda”.

He added then: “We recognise that this is a topical matter here at home, and to ensure clarity, freedom of movement does not automatically follow full membership.

“In fact, it has been stated on numerous occasions that many full members of Caricom do not participate in freedom of movement.

“Furthermore, specific agreements, negotiations and protocols are required, and it is not something the Government of Bermuda is contemplating, as Bermuda is too small to have open borders.”