David Burt assured the public that a move to full Caricom membership would not go ahead without consultation — but refused to be drawn on whether there would be a referendum on the issue when pressed by the Opposition.

The Premier was asked a series of questions by Jarion Richardson, the Opposition leader, on subjects ranging from independence to full Caricom membership in the House of Assembly on Friday.

At the start of parliamentary questions, Mr Richardson grilled Mr Burt on the Government’s position on independence, which the OBA leader claimed was “enshrined” in the Progressive Labour Party platform.

Mr Richardson said: “It is clear that independence is front of mind for this government yet it was excluded from the 2025 platform and the electorate has yet to see road maps, costings or consultation.

“What is this government’s actual plan to take Bermuda to independence, including what democratic mandate does it claim to act?”

Mr Burt switched the question to one of status and said that the PLP had always been against granting status to foreign nationals. He said the party would always reject the initiative “until Bermuda is able to confer citizenship as a sovereign nation”.

Asked by Mr Richardson what the Government had done to reverse the island’s population decline, Mr Burt said: “The Opposition’s position is that the granting of status to Permanent Resident’s Certificate holders will expand the population. That is a falsehood, which we have stated on numerous occasions.”

The Premier added: “The way to increase the populations who are living in Bermuda is to increase the number of jobs in Bermuda.”

On Caricom, Mr Richardson asked if the Premier would provide the terms of any full -membership agreement to a public vote before signing off on a deal.

Mr Burt said that any agreement would be shared with the House and voted on. He made no commitment to a public vote.

Last night Mr Richardson accused the Government of “blindfolded policymaking”.

He said: “Bermudians deserve to know what the Premier’s vision actually means.

“Nearly two years after floating the idea of full Caricom membership in the Throne Speech, the Government still can’t explain what it would cost or what we stand to gain. That’s unacceptable.

“We don’t oppose integration but we do oppose being asked to make generational decisions without transparency, data or a democratic mandate.”

Mr Burt told The Royal Gazette during his attendance at the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Jamaica last week that he would wait until the draft membership agreement was signed before discussing subjects such as full membership and its potential costs. He said its signing was imminent.

Mr Richardson applauded party colleague Michael Fahy for raising the issue, and highlighting the negatives and positives of Caricom membership.

Mr Richardson said: “MP Fahy was right to say that Bermuda must grow its working population and that origin shouldn’t matter, but he also rightly asked, ‘at what cost?’.

“That’s the question we keep putting to the Premier and the question he keeps dodging.

“We call on the Government to do two things. First, publish a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis on full Caricom membership.

“Second, commit to putting any proposal to a public vote before making binding decisions.

“Until then, the OBA will continue asking the questions the public deserves answered and we welcome other community voices to do the same.”