Six out of 11 entities consulted about Bermuda’s pursuit of full Caricom membership were in favour of it, according to the Government’s Green Paper on the plan.

They included the West Indian Federation of Bermuda (WIAB), the Bermuda Credit Union and Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), with the latter identifying the Caribbean Single Market and Economy as the “primary mechanism through which entrepreneurial benefits would flow”.

However, “many organisations” consulted by the Ministry of Home Affairs before the Green Paper was published, including from the international business sector, declined to give feedback until after its release.

Home affairs minister Alexa Lightbourne released the 62-page Green Paper on Monday, highlighting at length the historical links between the island and the Caribbean and insisting full membership would enable social issues here to be tackled better.

“Our shared values and similar community structures mean that Caribbean regional efforts in education, social policy and community development are more likely to succeed at home,” the paper stated.

“We can solve problems for societies that look, think and act like our own.”

The Green Paper included a chapter on consultation, which explained that a “variety of organisations and representative bodies” were formally consulted earlier this year.

That consultation was “informed” by the results of a telephone survey of 400 residents, conducted by Narrative Research in the last quarter of 2025, which asked participants to rate the importance of “various factors related to Bermuda and its economy in the context of Caricom”.

The Narrative Research survey did not specifically ask residents if they supported Bermuda changing from associate to full membership of Caricom, but sought to measure “public priorities” in relation to “specific policy factors”.

Food security was the most important factor for participants, with 55 per cent giving it an importance of 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale. It was rated more highly by non-Bermudian residents than by Bermudians.

The Green Paper said full membership of the Caribbean Community would enable participation in food security initiatives to “lower costs and strengthen supply chains”, citing Caricom’s partnerships with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

An earlier Narrative Research survey, conducted in Q3 of 2025, found that 53 per cent of participants supported full membership of Caricom, 32 per cent opposed it and 15 per cent did not know.

The Green Paper stated that the home affairs ministry “conducted and continues to engage on a wide-ranging series of consultation sessions designed to reach a broad cross section of Bermuda's stakeholders”.

Of the formal consultation earlier this year, it said: “Many organisations invited to participate reserved their contribution until after the Green Paper was published.

“Among those organisations that were invited and indicated they would provide their input following the Green Paper's publication are the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Bermuda International Companies, the Bermuda Bar Association, the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers and the Bermuda Hotel Association.”

The entities which supported full membership were the WIAB, BEDC, CariGenetics, the Daily Male, Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda and the credit union.

The WIAB “identified opportunities for deeper connectivity through agriculture and food supply networks, seasonal job opportunities in tourism and hospitality, and regional educational institutions, including the University of the West Indies, flight schools and veterinary colleges”.

BEDC felt full membership would lead to “duty-free and reduced-barrier regional trade for goods, easier cross-border provision of services in areas such as consulting, IT and creative industries and access to a wider customer base”.

CariGenetics, a genetic testing company, said full membership would enable it to expand and create career development opportunities for Bermudian scientists. The firm, along with prostate health charity Daily Male, thought full membership would improve regional healthcare outcomes.

Bermuda Credit Union identified potential benefits including “greater access to Caricom institutions” in areas such as trade, health, education, labour, mobility and economic development, while Curb said full membership aligned with its “mission around justice, reparatory frameworks, cultural identity and equitable development”.

Consultation was also “successfully completed” with the Bermuda Cricket Board, Bermuda Olympic Association, the Ministry of National Security, Bermuda Public Services Union and the One Bermuda Alliance.

The BPSU identified “concerns and potential benefits”.

“The union stated that free movement of labour may create concerns among members about job competition and potential employer misuse of foreign labour that could weaken bargaining strength,” said the paper.

“The BPSU also raised the possibility that Caricom decisions may affect Bermuda indirectly and that the union could be unintentionally associated with or obligated to decisions imposed on the Bermuda Government through the Caricom relationship.”

The cricket board perceived benefits, such as access to regional grants and funding for infrastructure and youth programmes, and risks, including a potential requirement to align Bermuda’s sports governance with regional policies.

The Olympic association did not see any negative impact from full membership but nor did it “anticipate meaningful new avenues or development opportunities arising specifically from the change …”

The national security ministry suggested full membership could help improve internal security practices and provide enhanced training in specialised areas for uniformed services.

The OBA did not give a final position but asked for evidence of how trade routes would be increased and costs lowered.

It raised the “fragility of the international business sector and stated that executives may relocate operations if they perceive instability or unfavourable geopolitical alignment.

“The OBA raised concerns about potential ‘guilt by association’ if the Caricom Secretariat takes positions that conflict with US interests.”

The Green Paper explained that, even as a full member, Bermuda would be unable to get involved with decisions on external relations, defence or security because of it being a British Overseas Territory, and that its full membership would come with certain reservations, such as a refusal to dismantle domestic regulatory frameworks.

It also stated that full membership was not a given.

“There is a risk that the reservations Bermuda requires are not accepted by Caricom member states,” the paper stated.