An online petition has been posted to urge the Government to hold a referendum before committing the island to become a full member of Caricom.

Daniel Marshall said he sought to start the change.org petition because he felt that joining Caricom as a full member could have a significant impact on the island.

He said: “It’s a pretty important issue and it’s something that the public should have their say on.

“People have very strong opinions about joining. I’m 26 years old and I have a business here in Bermuda and I don’t want to see Bermuda making long-term decisions without fully consulting the public.”

Mr Marshall said that, in speaking to his peers, he found many completely unaware about the proposed move from associate to full membership of Caricom.

He said: “I forwarded them the Green Paper, and a lot of them were not very happy about it, so I thought a petition was a good way to spread the word about this.”

The Government announced in the November 2023 Throne Speech that it would seek full membership of Caricom, and Britain issued an entrustment letter allowing negotiations for full membership to begin the following month.

In March, the Government releasedThe Story of Us: Green Paper on Bermuda’s Application for Full Membership in the Caribbean Community which said a shift to full membership represented “a deliberate move to create a stronger, more resilient future for all Bermudians”.

While there have been calls for a petition on the subject, David Burt, the Premier, has maintained that the decision would be made by “the people’s elected representatives” in the House of Assembly.

The online petition, launched this morning, urges the Government to hold a clear referendum on Bermuda becoming a full member of Caricom and to release more details on the implications of the move.

In a letter, Mr Marshall said that joining Caricom would not be a “minor administrative decision” but a major national issue that could have widespread impact on the island.

He wrote: “The purpose of this petition is not to attack Caricom, the Caribbean region or any political party. It is also not to prejudge how Bermudians should vote.

“The purpose is simple: Bermudians should be allowed to decide for themselves.

“Many Bermudians have legitimate concerns about full Caricom membership. These include questions about Bermuda’s unique economic position, its status as an international financial centre, its relationship with the United Kingdom, its North Atlantic trade and supply links, the possible implications of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and the cost of full membership.

“There are also important questions about what benefits full membership would provide to Bermudians, whether Bermuda would be expected to participate in any form of free movement of skilled persons and whether the Government has fully assessed the financial, legal, economic and constitutional implications.”

Mr Marshall said that before any final decision is made, the Government should provide detailed information beyond what was included in the Green Paper such as the rights, obligations and exemptions Bermuda would gave as a full member, the anticipated economic benefits and comparative data of member states.

He said: “If full Caricom membership is truly in Bermuda’s best interest, the Government should have no fear of putting the question directly to the people.

“A referendum would give the issue democratic legitimacy and ensure that Bermuda’s future is decided by Bermudians.

“We therefore call on all registered voters in Bermuda to sign this petition demanding a national referendum on whether Bermuda should apply to become a full member of Caricom.

“This is not about division. It is about democracy, transparency and respect for the people of Bermuda.”

The petition had surpassed 125 signatures roughly four hours after it was first published, but Mr Marshall said he hoped to garner signatures from thousands more.

He said: “We want to get about 10 per cent of registered voters. That way we have a valid reason to put it to David Burt, the Premier and the UK as well.”