Bermuda Mulls Caricom Entry

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

15 April 2002

At a public meeting to discuss the possibility of joining the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Bermudian Health Minister Nelson Bascome revealed that associate membership would cost the jurisdiction around $98,000, but said that the potential benefits would far outweigh this.

The Health Minister said that Bermuda would only sign up to those parts of CARICOM which would be of benefit to the country, and would not be joining the region's single market and economy, or allowing free movement of labour.

However, he stressed that the potential benefits of membership of the regional organisation could include the chance to become a telecommunications and e-commerce leader within the group, preferential study rates for Bermudian students in the Caribbean, and closer policing, health, and sporting links.

'I believe we are making a decision in the best interests of this country. I love my country and I would not put any other country before it,' Mr Bascome, who is the Chairman of a government committee established to examine the issue in detail, said last week. He added that: 'We are connected to these countries through the jugular - their blood runs through our veins.'

However, there was strong opposition to the proposed move from several quarters. In remarks likely to anger existing CARICOM members, one audience member was quoted by the Royal Gazette as observing:

'I don't think there is any interest to have any government links with such a group of competitors so far away. Most of us would encourage social and cultural links with the Caribbean but to tie our economy, this sophisticated economy, with the Caribbean in the eyes of the world would be disastrous to present and future generations.'

Mr Bascome's reply will hardly have helped the situation, well-meaning though it doubtless was. Somewhat patronizingly, he suggested that if the region ran into problems, Bermuda could be its leader and rescuer:

'Some might think the Caribbean is less than us. If they are, we are here to educate and uplift them. Are we not our brother's keeper?'

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