A member of the main opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) is calling on the government to hold a referendum ahead of Bermuda’s move towards gaining fully membership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping.
“Full membership of CARICOM should be decided by a referendum. Ultimately, whether full membership is good or bad depends on the country’s goals, priorities, and capacity to engage effectively within the regional framework,” said OBA candidate for the St David’s Constituency 3 seat, Maurice Foley.
The David Burt government has already indicated that it intends to seek full membership of the 15-member regional integration grouping and the Overseas British Territory has received a Letter of Entrustment from Britain granting it permission to open negotiations with CARICOM on the issue.
Burt has given the assurances that there will be full public consultation before any decision is made, but has not indicated whether or not a referendum will be held before the island moves towards gaining full membership of CARICOM.
Foley, who was confirmed as the OBA’s candidate for the constituency last week, told The Royal Gazette newspaper that he is committed to representing the constituency and making a positive impact on the lives of constituents.
“I believe it’s important to focus on substantive issues and constructive dialogue rather than engaging in personal attacks or character judgments,” he said when asked to comment on the performance of Burt.
“While there may be policy disagreements with Premier David Burt, I prefer to focus on discussing the merits of specific policies and approaches rather than questioning an individual’s integrity.
“It’s essential to maintain a respectful and civil discourse in our political discussions and I am committed to upholding these principles throughout my campaign,” the 54-year-old Foley said.
The St David’s seat is held by Government backbencher Lovitta Foggo, who defeated the OBA’s Edwin Cannonier by 663 votes to 125 at the last general election in October 2020.
