Pressure on the Bahamas to become a member of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) was evident last week with a visit to the Caribbean nation by Caribbean Community Secretary General Edwin Carrington.

But the Government is unconcerned by what some see as changes within Caricom that restrict members' flexibility to opt out of treaty arrangements.

Speaking as the chairman of the Caricom awareness committee, Health Minister Nelson Bascome said: "Bermuda is not a full member and hasn't even considered (being) a full member. (We) basically can only express our concern that as an associate member we will only be signed on for those areas that are beneficial to our interests, as per the way in which an agreement is done - on an annual basis.

"And any time a member wishes to remove itself or change its status that country has the ability to do so."

Last year, Mr. Bascome said Bermuda would not participate in the single market and economy.

"This means Bermuda will not engage in any economic policies or programmes. Bahamas has made the same decision and they are a full member.

"In that same vein, we do not subscribe to the free movement of labour across our borders. Government's work permit policies attest to this fact. Through our advertising policy, we have made it possible for qualified persons in the Caribbean to be aware of job availability in Bermuda. I must emphasise that we do not support the free movement of labour across our borders."

Dr. Carrington is reported to have told a town meeting at the College of the Bahamas last week: "Preferences are going and reciprocity is the order of the day. Everybody is saying, if I give you anything in my market, you have to give me something in my market.

"It is against this background that The Bahamas must now face this question of the Single Market and Economy. Is it to be in or is it to be out ?"

His visit was seen as Caricom arm-twisting by some Bahamian observers. The Bahamas specifically opted out of Caricom's common market ambitions when it became a full member of the regional grouping in 1983, but retained the flexibility to participate on a voluntary basis in any common market activity.

But a July, 2001 revision to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established Caricom, created constitutional changes which mean that members automatically become part of the CSME, unless the Bahamas negotiates itself out of certain areas of the revised treaty. Members have until 2005 to decide whether they want to be part of CSME.