Dear Sir,

Like many Bermudians, I would like to know all the pros and cons before Bermuda “joins” Caricom.

I am told that a local poll in Bermuda showed that a majority of us do not want to join Caricom since, just like “going independent”, there would just be many more costs, taxes, crime, currency collapse and lack of many of the advantages we have at present.

I gather there are 15 islands in the Caricom group, including Haiti, Jamaica and Barbados. I would like the Government to publicise the statistics for each island so that we know what we are getting into:

• National debt

• Crime statistics

• Currency value versus the US dollar

• Economic record (unemployment, inflation, minimum wage, etc)

I would also like a guarantee from the Government that, if joining Caricom is its intent, a referendum will be held first, separately from distractions such as a General Election, and that it would abide by the wishes of the people of Bermuda as per the referendum.

MICHAEL G. MARSH

Smith’s