Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, this week outlined her ministry’s strategy to tackle the cost of living during a virtual meeting with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce’s Economics Committee.

It was Ms Lightbourne’s first formal engagement with the chamber since taking on the home affairs portfolio. The meeting was described in a press release as “timely and productive” given global economic uncertainty and rising prices across key sectors.

“The rising cost of living is a shared concern across all sectors of our society and economy,” said Ms Lightbourne. “I am committed to an inclusive and data-informed approach that brings government and industry together to find sustainable solutions. I appreciated the chamber’s invitation and the insights offered by its economics committee.”

Ms Lightbourne presented a detailed overview of the ministry’s approach to affordability, touching on food, energy, housing and market fairness. She said the goal is not only to offer short-term relief but to ensure “long-term structural fairness”, supporting both residents and businesses through measures like tax reform, energy regulation and pricing transparency.

“Our ministry’s cost of living strategy is about more than short-term relief,” she said. “It’s about long-term structural fairness, ensuring that Bermudians can afford essentials like food, energy and housing, while supporting businesses to remain competitive and resilient.”

The chamber welcomed the opportunity to speak with the minister and committed to continued dialogue and collaboration.

“We appreciated the opportunity to engage with Ms Lightbourne and gain insight into the ministry’s plans to address the high cost of living, an issue that impacts both businesses and families across Bermuda,” said Marico Thomas, the chamber’s president. “A core part of the chamber’s mission is to advocate for a healthy, sustainable environment where business can thrive, and central to that is the success and wellbeing of employees.”

Mr Thomas added that the chamber’s economics committee has invested heavily in gathering data on the cost of doing business and living in Bermuda. “The chamber believes meaningful progress will come through sustained dialogue, high-quality data and collaborative problem-solving that delivers practical outcomes for all stakeholders,” he said.

Both sides agreed to continue working together as the ministry pursues its cost-of-living mandate.