UN Resident Coordinator provides key insights during inaugural visit to the island
Fostering cross-border cooperation in an era of global fragmentation will be vital to Bermuda’s future success. The United Nations’ Dennis Zulu, Resident Coordinator for Bermuda, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos, was recently on-island to meet with local stakeholders in government, business, and the third-sector.
The UN, an intergovernmental body, sees itself having to navigate the cultural, political, and legislative frameworks of individual countries and larger blocs or ‘parent’ nations—for example; British Overseas Territories and the United Kingdom. Mr. Zulu believes that the United Nations’ work within Bermuda is complementary of Bermuda and the UK’s special relationship.
US President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariffs saw Bermuda in the crosshairs of its nearest neighbour when the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would be implementing a fee structure for Chinese-built vessels entering a US port—a move that, before additional caveats were added, would have dealt a heavy blow to Bermuda’s import-heavy economy.
When asked about the potential negative impact of trade tariffs on smaller economies, like Bermuda’s, Mr. Zulu said that the United Nations is exploring alternative funding mechanisms that better utilise domestic resources.
Mr. Zulu also affirmed that while Bermuda and the Caribbean are in direct competition for US and Canadian tourism dollars, the UN’s vision for Bermuda’s growth sees the country succeeding alongside—not at the expense of—island nations and territories to our south.
