~ Signs Declaration of Participation on behalf of Bermuda ~
The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, joined the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, and the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, as part of a Bermuda delegation attending the Annual World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from February 3 – 5, 2026.
A central feature of Minister Lightbourne’s engagement was her participation in the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA) Ministerial Roundtable, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Minister Lightbourne signed a Declaration of Participation in the Alliance on behalf of Bermuda, reflecting the Government’s commitment to accelerating energy efficiency as a cornerstone of sustainable development and climate action. She shared the panel with ministers from Costa Rica, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Mauritania, with additional participation from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Germany, France, Fiji, and the Maldives.
During her presentation, Minister Lightbourne highlighted Bermuda’s unique energy context as a small island jurisdiction with no external grid interconnection, high electricity costs, and significant climate exposure. She underscored that energy efficiency represents the most immediate and cost-effective pathway to strengthening affordability, resilience, and energy security, and emphasised that alliances such as GEEA can help close the gap between policy ambition and implementation.
Minister Lightbourne and Minister Hayward also participated in a closed-door roundtable on “Google and PwC: AI Works for Government,” examining how artificial intelligence can support public-sector efficiency and service delivery. Minister Lightbourne attended the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable on inclusive development models and post-2030 cooperation priorities.
On the margins of the Summit, Minister Lightbourne held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Ambassador Noemi Espinosa Madrid, Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). She also joined the Premier for a bilateral meeting with the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica. Minister Lightbourne further participated in the ACS International Cooperation Conference, focused on strengthening regional collaboration among Caribbean and Latin American nations.
Commenting on her participation, Minister Lightbourne said, “It was an honour to represent Bermuda at the World Government Summit. For small island jurisdictions like Bermuda, energy efficiency is foundational to affordability, resilience, and energy security. It was a very productive Summit, and I look forward to engaging with partners who share our commitment to ensuring that the energy transition delivers real benefits for Bermudians.”
As a reminder, all airfare and accommodation costs for the Premier, Ministers, and the Bermuda delegation were covered by the Government of the United Arab Emirates.