Premiers, Chief Ministers and elected representatives of 14 British Overseas Territories will today begin two days of deliberations in London with representatives of the UK Government on the proposed new strategy for its dependencies.
The annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council is hosted by Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham MP.
A statement from the Cayman Islands government said the discussions will look forward to the proposed 2012 White Paper on the Overseas Territories.
It said there will also be sessions on a wide range of subjects including aviation safety, good governance, criminal justice, economic development, and environment and climate change.
Montserratian Premier Reuben Meade is leading his team to the talks.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, he said Montserrat and the UK need to find common ground on the island’s full participation in the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.
The premier also said that it continued to be a major source of frustration that UK civil servants were making decisions on Montserrat’s participation in regional groupings such as CARICOM and the OECS in which the island is a founding member.
“We have had to invoke the grandfather clause as we are founding members so that we can remain part of the process while we await approval from the UK,” he said.
The UK’s Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories said much has happened since Territory leaders met in London a year ago.
“I am delighted that the UK Government has developed and agreed a clear strategy towards the Territories focused on increasing our engagement with them; working together to strengthen good governance arrangements, public financial management and economic planning, where necessary; and developing external support for the Territories,” Bellingham said.
“I will be joined at the meeting this year by several colleagues from across the Government. This is a sign of the strengthening engagement of the whole of the UK government with the Overseas Territories.”
The Consultative Council, held annually since 1999, is a forum for discussion of key policy issues between British Ministers and Heads of Overseas Territories’ Governments.
(Source http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/518737.html#axzz1fsemr0ZE)
