The Honourable Premier Mr. Alden McLaughlin, and his Joint Ministerial Council “Sherpa” Ms Jennifer Ahearn, Chief Officer in the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture, left Gibraltar this morning after a productive three day Pre-Joint Ministerial Council Meeting of the Overseas Territories.

“This meeting provided an excellent opportunity for me to meet with my counterparts and discuss the issues that affect us; many of which are unique to Overseas Territories,” stated the Premier. “This Pre-JMC meeting provided a great forum to explore how we can work together collectively to better address some of these issues when we attend the JMC meeting in November.”

The Premier said the solidarity he felt between the OT leaders was very gratifying.

He said he has a renewed appreciation of the importance of building and maintaining relationships with his counterparts in the other Overseas Territories.

“While the eight Overseas Territories are diverse and have their own unique challenges, our discussions in Gibraltar this week were about the many areas in which we can work together, with a view to arriving at a consensus on the way forward that will strengthen our collective position,” he said.

Chairman of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association, Mr. Stephane Artano, also visited Gibraltar and met with the Premier and his colleagues to discuss the work of the association.

This meeting was followed by a presentation by Mr. John Duncan of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that gave an overview of the importance of a good communications strategy, particularly in social media, to promote and defend the Overseas Territories. Mr. Duncan’s presentation was a preview of communications training to be held in the British Virgin Islands that the FCO will offer in November.

While in Gibraltar, the Premier and his colleagues were invited to join Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Mr. Fabian Picardo, and several visiting United Kingdom Members of Parliament on the platform for Gibraltar’s 21st National Day, which is an annual celebration of the anniversary of the last national referendum on self-determination. A highlight of this year’s celebration was a video message from Prime Minister David Cameron, which assured the people of Gibraltar that he supported them in their current challenges with their neighbour Spain, and that the view of his Government was that Gibraltar would remain a British Overseas Territory as long as it was the will of the people of Gibraltar.

Upon landing in London, the Premier will join Minister for Financial Services, Environment, and Commerce Hon. Wayne Panton, and Councillor for Financial Services Roy McTaggart. The three will travel on to Jersey at the invitation of Chief Minister Ian Gorst and the Government of Jersey. The group will be in Jersey until Friday, and will meet with several key players in Jersey’s Financial Services sector.

“Visiting Jersey will provide the Cayman Islands with an opportunity to learn more about the successes and challenges that Jersey has faced in many areas, with a particular focus on Financial Services,” noted the Premier.

With meetings scheduled with the Chief Minister, the Minister for Treasury and Resources, and the Minister for Economic Development, as well as the Bailiff, the Lieutenant Governor, and representatives from Jersey Finance Limited, the group will have a very busy few days.  “Our trip to Jersey will allow us to further develop the Cayman Islands’ relationship with Jersey, which, like Cayman, is recognised as a leader in the Financial Services Industry,” the Hon. Premier said.

Ms Ahearn will stay in London to attend a one-day meeting of the Sherpas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The purpose of the Sherpas meeting is to have discussions on the progress on implementing the commitments from the 2012 Joint Ministerial Council Communique, agree the priority items for this year’s JMC meeting, and confirm the agenda for this year’s JMC meeting. The day will also include sessions on three key issues: Jobs and Growth, Health, and Criminal Justice.

The Joint Ministerial Council Meeting will be held in London during the week of November 25th, and the focus of this year’s meeting will be on the Jobs and Growth agenda.

“With discussions on economic diversification, employment, promoting investment, and vocational training, I am confident that this year’s JMC meeting will be a very informative and timely one. If the calibre of the discussions in Gibraltar were any indication, I am certain that the JMC will be a very productive meeting, and will provide an ideal forum for the Overseas Territories to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to agree on action items and make commitments for our continued partnership in promoting the Cayman Islands and the other Overseas Territories,” the Hon. Premier said.