GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, along with Hon. Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, travels Wednesday, 4 July, 2018, to Montego Bay, Jamaica, to attend the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss, among other issues, the constitutional relationship of the Overseas Territories and the United Kingdom as requested by the Cayman Islands.

On the 21st of June the Premier wrote to His Excellency Erwin LaRocque, Secretary General of CARICOM, to advise that as the President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association’s Political Council, the Premier wished to bring to the attention of CARICOM members a most serious matter that is impacting all British Overseas Territories that are associate members of CARICOM. That matter is the constitutional overreach by the United Kingdom Parliament.

Mr. McLaughlin said a discussion at the Caucus level with regards to this issue and the need for clarity in the constitutions of the Caribbean Overseas Territories will have the dual benefit of deepening the understanding of CARICOM leaders regarding our unique circumstances while increasing our level of engagement as associate members of CARICOM.

“I am grateful to Secretary General LaRocque for agreeing that this matter be added to their Caucus agenda and believe that this is an indication that CARICOM also views the matter as important as we do,” he said.

Those in attendance at the Heads of Government meeting will also discuss ways to make the CARICOM Single Market and Economy more efficient; approval of a draft declaration on climate change; security issues; a CARICOM regional strategy for the development of statistics; and the third United Nations high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases, among other issues.

Jamaica Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness will chair the meeting.

Special guests at the meeting include His Excellency Sebastian Pinera Echenique, president of the Republic of Chile and His Excellency Miguel Diaz-Canel, president of the Republic of Cuba.

Traveling with the Premier and Mr. Bulgin are Roy Tatum, Senior Political Advisor and Head of the Office of Premier; as well as Jamaal Anderson, International Affairs Analyst, who has responsibility for CARICOM in the Cayman Islands Cabinet Office. They return to Grand Cayman on 7 July, 2018.

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