Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and other Overseas Territories leaders attending the pre-Joint Ministerial Council meeting in Turks and Caicos continued discussions on Thursday concerning Britain’s exit from the European Union and the plans they will make ahead of the regular JMC meeting later this year.

Day Two of the Pre-JMC meeting began with leaders and delegates flying from Providenciales to Grand Turk where the Pre-JMC meeting continued at the NJS Francis Building, which houses the TCI House of Assembly. Leaders agreed to revisit the 2012 White Paper – Security, Success and Sustainability for the OTs, further strengthen the relationship with the UK and to seek resolutions to various longstanding concerns.

Part of the discussion on Thursday centred on health, including dangers from the Zika virus. Cayman Islands Premier McLaughlin advised fellow OT leaders of the work that the Cayman Islands is doing to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the diseases of Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya. The Cayman Islands’ Mosquito Research and Control Unit is working with UK-based firm Oxitec to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito using sterile males bio-engineered to provide a friendly and cost-effective, efficient way to eliminate the invasive mosquito that transmits the diseases.

There was tremendous interest by the leaders in the work Cayman is doing with Oxitec as well as a real concern for the health risks posed by Zika and the potential for damage to tourism in the region that the virus poses.

Discussion was also held on the opportunities for cooperation with Public Health England and Global Health Exchange in relation to the Overseas Territories.
Participants also discussed concerns regarding British citizens living in the OTs who are entitled to pensions and are receiving lower benefits than citizens outside the OTs. Leaders agreed to jointly support this being resolved in the impacted Territories.

Discussions also continued around the White Paper, which delves into the relationship between the UK and OTs; Her Majesty’s Government’s support and resources including funding for the environment, Darwin Plus; and preparations for the 2016 JMC.

Heads of Government were also invited by His Excellency the Governor Mr. Peter Beckingham to lunch at the Governor’s residence on Grand Turk.

The pre-JMC meeting began Wednesday and was an opportunity for all Overseas Territories Heads of Government to exchange views on political and constitutional issues, especially as they relate to the United Kingdom and its relationship with OTs.

The Pre-JMC is a precursor to the Joint Ministerial Council, which will be held in London 31 October – 4th November, 2016, and hosted by the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Travelling with Mr. McLaughlin are Financial Services Minister Hon. Wayne Panton, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Senior Political Advisor Roy Tatum and Sherpa Jason Webster. They returned to the Cayman Islands Friday evening.