News Release from The Office of the Press Secretary to the Premier

Premier McKeeva Bush leaves for London today to attend the annual meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) between British Overseas Territories and FCO and other Ministers of the UK Government. A busy schedule awaits the Premier leading up to the JMC meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by more meetings and a reception for Caymanian students studying at UK universities. Premier Bush will lead one of the sessions during the two day JMC meeting.

Formerly known as the Overseas Territories Consultative Council, the JMC meeting affords OT leaders the opportunity to collectively present their common interests to the UK and to also draw attention to their individual Territory’s concerns. The Caribbean OT leaders are planning to hold their strategic meeting early Monday to map out presentation of common objectives. The name Joint Ministerial Council was adapted to reflect the aspiration expressed in the White Paper of equal partners deliberating on matters of mutual interest.

Premier Bush said, “This is a very busy but important agenda. I will have the chance to get our message across to some key UK Ministers. I will remind them that we are a successful economy, but have gone through a deep recession. I will point out that our tourism business is continuing to expand and our financial industry is still rated among the best in the world. I will make it clear that we do not want aid or handouts – but the chance to let our entrepreneurial spirit flourish.”

The Premier went on to say, “I hope that this new format of the Joint Ministerial Council will enable the British Government to recognize the incredible assets they have in the Overseas Territories and treat us as equal partners.

”The UK Government needs to recognize that the Cayman Islands, like many of the Territories, are punching above our weight. I hope that we can go forward together like true partners, using our combined strengths.”

The work begins tomorrow with pre-JMC planning with the London Office and other meetings. On Monday the 3rd, bilateral meetings take place with Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds. Here each individual OT leader will have time with the Minister to discuss matters pertaining to their territory.

Premier Bush attends the pre-JMC Political Council of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) on Tuesday morning when the association will consider amendments to its constitution and the future role and direction of its work. The Political Council consist of the political leaders of the Overseas Territories. This is also another opportunity for the OT leaders to collaborate on issues before the start of the formal Council meeting later that day.

The formal JMC annual meeting begins on Tuesday afternoon with introductory remarks by Minister Mark Simmonds in which he is expected to set out UK priorities. The opening session is scheduled to cover issues related to the White Paper, including legal and constitutional aspects of the relationship between the Territories and the UK Parliament.

Premier Bush will lead a session titled “Building successful and resilient economies”. This is a discussion of the UK’s prosperity agenda and focuses on how the UK and the Territories can work together to advance the economic success of Territories. Other OT leaders are expected to lead each of the deliberative sessions. The remainder of the first day’s agenda covers discussions on “The EU and the Commonwealth” and the important topic of “Health”.

Discussions on the second day cover sustainable environmental management; links between OT and UK public services, procurement, standards in public life and legal issues; sport and youth development, tackling disadvantage and discrimination, poor parenting, dissemination of Bill of Rights information; youth offending and gangs, national security councils; and raising standards in education. UK Ministers from the relevant ministries are invited to these discussions.

The Territories represented in London are: Anguilla, Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, The Falklands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Turks and Caicos Islands.

As is the tradition, Premier Bush and Minister Rolston Anglin will host a reception for Caymanian university students attending school in the UK on Friday. The Premier, through the London Office, will also host the Cayman Islands Government Reception on Tuesday for friends of and persons with an interest in the Cayman Islands.

Accompanying the Premier to the JMC meeting are the Attorney General, the Financial Secretary, the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Premier and the Senior Political Assistant to the Premier.

The Premier returns to office on 10 December. The Deputy Premier will be acting Premier in his absence.