Cayman Islands Premier represents UKOTA at Commonwealth Business Forum

LONDON – Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin continues his duties as president of the United Kingdom Overseas Association (UKOTA) Thursday when he represents UKOTA at the official opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference at Buckingham Palace.

The Premier is attending the Commonwealth Business Forum in London, which began Monday. It is one of three key forums that occur prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference Meeting (CHOGM) taking place this week.

Mr. McLaughlin will also meet with Minister with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, Lord Ahmad, on Thursday to discuss matters of interest regarding the Cayman Islands as well as UKOTA.

The business forum continued Wednesday with the theme “The Future of Leadership”.

Mr. McLaughlin was invited by the United Kingdom Government to participate in aspects of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London this week.

“This is the first time that UKOTA has been invited to participate in the biennial meeting of Commonwealth Leaders and I am honoured to have been invited to attend and represent the Overseas Territories,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “It is important that we use these opportunities to not only continue to build relationships within the UK, but to make the wider Commonwealth membership more aware of the Overseas Territories generally and to see how we can benefit each other”.

The Business Forum continued Tuesday with a stirring event by musicians and people from across the Commonwealth; all with either their flags or in national dress. The display demonstrated the diversity of the people of the Commonwealth. The theme for the day was “Building the Future” and was highlighted by Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, when she opened the day’s events. She spoke of fulfilling the dream of the Commonwealth Charter and the strength of Unity. This theme was continued when Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to the Forum for the second time. She addressed threats that are facing the Commonwealth and the world and the ability of a united Commonwealth to make a difference.

The sheer size and diversity of the Commonwealth allows it to help shape the world, she said, as she spoke of the need to support the rules-based system that has guided international trade and the way nations treat each other. She also praised the advances in Commonwealth countries, including advances in the prevention of diseases. Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke on the fight against diseases such as polio and malaria in Commonwealth countries.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness spoke about fairness within the Commonwealth between smaller and larger states, including the need for the larger states that contribute to climate change to do much more to help Small Island states prepare for and recover from storms.

Later on Tuesday Premier McLaughlin attended the Lord Mayor’s Banquet at historic Guildhall where he met political leaders attending CHOGM as well as business leaders from the City of London and the wider Commonwealth. Speakers at the banquet included the 690th Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Rt. Hon. Charles Bowman; Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond; and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

Attracting an audience of business leaders from across the Commonwealth, along with heads of government and ministers, the Business Forum touches on topics such as new models of healthcare, the maritime industry, the economic empowerment of women, investing in infrastructure, fintech and innovations in financial services and how business can be made easier between Commonwealth countries.