GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Minister for the Commonwealth Baroness Joyce Anne Anelay has assured the Overseas Territories of her commitment and eagerness to champion their interests in the United Kingdom as Britain exits the European Union.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you of the UK Government’s continued commitment to the Overseas Territories and my personal commitment to the JMC as the primary forum of political dialogue between the UK and OT government,” she penned. “I am aware that the Territories have wide-ranging interest in the EU through your current associate status and that the implications of the referendum result will be a key priority for your discussions.

“The previous Prime Minister made clear our commitment fully to involve the Overseas Territories as we prepare for negotiations to exit the EU, in line with your various constitutional relationships with the UK,” she wrote. “As Minister I will continue to champion the interests of the Overseas Territories across Whitehall to ensure your interests are fully taken into account.”

The assurance came in a 20 July, 2016, letter addressed to the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing and copied to the Premiers of the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat; Chief Ministers of Anguilla and Gibraltar; elected representatives of the Falkland Islands, St. Helena and Ascension; and representatives of Tristan da Cunha and Pitcairn while they were at the pre-Joint Ministerial Council meeting last week in Turks and Caicos.

She further wrote that the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union “provides an important opportunity to recalibrate valuable relationships with our traditional partners, including the Territories and the Commonwealth.”

Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin wrote back to the Baroness congratulating her on her appointment as Minister for the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

“There is much to build on, and through efforts such as the Joint Ministerial Council of Overseas Territories Heads of Government held annually in London, we can continue to address areas of common interest and continue to improve the UK’s understanding of our aspirations and priorities,” he wrote. “As you take your place as Minister I personally invite you to visit the Cayman Islands. While it would be our distinct honour to welcome you in your official capacity, we would be equally delighted if you chose the Cayman Islands for a holiday.”

Mr. McLaughlin noted that he and the Government have paid keen attention to events pre- and post-Brexit. Following the referendum he had discussions with former Minister James Duddridge, who the Baroness replaced, and noted that Cayman would want to be involved in a meaningful way during the Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU to ensure the interests of the Cayman Islands are protected.

Minister Duddridge gave assurances that the UK remained committed to Cayman and the Overseas Territories and that Cayman’s concerns would be taken into consideration.

These assurances were reiterated in the letter from the Baroness.

The Cayman Islands Office in London is also following events as they occur there.
Mr. McLaughlin noted that this Government remains committed to further strengthen the relationship with the United Kingdom and despite hints of independence for the Cayman Islands from some on the Opposition bench and those who seek to run for political office, vows to work with the UK to see that Cayman’s views and concerns are addressed.

A similar view was expressed at the Pre-JMC meeting with all Overseas Territories confirming the benefit of the relationship with the United Kingdom and their commitment to strengthen the relationship going forward.

LETTERS RE- RT HON BARONESS ANELAY OF ST JOHNS DBE

Letter from Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA Premier of Cayman Islands

The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE
Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN
Room K1.37
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

20 July, 2016

On behalf of my Government I congratulate you in your new role as Minister for the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

The Cayman Islands has a good relationship with the United Kingdom and I look forward to getting to know and work with you for the betterment of the UK and the Overseas Territories.

I am in receipt of a copy of the letter you sent to the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, reassuring the OTs of the United Kingdom Government’s continued commitment to us and your personal commitment to the JMC as the primary forum of political dialogue between the UK and OT governments. The OTs are an integral part of Britain’s life and history and the people of the Cayman Islands are proud of our connection to Britain.

I appreciate your acknowledgement that the Territories have wide-ranging interests in the EU through the current associate status and that the implications of the referendum will be a key priority for our discussion.

Thank you for your efforts to continue to champion the interests of the Overseas Territories across Whitehall to ensure our interests are fully taken into account. I agree that the UK’s exit from the EU also provides an important opportunity to recalibrate our valuable relationships.

There is much to build on, and through efforts such as the Joint Ministerial Council of Overseas Territories Heads of Government held annually in London, we can continue to address areas of common interest and continue to improve the UK’s understanding of our aspirations and priorities.

As you take your place as Minister I personally invite you to visit the Cayman Islands. While it would be our distinct honour to welcome you in your official capacity, we would be equally delighted if you chose the Cayman Islands for a holiday.

I look forward to working with you and your Government toward a stronger partnership between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands.

Yours Sincerely,

(signed)

Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA
Premier

Letter from Baroness Anelay re OT- Pre-joint Ministerial Meeting

20 July 2016

The Hon. Dr Rufus Ewing MP
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Hon N J S Francis Building
Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH

Minister of State

Dear Premier,

OVERSEAS TERRITORIES – PRE-JOINT MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING

I am delighted to have been re-appointed as Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to have the privilege of taking on responsibility for the Overseas Territories, with whom we enjoy a unique relationship and shared history. My colleague, the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan MP, will have responsibility for the bilateral relationship with the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar and UK interests in the Polar Regions.

I understand that this week you will be hosting in the Turks and Caicos Islands the annual meeting of Territory leaders to discuss your priorities for this year’s Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in November. I wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you of the of the UK Government’s continued commitment to the Overseas Territories and my personal commitment to the JMC as the primary forum of political dialogue between the UK and OT governments.

I am aware that the Territories have wide-ranging interests in the EU through your current associate status and that the implications of the referendum result will be a key priority for your discussions. I am very pleased that officials from Europe Directorate in FCO will be able to link in to the session you have on this issue. The previous Prime Minister made clear our commitment fully to involve the Overseas Territories as we prepare for negotiations to exit the EU, in line with your various constitutional relationships with the UK. As Minister, I will continue to champion the interests of the Overseas Territories across Whitehall to ensure your interests are fully taken into account. And as the new Foreign Secretary has underlined, the UK’s exit from the EU also provides an important opportunity to recalibrate valuable relationships with our traditional partners, including the Territories and the Commonwealth.

I look forward to hearing your views and those of other Territory leaders on these points and on your wider objectives for this year’s Council. I very much look forward to meeting you at the JMC in November.

I am copying this letter to the Premiers of Bermuda, Cayman, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat, the Chief Ministers of Anguilla and Gibraltar, elected representatives of the Falkland Islands, St Helena and Ascension and representatives of Tristan da Cunha and Pitcairn.

(Signed)

THE RT HON BARONESS ANEIAY OF ST JOHNS DBE MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH, UN AND OVERSEAS TERRITORIES