Duddridge invited to Cayman
(CNS): The Cayman Island governor has sent an invitation to the FCO’s junior minister, James Duddridge, to come visit the Cayman Islands at the earliest opportunity, following news the conservative MP kept his job in David Cameron’s Cabinet. In an exceptionally short throne speech that lasted just a few minutes at the opening of the parliament’s budget meeting on Friday, Helen Kilpatrick repeated recent comments from the premier that the government was pleased about the UK election results and the continuity that it would bring.
Cayman Premier Aden McLaughlin and Overseas Territories Minister Duddridge at the Caribbean Council May 2015 (Photo by Rod Leon)
“Last week saw the election of a Conservative government in the United Kingdom. This has been welcomed by the premier as an opportunity to build on the excellent relationship between the governments of the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom,” she said. With the reappointment of Duddridge, she added, “I have already invited the minister to make an early visit to Cayman to continue the dialogue that he and the premier have established.”
In Premier Alden McLaughlin’s much longer policy statement, he also referred to the invitation and said he was pleased about the Conservative election victory as he believed his administration had worked well with the team currently in place at the FCO.
McLaughlin met Duddridge during his most recent visit to London in March but the UK undersecretary with responsibility for the territories has not yet visited here.
The Rochford and Southend East MP was given responsibility for the territories in August last year during Cameron’s coalition government when his predecessor Mark Simmonds revealed his decision to leave politics because of what he described as the poor pay and working conditions.
Category: Local News
McLaughlin
Answer the question. Stop ducking the issue. Are you going to ask the FCO to return the $20 million dollars your beloved country wasted on Tempura because of the behaviour of the FCO. Show some courage and stop hiding. Perhaps you like so many others are driven by power instead of serving your country ethically. You are a shameful example of someone who will fix matters to maintain power. Tempura will not go away until those responsible are held to account…….Please McLaughlin answer the question instead of blaming those who have the courage to challenge an establishment cover up.
No-one is needed to be on island to siphon off financial information – that is all picked up electronically from Miami nowadays and routed back to London.
Is it appropriate and proper protocol for our Premier to be openly and repeatedly praising the Conservative victory in the UK? What message might that send to Labour in the event they win the next election and we retain a PPM Government? Might that clear affinity not be detrimental to us in such a scenario?
Surely, diplomacy should stop at congratulating the new Government and expressing our willingness to continue working with the UK government. There is nothing for us to gain by expressing opinions which may alienate us from any UK Government. Wasn’t that made obvious by our previous Premier’s behaviour?
Premier Alden needs political maturity!
Yes please do and bring a Cheque $$$ for Tempura same time and explain why we are hiring every old fogey and his cat to come here to siphon off our financial wealth and information. Won’t hold my breath on that one? As for the leadership including Madam killjoy take them with you on departure as they are neither use or ornament( old cayman saying)
“Neither use nor ornament” is English going back at least to the 18th C. in publication, but still a charming idiomatic expression.
I just love your old Cayman sayings.. Where do you come up with these things!
Cayman probably.