BOT leaders to form Brexit group to engage UK

Cayman Islands London Representative Eric Bush and Premier Alden McLaughlin

(CNS): Concerned about how the UK’s departure from the European Union over the next two years will impact their communities, leaders from the British Overseas Territories have agreed to form a group to focus on the whole question of Brexit. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, together with Finance Minister Marco Archer and Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, attended the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) Political Council meeting Monday morning, where the BOT delegations discussed their concerns before sitting down with UK officials at the Joint Ministerial Council meeting.

The leader said a small forum of territories was needed to deal specifically with Brexit to keep the territories’ leaders informed and ensure engagement with the UK before Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty is invoked to begin the work of separating the United Kingdom from the European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that she expects to formally trigger talks with the EU under article 50 before March next year.

“UKOTA members are concerned they will lose direct access to the EU with Brexit and agreed they will have to fight for representation,” according to a media release from the premier’s press secretary. “They also agreed that Brexit offers an opportunity for the Overseas Territories to improve their relationship with the UK.”

McLaughlin said in the release, “The UKOTA Political Council meeting gives leaders of the Overseas Territories a chance to gather before we begin meetings of the JMC and to discuss matters relevant to the upcoming JMC sessions.” He added that he and the Cayman delegation would meet with members of the British parliament (MPs), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and others to discuss issues that are specific to Cayman.

During her visit recent to Cayman, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for the Overseas Territories Baroness Anelay said she was confident that Britain’s departure from the European Union would not have a detrimental impact on the territories. But However, at this point no one really knows what the Brexit will mean for the UK, let alone its dependent territories.

While Brexit may dominate the agenda, there are other areas of concerns for the BOTs, some common to all and some more pertinent to specific territories. Marine and maritime management, biodiversity, climate change, financial services as well as  immunities and privileges are some of the concerns that are expected to be on the agenda of the JMC, which starts Tuesday and will be chaired by Baroness Anelay.

During Monday’s meeting the BOT leaders also agreed that while the Pitcairn Islands will host next year’s major pre-JMC meeting, it will take place in London rather than on the very remote and sparsely populated islands in the Pacific.