Brexit won’t change position between OTs and UK
(CNS): The UK government has said that the referendum result which saw the British people vote to leave the European Union earlier this year does not change the position on sovereignty between it and the territories. The ‘Brexit’ issue was a key element during this week’s annual Joint Ministerial Council in London, when the leaders of the British Overseas Territories met with UK officials.
The parliamentary under-secretary at the department for exiting the European Union (EU) also attended the JMC and in the communique emerging from the meeting the UK said it would involve the territories in the exit talks.
BOT leaders are also expected to hold a special JMC Brexit meeting in London early in 2017 before the UK invokes Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin the formal separation negotiations, which is currently scheduled to happen before the end of March.
“UK ministers and OT leaders committed to taking forward future engagement through the creation of the UK – Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations (JMC – OT EN), to meet in the first quarter of 2017,” the communique confirmed.
While Brexit was a key talking point this year, many other issues were addressed and the communique reflected the goals and ambitions on diverse topics, such as self-determination, pensions, human rights, corruption, government infrastructure and the environment.
“The UK and the overseas territories have a shared ambition to set world standards in stewardship of the territories’ unique natural environments,” the communique also stated. The UK has faced international pressure to ensure that environmental issues in the territories are prioritised because of their rich biodiversity. Cayman also benefits from support from the UK in this area with grants from the Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund – Darwin Plus.
The Pitcairn Islands and St Helena recently created designated no-take Marine Protected Areas around their territories, and Tristan da Cunha has plans to establish a regime for protecting the waters across its entire maritime zone by 2020.
“This, together with an evidence-based MPA around Ascension by 2019, will more than double the protected ocean around the overseas territories to an area of around 4 million square kilometres by 2020,” the communique stated. “We acknowledged the ongoing work and achievements made in the other territories to improve the management and protection of their marine environments and welcomed UK support available for this work through the Blue Belt programme.”
Cayman, however, has still not addressed its marine park enhancement proposals. Although the Cayman Islands adopted marine protections long before other territories, experts here have been long warning that the current protections are now inadequate to meet the modern challenges coming with climate change.
In the JMC communique, the UK and territories have committed on paper their acceptance of the impact that climate change has on the economies, infrastructure and ecosystems across the territories and the importance of combatting the effects.
“The UK committed to consult territory governments on the issue of application to the Territories of the Paris Global Climate Change Agreement,” the communique stated.
The UK government also noted the “importance of enhancing the environmental resilience of the Territories to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change”, and the UK agreed to a programme to support the negative economic and health consequences linked to environmental impacts.
As small low-lying islands, many of the overseas territories, including Cayman, are on the front line when it comes to the pressing climate change concern of rising sea levels. While local governments can do little to address the activities of larger countries that is causing oceans to rise, there are mitigating measures, such as the preservation of reefs, mangrove buffers and reducing coastal development, that can help protect our eroding coastlines.
Category: Local News
The sooner the UK gets out of Europe, the better.
The sooner the UK gets out of Cayman, the better.
Depends entirely on your point of view. Many Caymanians understand what will happen if UK leaves and hence no hurry to put that on the agenda.
Definatly a great possibility. Not too negociable also.
Without the UK in Brussels expect very harsh treatment of OFCs from the EU, even if a blind eye is turned to Malta, Luxembourg and Ireland. Also expect less protection worldwide as Britain’s status in the world sinks faster than the value of sterling.
Sterling rose this week, and the economy is doing pretty well. Do pay attention, there’s a good chap.
Sterling rose because of the slim prospect of the Court decisions barring the crazy hard Brexit threatened by the Tories at their conference. And by rise, you mean went to only 25% devaluation. The economy is grinding to a halt before Brexit processes have even begun – a £25bn additional shortfall in government finances as set out by the IFS, 4% inflation caused by currency devaluation, key market sectors teetering on recession. You are exhibiting the sad myopia of the misguided post-factual nationalists. Do pay attention, and stop patronising, old chap.
I figure there would be some dumb comment made but didn’t suspect it would be the first one and wow there you are again with this gay bullshit. Get a life!!!
To you dumb, to others actual. Notice you chose to ignore the Church part, I wonder why? Little servant of a man in a skirt purporting to be representative of the good Lord whilst merrily ripping you off for 10% of your earnings?
I suspect there might be a little more “assume the position” from Mummy. Less tolerance of our little foibles here regarding Churches and Gays. Transparency might get a little overhaul too.
Nonsense of course all round.