CARICOM backs BOTs in constitutional fight with UK

| 09/07/2018 | 17 Comments

(CNS): UPDATED with comment from Premier: Caribbean leaders have expressed their solidarity with the British Overseas Territories in the region that are being adversely affected by the unilateral action of the UK to legislate domestic policy constitutionally devolved to them without the consent and involvement of their people. According to a communiqué released by CARICOM at the weekend, following the annual Heads of Government Meeting, the regional organisation agreed that, at great cost to territories, the action ran counter to the alternative arrangements to public registers agreed with the UK government and already in place.

“Heads of Government viewed this action as similar to the unilateral and punitive extra-territorial measures such as blacklisting and de-risking taken against their own countries financial services sector, also a critical aspect of their economies, despite their best efforts at transparency and compliance,” the communique stated.

Premier Alden McLaughlin was one of four BOT leaders who attended the CARICOM meeting in order to help drum up Caribbean support for the opposition to the imposition of public registers and to back the moves by several territories to pursue constitutional reform.

Before leaving for Montego Bay, where the meeting was held and hosted by the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, McLaughlin told the Legislative Assembly here that there was strength in numbers.

Following the meeting the premier said the support from CARICOM was an important statement of solidarity.

“I am grateful to Heads of Government for this unanimous support, but in particular I am very grateful to the Prime Ministers of Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent who unhesitatingly provided support and spoke passionately on our behalf,” he said. “This shows the importance of building relationships within the region… The support of CARICOM Heads
enhances the cause of OT’s for the creation of appropriate safeguards in our individual
constitutions.”

See the full communiqué here

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Category: Business, Financial Services

Comments (17)

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  1. anonymous says:

    Prediction. After being raped and denigrated by the Brits for centuries, Cayman becomes independent out of sheer desperation to survive. All Brits leave Cayman. Cayman looks around for help. Help does not come from anywhere, especially not in the Caribbean. You made your bed with the racist, imperialist English. You will lie in it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sounds like some good role play going on.

    • Observer says:

      5:23 pm: vey strong words, but they are inaccurate.

      Cayman has never been “raped and denigrated by the Brits for centuries” or otherwise. Perhaps neglected, but we have been able to find a way to achieve financial security and stability on our own initiative — which is good — that has always been the Caymanian way.

      Secondly, there is no plan for independence in the near future, although we should continue to think about and plan for our political advancement and financial security. Not a thing wrong with that. Every country should aspire to that as an ultimate goal, although we should obviously work towards it in a timely way that would eliminate risks to our financial and social stability.

      Thirdly, as far as political advancement is concerned, it does not necessarily need to create conditions that would cause anyone to leave. For the most part we are running our own internal affairs, and at the moment Britain is a security blanket. No one is predicting how long that security blanket needs to, or should be, in place or in fact whether we could opt in the future for a relationship into the foreseeable where it could remain there in some form that would be agreeable to both.

      We must be realistic and measured and stay away form hyperbolic, inaccurate and misleading rhetoric.

      • Mike says:

        Well said 12.02 pm. And, certain posters should stop categorising Cayman with other countries that were actually exploited in colonialism. In reality Cayman never had the natural resources to entice exploitation, full stop. Cayman was a replenishment stop for sailing ships to pick up water, salt pork, turtle, fish, conch, rope, timber etc.to replenish ship supplies.

  2. Anonymous says:

    And yet nothing unconstitutional has occurred, so stop interfering.

  3. Anonymous says:

    If you are watching the news, the UK Government is basically agreeing to let the EU legislate for them on certain matters after Brexit without any say in such matters. So much for democracy. The UK has lots of constitutional issues at the moment and we all can detect blood in the water.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The area the EU will legislate on indirectly is issues to do with the free movement of goods which would be a small price to pay for access to the single market ( in goods alone, alas).

    • Mike says:

      Not so sure that you 9.21 am, are following the news re. brexit and PM May’s shaky outlook. With your knowledge, stay away from any betting!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    With Caricom’s support and $10 maybe someone could by a cup of coffee.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Oh yes our wonderful Premier is doing a fantastic job and with Caricom’s support we can beat off the big brute English bullies.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Ha, ha, ha! How does direct British rule feel? Just in case that comes instead of beating the English bullies, that is…

  6. RICK says:

    Caricom helps Cayman but at the same time Cayman looks down on Caribbean people .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Helps how? Sending their cheap labour or being vindictive if we don’t?

      By saying they can help when they can’t help themselves?

      Hope they don’t demand more employment for their people since they can’t manage their own affairs and expect the British territory, ironically still under British rule, to the country helping them?

    • Anonymous says:

      Last time I checked Cayman was part of the Caribbean, so I guess we look down on ourselves? Your statement holds no validity.

      • Rick says:

        Cayman may be in the Caribbean buy they dont consider themselfs with the other islands, Just ask Jamacia

  7. Anonymous says:

    Of course they do…zzzzzzzzzz

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  8. anonymous says:

    We are saved!, we have Caricom behind us, (but nobody in Britain has ever heard of it).

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