MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Caribbean BOTs form a group to focus on Brexit at the Joint Ministerial Council

Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said a small forum of territories was needed to deal specifically with Brexit

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 in the Caribbean have agreed to form a group to focus on the whole question of Brexit, reports the region's media.

 Territory leaders attended the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) Political Council meeting on Monday, where the BOT delegations discussed their concerns before sitting down with UK officials at the Joint Ministerial Council meeting.

Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin 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, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and others to discuss issues that are specific to Cayman.

During her visit recent to Cayman, FCO 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. 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.

Dr D. Orlando Smith, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, is the president of the UK Overseas Territories Association Political Council. The Falkland Islands are represented by MLA Roger Edwards.

The UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting (JMC), is taking place in London from 31 October to 3 November 2016. The JMC includes three thematic sessions – Health, Pensions and the Environment. Plenary sessions, chaired by Baroness Anelay DBE, Minister of State for the Overseas Territories, will cover: Economic Development (including Infrastructure); Good Governance (including Child Safeguarding and Human Rights); Implications for Overseas Territories (OTs) of EU exit; UK & OT engagement on EU negotiations, and International Trade relationships.