At the conclusion of a two-day meeting at the Foreign Office, the Joint Ministerial Council, JMC, which brings together UK ministers and Overseas Territories leaders agreed on a joint communiqué which included the agenda of issues addressed. Previous to the JMC the Overseas Territories Association held a meeting of their Political Council.
Falklands had a most busy week in London with ministerial meetings, contacts, speeches, addressing an agenda full of issues in different fields most of them of interest for the Islands and shared with colleagues from the Association of Overseas Territories.
The highlight of this year's Joint Ministerial Council, JMC, meeting between British Overseas Territories leaders and UK cabinet ministers was a speech by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, referred to climate change and the role BOTs play “on the front line”.
The annual Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of the Overseas Territories is taking place virtually this week with the involvement of lawmaker MLA Teslyn Barkman in representation of the Falkland Islands.
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said that Lord Ahmad had “done a stellar job” as the overseas territories minister over the last two years, as he addressed the opening of the Pre-JMC (Joint Ministerial Council) meeting which convened British Overseas Territories leaders, including the Falkland Islands.
Falkland Islands lawmaker MLA Teslyn Barkman pointed out in Cayman Islands how Brexit and a no deal departure by the UK could totally destroy the economy of her country because the bulk of the Islands exports go to the European Union.
A delegation from the Falklands attended the UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council this week. This is the 20th meeting of the Leaders and Representatives from the UK Overseas Territories and Ministers of Her Majesty’s Government.
“The UK has sold out Falklands fishing for a Brexit era deal,” fishing company Fortuna Ltd Director James Wallace told Penguin News this week. He was replying to much general speculation as to why a Falkland Islands company with a long history of participation in the South Georgia toothfish fishery was refused licenses this season.
An initiative from the Falkland Islands to promote more effective collaboration between the British Overseas Territories for safeguarding children was opened for signature at the recent Joint Ministerial Council meeting held at Lancaster House in London.
In a Christmas message to Falkland Islanders, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is hopeful that the election of a new Argentine president “will allow us to move towards a more mature relationship”.