Premier to take just four delegates to JMC

| 19/11/2013

(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin will be leading a small government delegation to Britain with him at the weekend when he leaves the Cayman Islands Saturday to attend the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London. Wayne Panton is the only other minister on the trip, and three civil servants will also be going: Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose; the JMC “Sherpa”, Jennifer Ahearn; and Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush. The delegation will be gone for just one week and there are no other trips planned to other countries by the government officials either before or after the London meeting, which is hosted by the FCO. The governor, Helen Kilpatrick, will also be attending the annual meeting.

The JMC is designed to bring leaders from the territories and the FCO’s OT minister and other UK cabinet officials together to provide a forum for the exchange of views on political and constitutional issues between the territories and the UK government.

“Our goal in the Cayman Islands is to build sustainable economies, create jobs and drive prosperity,” said McLaughlin. “Once we do these things, we can ensure a better quality of life for our citizens and visitors.”

The JMC takes place between the 25-29 November and discussions on strategies for promoting the security and issues such as good governance in all the overseas territories as well as economic diversification, attracting investment, vocational education and employment will be on the agenda. During the JMC, participants will also review and implement strategy and commitments in the 2012 White Paper ‘The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability’.

On Tuesday night the premier will host an invitation-only dinner for current and potential future Friends of Cayman at the InterContinental Hotel, Westminster, where he will deliver a speech and answer questions.

A major UK-Overseas Territories Business Forum will also be held alongside the JMC on 28 November. The event will provide an opportunity for the overseas territories delegates to meet with UK businesses and investors to explore opportunities in all of Britain’s territories.

The delegation will be gone for one week and will return to Cayman on Saturday, 30 November.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Can someone please explain to me what in the heck the "JMC “Sherpa”, that is currently a position being held by Jennifer Ahearn, as per the above article?

    • Anonymous says:

      The JMC only meets above 2000m.  It is in the rules.  Only specially trained lackeys can carry the papers and computers up to the meetings.  Some politicians try to get to the meeting but have to turn back to base camp. 

  2. Knot S Smart says:

    Poor Mac must feel so confined these days…

    Please Alden – bring him back a book or two for his library…