Former governors visit Cayman for eco-conference

(CNS): Michael Gore and Bruce Dinwiddy, two former governors with a strong interest in the environment, came back to Cayman last week to take part in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF). The two men joined visitors from across the UK’s Overseas Territories, various dignitaries and Cayman’s own delegation from the Department of the Environment to discuss a number of common conservation issues, from invasive species to environmental education.

The conference was held 30 May to 5 June at the Ritz Carlton, Cayman, where Huw Irranca-Davies, the UK’s Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), also made time on a two-day visit to Cayman to give a presentation.

Dinwiddy, who was on his first return trip to the Cayman Islands since his tour as governor ended, said he was very pleased to be back and thought the conference had been a great success. Chair of the Wider Caribbean Working Group of UKOTCF, Dinwiddy said he had an interest in conservation and environmental issues that went back to his days as a biology student.

“There was some excellent discussion, and I believe the issues relating to climate change and bio-diversity were particularly interesting. There are strong common interests across the territories which was highlighted by the conference theme, ‘Making the right connections’. It was also good to see the minister give a presentation, which was very good and helps to enforce the commitment of the UK to the projects going on in the OTs,” he added.

Dinwiddy noted that it was good to see so many young people at the conference and said that the issue of education regarding conservation and environmental issue had also been a key discussion point.

More than one hundred people from all of the Overseas Territories including a number of stakeholders from Cayman took part in the conference.