CIG heads to London for annual territories meeting
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin will lead a delegation of five people from the Cayman government, accompanied by Governor Helen Kilpatrick, to London tomorrow for the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, Senior Political Advisor Roy Tatum, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Home Affairs Ministry Chief Officer Eric Bushand this year’s JMC Sherpa, Jason Webster, will join the premier for the meetings to discuss political and constitutional issues between the governments of the Territories and the UK Government. It is the first time that McLaughlin will meet the latest OT minister, James Duddridge, who was appointed after Mark Simmonds announced he was leaving politics because of the poor pay.
Duddridge wrote to McLaughlin this week confirming that he would be watching carefully the progression being made on restoring the local public finances after government sent the FCO junior minister the Strategic Policy Statement in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
In addition to public finances, the OT leaders and UK officials will discuss strategies for promoting the security and good governance of all Overseas Territories as well as economic diversification, attracting investment, vocational education and employment. They will also review and implement strategy and commitments in the 2012 White Paper ‘The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability’.
“It is vitally important that we attend the JMC each year to keep the Cayman Islands in the forefront. Through our participation we can ensure that Cayman remains in the global spotlight and continues to build sustainable economies, create jobs and drive prosperity,” said the premier. “Once we do these things, we can ensure a better quality of life for our citizensand visitors.”
On Saturday, 29 November, McLaughlin will host a reception for Cayman students who are studying in the UK. And on 4 December he will host an invitation-only dinner for the Friends of Cayman, where he will deliver a speech and answer questions.
The CIG delegation returns to Cayman on Friday, 5 December.
Category: Politics
How fortunate that the UK gives so much time and effort to assist its territories.
For God in Heaven's sake, Pit Bull, your efforts to annoy Caymanians with this sort of stuff are getting very weak. You used to have a pleasing edginess to your barbs but more recent efforts have lacked subtlety. A Daily Mail approach rather than a Private Eye one.
I modified my approach to meet the audience demographic. It improves my social media footprint, apparently.
Cayman has to be represented at the Overseas Territories Council.
Would you prefer they didn't go??
Then you'd calling them lazy for not attending
Damned if they do and damned if they dont!!
Stop your whinging for goodness sake.
Here we go..the nay sayers out already. If it was not for Mummy watching over their shoulders, the budget would be spiralling out of control- do you want to be another Jamaica? If not then sometimes Mummy comes to child and child has to sometimes go to Mummy. No evidence yet of Ministers abusing the system as the previous leaders did..
Here go more waste money on first clas flights and 5 star hotel!
If only there were first class flights from Cayman. You have to slum it in outdated business seats.
Actually unlike the previous Premier, this one usually travels premium economy and all stay at the Holiday Inn next to the London Office!
Bush would have stayed at the Ritz Carlton across the street for four times as much or more and pay for his larger entourage tojoin him there as well!
So, wrong on the first class and five star!
You seem to have mixed this administration up with McKeeva's. They have their faults but that is not one of them.
8:24 did you complain about the football team that recently made a trip to New Zealand? Wonder how much that cost? To kick around a ball.
Oh how they love a good junket.
What a waste of time and good air miles……