JMC Communique signed, UK Territories confirmed as top of the list for Financial Aide  

The UK’s aid budget is just over $14 billion US dollars, and the overseas territories are at the top of the list when it comes to who is most qualified to access financial aid.

In a communique signed following the Joint Ministerial Council meeting held at Whitehall in London on November 16 and 17, it was agreed that any funding the territories need will be supported by the UKs aid budget.

The fact, was expressly outlined in the communique.

“The UK will continue to consider further requests for financial support on a case-by-case basis. The UK remains committed to meeting the reasonable assistance needs of Territories where financial self-sufficiency is not possible, as the Overseas Territories are a first call on the aid budget. End of the excerpt.  Territories had enjoyed significant financial support on a myriad of projects through the European Union’s development fund.”

The UK exited the EU last year officially.

Apart from the sound fiscal management required of the territories, the UK has expressed commitment to helping OTs achieve economic diversification, resilience building from economic shocks like the Coronavirus pandemic and exploring investment options.

Photo Caption: The Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). You may have heard the Premier say he was visiting the UK to take part in the JMC and it opened today (Nov 17) in the Lacarno Conference Room in King Charles Street (the home of the FCDO). TCI’s Deputy Premier is accompanying as am I. It’s the first time the JMC has met in person for three years – last year was virtual and the year before it was cancelled because of the UK General Election.  Alongside TCI’s Premier are the Premiers or equivalent of all the Overseas Territories and Sovereign Base Areas. The OT’s represent extraordinary diversity and their leaders have travelled to London from across the globe.  Fascinating talking in the margins to, for example, representatives from the Ascension Islands, Gibraltar and Tristan da Cunha as well as those far closer to our Caribbean home. And we’ve just heard a presentation from Pitcairn (population of 45 from ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame) in particular on their extraordinary ambition around Marine Protection Zones.