Caribbean News
List of Demands for UK, presented by Overseas Territories at May 4-6 meetings
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#UnitedKingdom, May 19, 2022 – Speakers of the House from Overseas Territories in the Caribbean met with the UK House of Commons in the first ever Speaker-led conference to discuss issues relating to governance, climate and visibility in the House of Commons and provide the UK with an idea of what they say is necessary for OTs to survive.
The meeting held on May 4th to 6th was attended by Speakers from Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, the UK House of Commons and a representative from Gibraltar.
A communique released after the event made it clear that democracy was of utmost import to the small island states.
“We reaffirmed the central role played by legislatures in democratic life, our commitment to the principles of democracy in our legislatures, the sacredness of democracy and the need for partnership to sustain it. As our legislatures bring together all components of society, they are the cornerstones of democratic governance; they represent the wills and expressions of the people through scrutiny and democratic process,” it said.
Governance
In order to support the legislature the OTs requested that the UK government provide funding for them to have a
‘dedicated building in which to carry out its activities and duties’ as well as investment in the training of officials and sharing of best practices. The Speakers also requested that funding be provided for any constitutional reviews should the issue arise.
To ensure that the overseas territories have a voice in legislation in the UK that affects them the UK Speaker promised to explore opportunities for OTs to scrutinise these laws . Additionally the UK Speaker said the house of commons was willing to help facilitate parliamentary representation of the Overseas Territories at the UK Parliament if the territories decided they wanted to.
The Speakers requested that outside of this the UK provide detailed Impact Assessments for any bill that would affect them
Climate Change
Aptly described as a climate emergency in the communique the speakers noted that while the OTs were bastions of nature the volatility with which climate change was occurring would directly impact overseas territories first and worst.
“The Overseas Territories are custodians of internationally important habitats, which span the globe from the Antarctic to the Caribbean, the South Atlantic to the Pacific and the Indian Oceans with different geographical challenges…We recognise that the Overseas Territories have multiple levels of vulnerability including economic constraints and challenges of infrastructure which mean the impacts of the climate emergency can result in huge environmental disasters and economic impacts” it said.
Thus the countries called for long term, strategic action by the UK including dedicated and transparent funding to replace lost EU funding caused by Brexit. They also thanked the UK for their commitment to biodiversity.
The territories ended on a firm note emphasising their right to self-determination saying, “We reiterate our shared belief that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, as enshrined in the UN Charter, applies to the peoples of the Overseas Territories.”
Montego Bay(JIS) – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the city stands to benefit significantly from hosting the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), slated for July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.
The meeting will bring together regional leaders to engage in high-level policy discussions on a range of issues, including regional security, climate change and trade.
In an interview with JIS News, Mayor Vernon said Montego Bay’s selection as host city, solidifies its position as a leading Caribbean destination for events of this magnitude.
“It places [Montego Bay] not only as a strategic location, but a viable option across the Caribbean for events of this nature. We are indeed setting ourselves apart as that place to host high-level regional discussions,” he said.
Highlighting the city’s track record, Mayor Vernon noted that Montego Bay has hosted several CARICOM events in the past, including the
landmark 2003 meeting where the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development was adopted.
“[It] tells a story. It positions us as a key meeting place for important regional policy discussions,” the Mayor said. He added that the upcoming conference is expected to tackle critical matters such as transportation, telecommunications, digitalization of the tourism industry, regional security, climate financing, food and nutrition security, external trade negotiations, and Haiti.
“Montego Bay is positioned to facilitate these discussions within its space, and that is also key for Jamaica as we look to expand in these areas,” Councillor Vernon outlined.
The Mayor also underscored the importance of regional integration.
“We hope that these discussions will deepen the integration process, because we can indeed benefit from regionalism, especially in light of what is happening globally,” he stated.
Referencing his earlier proposal for a regional disaster response hub, Councillor Vernon said the discussions around climate change and public safety could further promote coordinated approaches among CARICOM member states.
He also expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event.
“We are putting all the necessary things in place to ensure that we not only have a safe event, but a great experience for our visitors,” he assured.
Mayor Vernon also took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1.
The CARICOM conference will be held under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.
CONTACT: SERENA GRANT
JIS MONTEGO BAY
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION
BEGINS
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 2 July 2025: The 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth
Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), concluded Friday 6th June at The Landings Resort & Spa, after rallying attendees under the theme “Recommitting to Fighting Corruption Effectively and Sustainably in the Caribbean.” Over five impactful days, delegates tackled corruption’s entrenched challenges with renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and leadership.
Artificial Intelligence An impactful demonstration was provided by His Excellency, Professor Luis Franceschi Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, on the benefits and drawbacks of the use of Artificial Intelligence. Anti-Corruption Bodies were encouraged to start getting familiar with the technology to better understand how it can be leveraged in the fight against corruption.
Country Updates Reflect Shared Progress and Challenges
Reports from member organisations highlighted major strides in public education, asset declaration, and investigative framework. Yet, countries also reported ongoing constraints, including human resource limitations, political resistance, and inadequate statutory framework.
SWOT & Synergy: Regional Blueprint for Collective Action
Dr. Roger Koranteng of the Commonwealth Secretariat led a comprehensive SWOT analysis session, providing a candid assessment of operational realities. He concluded with strong calls for enhanced synergy among member bodies and for adopting a unified voice in policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, and legal reform. The Ghanaian experience offers a valuable comparative model.
Leadership: Courage, Vision & Transformation Needed
With corruption becoming more normalised globally, presenters—including leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia, St.
Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago—challenged the attending institutions to embrace transformational leadership. Recommendations included institutional resilience training, succession planning, and performance benchmarking.
United Front: Call to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond
The conference recognised the benefits of extending the membership of the Association beyond the original constituents of English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and signified its willingness to accept and encourage membership of Integrity Commissions and anti-corruption bodies of the wider Caribbean countries. “Corruption knows no language barriers—our fight must be collective,” stated Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph, Chairperson of the CCAICACB.
Digital Transformation: VLEX Software Considered
The conference marked a major step forward with the agreement to further investigate the benefits of the VLEX Legal Database-driven AI system, designed to strengthen legal research, asset recovery, and case management initiatives. The Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM IMPACS, and UNODC, received the presentation well, however the rest of the association would communicate their interest to the Turks and Caicos Islands Commission, which was taking the lead in investigating the possibilities.
Key Recommendations Going Forward to consider:
- Region-wide adoption of technology integration
- Legislative reforms to streamline access to declarant information
- Youth-centred anti-corruption education campaigns
- Institutional collaboration and peer reviews across commissions
- To explore extending invitations of membership to CCAICACB to other Caribbean countries
- An introduction to the idea of an International Corruption Court
The conference closed with a stirring call to recommit—not just in words, but in action—to building a future rooted in transparency, justice, and ethical leadership across the Commonwealth Caribbean and beyond.
Media Contact: TCI Integrity Commission Email: info@integritycommission.tc Website: www.integritycommission.tc
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: TCI Integrity Commission Team (left to right)- Jovan Flemming (IT Specialist Security Manager),Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Wendal Swann (Commissioner) and Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer).
1st insert: Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer)
2nd insert: Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson – Chair
3rd insert: (left to right): Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph(Chair CCAICACB) and Charna Pompier (Director Integrity Commission, St. Maarten).
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