UK Parliament passes OT motion and other agreements; must now back it up

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#UnitedKingdom, May 19, 2023 – The United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories have revealed in detail what transpired at the Joint Ministerial Council on May 11th – 12th and highlights include promises of cash and more freedom and beefed up security.  Included in the list of 29 agreements was:

Political Partnership

• A reaffirmation of the right of self-determination for the peoples of the Territories;
• UK support for requests for the removal of the countries (who wish it) from the United Nations list of non-self- governing Territories

Irregular Migration 

• Over £10 million earmarked to support OT law enforcement and border security capability and capacity building.
• Acknowledgement of the irregular-migration challenges that some Overseas Territories are facing, including as a result of the current situation in Haiti, and a commitment to exploring options to increase support

Economic Resilience

• A commitment to meeting the reasonable needs of Territories where financial self-sufficiency is not possible, as the Overseas Territories continue to have the first call on the aid budget.
• Discussions re access to concessional financing,
• A brand new ministerial-level annual dialogue focused on tackling illicit finance, to be first held in the British Virgin Islands

The Environment

• £10 million per year until 2025 for applicants to Darwin Plus
• Commitment to prioritise climate change actions in UK funding;
• A new joint UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy;
• Technical support for OT’s in climate change
• A commitment to exploring ways to ensure that funding for the Overseas Territories is not cut short as a result of loss of access to EU environment funding

Maritime and shipping 

• Commitment to strengthening maritime capabilities in the territories and recognise the need for future investment by promoting defined career pathways and supporting those wishing to work in this essential industry.
•  Collaboration on ensuring effective maritime security within the Territories

Education 

• commitment to resolving problems with the process for issuance of visas for students with British Overseas Territories Citizenship to study in the UK.

In addition to that, the UK Parliament has unanimously passed a motion to defend the sovereignty and borders of Overseas Territories from foreign powers among other promises following this year’s Joint Ministerial Council Meeting.

The revelation was shared by the office of Alicia Kearns MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday May 12th. Communication passed on to the residents of the TCI by the Office of the Premier explained that following a Backbench Business Debate on the future of the OT’s  including the Turks and Caicos, UK politicians formally agreed to the following:

‘This House is committed to upholding the interests of British Overseas Territories and their citizens; recognises the special historical, cultural, and social bonds that bind the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories; and calls upon the Government to ensure that British Overseas Territories citizens’ rights as British citizens are upheld, to defend the sovereignty and borders of Overseas Territories from foreign powers, and to consider the unique circumstances of each Territory when formulating policies which affect them.’

The formal commitment solidifies the bare minimum of what the Overseas Territories have been asking of the United Kingdom for years and now the UK must put it into practice with funding and laws.  It is only immediate tangible support of this commitment that will truly benefit residents across the OT’s and validate the UKs claim to treating them as equal British Citizens.

Kearns’ Office said the OT’s have the genuine support of Members of Parliament as MPs from across the House urged the Government to ensure that the JMC was a success, and that OTs are listened to, and their requests acted on.

Kearns herself said she was “Full of optimism for the future of British OTs,” following the meeting.