🇬🇧 UK general election halts strategy for overseas territories

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced that work on the UK/Overseas Territories strategy has been put on hold due to the upcoming UK general election. Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly of the Cayman Islands, who recently returned from a UK visit, expressed her hope that the new UK government will work closely with the overseas territories to strengthen their relationship. She also stated that the Cayman Islands Government remains committed to working with the UK for the benefit of the Cayman people. 🌍

During her UK visit, O’Connor-Connolly met with the current overseas territories minister, David Rutley, and members of the Labour Party’s Shadow Cabinet, Anna McMorrin and Stephen Doughty. The discussions focused on the suspended UK/Overseas Territories Strategy, home fees for Caymanian students in the UK, preparations for the upcoming hurricane season, national security and irregular migration issues, and the beneficial ownership register. The premier also hosted a reception at the Palace of Westminster with members of the Cayman Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and other members of the Commons and the House of Lords. 🏛️

O’Connor-Connolly expressed gratitude for the ongoing support for the Cayman Islands and praised the efforts of the UK representative, Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, in raising the Cayman Islands profile in London. Despite high-level meetings on issues relating to Cayman’s offshore sector, Financial Services Minister André Ebanks was not part of the delegation. The premier instead chose to take Planning Minister Jay Ebanks and his chief officer Eric Bush. The reason for their inclusion in the visit remains unclear. 🤝