Hague Seeks 'Modern Relationship' With Overseas Territories

by Phillip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

23 January 2012

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced that he will lead one of the strongest ever delegations of UK ministers and senior officials to attend the UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum to coincide with the government's review of its relationship with its overseas territories.

Hague said the commitment is a sign of the strength the United Kingdom attaches to its 'enduring friendship' with the Caribbean, and the desire to use the forum to 'mark a step change in our relationship'. “We believe this will herald a transition to a more modern, dynamic and forward looking affiliation,” Hague said.

“This certainly does not mean that I want to throw away all of the strong bonds that tie the UK and the region together... but at the same time I believe that our relationship in recent years has been too backward-looking and less equal than it should be for the twenty-first century.”

“We know what the relationship used to be, we have a feel for what it is now, but this Forum is all about determining what that relationship will be for the future.”

Hague said that a modern relationship between the UK and Caribbean should centre around three principles:

“Firstly, it should be a modern partnership,” Hague said, “a relationship of equals that sets the right tone for the twenty-first century. This should take the best from our shared history and culture and focus on working together to shape the global agenda to our mutual benefit.”

“We already do this on climate change - where we worked together successfully at Durban - and the Commonwealth - where we achieved a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth last autumn. But we should look to take this further and cooperate more closely on some of the big international issues..."

“Secondly we need a dynamic partnership that delivers real benefits for our citizens. This means continuing and strengthening our efforts to make our streets safer by tackling the problems of drug and violent crime that blight all of our communities.”

“Finally, the UK’s relationship with the Caribbean should be a broad-based partnership that involves business, civil society and ordinary people. That is why I am so pleased that we are starting the Forum with a meeting of UK and Caribbean companies.”

“The private sector is the engine of growth for our economies, so it is right that they frame the questions that we politicians will discuss. The UK is a major investor in the Caribbean.”

“I look forward to discussing these issues, as well as our full range of national and international interests at the Forum this weekend. This is an invaluable opportunity for the UK to work with its partners in the Caribbean for a strong, equal and prosperous partnership based on shared ideals and mutual understanding.”

The British Overseas Territories include the Caribbean territories of: Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Monserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Recommended