The United Kingdom’s overseas territories minister, Stephen Doughty, has published a statement giving an overview of the latest Joint Ministerial Council (JMC), which he called “positive and constructive”.
The 12th event, held in London from 19 to 21 November, saw attendance from elected leaders and representatives of the UK overseas territories, including Montserrat.
It was one of the first appointments of newly elected Premier Reuben Meade, who was accompanied by Governor Sarah Tucker.
In his statement, Doughty described the JMC as the highest forum for political dialogue and consultation between the elected leaders of the overseas territories and UK ministers.
This year, attendees met under the strap-line of ‘Listen, transform, deliver – Together’, which the minister said reflects the UK’s desire to build closer relationships, based on mutual respect and inclusion.
He added that it aimed to transform the UK’s relationship with the overseas territories in order to deliver greater security and prosperity.
Resetting the relationship
Doughty chaired the council and was joined by several ministerial colleagues including the home officer minister, armed forces minister, climate minister, public health minister and early education minister.
Representatives from UK Export Finance – the UK government’s export credit agency – and the Joint Maritime Security Centre also joined.
Some of the key themes of discussion were resetting the relationship between the UK and the overseas territories, security and irregular migration, and economic diversification and resilience.
Other topics included tackling illicit finance, environment and climate change, overseas development assistance, and breaking down barriers to opportunity for citizens.
“Discussions were positive and constructive, reflecting a shared desire to transform the relationship,” Doughty said in his statement.
He went on to say that elected leaders of the overseas territories “warmly welcomed” the five principles he set out to guide the UK’s relationship with their elected governments.
They included:
- Devolution and democratic autonomy for the overseas territories.
- Listening to the overseas territories, following the principle of ‘nothing about you without you’.
- Partnership with the overseas territories based on mutual respect and inclusion – rights come with responsibilities.
- Good governance and ensuring proper democratic accountability and regulation.
- Defending the overseas territories’ security, autonomy and rights, including the right of self-determination.
The minister said the council agreed priorities and set out commitments and areas for joint work in the year ahead.
Welcome changes
In his statement, Doughty said JMC attendees welcomed that each UK government department has an assigned minister with responsibility for the overseas territories.
He explained that he convenes and chairs this group to ensure mission-driven focus on the overseas territories.
The minister added that representatives welcomed the extension of access to the Leadership College for Government for permanent secretaries (or equivalents) of the overseas territories.
“This will build expertise and help develop senior peer relationships between the overseas territories and the UK,” he said.
During the meeting, attendees discussed the complex and varied security and irregular migration challenges of the overseas territories.
“The UK and the overseas territories’ governments expressed their solidarity with the government and people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in respect of the security challenges they currently face and committed to working together across the British family to assist where possible,” he said.
Attendees also discussed the vital role of the overseas territories’ stewardship of internationally important and unique environments and ecosystems, including protecting 94% of unique biodiversity.
Doughty said representatives welcomed the commitment of the foreign secretary that climate and nature crisis will be central to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s work.
This builds on the UK prime minister’s commitment that climate and nature will be at the centre of the cross-UK Government missions.
Economic growth
Doughty said the attendees also discussed economic growth and resolved to promote and encourage trade and investment as key engines of prosperity.
“Tackling illicit finance across the UK, OTs and Crown dependencies is a government priority. We agreed to work in partnership on this important agenda,” he wrote.
During the meeting, the minister emphasised the importance of implementing Publicly Accessible Registers for Beneficial Ownership (PARBOs).
The UK has set out the ambition for this becoming the global norm and the expectation that the overseas territories would implement registers that are fully accessible to the public.
Montserrat has joined Gibraltar in implementing a public register and commitments were made by St Helena – which recently passed legislation – and the Falklands Islands to implement these by April 2025.
Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands will have legislation on legitimate interest access registers of beneficial ownership approved through their respective legislatures by April 2025, with implementation by June 2025 or earlier.
Joint communiqué
The JMC agreed a joint communiqué, which was issued following the conclusion of the meeting and published on the gov.uk website.
The UK’s prime minister and foreign secretary attended the closing session of the council underscoring their determination to reset the relationship with the overseas territories.
King Charles II later spent time meeting with representatives of the overseas territories at the annual reception for the diplomatic corps at Buckingham Palace.
“The overseas territories are an invaluable part of the British family. The UK has a responsibility to ensure security and good governance of the overseas territories and their peoples,” Doughty said.
Read the minister’s statement in full here, and access the joint communiqué in full here.
