Anguilla News covers Anguilla
 |
|
Anguilla News
Bridging
Gaps & Expanding Horizons. |
|
|
|
|
|
Anguilla News covers Anguilla and the wider
Caribbean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
Anguilla’s
Elected Representatives At The Ninth OTCC Meeting In London |
 The
Valley, Anguilla, Monday, December 10th, 2007 – The
Honourable Osbourne B. Fleming and his delegation of five
returned home from participating in the Ninth Overseas
Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) held in London at
the BERR Conference Suite. At the close of the first day,
seven of thirteen sessions were completed, following the
opening prayer offered by Anguilla’s Chief Minister
Honourable Osbourne B. Fleming and the welcome remarks by
FCO Minister Meg Munn.
Session One focused on Constitutional Modernisation and was
chaired by Honourable Lowell Lewis of Montserrat. Session
Two focused on International Tax Co-operation chaired by FCO
Minister Meg Munn with opening statements by Financial
Secretary Jane Kennedy. Session Three’s topic was Air
Safety: ICAO Audit, and ASSI: Experiences, outcomes and
effectiveness. It was chaired by Councillor Janet Robertson
of the Falkland Islands with opening statements made by the
Minster of Aviation, Department of Transport Jim
Fitzpatrick.
Session Four which convened after lunch with the topic
Access to UK Health Care was chaired by the Honourable
Osbourne B. Fleming of Anguilla. Mr. Fleming told his
colleagues of his personal experienced and the difference
good health care can mean between life and death. He further
reiterated that the quotas needs to be increased as the
demands and cases are significantly on the increase. Mr.
Fleming said that those in need of specialised health care
need not die; they need not live without hope when there is
so much expertise available in the UK. The Head of European
Affairs, Department of Health Jonathan Mogford gave the
opening remarks on this topic.
Session Five focused on the UK Action Plan for combating
Corruption and was chaired by FCO Minister Meg Munn with
opening statements by John Hutton, Secretary of State,
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,
and UK Government Champion for Combating Overseas
Corruption. Session Six focused on Human Rights and FCO
Minister Munn chaired as well as gave the opening
statements. Session Seven was the final discussion for the
day. Its focused was the NAO Report on the Management of
Risk in the Overseas Territories. FCO Minister Munn chaired
this session and the opening remarks were made by Permanent
Under Secretary in the FCO Peter Ricketts.
The opening topic on this the final day was for Session 8
namely Environment Charters and Climate Change. Cayman Civil
Service College’s Role in delivering civil service reform
and improved service delivery which was slated for the final
day had already been shared in day one. When Chief Minister
Fleming took the floor on this topic he noted that this was
a commendable effort by the Cayman’s Government. Chief
Fleming stressed that the Civil Service is presently under
serious threat of attrition by competing forces and any
efforts made to strengthen and develop personnel is a step
in the right direction. The remaining topic for today’s
discussion included: Immigration: Philosophies and Policies;
UK Action Plans for Disaster Preparedness and Response; OT
Relations with the EU; Criminal Justice – The Role of
Governor and Elected Heads in Crime Management; Financing
Proposal/Technical Support for Regional Witness Protection
Programme.
The Honourable Victor Banks took the lead on the discussion
for Anguilla on the issue of the Environment. Mr. Banks
spoke of the need to strengthen resolve and commitment from
the countries as from the Overseas Territories. He drew much
laughter in his presentation when he highlighted this point
by mentioning that as he travelled to the conference this
morning he read a billboard that said “Screw Global Warming,
Let’s Fly.”
The Chief Minister highlighted Governor Andrew George’s
efforts in establishing a proactive plan for Disaster
Preparedness in Anguilla. Mr. Fleming in the presence of all
thanked the Governor and his staff had work assiduously to
create a plan that entailed preparation, mitigation,
response, and also relief. All the Overseas Territories had
delegations of six or more persons. It has become obvious
given the nature of the items on the agendas that Ministers
must carry persons with specialised knowledge in various
disciplines. The Overseas Territories Consultative Council,
as seen from the agenda, packs a lot of discussions within a
limited timeframe. It is therefore imperative that the
Overseas Territories, irrespective of quantities, have on
their delegations persons of quality who can speak with
authority and command the attention of all on proposed
positions in the varying discussions.
|
Advertisement - Article continues
below
|
| |
|
Anguilla Business Quick Links
|
