UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES THE NEWSLETTER OF UKOTA · FEBRUARY 2021 Covid-19 vaccine roll-out to Overseas Territories (© Govt. Gibraltar) | EU Exit | COVID-19 | | Joint Ministerial Council | | Mental Health Webinar | | UKOTA AGM and new President | TERRITORY NEWS Prince of Wales and PM contribute to Joint Ministerial Council 2020 The 2020 Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) took covered a wide range of topics, including the The environment session was addressed by the place between 23 and 26 November. For the economy, COVID-19 response and recovery, Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith, FCDO/DEFRA Minister first time ever, due to the UK Government’s the impact of the UK’s withdrawal of the for Pacific and the Environment, and was chaired COVID-19 restrictions, the JMC was EU, protecting vulnerable groups, and the by Hon Dr John Cortes MP, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and held virtually: it followed two previous environment both in the run up to COP26 and beyond. Education in the Government of Gibraltar. The postponements resulting from the 2019 UK overriding message from this session was the General Election and the pandemic. Opening remarks were made by UKOTA need for the UK Government to engage with the The JMC is the highest forum for political President Cllr Derek Thomas from St Helena Territories on COP26 and then to ensure we are dialogue and consultation between UK and and the JMC was addressed by the Prime meaningfully involved in Glasgow later this year. elected leaders and representatives of the Minister Boris Johnson who reiterated the UK’s With the Territories representing over 90 per Overseas Territories. It exists to provide commitment to the Overseas Territories and cent of the UK’s biodiversity we have an exciting leadership and promote co-operation in areas to working together in partnership to tackle story to tell, and it will be to everyone’s benefit of mutual interest. It provides a forum for the many of the challenges facing both the UK and for us to showcase this at COP26. the Territories, including COVID-19 and climate exchange of views on political and constitutional Whilst this virtual JMC was no substitute for the change. issues between the governments of the usual in-person meeting, it did allow for a wider Overseas Territories and the UK Government; variety of elected representatives and specialists to promote the security and good governance His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales addressed the JMC ahead of the debate on the to join from the Territories. A news report can of the Territories and their sustainable economic be viewed here. and social development; and to agree priorities, environment. Prince Charles spoke about the develop plans, and review implementation. extraordinary biodiversity in the Territories, the For full details of the outcomes of the JMC important environmental work being done at a and the commitments made by both the UK Chaired by the then Minister for the Overseas local level, and he singled out the Government Government and the Territories, please read the Territories, Baroness Sugg CBE, and the Minister and people of Tristan da Cunha for specific praise UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council for European Neighbourhood and the Americas, following their announcement that the Territory 2020 communiqué, which can be found on the Wendy Morton MP (who has responsibility is to create one of the world’s largest marine FCDO website. View here the video by HRH for the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar), the JMC reserves. Prince of Wales. 2 Territories seek clarity after EU Exit Bermuda Elected Chair of UKOTA On 24 December, the UK Government and funding, and wider cooperation and engagement. the European Union agreed their Trade and As a consequence, goods exported to the EU Co-operation Agreement, bringing to an end from the Territories are now subject to the four-and-a-half years of uncertainty. EU’s Common External Tariff and no formal mechanism exists for our future engagement The UK Overseas Territories respect the decision with the EU. taken in the 2016 referendum to withdraw from the EU. Once the outcome was clear, we Whilst we appreciate that the UK negotiating always believed it was in the wider interests of team raised our issues in the negotiations and the Territories for the UK to make a success of that, as a result of there being no mandate on life outside the EU. With this in mind we were the EU side for such discussions, the matter pleased that the UK was able to reach a deal could progress no further, we now find ourselves with the EU and that this deal was supported in a very challenging position and are urgently overwhelmingly by MPs in Westminster and seeking clarification from the UK Government leaders across the EU. as to how we move forward. For UKOTA our priorities are having tariffs lifted, establishing a The deal however makes no provision for new relationship with EU, and looking at what the UK’s Overseas Territories and no other mechanisms the UK Government will be putting agreement was concluded regarding our future in place to replace EU funding streams such as relationship with the EU in terms of trade, the European Development Fund. Ms Kimberley Durrant, Bermuda Government UK Representative Congratulations to Bermuda who take over the presidency of UKOTA from St Helena, COVID-19 following the UKOTA AGM on 14 January. COVID-19 has impacted each of the UK’s Whilst each Territory has put in place plans to The new officers are: inhabited Overseas Territories differently. deal with its own specific circumstances, it is fair Chair: Ms Kimberley Durrant, Bermuda Whilst some have managed to remain COVID- to say that the response has been impressive as Government UK Representative free, others have had a significant number Territories have used their own resources to of cases and, tragically, a number of COVID- deploy innovative programmes and there will Secretariat: Karen Mentiply, UKOTA Secretariat be much that others could learn from this work. related deaths. This local work has been bolstered with support Hon Secretary: Tracy Knight, UK Representative The Territories, like countries across the globe, from the UK Government, whether it is the for the Turks & Caicos Islands have also seen borders closed, flights cancelled, sharing of best practice, regular engagement from Hon Treasurer: Chris Carnegy, UK Representative tourism collapse, unemployment rise, and normal Public Health England and Territory Chief Medical for the Government of Tristan da Cunha life put on hold. Officers, the provision of PPE and vaccines, and in some cases the provision of ventilators and COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone, additional medical capacity. We are all incredibly but with limited resources, smaller and more grateful for this additional support, not least the vulnerable populations, and remote locations, vaccines that are currently being rolled out it has been particularly challenging for the UK’s in the Territories. Overseas Territories. Mental Health Webinar UKOTA, with the support of the UK and practices; and to engage with the UK A moving intervention came from a Cayman Government, organised a webinar on Mental Government and NGOs to better understand Islands mother who described the distress brought by her son’s mental illness. Health in December 2020. This approach was support that could be available to the OTs taken after the planned physical workshop The webinar was facilitated by Poppy Jaman OBE, The feedback from participants was positive, in London for Territory Leaders had to be Global Ambassador for Mental Health and CEO, with 91% saying they would be definitely cancelled on two previous occasions. City Mental Health Alliance. There were 100 interested in participating in future webinars registered participants with representation from and 9% saying maybe. The feedback also The event aimed to increase understanding of every territory that had the required connectivity. identified the areas of Mental Health the mental health issues in the Overseas Territories, Speakers included elected representatives territories would like to focus on in future. and the context and constraints of accessing from St Helena and Gibraltar, officials from funding and technical assistance/advice; to key Whitehall departments and agencies, and provide a forum for exchange of knowledge campaigners from mental health charities. 3 Anguilla Tourism using an island bubble concept Anguilla has been a popular destination for Premier Webster, a medical doctor, stated that November saw the launch of Anguilla’s “island tourists for many years – according to the Anguilla’s objective “has always been to reopen bubble” concept – while visitors technically 2020 World’s Best Awards survey, it was voted in a prudent way, taking every precaution to must quarantine on arrival and follow general Travel + Leisure readers’ favourite island in the protect the health and safety of our residents COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, Caribbean. Though the COVID-19 pandemic and our guests”. sanitizing and hygiene practices – they can still enjoy a relaxing and activity-filled holiday. has certainly had a devastating effect on the According to Anguilla Tourist Board chairman tourism industry – not only for Anguilla, Kenroy Herbert, the island is “uniquely positioned Bubbles have been formed between hotels, but for fellow UK OTs – Anguilla’s Premier, to take advantage” of the “new normal” that resorts and villas, plus a selection of approved Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster, was pleased to requires health and safety precautions such as amenities, restaurants, bars, services and activity announce phase two of Anguilla’s reopening social distancing. providers – such as water sports and beach yoga. Under current regulations, still in force as we plan on the 1st November 2020, with new “We are a little off the beaten track, our requirements for entry.