BRADES, Montserrat, October 11th, 2011 – Montserratians are being invited to share their views on a new White Paper to look at the future relationship between the British Government and the Overseas Territories.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, announced to Parliament on 14 September that the Government had agreed the principles of a new strategy for the Overseas Territories.

The British Government said it would hold consultations in the OTs on the White Paper with the Governments of each Territory, as well as with members of the public.

The UK Government’s overall vision is for the Overseas Territories “to be vibrant and flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of their British identity and generating wider opportunities for their people. We are focussing on three practical policy goals to help us deliver implement the strategy:

“(i) to strengthen the engagement and interaction between the UK and the Territories.

“(ii) to work with Territories to strengthen good governance arrangements, public financial management and economic planning where this is necessary; and
“(iii) to improve the quality and range of support available to the Territories.
In order to have this public consultation a specific web site has been created, the address of which is: http://ukoverseasterritories.readandcomment.com/

In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) in London is inviting contributions by other means as well and on island a radio call-in programme on ZJB Radio Montserrat will be held to give the public a chance to share their views.

The FCO is particularly seeking views on six specific areas:
1) What are the main challenges facing your Territory/the Territories?

2) What are the most important areas of cooperation between your Territory/the Territories and the UK? In what areas would you like to see greater engagement and interaction between the UK and your Territory/the Territories? How can the UK and your Territory/the Territories strengthen cooperation and build more effective partnerships?

3) How do you assess the quality of good governance, public financial management and economic planning in your Territory/the Territories? What are the priorities for improvement? How can the UK best work with your Territory/the Territories to strengthen these areas?

4) What do you think of the quality and range of external support apart from the UK available to your Territory/the Territories, including from regional bodies, the Commonwealth, and the European Union? What can the UK best do to help Territories access external support?

5) What potential do you see for increased cooperation and partnership between Territories? In which areas does/do your Territory/the Territories provide support to other Territories? How might this be expanded?

6) How does your Territory/the Territories promote its/their successes? What more could be done to raise Territories’ profiles internationally? How can the UK best support this?

The implementation of these policies will take different forms in each Territory. We will publish a White Paper on the Territories in 2012 that will set out in detail this Government’s approach to the Overseas Territories. To inform this process, we invite people to answer a set of six questions, the responses to which will used to help identify the priorities for action in each relationship.

Persons can respond:
• online, by leaving a public comment on this site under any or all of the questions (comments will be checked against our moderation policy before publication);

• by private email to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London;

• by post to: Overseas Territories Directorate (Consultation), Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, United Kingdom, SW1A 2AH

Comments will be accepted until 31 December 2011; this website will remain available for reference until 1 July 2012.
 

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