The Caribbean British Overseas Territories met with Bermuda in London ahead of the Joint Ministerial Council to be held on the 14th June in respect of Brexit. The unique issues faced by the islands were the mainstay of the discussion, coupled with the impact of the UK’s requirement of public registers of beneficial ownership in the financial services sectors within various territories, including Gibraltar.
The Chief Minister of Anguilla, Victor Banks, was accompanied by Mr Fritz Smith and Mrs Blondel Cluff, together with Charlie Wheeler, her Charger D’Affaire, who is on secondment from the West India Committee. Mr Jose Vanterpool, an Anguilla Student Ambassador who is shortly to graduate from Bristol University in Computer Science, also joined the delegation, and gained direct experience of this crucial stage in the relationship between the UK and its territories. The event is the second such caucus through which the Caribbean territories have had the benefit of addressing issues that are a priority to their region, the first having been hosted by the Cayman Islands in Miami shortly after the devastating hurricane season of 2017 and led to a vital meeting with the Prime Minister, Theresa May shortly after. https://spotyphoto.pixieset.com/cayman120618/
Over the week end Chief Minister Banks attended and participated in a number of community events. On Friday night he attended and spoke at the Anguilla Community Group Annual Anguilla Day Dinner and Dance. At this dinner he met and spoke with both the Member of Parliament and the Mayor of Slough.
Saturday June 9th he journeyed to Birmingham to a town hall meeting with the Anguilla Diaspora there. At the coming the Birmingham group selected a committee to coordinate the establishment of a formal Community Group there.
On Sunday afternoon he also attended and participate in the Annual Anguilla Day Fun Day in Slough.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
