Andrew Paterson from the FCO’s Financial and Economic Team said he is here to conduct a series of meetings with government officials and nongovernment organisations. He has been joined by Simon Stevens, the Overseas Territory Department programme leader for the UK’s Department for International Development, as well as consultant Peter Jensen.
“We’re here to meet with a range of stakeholders about the economy and public finances,” Mr. Paterson said, noting that the timing of the visit had nothing to do with Cayman’s current budget process.
“Our visit does not focus on this year’s budget,” he said.
Premier McKeeva Bush said contrary to what some might say, there is no bad blood between the FCO and the Cayman Islands Government.
“We have some of the best relations now that we’ve ever had,” he said.
Mr. Paterson said there had been some changes made in the UK toward all of the Overseas Territories and that the Cayman Islands had stepped up to embrace the changes.
“We’ve really enjoyed the dialogue,” he said. “It’s the sign of a healthy relationship that we can discuss these issues in a healthy way.”
The meetings will result in a report and recommendations to the Cayman Islands Government. Mr. Paterson said the recommendations wouldn’t necessarily be made public.
Related Videos
Stakeholders – would someone kindly explain who these are in Cayman, what and how many and what types of stakes are involved?
Is everyone awake?
Changes for the British Overseas Territories.
Recommendations will not necessarily be made public!
Why not? we all know they’re here, Does The UK feel that we know they’re up to something. Top Secret?
Is it Direct Rule or Independence? These new development projects isn’t helping any either.
Are they here to support the people or the Premier and Big Development? Are they concerned about these huge projects proposed by the Premier, are they here to stop him or to give him their support?
These are questions that need to be answered. This is going to be an interesting week.
The meetings will result in a report and recommendations to the Cayman Islands Government. Mr. Paterson said the recommendations wouldn’t necessarily be made public.
This is diplomatic speak for ‘they definitely won’t be made public’.
How long are the people of the Cayman Islands going to put up with having no direct say in their future and affairs by being stitched up by this coalition of their own elected CI Government and the officials of the Foreign Commonwealth Office, along with their own Governor ?
This situation could never happen in Britain, where we retain the right of public protest against anything the British Government does that we think is not in our best interest; there are no major secrets kept from the British population.
This development sounds very ominous for the
population of the Cayman Islands and they need to take steps to be informed and involved in whatever is going on here.
What kind of stakes involves?
Voters mistake electing these UDP and PPM useless GOP’s was Big Mac’s Beef Stake. He’s still holding the stake up in the air and still enjoying the nice flavor of the meat on his plate he’s been taking some huge bites out of that stake. Its called stakeholders! He’s eating New York steaks every night with his rich friends while Caymanians are jobless wondering where the next meal is coming from or if tomorrow they will still have a roof over their head. After all they can’t find a job to even pay their mortgage.
Will we wake up and smell the coffee? Stakeholders? We are forfeiting our rights to self determination to make British and their golden haired boys rich. When will we learn that we can manage our own affairs. We don’t rely on the British for anything. They are the only ones to gain by this colonial relationship. Everywhere we turn there is someone or some force undermining our rights to free will. Let’s learn from what happened to our neighbors in Turks and Caicos. The British will keep poking us from every angle until they can prove that we aren’t fit to take care of ourselves.
Tiger
Time for the talking to end and the action to start.
I’m on your side all the way here;the worldwideweb is the way to go to organise.
They’ve been sucking our country dry for a long time and some poor and decent people are on their last legs now and need organised help.
I’m only waiting to see one home-based organization that I can trust…
And my help is guaranteed.
Let’s get it started !
I get the distinct impression they were being economical with the truth.