Premier André Ebanks is heading up the Cayman Islands delegation to London for the UK’s annual Joint Ministerial Council meetings.
The meetings, which will run from 24 to 28 Nov., act as a talking shop for the political leaders of the UK and its overseas territories. This week’s agenda includes financial stability and economic growth; climate resilience and environmental stewardship; and technological governance and security.
Stephen Doughty, the UK’s minister for overseas territories, will lead the meetings. Doughty visited the Cayman Islands in September.
Ebanks, who is also minister for financial services and commerce, says he is determined to use the week as an opportunity to dispel misunderstandings about Cayman’s role as a global financial centre.
“Being in London this week affords our delegation an in-person opportunity to clarify or dispel inaccuracies, with respect to our well-regulated financial services framework,” he said in a 24 Nov. press release.
“It is not uncommon, particularly during JMC week, for selective, outdated or erroneous information to be circulated, and our delegation will utilise this visit to brief and update relevant UK stakeholders,” said Ebanks.
Comprehensive schedule
The premier has brought a full-strength team with him, including Rolston Anglin, minister for finance and economic development; Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, minister for health, environment and sustainability; Jay Ebanks, minister of planning, lands, agriculture, housing and infrastructure; Julie Hunter, parliamentary secretary; and Samuel Bulgin, attorney general.
The week will also include meetings with UK public bodies, such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Cayman Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group, as well as with private-sector entities, especially in the financial sector.
The London visit will culminate with Cayman Day, the celebration of Caymanian culture, heritage and identity in London. Hosted by the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK, the annual event attracts members of the Caymanian diaspora as well as UK residents who want to learn more about the islands.
It’s the beginning of a busy travel schedule for the premier, who will also lead delegations to India and the US, during early December.
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Back on the travel bandwagon, as soon as they finish this trip, they are off to the U.S. and India. Hopefully the Compass can advise readers why they are all visiting India, I see no obvious connection. However here we have more examples of the need to hit the private sector with more fees to “improve public finance”.
Waste tax payers funds is all they doing.