British Government launches consultation process on relationship between UK & Overseas Territories
The consultation process will finish on December 31, 2011.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– The British Government, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office, launched a consultation process on the relationship between the UK and the Overseas Territories yesterday September 26, 2011.
The aim of the consultation is to identify what can be done to improve the functioning of the relationship between the UK and each territory.
The consultation is being carried out simultaneously in all 14 Overseas Territories and involves a set of six questions:
1) What are the main challenges facing your Territory?
2) What are the most important areas of cooperation between your Territory and the UK? In what areas would you like to see greater engagement and interaction between the UK and your Territory? How can the UK and your Territory 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? What are the priorities for improvement? How can the UK best work with your Territory 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, 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 your Territory provide support to other Territories? How might this be expanded?
6) How does your Territory promote its successes? What more could be done to raise your profile internationally? How can the UK best support this?
Governor’s Office, PO Box 702, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Telephone: (1) 284 494 2370/2345. Fax: (1) 284 494 5790. Email: bvigovernor@gov.vg
These questions can be accessed on a dedicated website at http://ukoverseasterritories.readandcomment.com/. The website provides the option of either posting comments publicly or to sending them in private.
The British Government wants this consultation process to include a broad range of opinion in the Overseas Territories as possible. The Governor, Mr Boyd McCleary encourages as many people in the Virgin Islands as possible to take part.
If you wish to send your contribution direct to London the address for this is:
Overseas Territories Consultation
Strategy and Co-ordination Section
Room K220
Overseas Territories Directorate
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
If you would prefer to write to the Governor’s Office, we will ensure that your contribution is passed to London.
The consultation process will finish on December 31, 2011.
5 Responses to “British Government launches consultation process on relationship between UK & Overseas Territories”
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For all the comments that are made about the UK and it’s governance on the BVI I am surprised that there are no comments here. People should welcome the opportunity to respond to these questions. It is in their interest to speak out when able. I highly recommend that the Governor’s office do all he can to publicize these questions and provide people the opportunity to give their opinions. Many people feel comfortable posting their comments on websites and it is welcoming to see that this is an option being afforded to them. But please Governor McCleary advertise this questionairre so people hear about it.
The UK governing the BVI is a waste of UK tax payers monies, there is nothing reciprocal in the arrangment. BVI only draw from the UK’s resources and gains citizenship. UK citizens can reside in the BVI for 20 years and not be given any kind of status.
Perhaps its time that England lets lose the BVI and allow them to govern their own affairs, or incorporate it as part of the UK in the same way that the French and Americans do with St.Maarten and USVI
I agree that it is time that the UK incorporate the Virgin Islands as part of the UK in the same way that the French and Americans do with St.Maarten and USVI. I Also agree thier should be reciprocation with citizenship. UK citizen should be able to live here in the Virgin Islands and Anguilla, Turks and Cacus Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Bermuda with out immigration restriction of any kind. The Socialy Security and National Insurance System should be one system flowing out of the UK.
It is good intentions on the U.K’s part to welcome comments and suggestions from its overseas citizens regarding the consultation process of the continued relationship, and all overseas citizens in the 14 U.K. territories shold excercise their privelege to do so. In respose to comments made by a user on this site.The fact is America didn’t incorporate the U.S. Virgin Islands. To the contrary, America purchased the U.S.V.I. from Denmark in 1917 for twenty five million. The islands were colonized by Denmark,and Denmark sold them to America at which point they were and become U.S.A. possession. The French also didn’t incorporate St. Marten. St. Maarten has or had two nations within it (French & Dutch). Dutch St. Maarten became an independent nation last year,2010. And French St. Marten currently has the same status as any British overseas territory. Lastly, British citizens are free to live and work in any overseas British territories,they are British and the overseas territories as also British as well. Work permits and visas are required for foreign nationals ,and selective countries are required to have a visa upon enrty to any overseas territories.Lets enjoy and embrace our British heritage and citizenship and love our British sisters and brothers from the U.K. and all 14 British overseas territories. Independence never,continued relationship with our parent country yes.It is wise and in the best interest of the 14 territories to retain ties with the U.K. Government
Thanks for the little history lesson, but I already passed that class. I am not aware that UK citizens can live and work in the Virgin Islands, without requesting time from immigratin and a work permit from labour. I must say, I didn’t know that. It is good to hear. When I spak of incorporation, I mean that Virgin Islanders should enjoy the same benfits the UK Citizens in the UK enjoy and the UK Citizens in the Virgin Islands should enjoy the same benefits that Virgin Islanders enjoy. We should all be just looked at as UK Citizens period.