Mr Benito, who is currently a Policy Fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge paid a courtesy call on Mr Ben Merrick, Director of the Overseas Territories (OTs) Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on March 7, 2019, as part of an overall drive to examine the future of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Photo: Provided

Even with mounting pressure from the United Kingdom (UK) to regulating British Overseas Territories (OT’s) in areas of removing belongership status, legalising same-sex marriages and implementing the public beneficial ownership registries, Former UK Representative for the Virgin Islands, E. Benito Wheatley says it is welcoming that the UK Government remains committed to the recovery of Caribbean OTs. Photo: VINO/File

A United Kingdom (UK) parliamentary committee report is calling on the Theresa May-led administration to set a date for all Overseas Territories to remove belongership status, legalise same-sex marriages and implement the public beneficial ownership registries. Photo: Internet Source

Mr Benito, who is currently a Policy Fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge, paid a courtesy call on Mr Ben Merrick, Director of the Overseas Territories (OTs) Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on March 7, 2019, as part of an overall drive to examine the future of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. 

According to a release, among other things discussed, they examined the UK Government's support for the OTs and the recovery of the Caribbean territories affected by the 2017 hurricanes.

Welcoming 

"It is welcome that the UK Government remains committed to the recovery of the Caribbean OTs, including the BVI as the hardest hit among the islands, and is keen to support the Overseas Territories more generally in building climate resilience and seizing opportunities in international trade”, Mr Wheatley said in commenting on the exchange.

He said that the renewed commitment by the UK to assist the OTs across UK Government Departments was also a positive signal. 

In regard to the UK-OT relationship, Wheatley further commented, "The UK Government's 2012 White Paper on the Overseas Territories is the UK's official policy framework for UK/OT relations that sets out a modern partnership based on mutual responsibilities and mutual respect. It is in good keeping for the UK to adhere to the White Paper policy as intended and for the OTs and UK to engage as partners."

Partnership Lauded

The release further notes that the former VI UK Representative also lauded the ongoing partnership between the UK and OTs in the area of disaster preparedness and commended the UK's readiness to meet its obligations to the territories in the event of a disaster.