The Negotiating Team set up by the Anguilla Government appears to be on a firm footing in preparation for the upcoming talks with the British Government on the island’s future constitutional status.

Members of the negotiating team at Paradise Cove

A press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office stated that the team was in retreat on Tuesday, July 17, at Paradise Cove Resort. The team comprise all the Elected Members of the House of Assembly, the Hon. Attorney General, Mr. Wilhem Bourne, Mr. Don Mitchell; Dame Bernice Lake, Rev. Cecil Weekes; Mr. Brent Davis; Mrs. Joyce Kentish-Egan; Mrs. Lolita Davis-Richardson; Rev. Dr. Clifton Niles; and Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett.

A team from the British Government is slated to arrive in Anguilla for three days of meetings commencing on Monday, July 23, 2007.

The press release continued as follows:

“The objective of the retreat was to solidify Anguilla’s position for its first round of talks with British officials. This first round of talks is designed to ascertain the positions that both Governments will take on the advancement and modernisation of Anguilla’s constitution.

“In this vein, the negotiating team, based on comments from the public, has developed a negotiating stance premised on full internal self-government for Anguilla, where all executive power lies in the Government of Anguilla. In this scenario, the British Government would remain responsible for external defence and security. The Government of Anguilla would also be responsible for making treaty agreements with regional governments.

“The Government wishes to thank all the Team Members for their input and will ensure that public participation is paramount in this exercise.

“The meeting planned for the House of Assembly on Tuesday evening [17th July] to discuss the future constitution was postponed. This was done in light of the fact that the Negotiating Team, as well as members of the public, felt that these matters should be discussed and debated at a formal sitting of the House of Assembly rather than a public information meeting.

“In this regard the Government agreed to slate a special meeting of the House of Assembly with the Speaker to debate Anguilla’s new constitutional arrangement with Britain.”

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