The Chief Minister and his delegation began their official part of their visit to the United Kingdom on yesterday by providing testimony to the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on the working of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and its relationship with the Overseas Territories.

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming (right)

The Chief Minister’s testimony was well accepted and questions posed to him generally related to the relationship between the Government of Anguilla and the island’s governor, as well as its relationship with the British Parliament.

It was also the beginning of the formal agenda of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC). At this two-day forum all Heads of Overseas Government meet annually with the Minister of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for the Overseas Territories. This year items on the agenda include constitutional modernisation, Cayman Civil Service College, Air Safety, Access to UK Health Care, UK Action Plan for Combatting International Corruption, Human Rights, Environment Charters and Climate Change, Immigration Policies, Disaster Preparedness, Criminal Justice, and the Oversea Territories Relationship with the European Union.

UK Overseas Minister, Meg Munn (centre front) with OT Leaders

The Hon. Osbourne Fleming chaired the session on Access to UK Health Care services, and requested that the quota for the number Overseas Territories Citizens to access free medical attention in the UK annually be increased substantially.
Mr. Fleming held his bilateral meeting with the Overseas Minister on Thursday, and will discuss matters such as prevention of crime, development of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Air Safety, constitutional development and border security.
- Press Release

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