The UK will not stand in the way of countries seeking Independence

David Maxim Triesman, Lord Triesman, the Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories, again delivered the message from Britain to its remaining colonies. He announced that the UK would not stand in the way of countries seeking Independence.

But at the same time he again confirm that the UK would not let anything go among the territories for which it was still responsible.

This week Lord Triesman has delivered a speech in the Turks and Caicos. He said that most of the territories were flourishing. Four of them report per capita GDPs greater than that of the UK. These territories are the British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Bermuda and the Falkland Islands. The success to a great extent was due to the rule of law, protection of the environment and human rights. It is interesting to note that 3 of them are well known offshore jurisdictions – BVI, Cayman and Bermuda.

In his opinion, this is the context for looking at the constitutional relationship between the UK and the territories, the BVI includingly. According to Lord Triesman, the UK does not have desire for the territories to remain British against its people’s wishes, but the people do not want to lose the British link. So, the UK has to retain its responsibilities for the people. This meant that the UK wants to retain its sufficient powers.

Lord Triesman excluded the option of free association, proposed by the UN. He did not find acceptable that the BVI, as well as other territories, could draw up its own constitution.
Lord Triesman said the other option other than Independence was proposed by UN General Assembly resolution 1541. This was fully integrating colonies with the UK but that was unlikely to find favour.

The Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories does not find problematic agreement among the territories leading to good governance and transparency in decision making.

Some words about Lord Triesman and Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Lord Triesman of Tottenham is Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for Relations with the Caribbean, Overseas Territories, Latin America, Africa, the Commonwealth, UK visas, Public Diplomacy, Migration and Consular policy.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office aims at working for the United Kingdom's interests in a safe and prosperous world. Its main objectives are:

• to save the world from global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction;
• to protect the UK from illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other international crime;
• to promote UK economic interests in an expanding and open global economy;
• to assure security and good governance of the UK's Overseas Territories (including the British Virgin Islands);
• to provide consular services of high quality to British nationals abroad (entry clearance through UK Visas.);
• an effective EU in a secure neighborhood.

To find more information on the FCO, you can get acquainted with the Organizational Structure of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Brian Obvi,
Offshore Analyst

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