S.Atlantic : Full Marks for the 2005 Overseas Territories Consultative Council 2005
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 21.10.2005 (Current Article)
This year South Atlantic representatives from Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island joined in the conference.
Photo (c) Crown Copyright The Overseas Territories Consultative Council
FULL MARKS FOR THE 2005 OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING
Falklands Councillor Mrs Jan Cheek stands next to Tristan da Cunha Chief Islander Anne Green. Lawson Henry can be seen in the back row, with Lord Triesman in front centre.
By J. Brock (SARTMA)
Each year representatives from the United Kingdom Overseas Territories meet to discuss issues of great importance not only collectively but to individual territories. The representatives met with Foreign Office Ministers as well as people from other Ministries.
Representatives of every territory took part in round table discussions about constitutional modernisation, human rights, external relations, good governance and EU issues. Most of the UK Overseas Territories are facing Constitutional Reform at this time. St. Helena just voted on theirs and the Falklands are undergoing the process. Human rights are supposed to be uniform but each territory applies those rights in a specifically local way. And, the problems with the EU deal with red tape – and lots of it.
Higher Education was also discussed in the margins Falklands representatives mentioned that during a public meeting last winter the subject of paying for that higher education came up in a public meeting. At the meeting Cllr. Jan Cheek, one of the representatives, said that over the years the problem of UKOSTs paying more than foreign students was raised at the appropriate level. The problem is a Ministerial level matter but it will be pursued, yet again, as it had been put on the agenda. Hopefully this will be followed up sooner rather than later.
It’s always good for representatives from the UK Overseas Territories to get together and compare notes. This year Tristan da Cunha, represented by Chief Islander, Anne Green and Ascension Island, represented by Cllr. the on. Mr. Lawson Henry as well as Pitcairn Island joined the established group. With this meeting will come new contacts and new ideas for helping each other. That can only be a good thing.
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