Minister Wilson Attends O/T Meeting In London
The Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council was held in the UK, and on behalf of the Premier Paula Cox, Attorney General Kim Wilson led a Bermuda delegation comprising of Cabinet Secretary Donald Scott and Bermuda London Office Director Kimberley Durrant.
The OT conference was chaired by Mark Simmonds, Minister for the Overseas Territories and attended by Premiers, Chief Ministers and other elected representatives from Britain’s Overseas Territories.
The summit concluded today [Dec 5] with the agreement of a joint communiqué which sets out priority issues and a comprehensive action plan for joint work in the coming year.
At the request of the UK Government, Bermuda was asked to lead the discussion on Making Communities Safer and Criminal Justice.
Minister Wilson highlighted Bermuda’s three level approach, to include: Prevention, highlighting the successes of the Mirrors program; Intervention across Ministerial level with the interaction gang task force; and the enforcement of the legislative enactments to combat the issue of gang activity.
Helen Grant MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, chaired the session on Criminal Justice and praised Bermuda on its efforts. Minister Grant specifically welcomed future discussions where both the UK Government and the Government of Bermuda may learn from each other’s practice.
The end of the second day of the Council saw the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron welcome Minister Wilson and the Territory leaders to No. 10 Downing Street – the first time that Territory leaders have had a collective meeting with a Prime Minister.
As Prime Minister Cameron said in his foreword in the White Paper: “The United Kingdom’s 14 Overseas Territories are an integral part of Britain’s life and history. This Government is ambitious for our Territories as we are ambitious for the United Kingdom.
“We want to see our communities flourish in partnership, with strong and sustainable local economies. We see an important opportunity to set world standards in our stewardship of the extraordinary natural environments we have inherited.”
Minister Simmonds, said: “The White Paper sets out a very positive vision for the Overseas Territories. This first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council has helped us identify an ambitious list of priority areas for action, such as encouraging economic growth; protecting the environment and making government work better.
“We will work closely with the Territories in the coming year to achieve what we have together set out to do. Many of my Ministerial colleagues from across Government took part in the Council this week, demonstrating that the UK Government as a whole is committed to supporting the Territories.”
On Monday 3rd December Minister Wilson held a bilateral meeting with Minister Mark Simmonds MP.
On the morning of Tuesday 4th December the Minister represented Bermuda at the United Kingdom Overseas Territories [UKOTA] Political Council. At the Council a decision was taken by the Leaders that UKOTA will now operate as a formal Secretariat.
UK based Representatives of the Overseas Territories through their London Offices have been tasked with its development for a formal implementation for the New Year.
And on Tuesday evening the Government of Bermuda London Office hosted a networking reception for all Bermudians in the UK. It was an opportunity for those living in the UK to meet fellow Bermudians and to discuss with Minister Wilson issues that are of concern to them.
Why is the PLP not answering questions asked by the opposition. Where are the promised financial results. When is Cox planning to repay the debt and how? Why is Roban who unethically put through planning for friends and family in the PLP. Who was the ousted Dickerson protectin. Why did the premier stay silent everything affecting Bermuda, but when the consultant who has clearly stated in 2011 that his political dealings have been with the PLP, did she suddenly show up. Why do you not tell us where the results are for our finances, aren’t you the finance minister? Why do you wear military camouflague, the uniform of Dictators like Ghadaffi? Why haven’t you commented on Grand Atlantic Condos, all done on your watch. Why aren’t you running your election campaign on your record?
@ Blurt
The Premier has made many comments about the PLP record. She is so confident that she has publicly agreed to appear with Cannonier to debate the record and her future plans. Perhaps you should get Cannonier to answer the call to debate. The debate would give him a unique opportunity to ask questions he wants before all of Bermuda since I am sure we would all be watching. Come on Cannonier, your silence is deafening.
shes walks through de back door
yeah, why?
Yeah, why.
I am very pleased to see this article, it shows great relations and a superb plan to keep Bermuda prosperous as well as all the territories, and the U.K. I do beleive we have diverse history, which has had many ups and downs, and at times alot of turbulence, but at the same time recognittion of continuing relations as well as trade and so on has been good for us all involved. So to the future, I say lets continue to work in stead together to accomplish better lives for all the peoples of all the Territories.
I still don’t get it. The PLP hate the thought of being British, what a waste of time, we are only Bermudian.
Oh hang on – 3 nights in the Hilton, Park Lane, nice Club Class seat on BA, 35,000 air miles, a photo in Downing Street, maybe some shopping Harrods..oooooh, lovely
I think that makes you a hypocrite Ms Wilson. Although a hypocrite with more air miles than most of us.
I am sure that if the UOBPA gets into power they will make all investors, partners, prospective investors, and anybody who is giving govt. an award of any kind to anyone, pay their own expenses and come to Bermuda to do their business. The UOBPA would not spend 1 red cent on travel of any kind!!!! Also I am sure that the UOBPA would not give out contracts to their business partners and friends. Also they will sell all gp cars and use their own vehicles for govt., business. The UOBPA will also use their own money to fund programs and services and cut out all taxes for the public. They will also finally rid the island of racism. I am sure they will do even more stuff. And don’t worry Tigermart really is the leader of the UOBPA and he makes Gibbons Co. and Dunkleys Dairy do anything he wants. Vote UOBPA fool!!
@ Johnny…Why you still so bitter that Cannonier turned you down for a gas station pumping attendant last summer. Why…just answer me that…why!?
Paula Coxs record is Atrocious and i doubt she wants to talk about that.
What blurt said…
Why has the accountant general been placed on leave in the lead up to the election, returning to duties immediately upon its conclusion?
What is it that the Accountant General has found? Or is likely to find? Why is she being kept out of the way until the election, then to return to work?
No comment on this from Cox, the Finance Minister, of course. She’s too busy tap dancing around the report that advises an unnamed political party how to use race as a tool in an election. It isn’t the PLP, says Paula Cox. She fails to mention he has worked for the PLP as a consultant for 15+ years.
It isn’t hard to join the dots.
The Accountant General does not have a direct relationship with the Minister. In the past the post reported to an assistant financial secretary who reports to the financial secretary.
In summary – do not be like VSB – check your facts first before you end up having to make a full apology (with more that egg on your face).
The AG “doesn’t have a direct relationship with the Minister”? Well thanks for that completely irrelevent piece of information.
The Accountant General is on administrative leave from now until Deecember 14. And then there’s the election, and then her administrative leave comes to an end, she’s back to work.
Why, exactly?
I am waiting for an answer in regards to the accountant general, but i doubt any details will be released before judgement day comes maybe after.
PLP Standing on people suffocating this island, and forcing grown men to BDA regiment.
What like it is said.
As one of the few PLP leaders with any honesty, integrity and especially common sense, Ms. Wilson should put country first and cross the floor post election. Think about it seriously Kim and look at what you are surrounded by – this is not who you are.
Ms. Wilson is the next Premier if the PLP get elected…..they will oust Paula in favor of Kim she is the only compromise candidate left in that party that anyone would trust….capish?
And she would have to spend all of her time looking over her shoulder for that knife headed for her back leaving little time to deal with the cesspool her predecessors have created.
“At the request of the UK Government, Bermuda was asked to lead the discussion on Making Communities Safer and Criminal Justice.”
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I assume the presentation consisted of “look at what Bermuda is doing and then do the exact opposite”?
“At the request of the UK Government, Bermuda was asked to lead the discussion on Making Communities Safer and Criminal Justice.”
You can’t be serious.