Open mind: Stephen Doughty, the British minister of state for the Overseas Territories, pictured on a visit to Bermuda in April. (File photograph by Blaire Simmons)
HAMILTON, Bermuda--An urgent call for a new policy document on the British Overseas Territories has been gently rebuffed by the UK Government, which insists it is “open-minded about future options” and will keep the idea “under review”.
Bermuda joined other inhabited territories in pushing for a new White Paper, 14 years after the last one was published, during an inquiry this year by a House of Lords committee at Westminster.
The Constitution Committee of the Lords backed the idea, urging the UK Government in April to “urgently” publish a policy document setting out an up-to-date picture of the UK's strategy and obligations regarding its 14 Overseas Territories.
However, a 19-page response to the committee’s recommendations from the British Government, released last week, made clear that a White Paper would not be forthcoming from the Foreign Office anytime soon.
It said the Government recognised the “strength of feeling among OTs on the further case for a White Paper” and acknowledged that earlier documents, from 1999 and 2012, were “produced under different administrations and in a different operating context, and … significant geopolitical, climate, health, security and governance developments since then mean they no longer reflect the full range of current challenges and priorities”.
Yet it said that the most effective way to deliver practical improvements in the near term was through work already under way, such as the development of a UK Government Charter of Engagement and one-on-one agreements ― known as partnership compacts ― with individual territories that want them.
The response went on: “These initiatives are intended to strengthen clarity, accountability and delivery, while allowing flexibility to reflect differing territorial circumstances.
“The Government remains open-minded about future options, including a new White Paper in due course, and will keep this under review considering progress on existing initiatives and changes in the wider operating environment.”
Attorney-General Kim Wilkerson gave evidence to the committee via video link in February, when she called for a “revised, modernised paper” to be used as the clear, guiding principle of the relationship between Britain and the OTs.
Whitehall’s rejection of the Lords’ recommendation comes as no surprise, since Stephen Doughty, Britain’s Minister of State responsible for OTs, told the committee in January that a White Paper would “not be possible at the current time”.
The UK Government agreed with the committee that the OTs make an “important contribution to the wider British family” and said in its response that it would defend them “resolutely”.
“The Government … recognises that the OTs face unique challenges, including isolation, the impacts of climate change, environmental pressures, health security and geopolitical uncertainty,” it said.
“The UK Government takes its constitutional responsibilities for foreign affairs and defence seriously and remains committed to working in partnership with the OTs to address shared risks and opportunities, in line with their constitutional arrangements.”
It rejected suggestions that the OTs were viewed at Whitehall as a “post-colonial problem to be managed”.
“Such perceptions do not reflect modern practice,” the response stated.
It described the territories as having “significant societal, cultural, environmental, economic and strategic value” and noted how their “unique land and marine environments” helped the UK deliver its environmental and biodiversity goals on behalf of the wider British family.
The Constitution Committee’s report noted the “developing relationship between many of the OTs and international bodies such as Caricom”, with Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands all seeking full membership of the latter.
The UK Government response to the Lords’ recommendations welcomed “examples of mutual support and co-operation between OTs, including increased engagement with regional and international bodies where territories choose to pursue this, in close co-ordination with the UK’s obligations”.
“The Royal Gazette” asked David Burt, the Premier, for comment for this article.
A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said last night that the Bermuda Government was aware of the UK Government’s response to the committee.
“We are working alongside the House of Lords committee, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and all Overseas Territories governments in the capacity of chair of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association.”
