The Deputy Chief Minister represented HM Government of Gibraltar at an online meeting of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA). The purpose of the meeting was to prepare for the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) that will be held in November. The Joint Ministerial Council is a high-level meeting between leaders and ministers from the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories. The topics covered include constitutional development, relations with international organisations, transparency in financial services, human rights and national resilience.

The Hon Dr Joseph Garcia CMG MP joined leaders, ministers and senior officials from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Turks and Caicos Islands. Dr Garcia was accompanied by the Gibraltar Representative to the United Kingdom Jonathan Scott and the Executive Director of Gibraltar House (London) Tyrone Duarte.

The two-hour discussion followed last November’s Joint Ministerial Council and prepared the ground for this year’s. Dr Garcia reaffirmed Gibraltar’s commitment to working closely with colleagues across the Territories:

“These meetings matter. We must continue to foster a good working relationship with other British Overseas Territories. We each face distinct challenges, but we also have a lot in common that we can work on together.”