Press Release from the Governor’s Office

Mr Mark Simmonds, Minister for the Overseas Territories at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will visit the Cayman Islands on Tuesday 5 November.

The visit takes place three weeks before the annual Joint Ministerial Council in London and will focus on enhancing the relationship between the UK and Cayman Islands and promoting our shared agendas.

Mr Simmonds will have meetings with the Premier, the Finance Minister and will call in on the Cabinet meeting.  Other engagements will include a meeting with opposition MLAs, a visit to the port area, a call on the lion fish lab at the Department of the Environment and a presentation on the Health City development.  The Premier will host a reception and Minister Simmonds will address a dinner hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

Ahead of the visit Minister Simmonds said:

“I am delighted to be making my first visit, as a Minister, to the Cayman Island, an important centre for the global financial services industry.  I am looking forward to meeting Premier McLaughlin again and his colleagues in Government and to discussing with them how we can work together on our shared commitments in the White Paper and the JMC communiqué.  I am particularly looking forward to meeting young Caymanians and hearing about the challenges that Cayman’s youth faces now and in the future.”

The Minister will address a dinner hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at Ortanique Restaurant, Camana Bay.

Mark Simmonds was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on 5 September 2012.

He first entered Parliament in 2001 and is the Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness.

Education

Mark was educated at Worksop College and Trent University.

Political career

Mark was elected onto Wandsworth Borough Council for the Southfield Ward in Putney in 1990, where he remained until 1994 when he stepped down to pursue a career in politics.

Positions held:

Member of Parliament for Boston and Skegness 2001 to present

Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Foreign Secretary 2002 to 2003

Shadow Minister for Education 2003 to 2004

Shadow Foreign Office Minister 2004 to 2005

Shadow Minister for International Development 2005 to 2007

Shadow Minister for Health 2007 to 20010

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office September 2012 to present

Personal life

Mark is married and has 3 children.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

The minister is based at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Responsibilities include:

Africa

overseas territories (not Falklands, SBAs or Gibraltar)

conflict issues

climate change

international energy

consular

protocol

ministerial oversight for FCO services

the Caribbean (not including Dominican Republic, Haiti or Cuba)