By Glen Munro From The Voice

Foreign Office Minister tells The Voice that the Government wants to explore new opportunities

CLOSE TRADE TIES: Baroness Anelay, Foreign Office Minister for Overseas Territories is looking for ways to bolster Caribbean trade ties after Brexit

THE British Government has pledged to boost trade links with the Caribbean post-Brexit.

In an interview with The Voice, Baroness Anelay, Foreign Office Minister for Overseas Territories and Caribbean said that Britain’s official departure from the European Union, triggered by Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, could see closer ties between this country and the region.

The Minister who recently co-hosted a meeting with the heads of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, at the House of Lords, believes that Brexit could provide opportunities for trade growth. She said:

“I’m very excited by the opportunities which will be available as the UK leaves the EU, which maybe we didn’t value before.

“As we negotiate to leave the European Union we have made it very clear that we want to be in a better position to develop stronger bilateral trade links with the Caribbean.

“We have been asked by the region’s leaders to examine visa access, the technical side of exporting and how to access markets abroad. The trading issues discussed will be examined by the Department of Trade. The UK can now demonstrate how importantly it views the Commonwealth and engage better with the diaspora in the UK.”

According to figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Commonwealth bilateral exports between the UK and the Commonwealth, grew from US$557 billion in 2000 to US$91 trillion in 2015. Saint Lucia exports 10.8 per cent of its world exports to the UK.

During Baroness Anelay’s first visit to Anguilla, St. Lucia, St Kitts, and Nevis in January the focus wasn’t only on economic development, but on security, justice reform, climate change and tourism.

The Foreign Office Minister believes each sector is interlinked and is vital to the stability of the region. For example, the British Government funds the Regional Security System (RSS), which provides a response to security threats to the Caribbean.

Last year the RSS seized more than nine tons of marijuana – almost seven tons of which were taken at sea – along with seven kilos of cocaine and 16,371 cannabis plants.

Commenting on the work of the RSS, Baroness Anelay said:

“The security relationship between the UK and Caribbean has developed, because we realise that if countries want to attract tourists a secure environment is essential. The RSS hub in Barbados is supported financially by the UK to combat the trade in illegal drugs, guns and human trafficking, which is crucial in ensuring the Caribbean is a good, secure place to visit.”

One of the main questions expressed by Caribbean led organisations funded by the bloc has been: ‘Will money from the European Development Fund continue, and if so, for how long?’

Wildlife protection schemes on UK overseas territories currently benefit from European grants worth around £1.3 million, including projects off the coast of Anguilla that protect turtles. The Foreign Office Minister, however said that funding of these schemes will continue until the UK leaves the EU. She told The Voice:

“We are considering how there can be a smooth transition in funding. The Prime Minister has stressed that she doesn’t want a cliff edge change.

“But we are confident that for every change there is the potential for a positive development.”

For more on this story go to: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/uk-looks-boost-trade-links