From The Office of the Premier

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin leaves the Cayman Islands this weekend to attend a pre-meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council in Gibraltar.

Also attending will be Jennifer Ahearn, who has been appointed as a Sherpa – or emissary – for Cayman, to work with other Sherpas from the Overseas Territories and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to develop the agenda for the JMC meeting in London in November.

The pre-meeting will be held from 8-11 September and is an opportunity for all Overseas Territory heads of government to exchange views on political and constitutional issues, especially as they relate to the United Kingdom and its relationship with OTs.

JMC members last met in London in December.

The Council has identified issues to be worked on, which include economic growth and jobs; protecting the environment; harnessing international support; and delivering better government, better education and stronger, healthier and safer communities.

The Premier will also be travelling to Jersey, en route home and at an official invitation of the Jersey Government, to meet with Chief Minister, Ian Gorst as a follow-up to discussions relating to the pre-G8 meeting in London in June of this year and the action plans that were published by Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies.

The Hon. Premier will be joined in Jersey by Financial Services, Commerce and Environment Minister Hon. Wayne Panton and Councillor Roy McTaggart while Ms Ahearn will attend a Sherpa meeting in London.

They will return to the Cayman Islands on Saturday, 14 September.