His Excellency Governor Ric Todd is attending the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s annual leadership conference in London from Mon, 30 Apr until Friday, 4 May 2012.
During his absence, from 23 April, Chief Executive Officer of the TCI Government, Patrick Boyle will be sworn in as Acting Governor, until Governor Todd’s return on Mon, 7 May.
The first morning of the Conference will see Governor Todd meet with Governors and Administrators from the UK’s 13 other Overseas Territories to discuss the progress of the approaching FCO’s Overseas Territories White Paper, FCO strategy implementation as well as improving financial management and human rights. Minister Bellingham will join the conference and Minister Duncan is due to confirm his attendance also.
In the afternoon the Caribbean Governors will meet separately to discuss matters of mutual interest such as building prosperity, economic reform and regional integration.
All of Tuesday and Wednesday morning will be dedicated to FCO-wide plenary sessions on diplomatic excellence, security, prosperity, the UK economy and an update on the London Olympics.
On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Todd will attend a workshop being held by Lord Howell and Sir John Major on the subject of UK engagement with the Commonwealth and priorities for the Diamond Jubilee Fund.
Thursday morning will see a series of outreach sessions covering passport repatriation, procurement procedures and governance structures, developing tertiary education for OT citizens, and finally a session on Financial Services, led by Helen Hatton, chair, Anguillan Financial Services Commission. In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to meet senior representatives from other UK Government Departments. Friday is being kept clear to allow delegates to attend to other business in the FCO.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to promote the people and business of the TCI to our peers]both in the UK and across the other Overseas Territories,” said Governor Todd. “We share a unique heritage and meeting together in this way helps us to find new ways of improving the lives of our citizens and their economies by looking at what we can learn from, and do for, each other.”
Governor Todd will depart from TCI on 23 April and will be on leave until the Conference starts.
