UK wants high standards
Posted on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 08:03 in Politics
(CNS): The new white paper on the Overseas Territories published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says that people living in the territories have a right “to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK”, pointing to human rights, the rule of law and integrity in public life. The document also states that the British government expects high quality public financial management and financial services regulation to build resilient economies. “The UK is determined to tackle corruption in all its forms,” the new document warns as the Foreign Secretary makes a commitment to work closely with the territories with a long-term programme of support for the public services.
In the paper, which was based on a broad public consultation period with all the territories and stakeholders, the foreign secretary sets out what will likely be a more hands-on approach to the territories, where the UK will share expertise from across the entire government and not just from the FCO in order to raise standards.
“The Government has responsibilities towards the people of the Territories and of the UK to ensure the good governance of the territories,” the report states. “The Government acknowledges the sensitivity of this area of work but believes that those living in the Territories have a right to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK.”
In his introduction to the document, which will form the basis for Britain’s relationships with the territories from now on, William Hague says the White Paper is broad ranging, but does not "pretend to be comprehensive”.
Focusing on the economies and environments of its territories, the paper highlights the need for good governance.
The UK and the Territories will continue their partnership to meet the high standards set out in this White Paper,” the paper states. “The UK will provide support to the Territories, where necessary, to develop good governance, robust public financial management and sound economic planning. In particular we will support greater exchange of expertise between public servants in the Territories and the UK.”
As a result, public officials from the territories will train and work with colleagues in the UK, and UK experts will work in the territories.
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The Royal Bank of
The Royal Bank of Scotland
Northern Rock
Bank of Scotland
MPs expenses
The Leveson Inquiry
London riots
Occupy St Pauls
Binge drinking
60% tax
Drive by shootings
Asian sex gangs exploit under age girls.
Remind me. Where did all this happen?
I do hope the UDP reads this?
I do hope the UDP reads this?
UK (read ENGLAND) wants
UK (read ENGLAND) wants high standards
Go for it England - get some high standards. At the moment England's politics is a cesspool of self interest, hypocrites, liars, shady deals with the Media, denials of the obvious and a mean spirited resentment (elevated to an art form) towards the Cayman Islands - and they have a crap Football team.
Nice thought though.
Yea, yea, yea another
Yea, yea, yea another delusional fool learns to criticise but fails to notice his own back yard. If you don't like the UK, renounce your BOTC status and leave for your forefathers homeland, which obviously wasn't England. Good luck.
You be careful there now,
You be careful there now, buddy - such truths are not allowed on this forum.
You may think them but you dare not speak (post) them. Understood?
By the way, it really was painful to watch the spectacular crashing out of the England team from EURO 2012.
And in all seriousness (some may find this odd) ... I was cheering for them all along their journey.
Better luck next time ... same ol' hollow well-wishes yet again.
The English don't need your
The English don't need your cynical support, the same as they don't need your cynical country. Good luck with your debt ridden rock, its all yours, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Back in the real world however..............
Unfortunately, its not your rock, its ours and your're just going to have to live with that and start following rules which are going to get evermore stringent. You have proven to the world that you are not capable of good governance and prudent financial stewardship, so its time for mother to put you back in line.
All the time the union flag flies over Cayman its a UK territory, not an independent country. Just because successive waves of immigrants have populated this island, doesn't alter the fact that it remains, as it has for centuries, a British outpost. Of course if you don't like being a BOTC, you can always leave, but I'm not entirely sure who'd want you with your reputation for financial irresponsibility and endemic corruption.
One final point ... and you
One final point ... and you may find this odd;
But I actually like you.
At least you have the balls and "integrity" to say how you really feel toward us Caymanians, as a Brit.
If there is one thing I despise it is a lying, back-stabbing, coward.
I do not consider you a very nice or pleasant individual, but I can at least respect you for sharing an honest perspective.
Now, in your opinion, would you say that your sentiments are shared by the majority of your fellow Brits (and others) amongst us?
(Hopefully you won't back down now. Other readers are welcome to contribute in this regard as well.)
- Whodatis
(Crickets)
(Crickets)
Lastly, my support for the
Lastly, my support for the English football team was not "cynical".
I always back England when it comes to international matches.
Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney are two of my favorite footballers at the moment - although Rooney was only taking up space on the pitch on Sunday.
(Don't confuse my disdain for the British establishment, as it relates to our political relationship, for disdain toward Brits or British society in general.)
We are all logical adults on this forum - hopefully we can manage to draw the respective lines. Furthermore, the average Brit today is very much disillusioned and disgusted with their politcal "leaders" as well. However, many of you on here pretend that this is not the case for the sake of these debates.
Going forward, kindly bear in mind that we Caymanians are aware of the tremendous disconnect between the British "government" and the British people.
Feel free to continue with the charade - but always remember that we know what is what, ok?
[Earth to you]: "Please call
[Earth to you]: "Please call home."
Re:
(Ah boy ... give 'em enough rope - then sit back and wait. The arrogant ignorance within certain folks always shines through in the end.)
Lol!
Are you sure you meant those words for me or yourself, Mr/Ms. Brit?!
ROFL!!
(That was a good one, thanks!)
Well, now. There's a helpful
Well, now. There's a helpful response. Sorry you had to read that, world.
They came to the wrong place.
They came to the wrong place.
The UK needs to understand
The UK needs to understand that we are 'living high off the hog' and we dont have no time to have any standards - moral or otherwise...
LOL
LOL
"UK Wants High Standards"
"UK Wants High Standards" could also be stated as "UK Want UDP Government Ousted"
Anon 15;59 You might want to
Anon 15;59
You might want to rephase that statement. The FCO plainly said they would rather not have the PPM Government take control of this country again.
I think the FCO would rather
I think the FCO would rather have the clumsy PPM instead of the XXX UDP.
Really? When did that happen?
Really? When did that happen? Who made such a statement?
A toothless dog makes a poor
A toothless dog makes a poor watchdog......
The new white paper on the Overseas Territories published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says they're going to step in and really make some changes. Wow! I can hardly wait to see results. Until then, I will classify their white paper the same as the roll I have in my bathroom.
Yes this is the United
Yes this is the United Kingdom that has spearheaded a campaign in Afghanistan, Libya and even Iraq. We know how good the UK is in enhancing high standards of governance. This is the same UK that is aiding rebel groups in Syria, I am very proud of having lived in the UK that is exporting governance standards world wide.
So you are comparing
So you are comparing Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq to Grand Cayman in the hopes of making Cayman look good and the UK as a bad thing? Really? UK oversight of the failing and pathetic attempt at pretending to be a Government is a bad thing. O wait. Yes it is a very bad thing for many of you here. Never mind. I see where your coming from. Veva la gascard!
So because the UK's rubbish
So because the UK's rubbish at plenty of things they can't be right about saying Cayman needs to be much better? Don't discount the message just because you don't like the messenger. I'm pretty sure we could get a consensus that there are many areas that could be better here, as can everywhere, but don't discount the crticism.
Anon 14;23 I agree, but you
Anon 14;23
I agree, but you must also do better,and stop pointing fingers, no one is perfect. Certain people tend to think their shit don't stink.
Don't discount the criticism!
Just to confirm, do you mean
Just to confirm, do you mean the same UK that went into Iraq on the premise of looking for weapons of mass destruction?
12:04 Hahahahahahahahahaah
12:04 Hahahahahahahahahaah "Yes this is the United Kingdom" Hahahahahahahaha. More dirty Laundry is being aired. Dont turn of the washing machine, keep washing. and hanging out all the dirty socks, T shirts and Tear-up drawers. Heheheheheeheeee.
the Foreign and Commonwealth
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says that people living in the territories have a right “to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK”, pointing to human rights, the rule of law
Chagos Islands? What happened there? Are they saying it was a mistake? Or their policies have changed?
The rule of law worked in that instance when The High Court in London ruled in favor of the Chagossians and against the Office of Foreign Territories when they were forceably relocated and stripped of their rights as citizens of a territory but it mattered little. Because there was another agenda at stake.
What happened in Chagos
What happened in Chagos Islands is the same as is happening here. The UK did not take it away. The Chagos Islanders lost it with their own doing.
Excuse me?? It was
Excuse me?? It was Chagossians' own doing?? Where have you been??
I suggest then you watch Stealing A Nation.by John Pilger who is an outstanding journalist it's available on YouTube. The film may change your attitude.
Old news, broken record.
Old news, broken record. This has noting to do with Cayman in the 21st century.
You are idiot. This
You are idiot. This is happening right now to the citizens of a UK OT in the 21st century.
WHy do the British citizens
WHy do the British citizens of the colonies not have a vote in Parliament in London? One could argue that we are still second class citizens.
because you're not residnet
because you're not residnet in the UK, if you were, you could vote
Unlike in Cayman where a british and live and not be able to vote.
No (indirect) taxation without representation!
For the same reason they
For the same reason they don't pay taxes. Would you like to pay taxes?
Because UK citizens do not
Because UK citizens do not have an automatic right of residence in the OTs. You could equally argue we are second class citizens.
In the French colonies citizens can vote in French elections but in return they have to accept that EUemployment laws apply - no work permits or business licences required by EU citizens and definitely no rollover.
I'll quite happily do a trade off like that with the people of the Cayman Islands - you can vote in my country, I can stay in your's :-)
Please stop repeating that
Please stop repeating that Caymanians can live and vote in the UK. It is simply not true.
I'll bet you would. Very
I'll bet you would. Very one-sided deal that would be.
As far as the British
As far as the British establishment and the FCO is concerned, non-White, "British" overseas citizens are not really British.
(Let us never forget that the fate of the Chagossians were based upon and justified by the Brown and Black color of their skin ... in these modern times. Classy, huh? Yet some people are insistent upon us respecting or giving a hot damn what the FCO thinks or does. I have a twig and pair of berries with which they can all occupy themselves.)
That is the end all and be all of the situation concerning the Chagossians and many other former colonies / B.O.T.'s.
However, we aren't supposed to highlight this blatant fact.
Instead, the BOTC's that fall under this category are meant to carry an invisible and inexplicable cross ... quietly.
It seems difficult and a
It seems difficult and a stretch to use a the same broad brush to paint the FCO office for the wrongs done to the Chagossians in the 60's. with the same brush as the office of 2012. The office was staffed by people in the 60's and still is, however they are entirely different people than those who were responsible for the poor decisions of 1965.
Would you consider Andrea Merkel in the same light as Adolf Hitler- they held the same office? Any different than the FCO scenario? Jus sayin
Re: "Would you consider
Re: "Would you consider Andrea Merkel in the same light as Adolf Hitler- they held the same office? Any different than the FCO scenario?"
Are you sure you want to go there, my friend?
Should we compare the sympathetic, financial, diplomatic, and legal reparations undertaken by Germany onto its victims with the same (non-existent) undertaken by Britain?
Tread carefully ...
Do you care to comment on the
Do you care to comment on the ongoing attitude and disrespect still being shown to the Chagossians to this very day by way of the British government's handling of this case?
They are staying true to form and have chosen the despicable route of waiting out the final death of the directly affected Chagossians.
Resolutions, forgiveness or "moving on" cannot take place until acknowledgement occurs.
Unfortunately, the British government lacks the decency and integrity to do such a thing.
Furthermore, after 400+ years of enslaving the forefathers of the Chagossians and thereafter shooting, castrating, torturing and killing countless amounts of their people after the fact - there was absolutely no acceptable excuse for that they did in the 1960's and 1970's to those poor, innocent people.
Furthermore, to justify their actions (at that time) on the basis of the color of their skin (" ... but a few tarzans and Man Fridays.") is beyond despicable.
What perplexes me the most is that anyone would even attempt to defend or justify the initial and ongoing actions of Britain in this regard in this year of 2012.
Just sayin ...
Whoa Nellie... I am in strong
Whoa Nellie... I am in strong agreement about there being no excuse whatsoever for the actions of the British or US governments for what transpired in Diego Garcia. No debate there.
I just don't share the connection of the actions of the 1965's FCO office with todays FCOs office and its relationship with Cayman present day and am fine disagreeing on that point. i think they are two different discussions and don't warrant the same brush.
The trouble is that it is
The trouble is that it is perpetuated by the 2012 FCO. The connection is obvious. If there is no connection then come clean, apologise to Chagossians and make things right. Don't try to create reasons why you don't have to do any of those things.
Amen.
Amen.
Do you care to comment on the
Do you care to comment on the ongoing attitude and disrespect still being shown to the Chagossians to this very day by way of the British government's handling of this case?
Re: "I just don't share the connection of the actions of the 1965's FCO office with todays FCOs office and its relationship with Cayman present day and am fine disagreeing on that point. i think they are two different discussions and don't warrant the same brush."
How do you / we / I know that though?
The first step to moving on from a problem is the acknowledgement and discussion of said problem / crisis / offense.
The UK has not provided that opportunity. Furthermore, when we consider and compare other actions on their behalf since that time we clearly see a continuation of that spirit.
"Benefit of the doubt" means diddly squat in the real world, my friend ... especially in this year of 2012.
Only one who is safely outside the realm of potential harm in this regard could and should take a stance such as yours.
Whodatis, So are you
Whodatis,
So are you confident that Cayman has undertaken sufficient sympathetic, financial, diplomatic, and legal reparations towards:
1) Past slaves dating back to the 1600's- have all been properly addressed? How do/you/we/ I know that?
2) The participation of Caymanians in the noble career of piracy in days gone by
3) the numerous expats who have had their work permits revoked over the last 30 years by a jealous ex Caymanian boyfriend or girlfriend, co-worker they pissed off, or someone who just didn't like them- all because they had "connections" in Immigration. No due process followed. Any official acknowledgement to those incidents by the CI government past or current?
Which office of the CI Government should I be holding in contempt until the above are duly and properly resolved and acknowledged?
I am not British, nor American, but both are responsible for wrongdoing. However there is little I can do about the situation. Nor am I about expend excessive thought and energy on getting the above to be given proper acknowledgement. Instead I choose to put my energy into the present and future issues which I can impact.
BINGO
BINGO
You both need help. The
You both need help. The insecurity is overwhelming.
“...and not just from the FCO
“...and not just from the FCO in order to raise standards.”
The UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in their 2008 report on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) management of the Overseas Territories (OT’s) recognized that the FCO is a large part of the problems of corruption and mismanagement in the OT’s.
It is to be welcomed that we will get out from under the thumb of the FCO which oversaw corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands for decades, did nothing to correct the problem or arrest those involved in corruption.
The FCO standards are very low so we now stand to benefit from improved governance from our administering power.
It is hoped that we can look forward to an era of honest open government, establishment of the law to give effect to the Standards in Public Life Commission, stop vote buying, stop the violations of laws and receive true value for money.
Red Shank come out of your hole, the British are coming to save us from the Dictator!
I thought our bloated,
I thought our bloated, inefficient, overpaid civil service was modelled on theirs?
First shot across the bow!
First shot across the bow!
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