LONDON, England; Friday, October 31, 2008 - Gillian Merron The Hon Dr Michael Misick led the Turks and Caicos Islands delegation to the meeting, where Premiers, Chief Ministers, Councillors and representatives from other Overseas Territories were also in attendance.
This was Gillian Merron's first Overseas Territories Consultative Council and the first occasion she has had to meet Premier Misick and other Territory leaders since taking up her position earlier in the month. She was joined by a number of her ministerial colleagues from the British Government. Speaking after the Consultative Council, Gillian Merron said: "We greatly value our partnership with the Overseas Territories and want to work together with them towards their future security and prosperity. I have been very interested to hear the views of the Territory leaders on issues that matter to them and their people and have been struck by the unique nature and varying needs of each of the Territories."
Foreign Office Minister Gillian Merron together with DFID Minister Michael Foster meet Hon Michael Misick, Premier, the Turks and Caicos Islands for a bilateral meeting in London, 30 October 2008.
Gillian Merron, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, Michael Foster, met the Premier and the Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Floyd Hall on 30 October.
Gilliar Merron and Michael Foster discussed possible UK assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Turks and Caicos Islands following the destruction caused by Hurricane Ike. The UK Government will consider what further assistance might be offered once it has reviewed the recommendations of a socio-economic impact assessment by the UN's Economic Commission for the Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
During their bilateral meeting they also discussed other issues of mutual interest to the TCI and the UK. The Premier promised his Government's full cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of possible corruption and other serious dishonesty in relation to elected members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly.
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