Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference 2016
WELCOME REMARKS
BY
THE HONOURABLE RHONDALEE BRAITHWAITE-KNOWLES OBE,
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
MADE AT
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES ATTORNEYS GENERAL CONFERENCE
BLUE HAVEN RESORT,
LEEWARD,
PROVIDENCIALES,
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
21ST – 23RD SEPTEMBER 2016
This is a very special week for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Following efforts over two years, we now have the valuable opportunity and the privilege of hosting the UK Solicitor General, Attorneys General and Law Officers on behalf of 12 Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies including Bermuda, British Antarctic Territories and the British Indian Ocean Territories, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands & South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena, Guernsey, Jersey and the Sovereign Base Areas. We also welcome colleagues from the UK Attorney General’s Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office and law officers from the United States Department of Justice and Justice Canada who have consistently maintained their commitment to attend and contribute to this conference over many years. This is an international conference aimed at promoting cooperation, good governance and respect for the rule of law.
We are particularly pleased to welcome the visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the first time of Robert Buckland QC MP, as Solicitor General of the United Kingdom who will chair the sessions and was very keen on holding this conference in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a demonstration of the UK Government’s strong commitment to these islands as a democratic, self-governing overseas territory and to applaud the ongoing efforts in the islands to promote transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law. During his visit the Solicitor General has chosen to call on and hear from some of the key leaders and thinkers on some of the most important issues facing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ administration of justice including His Excellency the Governor, Hon. Premier, Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, Hon. Leader of the Opposition and representatives from the Bar Council.
This is the 25th annual conference and the second time it has been hosted by the Turks and Caicos Islands. This year’s conference will also see discussions surrounding anti-corruption, human rights and child safeguarding, good governance, mental health and recruitment challenges as well as updates on commitments made by Heads of Government at last year’s Joint Ministerial Council with regard to environmental protection, extradition, anti-bribery, tax transparency and beneficial ownership.
Across our territories we continue to face daunting challenges as we struggle for sustainable economic growth and purposeful social development. There is still the reality of continuing growth, of incompletion, of a continuing reach for an economic, social, cultural and a fully developed conclusion by global standards but as we know, a well-functioning, respected system of justice is the wellspring of a strong, and free, and democratic society. In our respective roles, we must strive every day to improve the administration of justice across all of our territories until our respective administrations fully possess these qualities and fully command the public trust. We must ensure that justice is timely and accessible, and, above all else, transparent. It remains my experience that it is easier to set goals than to attain them and although we have achieved much, there is still much work to do here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. But I am convinced that by working together we possess the skills and drive to achieve even our highest aspirations.
This is the context in which this Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference has been organized and as hosting Attorney General, I urge us all to renew our commitment to the rule of law, transparency, accountability and due process so that we will fulfill our obligations to the those who reside within our borders to deliver a system of justice that is open, accessible, efficient, and fair.
I am grateful to my fellow Attorneys General and Law Officers for your participation in this conference, as clearly, cooperation, collaboration and information sharing are key to the success of much of the very important legal efforts undertaken by all of the stakeholders represented in this room and this conference presents a valuable and rare opportunity to meet in closed sessions to discuss better ways to tackle the very important issues confronting each of our jurisdictions.
Finally, please join me in thanking the Turks and Caicos Islands’ logistics committee including Protocol, Police, Customs, Immigration and the Governor’s Office, led by Ms. Tanisha Williams from my Chambers for assisting in the organization of this Conference and doing such a superb job so far at making everyone feel welcomed and looked after. On behalf of the organizing committee, we wish you a pleasant stay on our shores and please do let us know if you need anything and we will do our best to assist you.
Thank you to our specially invited guests for coming to this morning’s opening ceremony in support of this initiative and once again, welcome to all of our Attorneys General and Law Officers to the Turks and Caicos Islands and I anticipate your constructive contributions during the sessions this week.
Thank you for coming.