. 1
Another
in 1982. The new Government's policy was to develop the
economy, though ironically their first step was to go back
into budgetary aid. The Club Med project had awakened
interest in TCI and there was now increased activity in
areas such as fishing, banking and air communications.
look should perhaps be taken at the estimated cost of the port
required if the salt industry were to be revived. The US was
now actively assisting in control of drug traffic through the
islands and would, it was believed, continue to do so. As to
the future, the new Government was not interested in early
constitutional change, though independence might be an issue
at the next general election. A link with the Bahamas,
favoured by the US, or even with Bermuda, was a non-starter as
far as TCI Ministers were concerned.
9.
In a discussion of the situation in the TCI, Mr Ridley
said that he now felt that the offer of an associated independence
and aid package had been a mistake.
would be needed in the future.
10.
Some more subtle tactic
Briefly summing up the discussion, Mr Ridley said that it
was encouraging to note how much economic progress had been
achieved in many of the dependent territories. He hoped that
there would be further progress in the march towards independence;
the problem was not that we were now experiencing problems in
dealing with the remaining dependencies, but their potential for
causing difficulties for us in the future.
Item 4:
UK/US/Canada policy in the Caribbean
11.
Introducing this item, Mr Ridley said that he thought It
would be useful to concentrate on HMG's policy and interests
4
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