CONFIDENTIAL
too would soon be working up a project. Miss Robinson promised to
send Mr Dalton details of a request ODA had received for funds to
protect a dolphin in TCI. Mr Dalton then referred to the need to
follow up the recent report on Gough Island, by establishing a code
of conduct for visitors. This should be put in place before the
next lease is negotiated. Some progress on this matter had, been
made and MAED would be in touch with WIAD and SAmD about next steps.
He also commented on the recent decision by the TCI government to designate a large area of Middle Caicos as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention. On waste disposal, he hoped that the Gibraltar government would soon establish more satisfactory arrangements than were provided by the current incinerator. Mr Williams thought it
likely that Gibraltar would opt for the cheapest available option
which could perform the task effectively.
18.
Mr Dalton reported that a new protocol had been drawn up under
the Cartagena Convention for the protection of the marine
environment in the wider Caribbean region. Three DTS (BVI, Caymans and TCI) were covered by the UK's ratification of the connection and its existing protocol. Only BVI among the Caribbean DTs had in place a contingency plan to deal with oil spillages, though the Caymans had recently commissioned such a plan from Director of their
Natural Resources Laboratory. Mr Dalton had recently held
discussions with the US authorities on the possibility of the
Caribbean DTs being able to draw on US expertise and equipment in
the event of a maritime pollution disaster. He was pursuing this matter with WIAD. The DT governments were naturally concerned at
the financial implications of such an arrangement. MAED intended to re-examine carefully the potential costs and the liability implications for DT governments but were generally confident that existing international Conventions, funds etc covered foreseeable
consequences.
Aid Matters
19. Miss Robinson expressed her disappointment that no-one from OED
was present to answer the questions on administrative support for Governors in budgetary-aided Dependent Territories which she had
raised at the previous meeting.
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