TNAG-1001-FCO40-1237-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-including--Report-of-the-1981 — Page 155

.1

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

other territories which did not need aid from the UK.

29. After further discussion it was agreed that WIAD would

look again at the earlier redraft to see whether a memorandum

should be prepared on UK policy in the Caribbean Dependencies

only (excluding Belize) which could be submitted to FCO

Ministers. It was noted that such a limited paper could still

not be passed on to local Ministers; in the case of Montserrat

this would be counter-productive, as that country had already

progressed too far constitutionally for any claw-back of

powers to be feasible.

30. Mr Morrice asked for views on FCO organisation for

handling colonial matters, as an O & M inspection of HKGD

was imminent. Mr Deare noted that the FCO perceived a future

need for some sort of itinerant adviser who could visit the

dependencies and act as mentor to Governors.

Inspector General' was illustrative.

no executive role.

The title

The adviser would have

31. Some Governors at first expressed reservations about the

role of an adviser; they pointed out that local Ministers in

small islands would be intensely suspicious and might well view

this as some abscure form of regionalism. But in further

discussion it was agreed that short-term visits by an adviser

resident in London to assist Governor's particularly those

without HMOCS experience, would be useful. There was also

support for the idea of establishing a single East Caribbean

Department in the FCO, which would deal with the whole

English-speaking Caribbean.

Mr Hennessy enquired whether

12

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

/there