UK strengthening relationships beyond Europe

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing this letter in response to the article ‘Legislators to examine relationship with overseas territories,’ published in The Gleaner on October 14.

I believe UK legislators’ examination to show the relationship with UK overseas territories is to expand economically beyond Europe, and this will make it much more difficult for Jamaica to remove the monarch as head of state. In addition, I believe the UK does want to loose trading with Jamaica.

Reference UK statement at UN Fourth Conference, held in UK, dated September 10, published October 11, regarding relationship with the UK territories, published in gov.uk.

The British royal family views the Commonwealth as being critical to its interests and symbolism abroad. Moreover, since Brexit, the United Kingdom has been seeking to expand economically beyond Europe and sees the Commonwealth as a possible avenue through which to do so.

India is important to the UK because it served as the main base for Asia and remained the former empire’s most important colony and main source of income. Please note that India is part of the Commonwealth realm as a republic state.

A UK Free Trade Agreement with India supports the government’s strategy of continuing to develop the United Kingdom’s status as an independent trading nation that seeks to trade and invest opportunities, champions free trade, and supports levelling up agenda in all regions of the UK.

India is the largest member state of the Commonwealth with nearly 60 per cent of the total population of the grouping. It is the fourth largest contributor to the Commonwealth budgets and programmes.

The Commonwealth includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. This has nothing to do with the UK expanding economically beyond Europe but just to demonstrate the magnitude of India’s economic stability and why it make sense for the UK

Based on the above information, it is very evident that to examine the relationships with UK territories was to expand economically beyond Europe.

CARGILL KELLY