British Government Pledges its Continued Support to Montserrat and the other BOTs in the COVID-19 Pandemic

The British Government has pledged its continued support to the British Overseas Territories in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK is responsible for ensuring the defence and security, and good governance, of the Territories.

In a House of Commons briefing paper, dated 13 November, The United Kingdom Government says it is keeping the conditions in Montserrat and other territories and regions under review and, if necessary, will introduce self-isolation requirements upon entry to the UK.

This is in light of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of 13 November 2020, However, according to the World Health Organisation, Covid-19 infection rates in the Overseas Territories are relatively low.

Montserrat, Anguilla, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, the Pitcairn Islands and The Falkland Islands, have no confirmed cases of Covid-19.  

Gibraltar, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands are listed as having clusters of cases developing.  

Cases in the remaining populated Overseas Territories are listed by the WHO as sporadic.

The UK Government hasn’t made any specific statements in relation to planning for a second wave of the pandemic should it occur in the Overseas Territories. However, it has made clear that its support is enduring.

In its September 2020 response the Government stated: The OTs are facing an unprecedented challenge, and in addition to the urgent assistance already delivered, it will support the territories as they deal with the medium and longer-term economic, public health and other impacts of the pandemic.

Financial assistance, it says, will continue to be provided on a case by case basis; while additional military support will be provided as needed or requested. 

On the subject of vaccines the UK Government has confirmed that through the Vaccine Task Force, the UK Government is procuring vaccines on behalf of the Crown Dependencies and OTs, and is working with them to ensure the smooth deployment of a COVID-19 vaccine once a safe and effective one is available. 

The then Department for International Development also provided an initial £10 million to mitigate immediate non-health impacts in the three Overseas Territories that are eligible for Overseas Development Assistance: Montserrat, St Helena (including Tristan da Cunha) and the Pitcairn Islands.  

It also earmarked a further £20 million to address the medium-term impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on these territories.