New System To Strengthen Asylum Systems In The Overseas Territories

Montserrat was represented at the launch of a new initiative which aims to strengthen asylum management across British Overseas Territories.

Held in the UK on December 3-4, the event brought together representatives from Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Helena, and the Falkland Islands, marking the first step toward the creation of the British Overseas Territories Asylum Network.

The event, organized by the UK’s Home Office, aimed to foster collaboration among the Territories to address both current and future challenges related to asylum seekers.

Throughout the two-day meeting, participants benefited from a series of presentations led by various UK government departments that focus on asylum and immigration issues.

Participants were also provided with an outline to delivering future training to nominees from member countries, which is expected to start in February, 2025.

Montserrat’s representative at the event, Chief Immigration Officer Charles Thompson, told ZJB News that the subject matter of dealing with asylum seekers was very important to Montserrat, as the prediction was that there was a high possibility of member states experiencing an increase in asylum seekers, who must be dealt with under conditions set out in conventions and their respective legislation, to support human rights.