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Earlier this week, Honourable Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Premier of the Cayman Islands and President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) announced the establishment of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Day, which will be celebrated annually on the first Monday in June.

The primary aim of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Day is to raise awareness and foster a deeper connection between the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories. 

To celebrate the inaugural UK Overseas Territories Day on Monday, 3 June, an Evensong service was held at the Westminster Abbey in London, with choral music and special prayers for the Overseas Territories. Cayman Islands Representative to the United Kingdom Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, delivered a reading at the event, which was attended by several Overseas Territories’ representatives in the United Kingdom. The service was followed by a reception at the Cellarium Terrance, Westminster Abbey.

In commenting on the importance of the Day, Premier O’Connor Connolly, stated, “UK Overseas Territories Day is a wonderful opportunity to take pride in the extraordinary diversity of the Overseas Territories. It provides a moment to celebrate the unique ties that bind us together as a global British family and to reflect on what more we can do together to address global challenges and pursue common goals. It is a very special journey that we are all on together and I look forward to celebrating UK Overseas Territories Day for many more years to come.” 

Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, also noted, “It is truly special to join my fellow representatives from the Overseas Territories in Westminster Abbey to mark this special commemoration. All of us look forward to ensuring that the annual UK Overseas Territories Day provides a focus of activities, events and celebrations right across the Overseas Territories and throughout the United Kingdom.”

The main work of the United Kingdom Territories Association is to represent the collective view of the Overseas Territories through dialogue and contact with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and other UK Government Departments. The Association was constituted in November 1994 by the Governments of the UK’s Overseas Territories, that have a permanent population in the United Kingdom. 

Premier O’Connor-Connolly’s UK Overseas Territories Day message can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz3PW-P5o5g