Inaugural UK Overseas Territories Day
Report from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy
Photos from Chris and from Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia,
Cayman Islands Government UK Representative and Chair of the UK Overseas Territories Association.
The new UK Overseas Territories Day logo,
featuring the OT flags, including Tristan da Cunha's second from the right.
The President of UKOTA - the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association - has announced the establishment of UK Overseas Territories Day. This event will be celebrated annually on the first Monday of June, which this year falls on the 3rd of June. The primary objective of the UK Overseas Territories Day is to raise awareness and foster a deeper connection between the UK and its Overseas Territories.
The Dean of the Abbey, the Very Reverend David Hoyle, with OT representatives outside Westminster Abbey.
Chris Carnegy is immediately behind and slightly to the right of the Dean.
On Monday 3th June 2024, UKOTA marked the establishment of UK Overseas Territories Day at the Evensong service at Westminster Abbey in London, which included special prayers for the Overseas Territories. Overseas Territory Representatives to the UK attended the service, and Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, the Cayman Islands Government Representative, delivered a reading.
The service was followed by a reception to celebrate UK Overseas Territories Day in The Cellarium Terrace of Westminster Abbey, by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
Chris Carnegy delivering a message about the significance of the event,
for Tristan and all OTs, for a video commissioned by UKOTA.
The Premier of the Cayman Islands and President of UKOTA, the Hon. Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, said:
"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."
One of the guests was Sir Graham Brady, now standing down as an MP
after chairing the Conservative 1922 Committee.
The election campaign and rules prevented many other policians attending the event.
Dr Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, the Cayman Islands Government Representative to the UK, said:
"It's truly special to join my fellow Representatives from the Overseas Territories in Westminster Abbey to mark the first UK Overseas Territories Day. All of us look forward to ensuring that this day provides the focus for activities, events and celebrations right across the Overseas Territories and throughout the United Kingdom."
It was an appropriate coincidence that on the first Overseas Territories Day
OT flags flew in Parliament Square, close to Westminster Abbey.
Amongst the flags was, of course, that of Tristan da Cunha