Premier André Ebanks and UK Minister of State for the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty.
Minister of State for UK Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty and Cayman Islands Premier André Ebanks met in London last week to discuss key areas of partnership and UK support for the Cayman Islands Government’s priorities following recent elections.
The wide-ranging discussion covered areas of mutual collaboration, including the environment, security, financial services and sanctions. Minister Doughty welcomed the Cayman Islands’ commitment to preserving its pristine marine environment and thanked Premier Ebanks for Cayman’s support to other Overseas Territories in times of need, most recently in Anguilla. Recognising the importance of UK funded programmes, including the Darwin Initiative, the UK and Cayman Islands governments will continue their partnership on environmental protection, including their work together in the Blue Belt Programme.
Premier Ebanks and Minister Doughty also re-affirmed their shared desire to tackling illicit finance and sanctions evasion. Minister Doughty recognised that the Cayman Islands is a world leader in high quality, modern and resilient financial services. Minister Doughty praised the Cayman Islands’ leading regional role in implementing UK sanctions, including freezing more than $9 billion of Russia-linked assets.
Minister Doughty welcomed the important steps taken by the Cayman Islands to promote greater corporate transparency, including launching a register of beneficial ownership information in February 2025 accessible to those with legitimate interest such as accredited journalists, academic researchers and members of certain civil society organisations. Minister Doughty also welcomed Premier Ebanks’ commitment to make further enhancements to the beneficial ownership register – on a legitimate interest basis – with more streamlined processes for multiple search requests, including on fees. They agreed to continue work to enhance greater cooperation through reciprocal information sharing by competent authorities, including law enforcement.
These changes will be reviewed together in the coming weeks, in line with the parameters for registers of beneficial ownership agreed between Overseas Territory leaders and the UK Government at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024.
Premier Ebanks and Minister Doughty confirmed their desire to further deepen the modern UK-Cayman Islands partnership and looked forward to Minister Doughty’s upcoming visit to the Cayman Islands in September 2025. Minister Doughty reiterated the firm commitment of his government to the sovereignty, security and defence of the Overseas Territories.
