Huw Irranca-Davies Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs

Huw Irranca-Davies, a Minister from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) addressed a packed gathering at the Conference of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) at the end of a productive visit to the Cayman Islands last week.

Mr Irranca-Davies arrived in Grand Cayman on Tuesday, 2 June and embarked on a full two-day programme in which he was able to witness UK-sponsored projects from the Darwin initiative as well as those funded by the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).

Gina Ebanks-Petrie, the Director of the Cayman Islands’ Department of Environment, and her team gave a guided tour of the Botanic Park and various areas of the North Sound in Grand Cayman, pointing out the specifics of the local eco-system and the fragility of the islands from the effects of Climate Change and natural disasters.

The visit included discussions with the newly appointed Environment Minister, Hon Mark Scotland and a meeting with the Leader of Government Business/Premier Designate Hon McKeeva Bush. Minister Irranca-Davies stressed the importance of the National Conservation Bill and expressed his hope that the new Government would soon enact this important legislation.

Minster Irranca-Davies gave a keynote speech at the event, where he announced funding for round 17 of DEFRA’s Darwin Initiative. This included up to one and a half million pounds earmarked for Overseas Territories.

The UKOTCF Conference concluded on Thursday, 4 June and was a gathering of forum members from the UK and Overseas Territories at which a full range of issues was discussed.

Huw Irranca-Davies is Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs within DEFRA. He was elected to the parliamentary seat of Ogmore in the South Wales Valleys in the by-election of 14 February 2002.