Britain is set to deliver on its promise of a new deal for the Overseas Territories, Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans predicted yesterday.

And on the cards is a strong UK defence of the Overseas Territories in the face of potential international attacks on so-called clean offshore jurisdictions as well as stronger representation in the Commonwealth for the ex-Dependent Territories.

Also possible is more internal self-determination for the Overseas Territories and a lessening of the powers of UK-appointed Governors.

Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Derek Taylor, however, warned that if offshore jurisdictions were to suffer as a result of new interest in their activities, they would need support to help cushion the massive economic blow.

But Dame Lois said she was confident the UK, drawing closer to its European Union partners, would not leave the Overseas Territories out in the cold in the face of a series of probes into "harmful tax jurisdictions''.

The EU, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the G7 group of nations are all examining the offshore financial sector -- and Britain is a member of all three.

But Dame Lois said: "Britain will not abandon its Overseas Territories -- it's a totally different approach we're seeing.'' And -- in a reference to ex-UK Prime Minister Harold McMillan's 1960 "winds of change'' speech on decolonisation -- she added: "It's another wind of change.'' Dame Lois was speaking at the end of the first meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council -- set up as part of Britain's White Paper plan for a new relationship with the former Dependent Territories.

She said: "I think this is definitely going to bring about better relationships -- they're already talking about next year's meeting.'' Dame Lois added that the UK had moved to dispel fears that it was moving away from its old partners in favour of new ones.

She said: "I didn't get that feeling at all from the people at the meeting -- the UK has even set up a new desk for the Overseas Territories.'' Dame Lois also said she was convinced Britain would fight in international bodies to protect offshore centres proved to be clean and toeing the line on international standards to beat money-laundering, tax evasion and other white-collar crime.

She was backed by Mr. Taylor -- whose country, like Bermuda, depends on international business and tourism to survive.

Mr. Taylor said: "It's a new approach in terms of partnership and we are very hopeful Britain will do what it can to protect us.'' But both warned that the territories still faced a series of problems -- and challenged the UK to put its money where its mouth is.

Dame Lois said Bermuda wanted an end to twin-seat constituencies and more equally-sized constituencies -- which would slash the size of the House of Assembly.

UK to `deliver on promises' And she said the Island also wanted more say in the setting up of airline routes -- a role currently carried out by Britain -- to offer fresh opportunities for more flights from Europe, currently offered only by British Airways.

Britain has already said it will look at a modernised approach to constitutional change in the territories with more self-determination than before.

Dame Lois said: "We said we wanted a more open policy on airlines -- we need more routes from Europe. But I know we can't just go and negotiate for ourselves.'' And Mr. Taylor said top officials from the Commonwealth at the recent Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in the Cayman Islands -- also attended by Bermuda -- had moved to allay fears over probes in so-called tax havens.

He said: `It was pointed out that it's merely an initiative on harmful tax by the OECD and that it's not an issue just for the Overseas Territories, but all international financial centres.

"We are not alone as Overseas Territories -- and we have made it quite clear that some mechanism will have to be put in place if, for some reason, this would have an effect on smaller economies which are centred around financial services.'' He added: "We all intend to run clean jurisdictions. We do not want to be placed at a disadvantage.

"None of us have big industries -- and you can't talk in one breath about the eradication of poverty and in another breath damaging these things which help them do that, unless you have an alternative.

"Diversification came up at the Council -- but diversification to what? But from what we can gather, the UK was listening.'' Dame Lois pointed out that -- unlike the other Overseas Territories -- Bermuda enjoyed a much higher level of internal self-government and was less concerned about the role of the Governor.

POLITICS PTL