Premier Dr Ewart Brown joined leaders of six other British Overseas Territories yesterday in preparation for the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting later this year.

The ten-hour summit meeting was held in Turks and Caicos and hosted by the country's Premier, Michael Misick. The countries present included Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat and St. Helena.

The leaders discussed a variety of issues flagged as priorities to individual countries as well matters of mutual importance.

Dr. Ewart Brown said: "These meetings are enormously valuable because it gives all of us a better understanding of the struggles and successes of our neighbours.

"By shaping an agenda in this way we can go to London more organized, with more clearly-defined objectives. That's tremendously important because our time in London is short. It's essential that we articulate our collective position concisely because there is precious little time."

One of the most significant agreements from yesterday's summit was the calls for a review of the White Paper 'Partnership for Progress'.

This Paper, dating back almost ten years, sets out the specifics of the working relationship between Overseas Territories and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The Premier said: "Reviewing the details of 'Partnership for Progress' will allow us to determine whether promises made were promises delivered. And perhaps more importantly, it can help us determine whether mutual benefit has been derived since the White Paper was released.

"We want to find out where we progressed and where we prospered."

As a Cabinet Minister in 1999, Dr. Brown travelled to London to accept 'Partnership for Progress' on Bermuda's behalf.

The Overseas Territories plan to complete the review before the October OTCC meeting in London - in order that its findings can be discussed with FCO officials.

Other issues discussed at yesterday's summit were:

Civil Service College - the development of a Masters leadership programme for civil servants in all Overseas Territories.

Forensics Facility - a laboratory dedicated to the forensic analysis and investigation of crimes in Overseas Territories.

Witness Protection Programme - an initiative to assist in the prosecution of criminal cases.