Chagossian ‘Contact Group’ Has Never Met and Is Just Three Civil Servants – Guido Fawkes

EXC: Chagossian ‘Contact Group’ Has Never Met and Is Just Three Civil Servants

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Chagossians will be palmed off to three civil servants for “future programmes” with the FCDO after the Chagos Surrender. Guido doubts they will be thrilled…

Labour insisted on 8 July that the government recognises “the importance of the islands to Chagossians and have worked to ensure the agreement reflects this” along with providing additional support to them. To that end Stephen Doughty said “a new ‘Contact Group’ will facilitate dialogue between the Chagossian community and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on future programmes.” Chagossians campaigned vociferously against the surrender deal…

As of 15 August there has been no first meeting of the Contact Group, according to information acquired via Guido’s FoI Unit. The FCDO says it will be chaired by a deputy director – the lowest rung of the senior civil service and the only senior official running the Group. Previously ministers met with Chagossians…

The secretariat for the contact group will be only two junior civil servants – a Grade 7 “supported by” an even more junior higher executive officer who will be working “alongside other responsibilities.” Guido does not envy them – they will be getting an earful if they gather the courage to actually have a meeting…