But will these pledged resources be used to assist conservation and sustainable use, and to help maintain the welfare and traditions of Caribbean people? Minister Elliot Morley of the UK is famous in both CITES and the IWC for his anti-people pro-animal stance. He has become something of a leader and spokesperson for the anti-sustainable use forces in the developed world. Is he simply casting his net broader than whales and basking sharks – into Caribbean sea turtles – to strengthen his position amongst a small but vocal constituency?

Morley states that: "It's the first time we have given significant funding to research the marine turtle populations found in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories". But apparently he does not need that research to draw conclusions about status: "This initiative shows the government commitment to fulfilling its responsibility towards global conservation of critically endangered species". His preconceived opinions on status are echoed by Peter Richardson, MCS Species Policy Officer: "Little is known about the marine turtle populations inhabiting the UK Overseas Territories, but we do know that some populations are close to extinction". What about the regional Caribbean populations that are increasing rapidly according to monitoring data provided to the CITES Secretariat from the IUCN?

Those who attended the last IWC and CITES meetings will certainly remember how skillful Morley was at switching the UK's political concerns from people to whales and sharks. At transferring much needed emotional concerns from people to animals. Of questioning the fundamental UN sanctioned rights of people to use their renewable resources as the building blocks of economic development. Does Morley understand the whole concept of policy based on objective research?

The participants at IWC will remember he is the same Minister of the Crown who refused to issue a permit to Norwegian scientists, wishing to conduct research on Minke Whales (without killing them) in UK territorial waters. According to Morley: "It was not in the best interest of whales."(Sic). What, one may ask, will be the research considered to be in the best interests of sea turtles by the UK, and will this accord with the views of Caribbean nations?

Will the UK sponsored research effort help the Cayman Islands, or draw on the remarkable experience in regional turtle conservation and sustainable use accumulated by Cuba? Is it really about helping small island states to advance conservation and sustainable use? Is it really about assisting biodiversity conservation so that the rewards can be shared by people living in the Caribbean in accordance with the fundamental principles of the CBD?

Unfortunately, the existence of a hidden agenda is difficult to reject. At the next CITES meeting (COP 12), one can already hear Morley’s quavering voice: "Unfortunately, UK cannot support the Cuban proposal, at least until such time as we have completed our surveys in the UK Caribbean Territories..." A delaying tactic, identical to those used for delaying the implementation of RMS and RMP in IWC, must be expected.

What will it take for this Minister to accept that conservation in distant lands will never be achieved unless the local people are respected as willing partners, receiving tangible benefits from their efforts. Showing compassion for marine turtles in the Caribbean, while ignoring the aims, aspirations and needs of people in the Caribbean, is simply not today’s formula for engendering much needed "willing partners" in conservation.