EDITORIAL
The Upcoming Election as a Constitutional Referendum
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
The Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Hon McKeeva Bush, said
last week that his party would publish its recommendations for the
modernisation of the Cayman Islands Constitution as part of its election
manifesto.
Mr Bush also indicated that November’s General Election would thus become a
referendum for constitutional reform.
UDP Chairman Billy Reid added that his party’s re-election as the reigning
government in the upcoming election would indicate a mandate from the people
to go forward with the party’s recommendations for the amendment of the
Constitution.
It is a welcome development to hear that the UDP will announce the changes
it has in mind for the Constitution before the election, and make its
recommendations thereof a major part of its campaign.
Although the General Election is not the referendum that some people,
including members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPM), had in mind for the
vitally important issue of constitutional modernisation, it is a good
opportunity to indeed get some sort of mandate from the people on the
substantive issues in debate.
Whether or not we call our top elected official the Chief Minister or
something else will not substantially affect the future of the Cayman Islands,
however, such issues as single member constituencies and maximum terms of
office very well could. Indeed, so important are these issues to some people
that they could determine the way a person votes.
One possible major benefit of having the election serve as a referendum on
the long overdue constitutional reform might be that it could fast track the
process if its enactment, or at least the implementation of some of its
elements, similar to the way the Executive Council (now Cabinet) implemented
various aspects of the Vision 2008 exercise even though it had not been
enacted into law.
A separate referendum on the Constitution would further delay the process,
not to mention cost the Government a lot of money to conduct. In a time when
the country has several vital infrastructural needs, it is wise to save public
money when and were possible.
Even though the General Election apparently will now serve as a mandate for
Cayman’s constitutional reform, whichever political party takes power in
November should not ignore additional input from the public, especially on
issues that have not been at the core of the Constitution debate.
For instance, the need for a section in the Constitution on human rights
might very well become more of an issue as the year progresses, and the public
should have the opportunity to offer suggestions
The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Kurt Tibbetts has said that he
expects that there would be further consultation with the PPM should they take
the reins of government in November. We hope that the UDP would do the same.
Regardless, the stakes for the upcoming election have increased
significantly with the idea of the process becoming a referendum on the
Constitution. Possibly more than ever before, Cayman voters will need to be
well informed to understand the changes the opposing political parties are
recommending, and also of the effects that these changes will bring.
Referenda still might become a useful, and perhaps even a preferred way of
polling the Cayman electorate on important issues affecting the country in the
future, but there is simply not enough time or money to have one on the issue
of the new Constitution. In this case, the General Election will have to do,
making every vote cast one not only for a candidate, but also one for future
of every single person living in the Cayman Islands.
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