The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly speaks out

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon Linford
Pierson speaks on several topics concerning the
House.  Photo: Miguel Escalante

Thursday, June 17, 2004

In two separate messages, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon Linford Pierson recently commented on a several issues concerning the House.

One of the topics Mr Pierson covered concerned requests from the media to prepare transcripts of Legislative Assembly proceedings using laptop computers or other silent touch-typing devices.

“I have considered this request and regard it as reasonable and progressive, considering the long-standing precedent that has been established in this Honourable House through the verbatim recording and broadcasting of Legislative Proceedings by Radio Cayman,” he said.

Pursuant to the powers given to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly under Standing Order 84(1), Mr Pierson said he had therefore granted the right for media members approved under the Register of Interests Law 1996 (Declaration of Press Interests) to use such devices in the House, although other recording devices, photography and television is still forbidden without express permission of the Presiding Officer or the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr Pierson said that the renovation works on the Legislative Assembly Building had been scheduled for completion on 7 June, but that finishing touches were still being carried out.

After a tour of the building with Public Works project manager Jim Scott, Mr Pierson noted that the workmanship on the renovations seemed to have gone well, but said that the “bright carnival-looking colours” on the wall behind the Speaker’s chair concerned him.

He noted that the Leader of Government Business, Hon McKeeva Bush, agreed to look into having the bright yellow colour subdued prior to the opening of the 2004/05 Session of the House.

Another point Mr Pierson made concerned his belief that the Legislature of the Cayman Islands should be made an autonomous body by Government, and thus answering directly to His Excellency the Governor.

“It seems to me, that it is quite wrong for the Speaker, who in order of precedence, is the fourth ranking official in Government, to have to answer to any person within the Civil Service, other than the Governor himself,” Mr Pierson said.

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