Interim Order-in-Council Next Year

Leader of Government Business Hon. McKeeva Bush

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will send an interim Order-in-Council to the Cayman Islands by January 15, 2003.

This Order-in-Council will establish the Boundaries Commission that will create the 17 single member constituencies within the six electoral districts to allow for one-person, one-vote in the 2004 elections, according to leader of Government Business the Hon. McKeeva Bush.

This was one of the decisions arising out of the Constitutional Review talks with the FCO in London between December 9 and 11.

Mr. Bush said the Order-in-Council will also give constitutional authority to the Leader of Government (Chief Minister) and the Leader of the Opposition, which is necessary, prior to the establishment of the Boundaries Commission, as they each appoint one member to the three-person Boundaries Commission.

He said the Order will also provide for a change in the nomenclature of Executive Council to Cabinet.

"This Order-in-Council clearly initiates implementation of some sections of the constitution that is needed before 2004 and is in keeping with the UDP's position on partial implementation and complete implementation immediately following the 2004 elections, with the exception of the Bill of Rights, which would be included in the constitution, but not implemented until 2005 to give way for audits, training and changes in laws that would impact on the new Bill of Rights," Mr. Bush said.

He said the FCO representatives have also noted that there should be further public consultation and comment on the Constitution, which the UDP supports.

"Everyone recognizes that no draft constitution will satisfy everyone and that even a referendum gives no guarantee of total satisfaction. On the matter of referendum, the FCO has been at pains to point out that a referendum is not in keeping with the UK Government's tradition.

"Their concerns include whether the current provisions for a referendum are adequate and whether there is need for a people-initiated referendum, as the Opposition has proposed, especially after the Leader of the PPM acknowledged and revealed that the type of people-initiated referendum they were proposing would not be binding on any Government," Mr. Bush added.

The Government Leader said once the draft Constitution is received, the Government will propose a public consultation period of eight weeks to three months.

"I give the public the assurance that the United Democratic Party will hold public meetings in each electoral district to consult with all the people," he said.

Mr. Bush said that all other changes as exist in the recommendations by the Commissioners were agreed by the meeting, with the exception of a no confidence vote.

"We expect that would be included in the recommendations from the FCO. In any event, I hope that by June 2003 we would have agreement by the United Kingdom on the new constitutional order," he said.

"I will then move a motion in the House that will give ample opportunity for all elected representatives to debate the proposed Order in Council and the Constitution. I take this opportunity to implore the Opposition to do their duty this time and stay in the House and debate."

The Leader of Government Business also noted that there is now more at stake for the Cayman Islands, than the matter of constitutional modernisation.

As an example, he revealed that in a meeting at the ministerial level, it was suggested to me that our constitutional modernisation would be tied to our acceptance of the EU Savings Tax Directive.

"I made it clear, that having won five elections under the present Constitution I can win again, and there would be no compromise on our position on the EU Savings Tax Directive.

"No offer from the UK Government would be enough for me to accept this Directive, which would destroy the economy of these Islands.

"As the government, and as a country, we must continue to fight any attempts by the UK to impose this initiative on the Cayman Islands, and this is not something that the United Democratic Party and I are prepared to trade off for the constitution, or any other issue. When the debate starts and when the recommendations come, I implore all: let us move forward with this matter. We cannot have a constitution hung in suspended animation for another two years. There must be a move forward. "

Mr. Bush stated that this matter has been a time-consuming one for the Government, the Opposition and everyone else.

"We now know what we want, we know what we have agreed on; there is no need to play politics with it.

"The Cayman Islands is worth more to us than winning any election or getting any post in any Cabinet. Let us be what we are supposed to be, that is, true representatives of the people, first and foremost," he declared.

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