Chairman of the Chamber's Taskforce on the White Paper
Bryan Hunter, Attorney-at-Law
Next Tuesday, 25th July at 7:00p.m, the White Paper Task Force of the Chamber of Commerce willhost an open forum at the George Town Town Hall to discuss theWhite Paper on 'Partnership for Progress and Prosperity.'
The White Paper was initially published on 17 March 1999. Despitethe fact that it has been the subject of quite a lot of publicdebate, there is still a considerable amount of confusion andmisunderstanding as to how this paper - which is still only adiscussion document - will affect the Cayman Islands.
In his statement to the House of Commons on the day that the WhitePaper was released, the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, SirRobin Cook, said that "the White Paper sets out the basisfor a modernised and strengthened partnership between the UnitedKingdom and our Overseas Territories".
The White Paper addresses the following issues, among others:
· the offer of British Citizenship to British DependentTerritories citizens;
· the requirement that each Overseas Territory observethe same international standards with regard to human rights thatthe U.K. observes;
· the requirement that each Overseas Territory observethe same international standards that the U.K. observes in relationto financial industry regulation and combating money-launderingand harmful tax competition;
· the requirement that each Overseas Territory observegood governance, particularly in relation to auditing and financialaccountability and borrowing policies;
· the requirement that each Overseas Territory make reasonableefforts to combat drug trafficking; and the requirement that eachOverseas Territory manage its natural environment in a sustainablemanner.
The purpose of the this forum is to attempt to dispel any lingeringmisconceptions that the public or the Chamber membership may haveabout the contents of the White Paper and to inform the publicof the progress that the Cayman Islands has made in meeting therequirements set out in the White Paper.
The following persons have agreed to sit on the panel at the forum:Mr. Frank Banks (Partner, Walkers), Mr. Clive Bodden (ManagingDirector of [Atlantic Supply Ltd], Member of White Paper TaskForce), Mr. Bryan Hunter (Associate, Hunter & Hunter, Chairmanof White Paper Task Force), Mr. Derrick Haines (Chief Superintendentof the Drugs Task Force, RCIP) and Mr. Tim Austin (Acting Director,Department of Environment). Mr. Wil Pineau (CEO of the Chamber)will be the moderator.
Last Saturday a public action group held a meeting at the SouthSound Town Hall in connection with the White Paper and other seriousmatters facing the Cayman Islands. Approximately 300 person werein attendance, and there was quite active participation by thosein attendance.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. J. Robert Bodden. Attorney SteveMcField led the discussion with a riveting presentation. Alsopresent at the head table to answer questions and comment on theseinitiatives which which are impacting the Cayman Islands wereMr. Gilbert McLean and Mr. Ezzard Miller candidates for the upcomingNovember Election.
One of the most significant revelations at the meeting was thatinspite of the fact the Cayman Islands was offered a new Constitutionin 1992, the Government of the Day at that time did not acceptit, which had provision for the post of Chief Minister. They wenton and approved a watered-down revision, which did not includethe Bill of Rights charter, so long sort for these islands.
Some of the speakers from the audience voiced concerns includingthe rapidity in which several bills were passed in the House ofAssembly the day before. Among those present was sitting MLA forthe District of George Town, Mr. Frank McField who explained thatthe EU draft document being circulated, will be applicable onlyto countries within the borders of the European community. Itwas argued otherwise by Mr. Steve McField, that the charter -which calls for among other things, the right of Europeans andothers to take up residence in the Cayman Islands, and after fiveyears the would be entitle to vote, claim citizenship and runfor elected office.
Like the Immigration forum in connection with the Select Committee'sreport which drew a large turnout a couple of months ago - onlynow to be dormant, except for the descendants rights initiativeswhich are being pursued by Mr. Billy Adam, the Chairman of thatparticular thrust - it is hoped that the meeting planned for nextTuesday will be supported with an impressive turn out.
Meantime, it has been suggested in many quarters that the Governmentof the day should take charge and launch a district-by-districtcampaign to educate the public which continues to be totally confusedwith the various initiatives which have hit the Cayman Islandsover the past few months.