Editorial
H. M. LoyalOpposition
They are in reversed roles and there arematters of parliament which need the immediate attention of thesepersons who now make up the opposition.
And none can doubt that these roles willbe ably handled by the former Leader of Government Business andhis Legislative colleagues, who find themselves on the 'otherside'.
It is ironical that in the opposition benchnow seats three of the five members on the backbench who wereformer members of the Executive Council. Had the newly electedSpeaker of the House, Mrs. Juliana O'Connor-Connoly not been elevatedto her new position, then out of the six elected members on theback bench, two-thirds would have had Cabinet level experience.
The fact that Mrs. O'Connor Connolly isa trained attorney-at-law who has previously served on the ExecutiveCouncil, is an indication that the office of Speaker will receiveadministration and ruling by someone who has the required experiencefor this demanding post.
One does wonder, however, about the rationalebehind further reducing the already limited membership of thecountry's Legislature by making one of their numbers the Speaker.
Perhaps if there were more MLAs this mightbe justified.
The new constitution is an opportunity forall concerned to rectify many of the anomalies which created therecent political storm of division. Trustingly, it is hoped thatchanges in this charter will provide for a clearer transitionin political and administrative power, should there be a recurrenceof the upheaval witnessed less than two weeks ago.
And history does repeat itself.
What the country must be beware of now morethan ever is that among us there may be those who believe theirconnections to the present or past Government would make it clearsailing for their ship through Cayman's passage of success, createdby many hands who have sweated in more ways than one to make ourcountry the most sought after to belong.
It is hoped that the new Administrationwill recognize that among the country's indigenous and immigrantpopulation, there is an abundance of level-headed individuals,who can contribute to our continuing development of good orderand prosperity without the focus that they can buy or coerce anyone within or outside of Government to achieve their goals,which all too often are economic and political advantage.
The make-up of the new opposition is assuch that they themselves are independently, economically andintellectually sound. This is in itself a necessary requirementif they are to be the watchdog of the people.
In the meantime, those who have so bravelypublicly opposed the change in Government, are duty-bound to focusnot so much on their bitterness, but to bring to attention ofthe Government any concerns they may feel which are not in thebest interest of the country.
Furthermore, in the same manner they havebeen so transparent with their display of opposition, it is necessarythat they will come forward with suggestions and accolades, shouldthe new Government deliver programmes to resuscitate the economyby Executive Orders in Council, Directives and Legislation.
The deed is done. The flights inward arebringing in a significant number of visitors many for thefirst time we have been told. Now we must get on with the mattersof rebuilding, with the cooperation of everyone who wants theCayman Islands to re-establish its position as the most successfulstory in the Caribbean.
After all, it is up to us all to put a newmeaning to famous expression, and ensure that we make our country,"The Islands that time (has not) forgot"