Mr. Norman Bodden, OBE
Accordingto well-informed sources Mr. Norman Bodden, OBE, has confirmedthat he will not be taking up the post offered by the presentGovernment Administration to be the third Speaker of the CaymanIslands Legislative Assembly.
"After revisiting the offermade to me to take up the post as Speaker, and subsequent discussionwith my family, I felt that it's in our best interest insteadto continue developing the (Corporate Services) business I startedtwo and a half years ago. It gives me the freedom and flexibilityI need for my wife, Virginia and I."
It was only seven weeks ago that Mr. Norman Bodden, who previouslyserved as an Executive Council Member (Minister) in the Administrationsfor eight years, from 1984 to 1992 considered back thento be a coalition of legislators - confirmed that he acceptedthe powerful position as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,following an invitation by the present political Administration,another coalition of successful candidates of last November'selection.
Cayman Net News' source also suggested that already the name ofanother sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) one ofthe three representatives for the District of Bodden Town, Mr.Anthony Eden is being considered for the post.
Another possibility to fill the post of Speaker, which is scheduledto be vacated by Capt. Mabry Kirkconnell, himself a former MLAfor Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, is the retiring Clerk of theLegislative Assembly, Mrs. Georgette Myrie.
Mrs. Georgette Myrie
This will not be an unusual move, as the first Caymanian to holdthe post of Speaker from 1992 to 1996 was Mrs. Sybil McLaughlin,MBE, JP, and a former Clerk of the Legislature who has been nameda National Hero. Mrs. McLaughlin was tapped back in February ofthis year by the Government Administration to take back the Speaker'sChair, to replace Capt. Mabry, who replaced her in 1996, but theposition was not confirmed.
Prior to the selection of Mrs. McLaughlin as the first Speakerof the Assembly, the Governor, as the representative of Her Majestythe Queen, officiated over the House as its President. The presentGovernor, Mr. Peter Smith who is in the final year of his assignment,sits as the President of the Executive Council. Mr. Smith indicatedearlier this year his desire to see to fruition, the modernizationprocess of the Cayman Islands Constitution.
Commenting on the possibility of Mrs. Myrie taking up the postof Speaker if it was offered to her, Capt. Mabry said: "Mrs.Myrie would be an excellent choice, because of her experience,and knowing the procedures for good conduct of the Assembly. Sheis well known throughout the Commonwealth and will be able tocall upon some quite experienced Parliamentary luminaries forresource and guidance, if required," he added.
As the present sitting Speaker, Capt Mabry who expects that hisservice will be wound up following the completion of the presentationof the 2002 Budget Session next month, stated, "In a smallAssembly like ours of only 15 Members, it could be quite difficultto choose an MLA to be the Speaker. It may work in a Parliamentwith a larger number of legislators, but not our system."
Both Mr. Norman and Capt Mabry confirmed that although the selectionof a Speaker will be the recommendation of the present GovernmentAdministration, House rules dictate that there must be an electionLegislative process to determine who will take the Speaker's chair.
Mrs. Myrie, who has been on extended duty as Clerk of the LegislativeAssembly following her official retirement on 31 June last, andscheduled to leave the post at the end of this month. She understandinglycould not comment on whether or not she will consider the postof Speaker because it has not been offered to her.
The withdrawal by Mr. Norman of his consideration for the Speakerof the Legislative Assembly, creates another interruption in thepresent still young Government's quest to settle down on gettingon with the business of governing, because, as one of the presentAdministration's leaders said recently, "Before you can putone fire out, another one gets started"