Rolston Anglin, Opposition Member

The Opposition has said it has questions surrounding the visit of Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Officials to the Cayman Islands in the week of 20 March because they have only unconfirmed reports that Constitutional talks will be held during their visit.

On Wednesday 15 March Simon Tonge of H.E the Governor, Stuart Jack’s office, said that a release would be issued on the following day relating to the visit of the Officials for the purpose of having Constitution talks in the following week.

On that occasion Mr Tonge said that he would not have much information on the following day, except for the names of the visitors and the duration of their stay. Unconfirmed reports suggest that FCO officials are scheduled to arrive in the Islands on Saturday 18 March and engage in talks on the Constitution from 20-22 March.

The Opposition Party has, however, expressed concern about this news. Opposition Member, Rolston Anglin said he needed to find out if a statement had been made in the House about the dates for the talks. “I need to see those dates,” he said. On 27 January 2006, at a Media Briefing by Cabinet Members, Hon Alden McLaughlin said, that the Government was scheduled to have talks on the Constitution with FCO officials “later this year.”

The FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, Michael Jay, paid a one-day visit to the Island in early February and then the Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts, stated that there was no intention for the Government to engage in talks about the Constitution with him at that time. Mr Tibbetts also said that Constitution talks would begin when a team visited, “some time in March.”

At the time he also said that the talks would include Opposition members. The agenda for the officers’ visit and, more specifically for Constitutional Talks, are also of concern for the Opposition. Mr Anglin, speaking with Cayman Net News on 15 March said he had no knowledge of an agenda. “I need to find out precisely what the visit is about,” he said.

“I thought this would be a basic introduction to the team. I know that we met some FCO persons in 2002, but I am not sure who is included.” In relation to FCO officials that are reportedly scheduled to arrive in the Islands on 18 March, Net News sources said that Ian Hendry – the leading legal adviser for talks would be in the team.

Sources also confirm that Michael Bradley, who is Constitutional Advisor to Overseas Territories and also former Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands and former Attorney General in Cayman, would be among the visiting officials. Susan Dixon, a Legal Advisor, and Tony Crombie of the FCO are also said to be included. Mr Anglin said that these are also the persons he understood were to be in attendance at the talks, however, nothing about the visit or the talks had been discussed or confirmed.