Government to bring revised ethics bill to LA

Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly

(CNS): The premier’s office has revealed that government plans to bring a revised version of the Standards in Public Life Law, which was passed in 2014 but has never been implemented. The law caused controversy because the requirements to uphold ethical standards and reveal interests was imposed, not just on politicians and civil servants, but also on members of the private sector serving on government boards. A backlash from what are considered volunteers, even though many of them receive stipends and expenses that outstrip the wages of many workers here, stalled the bill.

It was the widespread concerns over conflicts of board members and the lack of transparency of decisions and declarations of interests, given their control of public money in the statutory authorities and government companies, that had fuelled the need for legislation in the first place.

However, the legislation being shelved due to fears that no one would be willing to serve on boards because of the extent of the revelations required under the law, which covered the interests of board members and their close family. The government has not yet published the amendment bill but it is understood that some of the original requirements have been modified.

The next LA meeting that will deal with government business is scheduled for Monday, 25 April. As well as the ethics bill, government hopes to also steer through legislation for the Statistics (Amendment) Bill (2016), Acountants Bill (2016), the Companies Law (Amendment) Bill (2016), the Limited Liability Companies Bill (2016), as well as the ever controversial Legal Practitioners Bill (2016) and amendments to the law dealing with Special Economic Zones.

The premier’s office said various private members’ motions and parliamentary questions will also be dealt with in the session, which will be the last meeting before the new budget sitting.

A request to the speaker by eight opposition members was also made Wednesday to debate issues relating to widespread community perceptions of major failings in the RCIPS but it is not clear when the speaker will set that meeting or if government will support the request in order to provide a quorum.