Committee falls apart over merger of OCC and ICO
North Side MLA Ezzard Miller
(CNS): MLA Ezzard Miller has resigned as chair of the parliamentary oversight committee that deals with the Office of the Complaints Commissioner as a result of government’s plan to merge the OCC with the Information Commissioner’s Office and a new police complaints commission. He also revealed that most of the other committee members had followed him in protest.
Presenting what is likely to be the last ever annual report tabled by the committee, he said he believed the goal and function of the OCC would be diminished by the merger and the independence of the office would be undermined.
He said the OCC had done a good job and he called on his parliamentary colleagues to read what may be its last report.
One of the very first issues seized on by government from the Ernst and Young report, Project Future, even though it was merely a passing note in a wide review of the public service, with far more prominent recommendations on how government could cut the size of its bureaucracy, the Project Future team has been working harder on this than almost any other recommendation.
The fact that the merger offers only a small saving in government’s three quarters of a million-dollar annual budget, both the ICO and the OCC have expressed concerns, echoed by opposition MLAs and members of the public, that there is a reason, as yet undisclosed, for the government’s stated goal to create the supra-ombudsman’s office.
Miller noted that the committee was not consulted about the proposed change, despite having oversight of what is supposed to be an independent government office, and that there is no indication whether the new ombudsman’s office will still have parliamentary oversight.
He said that he had not been informed about how the new office would work, and in protest he had submitted his resignation.
Following Miller’s comments, the peaker confirmed she had also received resignations from the two West Bay members of the committee, Bernie Bush and Captain Eugene Ebanks, as well as from the Bodden Town member, Alva Suckoo. The only committee member who has not resigned is the government back-bencher and George Town member, Roy McTaggart.
See Miller’s comments in CIGTV video below, starting at 18:20:
Category: Government oversight, Politics
Is there any Committee that Ezzard has Chaired or sat on from which he has not resigned. Just asking.
Drama queen!
A few special interests representing a country does not equal a democracy.
Cayman For Fundamental Change. cffc.ky
So, when something doesn’t go your way, don’t try to fight it from within, just throw up your hands and resign. Hardly durable!
Thank God for Wizard otherwise we the public would have no idea what the government is trying to sneak through.
Now all we need is Ezzard to resign as an MLA and we can all rejoice.
@ 5.10 Iknow Ezzard ticks off a bunch of you because of his pro Caymanian stance . You all need to get over it.
Of course Capt Whogene knew he was on the committee. He was at the helm heading 370 degrees 🙂
I think the biggest thing with this story is that even though plans are underway to combine the offices there has been no discussion on the effectiveness of the committee going forward. I think it is a tad disrespectful to the committee to not bring them into the discussions, all except Mr. McTaggart I suppose. Perhaps the committee has run its course.
Are we sure the MLAs were not consulted. read the outline business case that was produced. I’m sure I saw a reference to consultation with MLAs in that document.
This is really good news for Cayman.
Does this committee still exist since the new law? Why would they be consulted? The law sets up the new commission, not them.
Great! maybe now something can get done besides a bunch of posturing and posing.
How can anyone expect transparency, openness and disclosure from a Government with a high-ranking Freemason at the helm?
Secrecy is one of the primary aspects of the life of a Freemason – whether in business, in family, in friendship or in leadership. I am continuously in awe at my people’s choice of MLAs and I would not vote if my own mother was running!
MM If you don’t trust your own mother, who can you trust?
Did the good captain actually know that he was on a committee?
Ezzard “always wants to pack up his toys and go home” when his friends don’t play nice & he doesn’t get his way! Please, Please Please Northsiders wake up and vote some new blood in next election.
11.43am Why do you continue trying to influence who North Siders choose as MLA, when you apparently are not from there.
abysmal performance from all sides……just another day in our civil service wonderland….
Which Civil servants? These are political persons. Come on wake up zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
politicians are the highest ranking civil servants……..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Come on read and educate yourself politicians are not Civil servants. Maybe in your country but not in this island paradise. Where you obviously sleep too much. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Roy has no backbone and he has been silent this entire term. Its sad when Capt Eugene is more active.
This man thinks he is somehow relevant? LOL.