Public ethics law still on back burner
(CNS): The revised Standards in Public Life Law that was passed in May, almost three years after the original legislation was steered through the Legislative Assembly, has still not been implemented and government officials say there is no date set for the law to come into effect. But according to the latest report from the Commission for Standards of Public Life, no one has complained to them about any unethical behaviour of politicians, civil servants, employees of government authorities or board members.
During the recently concluded LA meeting, Acting Deputy Governor Stran Bodden presented the commission’s eleventh report, which covers the period from 1 February to 31 July 2016. In it the members of the commission raised a number of ongoing concerns, including the lack of training for members of the various boards and the need to ensure that boards are appointed in accordance with the law, even though this has not yet been implemented.
The PPM government has taken credit for addressing gaps or weaknesses in Cayman’s political institutions and the need for laws, such as the freedom of information law and this ethics legislation aimed at keeping politicians and government workers honest. However, it has been criticised for being slow to actually implement, fund or even support the laws and institutions once they have been created.
In the report, the commission noted that not all of its recommendations had been adopted in the amendments to the law that passed in May. The commission also said that it had extended invitations to members of the Legislative Assembly to discuss the impact of the legislation on them but the two independent members from North Side and East End and the opposition leader had not responded to the request to meet the commission.
CNS contacted all three members regarding the allegation that they had ignored the commission but only Ezzard Miller (North Side) responded. He stated that he was more than happy to meet with the members of this or any other commission supporting the institutions of government, but given that the legislation is still not in place and with no date for its implementation being set, he queried the point of meeting. Meanwhile, CNS is still waiting for comment from Arden McLean (East End) and Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush.
Category: Local News
Ethics, eh?
Without a vibrant, truthful media, what is the point?
“No one has complained”…that’s rich! No surprise this is not a priority by any of the players…
What happen to the PPM’s Transparency,Good Gowernunce, Sustainability just like the PPM’s Totally bogus promises i guess only for the election idiotic supporters.
No surprises here!
The PPM and no other party or no set of politicians truly wants or believes in the principles of accountability, good governance and transparency. These are buzz sounds that sound fashionable even responsible but are merely more political rhetoric to those in the power structure of these islands. If you doubt it, read the articles in the media, follow the events closely and go back forty years. It’s the same game just different players.
The current system is designed to reward the chosen few who trade favors, fund the campaigns and the loyalists who are drunk off the kool aid convincing themselves that they are different from their predecessors. This is a game and the standards in public life bill will not be passed nor is it a priority for the current administration because too many greedy piglets including friends, family including elected and non-elected persons have made careers and significant sums of money by feeding at the trough. Four years of promises and proclaimations about integrity yet the proof is in the pudding.
“Now that’s Progressive”
Typical ppm
Of course there are no complaints…why would you bother? Expats would suddenly find themselves not getting renewed and locals feel lodge love.. That no one has complained, does not make it right that its not been enacted..
Dear Fox, We would like you to institute rules on how you deal with the hen house. Please do so at your earliest convenience. signed, The hens.
Never going to happen!
In the history of the world, there have never been career kleptocrats that have volunteered themselves to be held to higher standards.
Of course its on the back burner. There is no culture of accountability in Cayman. From the top right down…