Governor hopes to oversee civil union law
Governor Anwar Choudhury meets press at Government House
(CNS): The new governor has made it clear that the UK will not be pushing the Cayman Islands government to change the definition of marriage but he is hoping to see the government adopt legislation that will pave the way for same-sex civil partnerships and provide equal legal rights for gay couples. Speaking to the local media at his first press briefing ahead of the Easter break, Governor Anwar Choudhury spoke about some of the issues on his agenda, including the fight against crime.
Asked if he was seeking to change the marriage law, he said, “No.” However, emphasizing his support for human rights and equity, he said he hoped to see a national consensus on the way forward on the issue of civil unions.
“I think we are looking at having equality under the law through civil partnership legislation,” the governor said, adding that he was sure the government wanted the islands to be a place where people enjoy equality. Choudhury said he appreciated the issue was sensitive and he was genuinely motivated to listen to the community. But he said that after just four days in Cayman, he had encountered many wonderful, fair people with a generosity of spirit that he believed would support equality under the law.
The governor said he did not see a conflict with offering equality under the law for everyone with Cayman’s Christian values of love and tolerance.
“People have views that we need to listen to,” he said, adding that it was important everyone got a fair hearing. He said that people do not appear to want to discriminate against others and he hoped that persuasion would help change the minds of those who were against civil unions.
He also said he was looking forward to meeting with the Human Rights Commission over human rights issues to see where else work may need to be done.
Category: Local News
We’ve only been lucky that Stonewall and GLAAD haven’t put the Cayman Islands in their media cross-hairs over our Cabinet’s ongoing and embarrassing selective Evangelical morality. Despite generous assumptions to the contrary, the dinosaur polling isn’t necessarily shared by the majority of Caymanians. Certainly not in my family, or any that we would regularly circulate with. We applaud Governor Choudhury’s call to speed this legislation through, keeping in mind that the Order in Council to repeal the antiquated sodomy laws in hold-out territories was >17 years ago. Many Caymanian families will be positively affected by the inclusion of dear blood relatives living in exile, fear, or shadows.
Stonewall … GLAAD …oh wow, how very 2016 of you.
Are you not aware of the backlash against the politically-correct, leftist Nazi’s as of late? Their heyday is over my friend – thanks to Trump, the return of the Far-Right, and Anglo-European white-superiority.
As for Caymanian “dear blood relatives living in exile, fear, or shadows” – calm it down Sally. A bit over-dramatic dont you think?
If America, England and Germany are still pulling great tourism numbers in spite of the undeniable rise in racism and xenophobia, surely Cayman will be just fine.
Interesting how certain types of age-old bigotry and discrimination dont even show up on the radars of the supposed progressive and tolerant factions of modern society, isn’t it?
Legalize it all
Along with a certain medically recognized plant while we’re at it. Hint: they allow more harmful nicotine laced tobacco to replace it.
Gots to recognise it.
To those too thick too grasp it has nothing to do with allowing homosexuals to marry here but rather the simple concept of allowing ones significant other to remain here as a dependent; Get off your Christian F##ktard Caveman Privileged asses and stop cherry picking right from wrong. You are one of the major problems with society moving forward. There are more gay Caymanians living abroad because of this very problem than you all care to acknowledge but have no problem whatsoever crying Humn Rights over the treatment of child rapists who are housed in a condemned prison that is more important to rebuilding than allowing your very own people the right to family life in their own effing Country. Absolute F##ktards. You cannot pick which Human Rights to enforce when your Mother Country sets the law; they give yu an opportunity to adopt or they force it. If they force it then it will be about allowing gay people to marry.
Have you considered entering a debate group with your eloquent word choices?
Our country, Our law… don’t like it? go away!
One day the real world will catch ya and we will all be 550 steps ahead of your stone age ass.
One country’s caveman is another country’s batman… fighting for justice.
To be strictly correct, not your country but a British dependent territory where the governor can revoke any law passed by the LA and introduce any other law the UK wants, and the UK is expected to ensure its territories abide by international treaties the UK is party to. So harsh truth is, its not the poster that needs to “go away” -its Cayman that needs to “go away” from UK sovereignty and become independent if it wants to maintain its current position of not allowing gays civil union.
Actually, the higher-court “law”, and the moral and civil obligations that are guiding Governor Choudhury, are the opposite of what you think they are in this British Territory. As one Caymanian to another, it’s time to query selective Evangelical morality and embrace your fellow citizens – if not out of Christian compassion, then in observance of higher-court law. There is no place for the hatred. In the weeks/months ahead, such hate-speech might actually land offenders in jail to learn firsthand about their own proctophobia. #ohtheirony
This is so boring now! Just give the gays what they want! Seriously who the hell cares if two men or two women want to get married?! Just change the damn law and move on; we have much bigger issues to deal with!
Best comment ever…I agree…
Never!
I think the issue of crime is more important than gays civil unions
Agreed. Let’s pass this legislation and get on to more pressing issues.
This is truly wonderful news, thank you Mr. Governor!
Why is this being done just before Easter time in this Christian society?
Its not done. They are waiting until just before Christmas to do it to really irritate you. WTF does it matter when its done? It is important it is done and this is a good solution. In one stroke he has kept the churches happy with no change n the law and accepted civil unions. Maybe it doesn’t go as far as some want, but its a long way ahead of where we were. CIG can also now say it was forced on them…Very eloquent and practical solution.
Religion is dying off more and more each day as more people become educated away from the teachings of naive people who, thousands of years ago, believed that the sun orbited the earth.
This is a happy reality – I look forward to these islands becoming less backward and more open minded. Peace and unity for all.
Don’t worry, the powers (sick) that be, will soon implement a global system as follows:
1. One-world religion
2. One-world currency
3. One-world order
P.S. – Be careful what you ask for.
LOL
Because that’s the *really important* issue facing the Cayman Islands today.
It is important. You have Caymanians who are living abroad or separated from their family unit which is not recognised legally under the inadequate laws in the Cayman Islands. This is a priority in Cayman and should be legislated without delay.
Yes 11:10 including the son of a very macho MLA who lives in Britain because he would be very uncomfortable living in cayman. So sad. And his father won’t lift a finger to help him thinking he will lose votes from his idiotic constituents.
Security was also mentioned, just not in this report. That will probably be in another report. Try to stay focussed.
From the perspective of the national interest, ie the UK interest, it is very important indeed.
Of course, sorry we will just sit in silence and wait for your approval before asking for the bare minimum of equal treatment
Somehow you are the person being wronged in this instance
The audacity of people
Why is this the priority of the new governor and the last one Helen Kilpatrick?
Because sitting back on bigotry and prejudice is wrong.
The U.K. as an empire has been built on bigotry, prejudice, death and double standards. Study our history and understand diplomacy is a charade to advance a more sinister agenda of the ruling classes. Cayman is useful as we need the jurisdiction to hide our slush funds and ill gotten gains. Do you really think the House of Lords or major corporations want the public to know where public’s tax dollars are diverted to via the global financial markets? It has always been about one standard for the colonies and another for us that have saved the savages whilst pillaging your lands and resources. Chagos, Montserrat, India are examples that illustrate the point and our management of the colonies.
The raw truth about British Colonialism and from an honest and informed Brit! Cheers mate, not many have the integrity, honesty or bollocks to say it publically. And colonialism is still very much alive!
Thank you both “Reformed Tory” and “Shhhhhh”
Thank you.
Joined the ranks of the Raving Monster Loony Party I see…
The Euro Bank trial proves what the British are about in Cayman.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jan/18/military1
If you need a recent example of U.K. oversight ask Stuart Jack about Operations Tempura and Celt.
That’s your reading, normal people read it differently. The Grauniad is notoriously left wing and biased..
Be careful throwing those truths around this platform.
– Who
Careful responding to your own guised posts.
Really dude?
Unlike a few on here, I do have a life beyond CNS.
Anyway, would have preferred to hear your opinion on the original post rather than a sarcastic reply to mine.
But I understand why you opted otherwise.
– Who
They respond like that because they are bleeding toe rags! No depth to understand the real issues.
The truth is much harder to deal with if you attempt to discredit the messenger. Brits have been using this divide, distract and conquer tactic effectively for centuries.
Rule Britannia!
Aw, look Who has a new less intelligent friend.
Wow. Cyber bullies are real mate.
Please leave people alone. Has anyone ever told you that being a grown bully is extremely unattractive. This behaviour is usually reserved for kids.
@ 9:07am
Someone is playing at being a Brit, when their writing style shows which hemisphere they are really from.
Unfortunately, for your fragile ego, even if the case, the poster expressed undeniable truths.
Don’t you and your friends grow tired of the cynicism and self-righteousness…ever?
That is bound to build up stress in the chest.
Exhale son, it is okay…it is not healthy to constantly maintain a facade.
– Who
From you? Hilarious. I am beginning to suspect you learned to write in the KGB school in Cuba or Moscow, you constantly manage that same kind of patronizing deflecting attention tactic. You must have failed the course because incredible as they are, you are nowhere near their standard.
Yep…expend the time and energy psychoanalysing Whodatis – while ignoring the actual issue at hand.
That’s a shocker.
– Who
In the past, yes this was probably true. Not today.
Typical.
Unbelievable that even in this pathetic response, you threw in the term “probably”.
The British empire remains the world’s most inhumane caliphate.
ISIS only dreams for a fraction of Britain’s success in this regard.
Such a priority that she did nothing other than mention it a handful of times?
She was quite probably the worst governor we have ever seen. So far I am impressed by her replacement.
She had sense.
It’s easy to fix, so just let them do it so they can move on to more pressing issues.
Good move Governor.
Some of us have been proposing the very same thing – much to the outrage of the opposers.
Now, I encourage ALL couples, gay or otherwise, to look about securing the legal positions of themselves, partners, friends (yes, that is also possible under civil partnerships) and children by way of these proposed changes.
The provisions thereof can often far exceed those of archaic and traditional marriage and family laws.
As maintained from the very beginning, civil unions / partnerships represent the BEST option – all things considered and given “equal” respect.
– Whodatis
*Off to a flying start so far, sir.
Once again, welcome to the Cayman Islands.
No, equal rights are the best option.
That bait is limp and soaked through Bub.
No sale.
– Who
For once, I agree with Who.
Only once?
You are missing out my friend – big time!
😉
– Who
Separate but equal, is always the former and never the latter
Are we meant to thank you for offering crumbs as you spit in our face and treat us as outsiders and second class citizens?
Think again
Ok Bub…good luck with all that then.
However, if you take a breather you may realise that proponents of civil unions like myself are actually prepared to join you in the utilisation of its provisions.
E.g. Why should one have to be married in order to gain access to the health benefits of their partner’s employment, and or for children in one household?
The reliance on a marriage certificate to qualify as “family” is ridiculous – especially now when 50% thereof ends up in divorce.
Furthermore, there is a reason why divorce and family law is such a lucrative sector of the profession. 200 years of outdated provisions, snail’s-pace changes, and subsequent loopholes make for a “not fit for purpose” modern day status, and that translates into great potential for great profits.
Only a special kind of idiot would reject a superior standard for an inferior just to prove a point.
There comes a time when you and your friends should grow up, quit being rebellious and vengeful, and see the forest around you – not just the trees.
Cvil unions represent the best option of a middle ground and will prove to be the calming factor in this storm.
Why prolong a war that will ultimately destroy us all?
Is your ego really that big?
If so, you don’t even deserve the respect of dialogue as far as I am concerned.
– Whodatis
Trying to shut us up as usual
They are by definition inferior to marriage, and we will not settle for inferiority and segregation because of the beliefs of bigots
You can keep your half-assed support, we aren’t accepting anything but equality
Marriage has cultural and legal significance along with various benefits, nationally and internationally
Creating civil unions creates many issues, and is just an attempt at appeasement of both sides
Instead of kicking the can down the road, handle the problem and be done with it
There is no appeasement of both sides, equality is right and discrimination in this form is WRONG
Get that through your skull
You are in the wrong
Not trying to shut you up. Just disagreeing with you and your claims. I don’t think your comments are convincing anyone.
Just to clarify, the reply above was not mine.
– Who
That’s what she said.
I wish you inner peace at last.
– Who
Except that’s not how laws work, Who.
I can’t wait to see what his approach to crime be. There has been so many strategies!
Super pro-gay and fabulous, Whodatis #chagos
Here we go….
…again!
Can we have some new legislation that protects law abiding citizens from the criminal element that is rapidly taking over our island?
Local criminality and corruption is best sorted by expanding the franchise. But you don’t want that. So tough.
Maybe talk to one of the 19 MLAs that are responsible for legislation
Um, if we didn’t already have that legislation, the things they’re doing wouldn’t be crimes…
How about we just enforce the current laws?
Any laws. Could we please get some governance around here? Good or bad, I do not care. Just some actual governance would be a great start.
For that, you need a committee to investigate the miracle of wherewithal…
I was just scrolling down looking for someone to say that 8.48 am. Exactly. Is that the most important issue in Cayman today? How many persons will benefit from that? How many people are affected by our escalating crime situation? It’s a no brainer unless you solve both problems simultaneously. Not sure we will see that happen!
Not for lack of legislation, regulations, or prescribed penalties. There is simply no Will to enforce what already (partially) exists in law. That is the understood pirate code est. 15thC AD. Even public littering prescribes a fine of kyd$500 and/or prison of up to six months. Yet, even the most rudimentary enforcement action against the wide spectrum of offenses remains the stuff of fictional lore.
Is buggery still illegal? Asking for a friend.
Incredibly, in Jamaica it still is.
Here, in the Cayman Islands, back in December 2000, an Order in Council to repeal the sodomy laws was made by Her Majesty at the Privy Council meeting on the 13 December 2000 to come into force on 1 January 2001. The UK did ask nicely a few times prior to that.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-to-legalise-gay-sex-in-colonies-622482.html
Law is likely still on the books, but why not go to Central Police Station and perform it? Been done before, but I never heard of anyone being charged! LOL Hillarious!