Governor sees role as bridge between UK and CIG
Shortly after his arrival, Governor Martyn Roper and his wife are greeted at the LA by (L-R) Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Premier Alden McLaughlin and House Speaker McKeeva Bush
(CNS): After just seven weeks in the job as the governor of the Cayman Islands, Martyn Roper said that he has been “impressed” from the start with the solid relationship between the Cayman and UK governments. As Britain’s new representative, he hopes to continue that close partnership and told CNS that he sees his role as providing a bridge between the two, where he can explain the local position to London and the UK position to the Cayman Islands. But Roper is also keen to support the local government, not just in his specific areas of responsibility but with economic growth as well.
The governor is directly responsible for national security, good governance and the administrative arm of government. But Roper said he also wanted to help where he could with the premier’s plans for the development of the new investment ministry and with the promotion of the financial services sector to ensure that Cayman continues to prosper.
With the uncertainty of Brexit front and centre for the UK government, he said that he appreciated the legitimate concerns of Cayman and other territories with financial sectors. Cayman does not have major concerns about EU funding or development aid, nor is there a great deal of trade, but the governor said he appreciated the challenges for the offshore sector in future when the UK will no longer be at the table in Brussels to advocate for the interests of the territories.
Roper said that this would be another important area for him as the bridge going forward to ensure the Cayman government is kept fully up to date with what is happening regarding Brexit.
Although the UK and Cayman have had differences recently as a result of what happened over the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering legislation in the British parliament earlier this year, which led to constitutional talks between the two this month, Roper said the relationship is still strong. He said that, despite these differences, it was good to see the positive relationship between the parties that has facilitated the discussions and that the UK and Cayman would be able to continue working together.
Roper said that his role in the recent constitutional talks was one of merely an observer but what he saw was “positive and constructive”. He said there are obvious red lines but believed there will be a way to resolve the concerns articulated by Premier Alden McLaughlin about what he has described as constitutional overreach without altering the delicate balance of power between the autonomy devolved to the Cayman government to manage its own domestic affairs and the need for Britain to fulfill its international obligations and protect its interests.
Roper hinted that there may be non-constitutional ways to address the issues that have caused concern for the local government and what it sees as a challenge to the devolved areas of responsibility.
The governor stressed Britain’s goal was to allow as much self-governance in domestic affairs as possible and stressed what he saw as a modern mature partnership, where Cayman and the UK can overcome any concerns in the continued relationships.
Roper said he was struck by the affection he had seen from the Caymanian people for the crown, which he felt helped underpin the strong bonds between the Cayman Islands and the UK.
“There will always be challenges,” he said. “But the relationship is in very good shape and we will be able to work together to come up with solutions.”
Category: Politics
Why TF was McKeeva wearing the speakers wig and robes outside of the House? Always turns my stomach to see him in that get-up – it devalues Cayman govt.
Myself as well. Wearing his sunglasses also. He’s kind of run out of stuff to strut, yeah?
He must have felt FABulous in that get-up to wear it to the meet and greet.
What the hell is Mac doing outside the Chamber in that ridiculous wig and robes topped off with aviator sunglasses? What a bloody embarassment.
Next thing you know, he’ll be showing up st the club in that “get up” what a hot mess!
Everyone.
Brexit is a tax on the UK. Money that the EU want to demand from the UK. The EU is communism trying to run the world with their control and one world order.
No matter what please Cayman stay with the UK.
Stability means staying with the UK.
See what has happened to Jamaica and other places that went independent?
They are stuck in socialism and chaos with everyone limping along.
Who wants to move to Kingston?
You just answered the questions if you will accept reality.
I agree that it would be folly to get independence but England wants out of EU as it says it is too autocratic but yet they want impose rules on Cayman without our consent such as they did with abolition of death penalty.
The EU maybe socialistic but it contains member stares such as Netherlands and Denmark who have long histories of democracy and stability.and whose industrial and agricultural output per capita far outstrips Britain.
The day may soon be coming when U.K. asks us to go our own way. The Empire is dead and the UK’s decline will move fast with BREXIT.
Meanwhile the media is just letting the government get away with negotiating constitutional changes behind closed doors as if they are commercially sensitive and as if the people don’t have a right to know what the goals of the negotiations were (other than broad unreachable talking points about total and complete autonomy and usurping the powers of the governor in the name of consolidating power)
The entire process will be agreed behind closed doors between the CIG and the UK, and then published, meaning that input from the people will be ignored and the changes will be taking to the rubber stamp hall we call an LA where they will likely be debated for 1-2 hours maximum and then be set into law.
Nothing new for the stunningly politically apathetic electorate on these islands and the complacent and complicit media more concerned with publishing fluff articles about Miss Universe, and Kaaboo
And we wonder why these Islands seem to be declining annually
I hope the Governor don’t turn into one of them (MLA).
hope he doesn’t help them screw us.
The U.K., has no interest here. Heck they can’t even get that charade of Brexit done right. Ireland got them over the barrel with the backstop! Embarrassing is what it is!
I would never wish independence from Britain but what they did in Ireland is inexcusable in promoting denominational bigotry.
Oh do expand. This should be fun.
Yawn!
Standards for Public Life!!
Choudhury learnt the hardway nah! I hear ya deh 9:53am that is a time honoured tradition old boy! unfortunately it has cost the lives of so many in these frontier colonies but that has never trouble you all Europeans or your offspring now has it??
Just remember who you represent Governor. You are there to protect the UK’s interests.
Is that a threat? Perhaps we don’t like your colonial iron fist and wish that you would go and fix your own country first, before you start pontificating in ours. Sick and tired of this.
Territory, not country. And it was a statement of fact not a threat.
Colonial iron fist? Examples? Agreeing the government we elected can do what they want with the cruise pier?