Annual UKOT meeting goes online
(CNS): The annual meeting between the United Kingdom and its overseas territories will take place this year via video-conference starting on Monday. As with everything in 2020, the Joint Ministerial Council has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the virus and the arrival of various vaccines will top the agenda, the territories and the British government will also engage in a variety of discussions, from Brexit to climate change before wrapping up on Thursday.
According to a press release from his office, Premier Alden McLaughlin will be making a presentation about the recent amendments to the Cayman Islands Constitution, which were approved by the Privy Council last week.
The changes clarify the relationship between the governor and the UK. They specify the requirement for more consultation with local elected officials on various issues and revoke the British government’s ability to cancel or disallow legislation passed here. They also formalise the role of ministry councillors to parliamentary secretaries, provide for an additional Cabinet minister, outline the creation of a independent police commission, extend consultation on draft bills before they go to parliament by a week.
Category: Politics
Bermuda ain’t worried much about the UK. Cut the airbridge or make the UK pay for it. They never pay for anything.
Well done! To Alden, Ezzard, Tara, Joey and Alva for your efforts to get these changes to the constitution. While they are not everything we hoped for, it’s a big step forward for Cayman. God Bless the Cayman Islands.
Read the new section 126 of the Cayman Islands Constitution (Amendments) Order 2020 that was inserted.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1283/made?view=plain
“Insertion of new section 126 in the Constitution
“14. After section 125 of the Constitution, insert—
“Notification of proposed Acts of Parliament extending to the Cayman Islands or Orders in Council extending such Acts of Parliament to the Cayman Islands
126.—(1) Where it is proposed that—
(a)any provision of a draft Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom should apply directly to the Cayman Islands, or
(b)an Order in Council should be made extending to the Cayman Islands any provision of an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom,
the proposal shall normally be brought by a Secretary of State to the attention of the Premier so that the Cayman Islands Cabinet may signify its view on it.
(2) This section does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for the Cayman Islands or the power of Her Majesty to make an Order in Council extending to the Cayman Islands any provision of an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.”.
Richard TilbrookClerk of the Privy Council”
On the face of it is important to understand that those persons congratulate seem to have negotiated a package that ultimately gives the UK Parliament greater powers to govern the Cayman Islands and bind our elected officials without consultation with the Caymanian people.
The new section 126 appears to give the UK Parliament the power to legislate or pass laws directly in Cayman. This is something they never had previously.
Was that the deliberate by the negotiating team or a quid pro quo in the future for something else by the Premier?
This is further evidence that all matters of national interests including constitutional amendments must be discussed with the public prior to any elected government entering into negotiations on any matters of “national importance”.
Section 126 is clear. The UNITY government led by Premier McLaughlin failed to include any provisions for a National Referendum on these matters. These are all significant amendments that impact Cayman today and into the future.
These matters must be clarified immediately and explained to the Caymanian people.
Regards
Johann Moxam
Johann Moxam, you are obviously and conveniently forgetting that these three islands are still territory of the United Kingdom; in the pursuit of your own political agenda . You seemingly fail to grasp and obviously again because of your ambitions fail to acknowledge that as long as the territorial status remains for these islands , you and others may puff and you may huff but you will not be able to usurp the legislative power of the Crown. Of course you are not patriotic enough to venture to lead us into independence for your salivation of power are now bordering on the ridiculous in an attempt to get your say in this country and like those you so blatantly criticize of corruption wallow in the fruits of those you seem to despise so vehemently.
I give you this you are like the iguana basking in the sunlight and cowering in the rain. For many who admired your campaigns of one man one vote and the Say no Port matters, you were mainly assured victory because of the women who worked tirelessly especially on the latter cause, however , your political prowess will only be proven when you are not only man enough to declare your candidacy but to win a seat in the House of Parliament of these islands. An orator ( verbose at that) you maybe but a Parliamentarian well shall we see?
Mr. Moxam did not hide behind anonymity maybe you should do the same. I appreciate his bravery and leadership unlike many now in the LA.
Yep, still part of the UK.
Cayman will lead the way as usual. We are the envy of so many. Just read the comments on this article.
We should breathe a sigh of relief that Mac can’t exercise his govt. credit card overseas.
Any word if pension will.start again in December or will it be waived another 6 months. starting it up again will be a hardship.to.mosy
I put no faith in a single word Alden McLaughlin says.
When will the Premier announce that he has struck a deal that will make him the first MP from the overseas territories to hold a seat in the UK Parliament as the Cayman Islands representative before or after the 2021 general elections?
Nah – it would be an elected position not an appointment. Now a CBE or even a knighthood – definitely on the cards. Imagine Macs face.
From what I have seen in the past, being on the ground in the UK allows CIG to have direct one on one engagement with UK Ministers as well as to meet with parliamentarians and others, including business people and Cayman students in the UK. Meaningful engagement can be done online but in person is undoubtedly more effective and productive.
Certainly in my business that is what I have found.
You assume they will talk about something meaningful.
So boring and pointless.
Why bother Alden and his clowns are fully compliant with all their whims and wants and most importantly Blank cheque book. There is no need for any meeting only a opportunity to the stooges to beg for recognition from their ungrateful colonial bosses !
What exactly are the UK bosses meant to be grateful for?
Eric must be getting worried about his air miles expiring.
some civil servants won’t be happy about this…no free 10 day jolly for them.
Not just the civil servants. The fact that the business can all be done remotely in a single day rather demonstrates the previous boondoggles were in necessary – or put it another way, when you don’t have a shopping and sightseeing agenda to tack onto it suddenly it becomes possible to do it far quicker.
CNS Note: While no doubt this comment is still valid in many respects, the conference is as it turns out not just one day – that was CNS’s mistake which has been corrected.