New line-up for ethics commission
(CNS): Local family lawyer Sonia Bush has been appointed the new chairperson of the Commission for Standards in Public Life. Bush will be serving alongside retired attorney Richard Addlestone, insolvency expert Keith Blake and banking executive Rosalie Twohey after most of the existing members step down. The appointments were made by the governor but officials confirmed that the new premier and opposition leader were consulted before they were confirmed. Bush will be leading the new team, which includes the only current member, Isatou Smith, at a time when the country is expecting far greater scrutiny of their elected representatives and other public servants.
The outgoing members, who were led by chairperson Rosie Whittaker-Myles for six years, were unable to do much during their tenure because the commission was faced with a government that dragged its heels on the legislation needed to give it teeth. While there were a number of reasons why two PPM-led administrations struggled with the law, they also caved in the face of pressure from members of the private sector serving on government boards who did not want to be subject to legal ethical standards.
The law eventually came into effect in March last year, which Governor Martyn Roper said was a step forward in good governance, as he thanked Whittaker-Myles and the past members for their work on the law and regulations.
Established under Section 117 of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, the CSPL is an independent body enshrined in the Constitution to enhance democracy in the country and ensure that there is sufficient oversight of the public sector.
“I am very pleased to make these new appointments and warmly welcome the new chairman and members who I know will collectively continue to advance the work of the CSPL” Roper said.
Bush, a well known family attorney and sole practitioner, has a background in the offshore sector. Addlestone has been a partner with several law firms and as a private practitioner focused primarily on private equity, investment funds, and transactional work. Keith Blake is a senior director with Alvarez & Marsal who has worked in the insolvency area for more than thirty years. Rosalie Twohey, a CPA has worked for various other local banks over the years and recently took a hiatus from her post as deputy managing director of Cainvest Bank to take a legal post graduate degree.
That bank was recently sanctioned by CIMA, which imposed a discretionary administrative fine of CI$100,000 for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations in connection with failings identified in 2018. The bank, which still indicates on its website that the new finance minister, Chris Saunders, is its managing director, has maintained that the fines were in relation to private banking business, which it is no longer involved in, and all staff members who were responsible for the compliance failures have since left the organisation. Twohey is also still listed as the bank’s deputy MD.
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Category: Government oversight, Politics
They should focus on members of the Trade and Business Licensing Board, who are involved in granting Local Companies (Control) Licences, which allows non-Caymanians to do domestic business, and then who subsequently do business with these board members businesses (and, in some instances, business with their friends and family).
Also take a look at the Central Planning Authority, which has similar instances akin to that mentioned above.
Also, have a look at the conflicts-of-interest that exist with the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association and its subcommittee, Cayman Attorneys Regulation Authority. There is much to be concerned about and shocking to know that the Unity Government and the Attorney General fully supported this.
They should start with CIMA I think
Second that, a lot of board serving members involved in corruption here. Lots of conflict of interest. Somewhere else, they would have been exposed and eject out there seat long time. May we see “teeth” now that Sonia in de lead. Too much friend friend board appointees yah.
The issue that Statutory Board members objected to was a proposed requirement to list all assets, and those of all family members, in a public register. It was considered an unnecessary intrusion into member’s private lives in a Country full of busy bodies. Board members are required to file an annual report of all conflicts and potential conflicts. Failure to report can result in legal action against the Member. Nobody objected to being subject to legal ethical standards as your hyperbole suggests.
We all know they just transfer assets in to the names of family members temporarily to circumvent current requirements. Nothing overly intrusive about it.
Start with McBeater and the lack of ethics
1.38pm How can how can the Beater be criticised for something he has never understood?.
Saunders has some explaining to do.
More friends of friends to protect political friends just like the Anti-Corruption Commission appointments. SMH
Nonsense! And you know it. It’s also a disservice to the work of the members of the ACC and the investigators.
This is not a good start for Transparent and Accountable, Ms. Twohey could do a great job but this looks bad and there is an obvious conflict with the Deputy Premier…