New parliamentary rules introduce Question Time
(CNS): After almost 50 years, members of parliament have passed a new set of Standing Orders, the rules that govern the proceedings in the House, which are expected to modernise and streamline its business. The new orders introduce fixed days and new hours for parliament to sit, a two-month recess in the summer and a regular Premier’s Question Time.
They will come into force on 28 February and will direct procedures when the new term commences after the April General Elections. Although the full draft orders have not yet been made public, officials said they expect them to be available on the website shortly.
Some of the main areas of reform include clearer procedures for the presentation, reading and publication of bills, and ensuring greater consistency with section 11 of the Cayman Islands Constitution (Amendment) Order 2020, which says that bills must be published at least 28 days before being considered unless the premier certifies urgency.
The orders also formalise the meeting days of Parliament as Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and adjust sitting hours from the current 10am-4pm to 2pm-8pm with an optional 30-minute suspension at 5pm. A fixed recess period has been introduced from the first week of July to the first week of September each year, except for urgent and extraordinary matters.
A major change that could help the public engage more with the parliament is the introduction of a Premier’s Question Time every Wednesday for 30 minutes, when any MP can ask questions about the government’s overall performance, as well as a 15-minute Urgent Questions period at every sitting that allows MPs to raise pressing matters in the public interest.
The old Standing Orders allowed ministers to file questions in writing, which were usually answered by the civil service. However, successive governments have been bad at answering these questions in parliament, and the UPM was one of the worst administrations for failing to supply answers. This led to an admonishment by McLaughlin in July when he said the 17 outstanding questions at the time were “abhorrent to democracy”.
But future premiers will have to think on their feet and be far more aware of their own government policies and how to defend them in the face of opposition queries and criticisms.
The changes will also introduce some shorter time limits on certain types of speeches, such as personal explanations from members that will now be limited to 10 minutes, while government statements will be capped at 20 minutes with prior Cabinet approval.
The new orders give Finance Committee the power to summon individuals and request necessary documents for its deliberations and for the House to resolve itself into that committee or for the chair to summon a meeting when needed. Specific provisions have also been added for the Standing Business Committee, which will now be chaired by the speaker and its members are no longer required to be elected by the House.
In future, in exceptional circumstances and with permission of the speaker, MPs will also be able to attend virtually, reflecting the evolving needs of parliament. Members will also be allowed to use supplementary visual aids during a debate.
The full set of new orders was unanimously approved by the members through a government motion during the last meeting of parliament. Since 1976, the Standing Orders have received only ad hoc revisions, despite the significant constitutional and parliamentary advances that have occurred over the last five decades.
As the last meeting drew to a close, Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin said, “Our parliament and its standing orders are the cornerstone of our democracy.” Noting how pleased he was that he had managed to complete the changes, which began under his predecessors, he said, “For many years, I have longed to see them revised to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our legislative proceedings.”
McLaughlin added, “These reforms represent a significant step forward in strengthening our parliamentary democracy and finally bring the procedures in parliament into alignment with the constitutional and other parliamentary changes which have taken place over the last 15 years. They will enhance the ability of parliament to speak with and scrutinise the work of government effectively while ensuring that parliamentary proceedings remain accessible to the public and in line with modern needs.”
Having played a key role in modernising the Constitution and governance in Cayman when he was premier, McLaughlin also led the effort to transition the Legislative Assembly to the House of Parliament and to make it an autonomous entity, independent of control by the executive. He successfully piloted the Parliament Management Act through the House, creating the Parliament Management Commission and the Council, which now manages the administration of the body.
“The Parliament Standing Orders 2025 is the final piece of the structural change necessary to give the Cayman Islands a modern, forward-looking democratic framework, fit for the 21st Century,” the speaker said.
The orders were in the works for more than three years. The Standing Orders Working Group began its review in 2021 under the chairmanship of McKeeva Bush, who was speaker then, and continued under Katherine Ebanks-Wilks. During McLaughlin’s time as speaker, the group, which included the attorney general, the first legislative counsel, the clerk and assistant clerks of parliament, held more than 25 meetings over the last year.
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Category: Politics
Demand a Constitution Review to reduce these BIG VACATIONS and SALARIES of non engaging self-serving MPs esp with noʻ offices, yet collecting rent money.
And NO District COUNCILS
The previous system of pre-written, pre-submitted and approved questions (yes the questions had to be submitted to the Speaker and accepted weeks before the session) was not fit for purpose and the article is right, for the most part the questions were just assigned to civil servants to provide answers for the Minister to then read into the record
On paper this system is better, although in practice I think we will find the same issue that the UK experiences with their weekly PMQs, the handful of Ministers that are good public speakers will dance around questions and obfuscate or distract with rhetoric without answering anything and the rest will just turn the session into attacks or respond to questions with jibes.
The old system of having civil servants write the answers then having Ministers repeat them was not engaging but at least the questions for the most part actually got answers.
I also worry about the 15-minute time frame – I suspect we will have many sessions of Parliament where one or two questions are asked and then they will simply move on to the next matter on the order paper which would be a shame.
None of this will really matter until Parliament meets biweekly on a rolling agenda as thing stand we have a session of Parliament maybe every 3-4 months and they are usually mostly spent passing regulatory bills that no one reads or really debates.
These new hours and days will certainly give members that extra yet last minute time to be prepared for sittings. If I understand the article sessions will now commence beginning at 2:00 p.m instead of 10:00 a.m. Many members may not be prepared even with knowing weeks in advance when the next sitting is and what will be tabled.
I like the Premier Question and accountability the Amendment allows.
I do believe members could have been given 15 minutes for personal statements and 30 for others. Oftentimes some speeches/statements have taken up to an hour or more. Usually good information but to me often over-kill, and at times included downright insults to other members and their efforts. Adding the summer break allows members to have a vacation time slot and hopefully also catch up on matters of the country/islands. No member should have complaints after this of not having enough time to prepare or have information before the House. Caucus and Cabinet would/should be attended and over with this new schedule.This should also help to deviate from some of the antics on display at times (although the Cayman Islands is a toddler in development compared to some other countries Parliaments/House Sittings). Maybe the mindset was to present the Cayman Islands Parliament as a more disciplined and structured institution and perhaps an example to other jurisdictions. Would not be a put-off thought. Hopefully this process is effective and successful. I can’t wait for the upload to read it in its entirety.
Legally and Administratively due to the professional background this Speaker was able to lead in what could be considered effective Speakership what with knowing the law. Many of our past Speakers did quite well also and with time could have likely arrived at this same destination of modernizing the Standing Orders. Some credit given to Katherine Ebanks-Wilks Katherine Wilks for her efforts and leadership during her short holding of the Seat.
If I understand the article sessions will now commence beginning at 2:00 p.m instead of 10:00 a.m.
Nothing gets by you. lol.
Commence beginning?
Did “commence” take on a meaning other than “begin” since I left John Gray High School back in the 70’s?
The late, and great, Hilma Stephenson-McField would have loved that one. She was one of the truly great educators that left Jamaica to come to Cayman and so many of us are better people today because of it.
Ms. Stephenson, as we called her, could never come to grips with how her class would write for her in English with correct spelling and grammar, but yet speak to each other in class with our own Caymanian vernacular.
Sadly, these days our kids write exactly the way they speak, and that is detrimental to their future prospects. Even more lamentable is the fact that if we gave this aspiring politician and English test, and gave the same test to our current 19 MP’s, she would easily score in the Top 10.
Sad but true. oh what a mini!
In these times of hurriedness and dictation many often compose writings in manners not intended, and are even human enough to not remember nor realize to triple check for grammar, spelling and punctuation. Regretfully attention is often given to such trivial intricacies instead of the important subject matter.
@9:20:
Regarding your observation about the system producing graduates who cannot write proper English, I have just one observation that fully supports your concept—extracted from your own missive:
“…and English test…?”
Enough said.
10am-4pm? But many times while am at work at 8, 9pm, they are still live on YouTube. At least I thought they were live.
Because they would decide to continue. Someone would move a motion to suspend the rule that they stop. Then they could go on as long as they wanted. I haven’t seen the new rules but I wonder if they left in provision for them to go beyond 8pm, or they’re trying to make sure they’re never sitting for more than 6 hours. I might be okay with that if they had to do it most of the year – need to see that part too.
A lot of bashers spewing anger. Wonder how many would dare run for office…
Grinning now because that’s all he can do after leaving his party the ppm in complete shambles and the Caymanian people a minority in their own island . Shame on you Alden McLaughlin for collecting all that money for doing absolutely nothing to earn it.
Wish I could get paid all that money and have two months off in summer!
It is significant that it is called “Question Time” as opposed to “Answer Time”
You can change the question but the answer is always the same. There was this woman named Mary, and a donkey……
@11:31 So true, If anyone took notice majority of questions to be answered are put off, or referred to someone else or some other department to answer. These guys and gals got it made! 0% accountability
Cracker Jack Alden laughing because he knows he getting paid for doing absolutely nothing for Caymanians!
This is one of the jokers who sold Caymanians out ! And got a title for it Can you imagine Caymanians! You need to go Alden you and your foreign hoard. Sellout Alden speaker of the House not different than Jah Jah Bush !
There need to be sanctions for paid full time members that fail to show up to represent their district, aka work. Especially backbenchers that surrender to private caucus legislators that sidetrack parliament.
Yes. No work, no pay, like the rest of us!