At the June 27 Cabinet Press Briefing I announced the government's
decision to postpone the Constitutional referendum for a number of
reasons including that July was not a suitable time to hold a poll as
most Caymanians are off island during the summer months and because
there was concern that there would be a low turn out if the referendum
was held at that time.
However, the postponement of the referendum has by no means signaled
the end of the constitutional discussion, but rather a redirection of
the programme.
The month of July has seen renewed dialogue between myself as Leader of
Government Business, representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Honourable Leader of the Opposition with a view to
moving forward with the Constitutional programme.
Accordingly, as of to date, it has been agreed by all that
constitutional talks between a Cayman delegation and the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office will begin the week beginning September 29, 2008.
The purpose of these talks will hopefully result in the production of a
draft constitution to be presented to the Caymanian people early 2009
for consideration and their endorsement. It is expected that
approximately 3 to 4 meetings will be required to negotiate a new
constitution and the first meeting will be held here in Grand Cayman.
In preparation of these meetings, the government has proposed to the FCO that the Cayman delegation should consist of:
- Up to four Government MLAs
- Up to four of the Opposition MLAs
- A representative of the Chamber of Commerce
- A representative of the Cayman Ministers Association
- A representative of the C.I. Mission of Seventh Day Adventists.
The technical assistance of our Constitutional Advisor Professor
Jeffrey Jowell, QC, and the Director of the Constitutional Review
Secretariat and her staff will also continue during this time.
Likewise I have also taken the opportunity to respond to the Honourable
Leader of the Opposition's letter of July 9 regarding the way forward.
I welcome his statement that we should now work together for the good
of the country, even though I had hoped that the last seven months
would have produced a constitutional position by the Opposition and
that we would have by had an opportunity to discuss our differences
with a view to arriving at a compromise.
Nonetheless, the government's intention to move forward for the good of
the country continues, and I have written to the Honourable Leader of
the Opposition highlighting the importance of using the time allotted
wisely and to hold preliminary meetings in good faith with a view to
agreeing the position on of the Cayman delegation and presenting a
united front at the September 29th meeting with the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.
To facilitate this process, I have asked the Honourable Leader of the
Opposition to provide me with the Opposition's position on each of the
Revised Proposals and present a clear statement of any additional
proposal that the Opposition recommends. It is hoped that the
Opposition's position will be provided latest, the end of August, in
good time for our internal negotiations early September.
At this time I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the
Constitutional Review Secretariat for its outstanding job. I am sure
that when the Honourable Leader of the Opposition finally presents his
proposals and recommendations to the government and country the
technical assistance of the Constitutional Review Secretariat and
Professor Jeffrey Jowell QC will prove invaluable to the Cayman
delegation before, during and after the negotiations with the FCO.
I look forward to updating the Caymanian people as major developments
occur. On behalf of the government I would like to congratulate the
Caymanian people for their keen interest in the constitutional future
of these islands during the last seven months and for engaging the
government on the issues.
This exercise has been a fine example of the dedication of the
Caymanian people to see this process through, now it is for us your
representatives to truly represent you and agree a position for the
country with a view to successfully negotiating a draft constitution
for your future consideration and vote in the referendum to come.
