More debate on the new constitution
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 2002.
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There will be another opportunity for the people of these Islands to discuss the content of the new constitution. The talks between Cayman delegates and UK representatives in London have been concluded but the terms of the new constitution are not cut and dried as some had feared.
According to a press release made yesterday, UK experts will draw up a new draft in early 2003 to be sent to Cayman for further public discussion and debate.
This should afford reassurance to those who were afraid that the UK government would summarily impose a new constitution following the just concluded talks.
Now is therefore a good time for further research and more thought, on the more controversial aspects of the proposal, such as a new electoral system, for example. Debate need not stop now. There is substantial divergence of opinion on several aspects of the proposal. The people of Cayman should endeavour to narrow the differences and work towards a consensus.
Political party divisions should be ignored in such an effort. The new constitution must not be tailored to the political landscape of 2002 or 2004. It must serve the country for many years, through successive governments and through economic, political and social change.
