I was amazed when I read the Cayman Observer of 21-27 April headline ‘UDP to review constitution,’ which said the Leader of Government Business will hold town hall meetings and have a new consultation process before changing the constitution.
He will rely on the outcome of the general elections.
There are too many other issues in this election and the UDP’s manifesto does not have detailed constitutional changes. Further, the news article says UDP may be changing their views on some important matters so I believe a referendum should be held.
Democracy, accountability and common manners to the electorate require a referendum to get the peoples’ changes in the constitution.
Is the UDP afraid that the peoples’ views will differ from theirs? That party recommended changes similar to those in Bermuda of full internal self government including as recommended in UDP’s paper ‘A Cayman Islands constitution for the future’. No step-by-step change but just one big leap to great power in the hands of one party in power and one leader. Did you know that the Bermuda type constitution needs only a referendum and Britain’s agreement for a country to go independent?
The PPM’s manifesto supports full ministerial government, which seems to be close or similar to full internal self government with a Minister of Finance and a non-elected Attorney General appointed on the Chief Ministers advice. I believe the PPM’s recommended changes go too far too fast.
There are no further major steps left between full internal self government and independence. The next constitutional advancement is independence.
Town hall meetings are remnants of 50 years ago. Few people go to them. The Constitutional Commissioners in their report said ‘while we consider the number of registered electors who have attended our meetings or made written submissions or who have answered our questionnaire to be generally disappointing it is symptomatic of the reluctance of most Caymanians to make their views publicly known and to disclose their identities publicly even when there are major public issues at stake.’
Caymanians will vote in secret but are not going to publicly state their views at Town Hall or other public meetings.
Most independent candidates, the West Bay Alliance, the PDA and the PPM have pledged a referendum (by secret ballot) before constitutional change. This is good and I commend them for effectively putting the electorate first. The two most important fundamental rights (which are based on equality and fairness) are one person one vote and getting the Cayman Islands people’s view on the constitution by referendum.
The Cayman Islands continuity and stability depends inter-alia on a continuous civil service free from political influence. To have some of the civil service subject to possible change after an election will hurt continuity. Further, to have some of the three official members, the Chief Secretary, Attorney General and Financial Secretary who are well educated, professionally qualified and have relevant experience replaced by elected politicians (who need not be and are usually not qualified for the job) and some of whom may not even have GCE’s or ‘O’ Levels has to be a retrograde step.
Civil Servants, if many of the Chief Secretary’s duties for the civil service go to an elected minister under a new constitution you can easily see what the impact will be. You have a large number of votes, please vote wisely.
In some Caribbean countries the Chief Minister with his near absolute powers (e.g. in effect to appoint and fire his Ministers) assigns important portfolios such as finance to himself. If you think Cayman’s debt of $377.3 million of entire public sector debt is bad, you put a politician in charge of finance.
Look good at the leaders in this election and remember the followers are normally only as good as their leader. Ask yourself before voting for candidates whether their leader is well educated, honest and of integrity and capable of running a Government or has he tried and failed.
Any government should hold a referendum before major constitutional change so the people of the Cayman Islands may feel that effective democracy is fully alive and well. Remember that about 7,000 people petitioned for the referendum process.
People of the Cayman Islands please tell your candidates that you want a referendum before major constitutional changes. It is your democratic right to express your views by secret ballot on such a referendum.
There needs to be enough independent candidates elected to form a coalition government to stop one party becoming all powerful.
You are free to cast your vote as you wish; please vote wisely for the future of our children and our country.
Truman M. Bodden
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