Shortly after word of the Governor’s decision to remove three top Cayman Islands police officers broke last week, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts took to the public airwaves to assure the country that law and order would be maintained.
Mr. Tibbetts also highlighted the issue as an example of why elected government ministers should be allowed an oversight role in matters of internal security.
‘Such new arrangements must include the establishment of a National Security Council whose responsibility would include oversight of the police, especially in relation to matters of accountability,’ Mr. Tibbetts said in his broadcast statement.
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush later blasted Mr. Tibbetts’ statement, which Mr. Bush said used a serious police matter as a stepping-stone to support the People’s Progressive Movement’s constitutional reform plan.
‘We don’t know what the end result will be and he goes full speed ahead and dwells in politics,’ Mr. Bush said. ‘Anything they can get to further their cause in this country.’
Mr. Bush has repeatedly been accused by PPM government members of stalling and playing politics with the constitution reform process.
Ruling government ministers have said their plan for constitutional change is similar in many aspects to the one Mr. Bush’s United Democratic Party government put forth in 2003. Mr. Bush has disputed that claim, saying there are several key differences.
A firm date has not been established for referendum on the constitution and the Legislative Assembly has not approved the Referendum Law which would allow it to take place.
The National Security Council as proposed by the PPM would consist of six members including the governor, the premier, the attorney general, the police commissioner, and two other elected officials. Currently, the Cayman Islands Governor has sole responsibility for the operation of internal and external affairs, which includes police, immigration and customs.
The Council’s role would be to advise police on matters of policy and strategy. However, ministers said they would not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the RCIPS.
Mr. Bush’s UDP has pushed for a civilian oversight board to keep an eye on police operations. The opposition party said the group should be appointed by the governor and be as ‘non-political as possible.’
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