Cayman has commenced an exercise to review and, where necessary, implement recommendations from the British Virgin Islands’ Commission of Inquiry corruption report to strengthen local systems, Governor Martyn Roper has said.
It comes as the UK gave the BVI government a reprieve Wednesday, staving off any imposition of direct rule through a governor-led administration on the basis that it follows through on urgent reforms to address corruption concerns.
Roper, speaking on the Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’ on Wednesday evening, said Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, at the request of Premier Wayne Panton, has been looking at all the recommendations in the report to see if there are recommendations which are relevant to the jurisdiction.
He suggested the way people are appointed to boards might be one such relevant area.
“We could strengthen our system for how people are appointed, the transparency, and the criteria by which they’re appointed. So absolutely there are lessons for us,” Roper said.
Watch the interview here:
Good governance, Roper said, really matters and Cayman has a strong reputation for that. However, he said, it is beholden on those who are in power to maintain that reputation.
“We should be very mindful of what has happened in BVI and absolutely make sure that we are doing everything possible in Cayman to follow proper proper processes, proper policies, in line with our good governance standards,” Roper explained.
Roper stressed the importance of maintaining the separation of powers, as he referenced the recent action by the premier removing the Home Affairs Ministry from Minister Bernie Bush’s portfolio after interference in civil service matters, including “trying to place somebody into a position in the port and that shouldn’t happen”.
“I think the premier took decisive action and I hope we can all move on from that, but the personal relationships remain very good. I think it’s important that a stand was taken on that,” Roper said.
UK BVI decision a good outcome
On Wednesday Britain’s foreign minister Liz Truss announced that the UK will hold off on a governor-led administration in BVI and instead allow BVI Premier Natalio D. Wheatley and his Unity government to implement reforms within set timelines.
Roper addressed that decision on the show saying it was a “good outcome” for not only BVI but all Overseas Territories.
“Some really bad governance, corruption and a lot of cronyism, some really, really bad things have been happening to BVIs’ governments over many years, but despite all that, the UK has left the overall responsibility for putting that right with the elected government in BVI. So I think that’s a positive for the region and I think premiers here and in other territories have welcomed it,” he said.
Roper welcomed the decision to allow Wheatley to lead this process of change
“The UK doesn’t want to have to impose… we’ll call it direct rule,” he said.
He added that the BVI situation and its fallout, including the arrest of its former premier Andrew Fahie is “a very salutary reminder to everybody that we need to protect our good governance institutions” so that elected officials can be “honest and implement the programme of the government of the day,” he said.
Cayman must be ‘ever vigilant’
Premier Wayne Panton, speaking in Parliament Thursday, updated legislators on the BVI decision and shared that he had joined a call with UK OT minister Amanda Milling on the matter.
He welcomed the decision to allow the new government to work on fixing the issues flagged by the Commission of Inquiry report and said he is willing to assist his fellow OT leader in the process.
“I have passed on our thanks for the positive, constructive, and carefully considered approach taken by the UK during this process. In closing, we extend to the government and people of our sister Overseas Territory, the British Virgin Islands, our support and sincere best wishes, as they embark on a difficult but necessary journey. We also take this opportunity to remind ourselves that we must remain ever vigilant, take nothing for granted and renew our own commitment to the highest standards of governance,” he added.
Related Videos
