Parliament resumes with annual reports, questions and bills

MPs gathered in Parliament in George Town on Tuesday, 19 Sept., for the first meeting of the 2023-2024 session.

During the short first sitting, members reviewed and tabled 10 annual reports, answered four parliamentary questions, and debated three bills.

After an opening prayer from Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, and a reading of the proclamation summoning a meeting of Parliament, the clerk then administered an oath of allegiance to Acting Attorney General Reshma Sharma, who will be a temporary ex-officio member.

Speaker of the House Katherine Ebanks-Wilks read two apologies from Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports, for arriving late due to official travel, and Bernie Bush, Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, who was absent due to official business.

The 10 reports tabled were:

• Office of the Auditor General Cayman Islands – Annual report – 31 December 2022 – Providing value to the people of the Cayman Islands (April 2023).
• 2022 Annual Report – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions – Cayman Islands.
• Ministry of Border Control and Labour – Cayman Islands government – 2022 Annual Report.
• Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – Cayman Islands government – 2022 Annual Report.
• RCIPS – Criminal Justice Unit – Juvenile/Adult Cautions Approved Report – May 2023.
• RCIPS – Criminal Justice Unit – Juvenile/Adult Cautions Approved Report – July 2023.
• 2022 Annual Report – Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage – Cayman Islands government.
• The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands – Annual Report and Accounts – 31 December 2022.
• Cayman National Cultural Foundation – Annual Report and Accounts – 31 December 2022 – Creativity: Heritage: Education.
• Cayman Islands National Museum – 2022 Annual Report.

O’Connor-Connolly answered three questions from Opposition members, who asked for updates on beach vendor permits, the beach re-nourishment programme, and school buses for private schools.

A fourth question on changes to the National Pensions Act was withdrawn.

The Speaker and several MPs extended lengthy condolences to fellow legislators as well as  members of the community who had lost loved ones since the last session.

The Public Lands (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2023; Plant Protection Bill, 2023; and Terminal Charges (Validation) Bill, 2023 were then debated and given a second reading.

A fourth bill, the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2023, will be considered on Wednesday along with a government motion on rezoning an area of George Town.

On Thursday, MPs will debate nine private member’s motions including six from the Opposition covering a wide range of topics.

Governor Jane Owen formally proclaimed the start of the new session of Parliament on 11 Sept., in accordance with section 83 of the Constitution.

Ebanks-Wilks, in a press release issued last week, said she was excited for the start of a new session, adding, “We have a lot of important work ahead of us.”

She encouraged the public to watch the legislative process on the government’s social media channels, and said she plans to share more of the sessions in the future.