For more than 14 years, Clerk of the Parliament Zena Merren-Chin has had a front row seat to the inner workings of democracy in Cayman and she says it’s a special honour she holds dear.
Having seen what it takes to bring laws forward, Merren-Chin says she has a greater respect for local legislators.
“I now have a total different perspective on how government operates and what it actually takes to be a Member of Parliament. Their responsibilities, how it actually ties in with the rest of government when it comes to finance and the accountability,” Merren-Chin told the Cayman Compass in a recent interview.
She has worked in the three arms of law – from enforcement as a former police offer, the judiciary as a deputy clerk of the court and now the legislature, as clerk and chief officer of the Parliament.
Merren-Chin, a mother of three, said she has always had a passion for Cayman and its democracy.
“I know sometimes people get asked if they did not get paid for a job, would they still do it? I actually would. I like being here. The staff is incredible. We have some really dedicated staff that put in long hours,” she said.
Merren-Chin’s career started with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in 1986. When she left the service in 1990, she was the first female officer with a degree at that time.
She holds a bachelor of science in law enforcement and police science, and then moved on to her law degrees.
Merren-Chin then worked with Appleby before moving to become clerk of what was then the Legislative Assembly, in 2009.
Over the years, she has seen MPs change and she says, while the House of Parliament is male-dominated, she was never treated differently.
The experience is one she treasures, having witnessed Cayman’s political history play out in real time.
“The MPs – it doesn’t matter who they are; [they are] always, whatever their personalities are, they’re very engaging,” she said.
Neutral, no matter what
Though she said there are many long hours working in Parliament alongside the MPs, she and her staff will always remain neutral.
“Keeping very neutral is part of the make-up of this whole place. I do that and I expect every member staff to do that, so that is drilled into everybody. We may have a little chat behind the scenes every now and again, but when it comes to being diplomatic and being neutral… it is very, very strict,” she said, adding members expect this.
Merren-Chin said it was a source of pride when the Legislative Assembly was renamed the House of Parliament in 2020 as the title “carries a certain connotation”.
“[In the world] they look at things a little bit different when you say you are a Parliament as [opposed to] a Legislative Assembly… a little bit more independent, quite frankly,” she said.
Moving to a more autonomous body was the biggest change she has seen in her role.
“We are now governed or overseen by Council which makes decisions for us and we carry out those instructions,” she added.
Learning experience
She said she has also had the opportunity to participate in Commonwealth Parliamentary Association workshops overseas. But that does not mean she wants to try politics herself.
“I don’t think I could possibly do that. Having listened to the stories that the MPs relate, it’s a 24 hours, seven days a week job,” she said, adding that, while it is fulfilling, it can be quite frustrating and sitting in the marathon sessions of Parliament can take a toll. But the discussion can get “quite interesting” she stressed.
Merren-Chin encouraged young Caymanians, especially young Caymanian women, to get involved in the jurisdiction’s democracy via politics, law or law enforcement.
“It’s an incredible experience, an incredible job opportunity, if you want to make it your profession,” she added.
This story is part of a Compass series in the run-up to International Women’s Day on 8 March. If you have a story idea for this series, please email [email protected].
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