Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly denied rumours that government plans to kick scientists off the National Conservation Council or to “weaken” environmental legislation as she confirmed amendments to the law are coming.
Speaking for the first time about a controversial talking point that has become a lightening rod for simmering tensions around development and preservation of natural resources, she indicated a draft bill would be coming within the next week.
With parliament’s Friday opening postponed because of Hurricane Beryl, O’Connor-Connolly expressed hope that the changes could be on the order paper in the next session. Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin is expected to announce the new date for that session this week.
O’Connor Connolly spoke about the issue at a post-hurricane press conference Friday, which, along with the pre-storm briefing, was her first appearance in front of the wider media since taking office as premier in November. She dismissed much of what has been written about the intended changes as “gossip”.
She initially appeared to deny any amendments were in motion.
Asked by a reporter why government felt it appropriate to remove scientists from the council or to weaken the National Conservation Law, which protects wetlands and mangroves that provide natural storm barriers, she replied, “We’re not doing it. That’s an easy fact check. You heard it from me.”
Asked to clarify if those remarks meant her administration was not planning to amend the law, she said, “You did not hear me say that.”
She said many of the rumours about what government planned to do to the law were inaccurate.
The premier said, “The question was whether we are going to remove the scientists – that is not the situation.”
While she didn’t reveal what their actual plans are, she said proposed amendments would be published shortly and the truth would come out.
She added that Cabinet had passed drafting instructions to the attorney general’s chambers.
Referring to the rumour mill as ‘the gravel road’, she said the reports in the community, in print and on social media had not been accurate.
She said people should listen to Parliament to get the true picture, insisting they would be “pleasantly surprised”.
Proposals to change the law are said to have divided Cabinet in the run up to this parliamentary session, which had been scheduled for 5 July.
Former Premier Wayne Panton, now an independent MP, issued a written statement on his social media page last month saying, “It appears the UPM government is determined to undermine the National Conservation Act, Cayman’s most important piece of environmental legislation.”
He added, “If anything, there is a strong feeling in the country that we are doing too much development, that we are changing too fast and our people find it overwhelming.”
Meanwhile, a community pressure group, Don’t Pave Paradise, has emerged to counter myths about the conservation law and raise signatures for a petition to block changes that could weaken the legislation.
Related Videos
