While they may not agree on the issue, both the pro- and anti-cruise pier groups have supported government’s decision to move the referendum to Election Day.
Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) Cayman and the Association for the Advancement of Cruise Tourism (ACT) have welcomed moving the vote on cruise berthing to run concurrently with the general election when it is triggered next year.
“Yes, we are happy that the referendum has been moved. This will allow newly registered voters to vote on this very important matter and will also allow us to ask more questions of the minister,” CPR Cayman said in an emailed response to Cayman Compass queries on Friday.
CPR Cayman, which has come out against the cruise pier, said the money saved by moving the vote “can be used in more far-reaching ways especially following the recent flooding”.
In a statement on the issue, the anti-berthing group said it was concerned that the government referendum “may proceed without adequate regulation to ensure a fair and effective process” even though the Elections Act carefully regulates all aspects of general elections, including candidates’ expenses, advertising and disclosures.
It urged government to develop standalone legislation governing both government- and people-initiated referendums “in line with international best practices for fair and effective referendums”.
Pointing to the Constitutional Commission’s 13 Oct. 2011 research paper, ‘People Initiated Referendums’, the group suggested that the legislation address related issues including the time period between notification of the public and the vote being held, voter-registration deadlines, public education and campaign financing.
“We hope that the Government will see the importance of building up our democratic institutions with the development of the general referendum legislation and we look forward to working with the Government to support the public consultation process for the creation of the stand-alone referendum legislation,” CPR added.
More time to receive crucial information
Late on Thursday night, the Ministry of Tourism and Ports announced that Cabinet had granted approval for the referendum on cruise berthing to be held concurrently with the general election in 2025.
The ministry said that a press conference will be held on Wednesday, 2 Oct. at 11am to provide the public with further details on the change.
The date for the general election, however, has yet to be announced by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
ACT also said Cabinet’s decision was welcomed as “this provides the public with more time to receive crucial information, while also ensuring cost efficiency for the country”.
Ellio Solomon, spokesperson for ACT, in a statement to the Compass, said, “We believe the majority will vote ‘Yes’ once they understand that cruise tourism benefits all Caymanians, not just a few. The economic impact stretches across local businesses, jobs, and entire communities.”
ACT is an inclusive body representing stakeholders across industries – businesses, workers and everyday Caymanians –who recognise that a sustainable cruise tourism industry is vital to Cayman’s collective economic future, it added.
In addition to the critical infrastructure issue, Cabinet has also granted its approval for the referendum to include two additional questions which have been the subjects of ongoing national debate, the statement added.
The Compass understands questions on decriminalising small amounts of marijuana, as well as the introduction of a national lottery, are the two additional issues to be publicised through the vote.
Solomon said ACT looks forward to seeing what the other two questions are.
“We remain hopeful that they will not detract from the issue of Cruise Tourism which is so crucial to the Cayman Islands,” he added.
With the vote moving to next year, voters can now register by 1 Oct. to get on the 1 Jan. official list or by 1 Jan. to get on the 1 April list, which is expected to be used for the general election.
Previously the Elections Office had confirmed that only those who registered before the 1 July deadline would have been confirmed on the official 1 Oct. electors’ list, which would have been used for the referendum had it been held by the end of this year.
With the extra time, Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell has urged Caymanians to get registered to “make sure you’re ready when it counts”.
CPR Cayman also urged eligible person to get registered to vote to be able to participate in the referendum.
Government is set to take a motion to the House when Parliament meets on 7 Oct,. which has already been filed, seeking a resolution that the question “Should the Cayman Islands develop cruise berthing infrastructure?” be declared a matter of national importance.
The two additional questions have not been released.
CPR Cayman objected to the cruise question saying the public deserves “all of the relevant facts and context to make an informed decision.”
“It is disingenuous and lacking in principles of good governance for the Government to pose a vague referendum question on cruise berthing, removed from the realities of the immense economic and environmental impacts, in the hope of garnering more support,” it contended in its statement.
CPR Cayman has said that its anticipates that it will be releasing the results of its cruise berthing survey in the coming weeks.
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