Cruise referendum bill poised for approval in Parliament

Referendums on cruise berthing, gambling and cannabis look likely to take place on Election Day after opposition MPs voiced their support for the measures in a lengthy debate in Parliament on Monday.

Significantly, Progressives leader Joey Hew indicated the official opposition will back the referendum bill, which should give the minority government enough votes to get the necessary legislation through.

MPs debated the question of whether to pass the Referendum (Cruise Berthing Infrastructure, Gambling and Cannabis) Bill, 2024 during a lengthy session.

Just after 9pm, with several MPs yet to speak, it was decided to adjourn until Wednesday.

Judging by the support for the debate in the House, the question of whether the Cayman Islands should build cruise berthing infrastructure looks likely to be approved to be put to voters during the 30 April election, alongside questions of whether to have a national lottery in the Cayman Islands and whether having small amounts of cannabis should no longer be a criminal offence.

Lengthy debate

The impassioned debate lasted for many hours and was notable for drawing laughter, applause and objections from the House at times.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Ports Kenneth Bryan led the debate for government, calling it a “landmark piece of legislation which is designed to give the people of this country the power to decide on three significant issues of national importance”.

Referencing the Brexit referendum, the vote on Scottish independence and South Africa’s vote in 1992 to end apartheid, Bryan spoke of “the profound role that referendums play in our democratic process”. While the results of the votes would be non-binding, he said, they would guide the next administration “once the people have had their say”.

He added, “Avoiding this referendum will not make the issue disappear. It would only deepen the sense of exclusion and mistrust that so many already feel about the decisions that impact them directly.”

He concluded by saying, “I urge members to be mindful that voting against this bill is voting against the people.”

Opposition support

In spite of the opposition PPM party saying last month that the referendum bill should not be introduced, Opposition Leader Joey Hew said that he “had given the issue much thought” and that “to ensure that the democratic process is followed and to honour the commitment every one of us here made in these sacred halls, by our vote, we have agreed to support the referendum bill”.

In October, MPs voted unanimously in favour of government’s proposal to hold a referendum on whether the Cayman Islands should develop cruise berthing infrastructure, paving the way for the referendum bill. Since then, four government members resigned and formed their own party, the Caymanian Community Party, citing a rift over the referendum among other issues that sparked their decision.

Hew went on to accuse the breakaway group of shifting their political allegiances but said, “We, the PPM, have never operated in this manner.”

Other MPs spoke in the lengthy debate, including former government ministers Sabrina Turner and Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, former premier Wayne Panton — all members of the newly formed TCCP — and MP for West Bay North Bernie Bush.

Several MPs have yet to speak, including former deputy premier André Ebanks and MP for Bodden Town West Chris Saunders. The debate is due to restart on Wednesday morning at 10am.