Massive agenda for LA meeting

Cayman Islands lawmakers will have to wade through two dozen private members motions and parliamentary questions during the Legislative Assembly meeting that begins Wednesday and which is expected to stretch into late next week.  

Those matters are in addition to any government business the Progressives-led administration intends to bring, including any bills and a government motion supporting the establishment of single-member voting districts in the Cayman Islands.  

Although the government proposes to enact single-member districts well ahead of the 2017 general elections, it seems no consensus had been reached with independent members on the issue as of last week and that a separate private members motion, filed by East End MLA Arden McLean, would go forward regardless of government’s proposal.  

Mr. McLean and North Side MLA Ezzard Miller had asked that government set a firm time line for the establishment of the single-member districts as June 30, 2015, and also asked that government set the number of electoral districts at 18.  

“In the interest of fairness, if the government accepts the changes proposed, I will withdraw my [private members motion] on single-member districts and we can get on with putting this chapter of our history behind us,” Mr. McLean said. Premier McLaughlin indicated last week that such a move seemed unlikely.  

“If they want to vote against the motion to introduce one elector, one vote and single-member electoral districts, I guess that’s their constitutional right,” Mr. McLaughlin said. 

According to business papers filed with the Legislative Assembly, there are potentially five bills that could be taken up within the next two weeks. Those include potential amendments to the Development and Planning Law and some court-related regulatory matters. 

Private motions  

In addition to Mr. McLean’s motion on the “one man, one vote” topic, there are nine other private members motions filed. Four of them deal either directly or indirectly with immigration and labor matters.  

One motion, filed by Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, seeks to amend the Immigration Law to create a special exemption from the term-limit policy on foreign workers’ residence for caregivers. Such an exemption was removed from the Immigration Law following the government’s changes in October 2013. 

Another immigration-related motion filed by Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden seeks a change to the law lengthening the amount of time non-Caymanian spouses of permanent residents must wait before they become permanent residents themselves.  

A third immigration-related motion from George Town MLA Winston Connolly seeks to implement an accreditation system for local employers who hire work permit holders. A fourth motion, this time related to the labor law, asks for changes requiring private companies to “prove” there are redundancies in instances when they have laid off a Caymanian.  

Two private members motions filed deal with the subject of crime. One filed by George Town MLA Joey Hew involves a proposal to increase the potential jail time for the offense of aggravated burglary. The other, filed by North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, seeks to create a “three strikes and you’re out rule” – mandating custodial sentences of at least 10 years for robbery or burglary convictions.  

Opposition Leader Bush has filed a motion seeking to reduce import duties on fuel. Mr. Miller has filed a motion seeking to make it essentially more difficult for the National Trust to possess land. Mr. Miller is also seeking certain amendments to the Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009.  

Parliamentary questions  

North Side MLA Mr. Miller has filed all 14 parliamentary questions that may be considered during the course of the LA meeting.  

They cover a broad range of topics, such as what “travel benefits” are provided to Cayman Airways board members and staff during and after their tenure. Another asks for the number of “free tickets” provided by Cayman Airways during the 2013/14 government financial year.  

Separate questions ask what section of the Customs Law “is being used by Customs to prevent Cayman Airways crew from enjoying the duty free allowance on alcohol, cigarettes and cigars” and also the $350 duty allowance on personal items.  

Another question asks Finance Minister Marco Archer to update the House on the status of the CarePay/AIS Cayman Ltd. investigation.  

Other questions concerning minimum wage, the number of security guards employed in Cayman Islands government buildings and whether Navasota Energy is being employed as a consultant to the Cayman Islands government.