The work of the Constitutional Commission has moved at a slower pace this past year because two vital roles have not been filled.
To mark Constitution Day on Monday, 3 June, the independent governance body released its annual report highlighting major constitutional progress over the past year.
Despite the achievements, Vaughan Carter, chair of the Constitutional Commission, in the foreword said two major gaps in personnel have led to its decreased capacity.
Firstly, the prolonged vacancy in the role of public relations and education coordinator in the Commissions Secretariat that supports the commission.
“…which it is understood should shortly be filled after a lacuna of approximately seven months,” Carter said.
Secondly, “and perhaps more fundamentally”, the failure to appoint a third constitutional commissioner.
This has left the remaining two commissioners unable to effectively conduct the commission’s business since the turn of the year, he said.
“In these circumstances, I am particularly grateful to Ms. Annikki Hill for her work as the other remaining constitutional commissioner and for her continued support,” Carter said.
The governor, in consultation with the premier and leader of the Opposition, is responsible for appointing all members of the commission.
In a requested comment, Governor Jane Owen told the Compass: “All appointments follow this process and new members will be announced in due course.
“It is important to me that all commissions have a membership that enables them to function effectively.”
In a Constitution Day message within the report, Owen said the Constitutional Commission has an important role to play.
“Both in advising on the constitution itself and its application in all areas of public life, as well as in informing the public about how our governance works in practice.”
Milestones
The commission, established by the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, aims to support democracy by creating openness and transparency in modern governance.
Achievements highlighted in the commission’s report include the appointment of Governor Jane Owen, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale and Speaker Katherine Ebanks-Wilks.
Other milestones include the adoption of a Ministerial Code of Conduct, progress in the Parliamentary Code of Conduct and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council visit.
The commission created and published online a comic book to explain Cayman’s constitution to children and partnered with school competitions to spread awareness.
In its letter to departing former Governor Martyn Roper, the commission asked him to “highlight the importance of constitutional education” to the incoming governor.
“And the need to conserve, collate and construct locally relevant resources in order to help relay important constitutional principles to our young people.”
In April, the commission announced the call for evidence in connection with a probe into the constitutional arrangements between the UK and its territories.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will look at whether the current constitutional arrangements are satisfactory and appropriate in the 21st Century.
The Constitution Day public holiday commemorates the passing of the Cayman Islands’ first written constitution on 4 July, 1959.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to include a comment from Governor Jane Owen.
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