Cayman’s Opposition legislators will be pressing government on its plans for a new public transport system for Grand Cayman and the country’s third subsea cable among other issues when the latest session of Parliament gets under way today.
The Progressives-led Opposition has filed 16 parliamentary questions seeking the government’s position on a number of topics.
Parliament was originally set for 5 July. Hurricane Beryl’s passage, however, prompted the postponement.
A Parliament media statement issued earlier this month stated that five bills will be before the Business Committee to be considered for the upcoming meeting.
These are a Supplementary Appropriation (January 2023 to December 2023) Bill, the Summary Jurisdiction (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Perpetuities (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Pharmacy Bill, 2024 and the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
A key feature of the Firearms Bill includes provisions to outlaw homemade weapons created on 3D printers and from assembly kits and an increase in mandatory minimum sentences for possession of firearms.
No mention was made of changes to the National Conservation Act in the release. However, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, speaking at a post-Beryl media conference, expressed hope that the changes would be on the order paper in the next session. No draft bill has materialised since she made those comments, however.
Varying issues highlighted
Questions have also been submitted seeking progress updates and timelines on the opening of the Poinciana mental health facility, a third undersea cable and Cayman Airways’ third Twin Otter aircraft.
Former Premier Wayne Panton has submitted questions seeking update on the ReGen project.
He is also seeking answers on the status of the Sexual Harassment Bill which he, during his tenure as premier, sough to introduce.
Panton has also added a query on the Climate Change policy which was initiated under his leadership.
The Opposition is also seeking answers on implementation of an increased minimum wage and why the national anti-gang strategy and action plan has not yet been finalised and implemented.
Another question will seek to reopen discussion on allowing the sale of pepper spray.
Last year Opposition member David Wight, George Town West MP, presented a private member’s motion to the House of Parliament calling for legalisation of pepper spray and Mace as self-defence tools.
That motion passed. Only one member, then Premier Wayne Panton, opposed the motion.
The Opposition is now asking for an update from Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly on when the changes to the relevant legislation will be brought to permit the importation, sale and use of chemical self-defence sprays.
Questions relating to education policies and plans have also been submitted.
No NCA changes yet
Though in recent weeks there has been public debate surrounding planned changes to the National Conservation Act, the Cayman Compass understands those amendments will not be heading to Parliament in the upcoming session.
It is understood the contentious changes, which have not been made public, are still being finalised after uproar in the community and a rift in cabinet.
When the amendments are completed, they will have to be gazetted for public comment before heading for debate in the House.
Government backbencher McKeeva Bush, the first elected member of government to publicly address debate over the proposed changes, said something has to be done about the law in order to bring “balance” with development and the environment.
He confirmed changes were being considered, but he denied the law will be gutted.
Motions seek action to protect ‘Caymanian interests’
Bush is taking a motion to the House seeking a moratorium on Local Companies (Control) Licences and that specific businesses be limited to Caymanians only.
Bush, speaking with the Cayman Compass earlier this month on the private member’s motions he filed, said the resolutions he is seeking are aimed at protecting the interests of Caymanians.
He is also seeking that government impose a one-time fee on large foreign developers.
The funds raised from that fee would be used to purchase properties that will be set aside for Caymanian buyers only.
The West Bay West MP’s motion, which has been seconded by Independent Opposition MP Chris Saunders, is also seeking lawmakers’ support for government to take “immediate steps” to restrict certain businesses for Caymanian ownership only.
“I have a responsibility and I believe now is the time that we have to put things in place to help Caymanians because there are those that are not being helped. Our middle class [is] being wiped out from many different situations,” he said.
Proposal to suspend fuel import duties
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has filed two private member’s motions.
The first motion seeks to provide some financial relief to the public by asking government to consider temporarily removing the duty charged on importation of fuels purchased by utility providers, fuels for cooking gas, and automotive fuels, including diesel.
The proposed 0% duty, he said, should run for an initial 12-month period. He wants government to obtain a commitment from fuel importers to pass on the savings to their customers.
As part of the motion, McTaggart is also seeking support for government to consider reintroducing an electricity bill relief programme, similar to the one introduced in summer 2022, to reduce electricity costs for families and small businesses during the sweltering summer months.
His second motion is aimed at tackling rising bank fees and interest rates.
The motion, which has been seconded by his deputy Joey Hew, is seeking support from members to have government consider requiring local banks to implement a mandatory update to the Banking Code.
If the banks do not do so themselves, then McTaggart is urging government to prepare legislation to provide for “a higher standard of bank’s duty to customers using the UK’s Banking Consumer Duty rules as a guide”.
He also wants government to consider urgently reviewing and bringing forward an update to the draft amendments to the Registered Land Act, proposed by the Law Reform Commission in its review to deal with the enforcement of mortgage-type security over real estate.
As part of the motion, McTaggart also wants government to consider asking CIMA to review the fairness of fees charged by retail banks and the fairness of interest rates paid on savings and other deposit accounts and report its findings to Parliament by the end of this year.
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