In an effort to keep government accountable, the Chamber of Commerce says it intends to create a scorecard to monitor if future administrations deliver on their announced priorities.
The ‘government accountability scorecard’, known as GAS, will be implemented following the next election, which is expected to be held in April 2025, according to Chamber President Joanne Lawson.
The scorecard, she said, is a mechanism for holding government accountable to its strategic priorities and for promoting transparency, effectiveness and accountability in governance.
Lawson said the scorecard will be a tool through which key government initiatives, set out in strategic policy statements, can be monitored. Strategic policy statements outline a government’s key financial forecasts and policy objectives.
The Chamber intends to identify the specific government initiatives that align with the three pillars of its own 10-year vision, called ‘Cayman 2035’.
The Chamber of Commerce, which has more than 600 members, representing about 20,000 employees, says the three pillars of its plan include building a future-ready workforce; sustaining economic success; and advancing quality of life.
Lawson said, as part of its efforts to create the scorecard, the Chamber had gone through an exercise of examining the current government’s strategic policy statement, looking at, for example, the government’s plans for promoting lifelong learning and greater economic stability – as those aligned with the Chamber’s pillars.
“We went through the whole SPS and we pulled out six that we felt were specific outcomes, but we feel we need to be more positioned to really figure out how we want to track and hold it accountable,” she said, adding that once the next strategic policy statement is ready, the scorecard will be rolled out.
‘Advocacy agenda’
As part of the plan to help improve the economy and the quality of life for residents, the Chamber has launched an ‘advocacy agenda’.
Lawson explained that part of this initiative involves the Chamber collaborating with members and government to develop a sustainable approach to preparing Caymanian students and adults for future careers.
Lawson said the advocacy agenda “is not just about solving today’s problems but laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity”.
She added, “It’s crucial that we understand where we are now, where we want to go, and how we measure and adjust our efforts along the way.”
The Chamber has set up three teams, which will lead work on each of the three pillars.
Lawson and Chamber CEO Wil Pineau announced the initiative on an online forum on Friday, 6 Sept., where they invited members and any other associations interested to take part, suggest solutions and highlight issues.
Preparing future workforce
To help develop a workforce for the jobs of the future, Lawson said the Chamber intended to help secure placements and apprenticeships with organisations like Inspire Cayman and Nova, and to work closely with government agencies, educational institutions and industry leaders to advocate for educational reform that would help provide “a solid foundation in both academic knowledge and practical skills”.
“This means continuously updating curriculum, investing in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] education and integrating soft skills, like critical thinking and adaptability,” she added.
She noted that the long-term prosperity of Cayman relies on adapting to global changes while meeting the needs of the people of the islands, such as by tackling the high costs of living and doing business.
The Chamber does not just plan to address economic issues, Lawson said. It also intends to work to improve the quality of life for residents, with a goal to have a “vibrant and inclusive community where everyone has access to essential services, safe living conditions and opportunities for personal and professional growth”.
Pineau said the Chamber wants all industry sectors involved, which representatives can do by volunteering, offering resources and partnerships, networking and attending meetings organised by the various committees.
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