Government has published a bill for a referendum on cruise berthing infrastructure, a national lottery and cannabis in a bid to get the topics on the ballot at the next general election.
Despite statements from the various opposition groups that they oppose the referendum, the minority UPM administration has pushed forward with the legislation.
Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, who is piloting the bill, said he was prepared to risk a parliamentary defeat but insisted the bill should be debated in public.
“I can’t see why any legislator would be against people having a say on these matters,” the deputy premier said.
The questions outlined in the bill to go on the ballot at the General Election are:
- Should the Cayman Islands develop cruise berthing infrastructure?
- Do you support the introduction of a National Lottery in the Islands?
- Do you support the decriminalisation of the consumption and possession of small amounts of cannabis?
With the government currently including just seven members, it would need the support of at least three opposition MPs to get the bills passed in parliament.
The Progressives and André Ebanks’ group of four MPs – who resigned from the current government – have indicated they do not support government bringing contentious legislation given its marginal status. They were speaking about numerous issues, including the cruise referendum bill.
If they hold fast to that position, then the UPM would not have the numbers to pass the bill.
Bryan accused opposition legislators of “riding both sides of the fence” and “playing politics” on the issue.
He said Ebanks’ group had been part of the government that proposed the referendum in the first place.
“We had a debate in parliament and it was supported unanimously,” he said.
“This is a bill to ask people their opinion. What could possibly be controversial about that.”
Bryan said he wants the bill to be debated and for the public to see where everyone stands.
Government has tabled the bill within the 28-day notice period to be on the agenda at the next parliamentary session. However, it must first be approved by the House business committee – a cross-party group of six that agrees the agenda.
“Let’s have the debate,” said Bryan.
“Let’s do it in the open where everyone can seen what we are proposing and where everyone stands.”
The referendum bill is perhaps the least controversial of multiple matters which opposition legislators indicated widespread objection to in statements to the Compass earlier this week.
Ebanks clarified Tuesday that he and the three other MPs who resigned – Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Sabrina Turner and Heather Bodden – oppose the bill.
“We supported the collective while in Cabinet despite our individual positions,” he said.
“Now that we are not bound by collective responsibility we are able to publicly state our individual positions.”
‘Let people have their say’
Bryan believes the conservation act amendments – proposed and approved in Cabinet but not yet gazetted – should also be debated in parliament.
He said the notion that a minority government should not bring contentious legislation was a flawed argument.
“We don’t have the numbers so if they think it is controversial or they don’t agree with it they can vote against it,” he added.
While he acknowledged the conservation issue was sensitive, he said putting the bill out in public would allow people to see, in his view, that there was nothing extreme about what government is proposing.
Speaking specifically about cruise, Bryan – who supports the idea of piers – questioned the harm in asking the public.
“We have been talking about this for seven years. The people are very well informed and I think most people know where they stand on the issue. There is no justification whatsoever for not allowing people to have their say.”
Speaking to the Compass last week, multiple opposition MPs indicated they opposed the concept of the minority government bringing any controversial bills prior to the election.
André Ebanks told us, “Such important decisions should be handled by a new Government with a clear electoral majority. It would be more appropriate for the current minority Government to focus solely on day-to-day operations until the April 2025 election.”
He added that some of the bills under discussion and the negotiations with Dart around the landfill were among the reasons the four MPs had resigned in the first place.
A Progressives spokesperson said the party does not believe the UPM has a mandate to bring divisive legislation, including the referendum bills.
“With the government losing its majority and former members, including ex-Premier Panton, now firmly opposing the referendum bills, these have become controversial and should not be introduced,” they said.
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Kenny the people had their say and “no” means no!