Cruise campaigners call referendum bill ‘ill-timed and unwarranted’

A referendum on cruise berthing at the next general election is “ill-timed and unwarranted” a campaign group has claimed. Government published the bill last week with Deputy Premier Kenneth Bryan making the case for an open debate on the issue at the next parliamentary session.

CPR Cayman – which successfully triggered a people-initiated referendum on the now-abandoned PPM plan for cruise piers in George Town – insists it still supports the concept of a public vote.

But the group argues that government’s plan for an April 2025 ballot – confirmed with the publication of the Referendum Bill on 23 Dec. – doesn’t meet the bar for a proper public referendum on the issue.

“The Government’s urgency in pushing this referendum is ill-timed and unwarranted, given the lack of any immediate justification for revisiting the issue of cruise berthing facilities,” it said in a press release.

CPR says the question outlined in the bill was too vague and contains no disclosures about location, cost or environmental impacts that would affect voter decisions. It added that the bill was being pushed through with “unnecessary haste” and that no referendum regulations – including campaign financing controls – had been put in place.

CPR Cayman raised more than 7,000 signatures from registered voters in 2019 to trigger a constitutional provision that would force a referendum on the Progressives’ plan for piers in George Town. 

It then went to court to challenge government’s proposal for a poll on the issue, arguing that there would be an ‘inequality of arms’ between the two parties, with government publicly backing the pier project and that a proper Referendum Law was needed to ensure parity.

Despite an initial victory in the Grand Court, the ruling was overturned on appeal, but the port plan and the referendum were ultimately casualties of COVID-19.

With a return to the polls in sight, CPR Cayman continues to question why no referendum regulations have been passed – an issue which garnered sympathy in both court hearings.

“There are still no established rules governing campaigns, campaign financing, or ensuring a fair and transparent referendum process, whether government initiated or people initiated,” it stated in its latest release.

Bill published

The current proposal is for a non-binding poll on the general issue of whether the Cayman Islands should develop cruise berthing infrastructure.

With the government currently including just seven members, it would need the support of at least three opposition MPs to get the bill 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.

Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said the bill, which also includes questions on a national lottery and cannabis legislation, was a simple test of public opinion.

“I can’t see why any legislator would be against people having a say on these matters,” he told the Compass last week.

On cruise infrastructure, he said, “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.”

CPR Cayman took issue with the generality of the cruise question, pointing out that people’s opinions on the matter could differ greatly based on variables including the location of piers.

“The proposed referendum question lacks specificity, leaving voters without a clear understanding of what they are voting for or against,” it stated.

“Key information that would allow voters to make an informed decision— such as the location, costs, environmental impacts, and logistical details—remains undisclosed.”

It also highlighted the agreement of opposition MPs to support a minority government on the basis that they would not pursue contentious legislation prior to the election and commended the groups that had indicated they will not support the bill.

“We call on the all members of the Government to focus on rebuilding trust and ensuring transparency before asking the people to make decisions on matters of national significance,” the statement added.

Bryan has said that he does not believe the legislation is controversial, pointing out that the concept of the referendum passed a majority vote in Parliament. He added that the minority government could not force anything through and those in opposition that disagree are free to vote against it.