Topic: Referendum Bill

Despite repeated requests for official confirmation on the status of government's planned referendum, the public is no closer to knowing when the vote will be held or what the questions will look like.

The legal framework to pave the way for Cayman's vote on a national lottery system and the decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana is expected to head to Parliament in the first quarter of this year.

House Speaker McKeeva Bush issued a warning to legislators on Thursday to be mindful of their words.

The absence of a proper referendum law in the Cayman Islands has been flagged as a major concern by all sides on the road to the port poll.

Revision of Cayman’s Elections Law was discussed on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly. Opposition Leader Arden McLean raised the issue during committee stage of the review of the Referendum Bill for the people initiated vote on government's $200 million cruise berthing and port project.

Debate on the Referendum Bill continued in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday with MLAs outlining their position on the $200 million cruise berthing and cargo facility.

Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders has raised the red flag on government’s proposal to have one national counting of ballots on Referendum Day. However, the Premier's Office said Government has carefully considered the matter and has determined that it is in the national interest to provide a national count for a referendum on a matter of national importance.

Local legislators are a week away from debating the provisions of the Referendum Bill that will set the stage for the first people-initiated vote in the Cayman Islands. The draft law allows for electors to have their say on government’s $200 million cruise berthing and cargo project on 19 Dec. The next session of the Legislative Assembly is set to formally open on 28 Oct. at 10am.