Official Hansard Report Electronic Version

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Official Hansard Report Electronic Version CAYMAN ISLANDS LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT ELECTRONIC VERSION 2014/15 SESSION 17 September 2014 Fifth Sitting of the Second Meeting (pages 491-550) Hon Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MLA Speaker Disclaimer: The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informational purposes only. The printed version remains the official record. PRESENT WERE: SPEAKER Hon Juliana Y O’Connor- Connolly Speaker of the Legislative Assembly MINISTERS OF THE CABINET Hon Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA The Premier, Minister of Home and Community Affairs Hon Moses I Kirkconnell, JP, MLA Deputy Premier, Minister of District Administration, Tourism and Transport Hon D Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP, MLA Minister of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure Hon Marco S Archer, MLA Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon Osbourne V Bodden, MLA Minister of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture Hon G Wayne Panton, MLA Financial Services, Commerce and Environment Hon Tara A Rivers, MLA Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET Hon Eric L Bush Temporary Deputy Governor, ex officio Member responsible for the Civil Service Hon Jacqueline Wilson Temporary Attorney General, ex officio Member responsible for Legal Affairs ELECTED MEMBERS GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHERS Hon Anthony S Eden, OBE, JP, MLA Deputy Speaker, First Elected Member for Bodden Town Mr Alva H Suckoo, MLA Fourth Elected Member for Bodden Town Mr Roy McTaggart, MLA Second Elected Member for George Town Mr Winston C Connolly, Jr, MLA Fifth Elected Member for George Town Mr Joseph X Hew, MLA Sixth Elected Member for George Town OPPOSITION MEMBERS Mr Bernie A Bush, MLA Third Elected Member for West Bay Capt A Eugene Ebanks, JP, MLA Fourth Elected Member for West Bay INDEPENDENT MEMBERS Mr D Ezzard Miller, JP, MLA Elected Member for North Side Mr V Arden McLean, JP, MLA Elected Member for East End APOLOGIES Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP, MLA Leader of the Opposition, First Elected Member for West Bay Official Hansard Report Wednesday, 17 September 2014 491 OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT SECOND MEETING 2014/15 SESSION WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2014 10:50 AM Fifth Sitting [Hon. Juliana Y. O’Connor-Connolly, Speaker, presiding] The Speaker: Good morning. OATH OF ALLEGIENCE I now call on the Honourable Minister of [Administered by the Clerk] Health to grace us with prayers. [Mr. Eric Lennox Bush, the Honourable Acting Deputy PRAYERS Governor, to be the Temporary ex officio Member of the Legislative Assembly] Hon. Osbourne V. Bodden, Minister of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture: Let us pray. The Speaker: I will now ask the Honourable Acting Almighty God, from whom all wisdom and Deputy Governor to take his place at the Dias. power are derived: We beseech Thee so to direct and All rise. prosper the deliberations of the Legislative Assembly now assembled, that all things may be ordered upon Hon. Eric Lennox Bush: I, Eric Lennox Bush, do the best and surest foundations for the glory of Thy swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Name and for the safety, honour and welfare of the Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and suc- people of these Islands. cessors according to law, so help me God. Bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth II; Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Charles, Prince of Wales; OATH OF DUE EXECUTION and all the Royal Family. Give grace to all who exer- [Administered by the Clerk] cise authority in our Commonwealth, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety may be Hon. Eric Lennox Bush: I, Eric Lennox Bush, do established among us. Especially we pray for the swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty, Governor of our Islands, the Speaker of the Legisla- Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors and the tive Assembly, Official Members and Ministers of Cab- people of the Cayman Islands in the office of ex-officio inet and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that Member of the Legislative Assembly, so help me God. we may be enabled faithfully to perform the responsi- ble duties of our high office. All this we ask for Thy The Speaker: Mr. Bush, I trust that at your last visit great Name’s sake. the welcome was warm enough to not have to be ex- Let us say the Lord’s Prayer together: Our Fa- tended again this morning, but, for the avoidance of ther, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy doubt, I once again extend a welcome to this honour- Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in able Chamber. Please take your seat. Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass OATH OF ALLEGIANCE against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us (Administered by the Clerk) from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. [Ms. Jacqueline Wilson, the Honourable Acting Attor- The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord ney General, to be the Temporary ex officio Member make His face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. of the Legislative Assembly] The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon us and give us peace, now and always. Amen. The Speaker: I invite the Acting Attorney General to take her place at the Dias. The Speaker: Please be seated. The House is now All rise. resumed. Hon. Jacqueline Wilson: I, Jacqueline Wilson, do ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to OR AFFIRMATIONS Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and suc- cessors according to law. So help me God. Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly 492 Wednesday, 17 September 2014 Official Hansard Report OATH OF DUE EXECUTION As Minister for Education I am committed to [Administered by the Clerk] the very highest standards of education for all our stu- dents in all our schools. I have never lost sight of the Hon. Jacqueline Wilson: I, Jacqueline Wilson, do fact that we must put children first in all that we do in swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty, education. With that said, it is essential that our edu- Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors and the cation team continue to self-reflect, invite external people of the Cayman Islands in the office of ex-officio scrutiny, and be willing to face up to the hard ques- Member of the Legislative Assembly, so help me God. tions and issues. Since taking up my role, I have engaged in The Speaker: [Acting] Attorney General I would like to consultation with a number of stakeholders including welcome you to these honourable Chambers. As officers in the Ministry and Department of Education much as we enjoy the company of your male counter- Services, principals, teachers, students, parents, the part, it’s good to have some gender balance, albeit of business community and the general public. As part of a temporary basis. Welcome. the consultation process, a number of strengths and areas for improvement have been identified. Much An Hon. Member: Hear, hear. has been done over the past year to identify these strengths, the gaps and areas of weakness in the ed- The Speaker: Please be seated. ucation system, and steps have been taken and re- sources dedicated to address some of those issues READING BY THE HONOURABLE identified. However, a more detailed analysis of each SPEAKER OF MESSAGES school and a more detailed analysis of the govern- AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ance, management and structure of the education system as a whole, is needed at this stage to assist with policy and planning purposes going forward. APOLOGIES Again, the goal is to create an education system that puts the interests and welfare of the children first. The Speaker: I have received apologies from the One of the areas of feedback has been the Honourable Leader of the Opposition. need to have independent evaluations of the educa- I recognise the Honourable Minister of Educa- tion system so that progress can be measured. tion, Employment and Gender Affairs. Schools, the Department of Education Services (DES) and the Ministry need to be able to build on strengths STATEMENTS BY HONOURABLE to identify those gaps, and to plan for and make im- MEMBERS AND MINISTERS provements that will benefit our children. OF THE CABINET Over the past five years only a limited range of inspections were undertaken using outsourced re- EDUCATION SYSTEM AND BASELINE SCHOOL sources to complement a small core team. However, INSPECTIONS REVIEW in order to help determine the effectiveness of our quest to strive for excellence in education, the reintro- Hon. Tara A. Rivers, Minister of Education, Em- duction of the inspection process as an independent ployment and Gender Affairs: Thank you, Madam process is critical. To this end, I have requested that Speaker. inspections of all government schools take place as a The vision for our students is that they will be matter of priority to establish a baseline dataset on: confident, motivated learners, and responsible pro- • student progress and achievement; ductive citizens who are capable of succeeding in a • effectiveness of teaching and its impact on globally competitive world. To achieve this, the Minis- learning; try of Education and other education stakeholders • leadership and management; and must ensure that the education system provides suit- • the quality of provision and student outcomes in able and relevant learning environments that best en- the foundation subjects of English and mathe- able our students to succeed. matics. Over the past seven years, there have been significant changes within the government education The pre-inspection process has already started system, with accompanying increases in overall stu- and all government school inspections are due to be dent performance being achieved during that same completed by June, 2015.
Recommended publications
  • Cayman Islands Government Organisational Structure
    EFFECTIVE JUNE 2021 Cayman Islands Government Organisational Structure PARLIAMENT HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE PARLIAMENT Mr. Martyn Roper, OBE CAYMAN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS COURT OF APPEAL MANAGEMENT Hon. Justice Anthony Smellie, QC COMMISSION PRESIDENT PREMIER Rt. Hon. Sir John Goldring, QC AUDITOR GENERAL OMBUDSMAN Hon. Wayne Panton, JP APPEAL COURT JUDGES Ms. Susan Winspear Ms. Sandy Hermiston Rt Hon. Sir Michael Birt ELECTIONS OFFICE Rt Hon. Sir Jack Beatson COUNCIL OF THE Hon. Sir Richard Field PARLIAMENT GRAND COURT PUISNE JUDGES Hon. John Martin, QC MANAGEMENT DEPUTY PREMIER Hon. Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale Hon. C. Dennis Morrison Hon. Chris Saunders CAYMAN ISLANDS REGIMENT COMMISSION SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS Hon. Justice Richard Williams Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Moses Mr. Wesley Howell, Cert. Hon., JP Hon. Justice Robin McMillan Rt Hon. Sir Bernard Rix Hon. Justice Cheryll Richards, QC SPEAKER COMMISSIONS Hon. Justice Nicholas Segal Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP » Judicial & Legal Services Commission THE CABINET Hon. Justice Ian Kawaley Hon. Justice Raj Parker » Human Rights Commission » MINISTERS Advisory Committee on the OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR Hon. Justice David Doyle » Commission for Standards in Public Life Prerogative of Mercy Hon. Wayne Panton, JP » OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS DEPUTY SPEAKER Constitutional Commission » Electoral Boundary Commission Hon. Chris Saunders » Anti-Corruption Commission » National Security Council Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, LLB » MAGISTRATES: SUMMARY COURT Civil Service Appeals Commission » Expungement Board Hon. Bernie Bush SUMMARY COURT » Police Service Commission » Conditional Release Board DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Hon. Kenneth Bryan & CORONER’S COURT » PROSECUTIONS/CHIEF OFFICER Hon. André Ebanks Cayman Islands Independent Monitoring Board CHIEF MAGISTRATE (Prisons & Places of Detention) Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Cayman Islands Government Organisational Structure
    EFFECTIVE JUNE 2021 Cayman Islands Government Organisational Structure PARLIAMENT HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE PARLIAMENT Mr. Martyn Roper, OBE CAYMAN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS COURT OF APPEAL MANAGEMENT Hon. Justice Anthony Smellie, QC COMMISSION PRESIDENT PREMIER Rt. Hon. Sir John Goldring, QC AUDITOR GENERAL OMBUDSMAN Hon. Wayne Panton, JP APPEAL COURT JUDGES Ms. Susan Winspear Ms. Sandy Hermiston Rt Hon. Sir Michael Birt ELECTIONS OFFICE Rt Hon. Sir Jack Beatson COUNCIL OF THE Hon. Sir Richard Field PARLIAMENT GRAND COURT PUISNE JUDGES Hon. John Martin, QC MANAGEMENT DEPUTY PREMIER Hon. Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale Hon. C. Dennis Morrison Hon. Christopher Saunders CAYMAN ISLANDS REGIMENT COMMISSION SUPERVISIOR OF ELECTIONS Hon. Justice Richard Williams Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Moses Mr. Wesley Howell, JP Hon. Justice Robin McMillan Rt Hon. Sir Bernard Rix Hon. Justice Cheryll Richards, QC SPEAKER COMMISSIONS Hon. Justice Nicholas Segal Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP » Judicial & Legal Services Commission THE CABINET Hon. Justice Ian Kawaley Hon. Justice Raj Parker » Human Rights Commission » MINISTERS Advisory Committee on the OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR Hon. Justice David Doyle » Commission for Standards in Public Life Prerogative of Mercy Hon. Wayne Panton, JP » OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS DEPUTY SPEAKER Constitutional Commission » Electoral Boundary Commission Hon. Chris Saunders » Anti-Corruption Commission » National Security Council Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, LLB » MAGISTRATES: SUMMARY COURT Civil Service Appeals Commission » Expungement Board Hon. Bernie Bush SUMMARY COURT » Police Service Commission » Conditional Release Board DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Hon. Kenneth Bryan & CORONER’S COURT » PROSECUTIONS/CHIEF OFFICER Hon. André Ebanks Cayman Islands Independent Monitoring Board CHIEF MAGISTRATE (Prisons & Places of Detention) Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Legacy of British Rule on LGBT Rights in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
    The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Master's Theses Fall 12-2017 The Legacy of British Rule On LGBT Rights In Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Zachary Stewart University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses Part of the Caribbean Languages and Societies Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Political History Commons, and the Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons Recommended Citation Stewart, Zachary, "The Legacy of British Rule On LGBT Rights In Jamaica and the Cayman Islands" (2017). Master's Theses. 322. https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/322 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE LEGACY OF BRITISH RULE ON LGBT RIGHTS IN JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS by Zachary Alex Stewart A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School, the College of Arts and Letters, and the Department of Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts December 2017 THE LEGACY OF BRITISH RULE ON LGBT RIGHTS IN JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS by Zachary Alex Stewart December 2017 Approved by: ________________________________________________ Dr. Tom Lansford, Committee Chair Professor, Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs ________________________________________________ Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Hansard Report Electronic Version
    CAYMAN ISLANDS LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT ELECTRONIC VERSION 2014/15 SESSION 30 May 2014 Third Sitting of the First Meeting Throne Speech and Budget Meeting (pages 91–124) Hon Anthony S Eden, JP, MLA Deputy Speaker Disclaimer: The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informational purposes only. The printed version remains the official record. PRESENT WERE: PRESIDING Hon. Anthony S Eden, OBE, JP, MLA Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly MINISTERS OF THE CABINET Hon Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA The Premier, Minister of Home and Community Affairs Hon Moses I Kirkconnell, JP, MLA Deputy Premier, Minister of District Administration, Tourism and Transport Hon D Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP, MLA Minister of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure Hon Marco S Archer, MLA Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon Osbourne V Bodden, MLA Minister of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture Hon G Wayne Panton, MLA Financial Services, Commerce and Environment Hon Tara A Rivers, MLA Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET Hon Franz I Manderson Cert. Hon., JP Deputy Governor, ex officio Member responsible for the Civil Service Ms Jacqueline Wilson Temporary Attorney General, ex officio Member responsible for Legal Affairs ELECTED MEMBERS GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHERS Mr Roy McTaggart, MLA Second Elected Member for George Town Mr Winston C Connolly, Jr, MLA Fifth Elected Member for George Town Mr Joseph X Hew, MLA Sixth Elected Member for George Town Mr Alva H Suckoo, MLA Fourth Elected Member for Bodden Town OPPOSITION MEMBERS Mr Bernie A Bush, MLA Third Elected Member for West Bay INDEPENDENT MEMBERS Mr D Ezzard Miller, JP, MLA Elected Member for North Side Mr V Arden McLean, JP, MLA Elected Member for East End APOLOGIES Hon Juliana Y O’Connor- Connolly Speaker, Second Elected Member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • PPM Four Year Report 2013
    1 2 Table of Contents Message from the Premier ...................................................................................... 4 Summary of Achievements - Completed ................................................................ 8 Sumary of Achievements - Under way .................................................................... 9 Cayman’s Recovery ........................................................................................... 10-14 Four years of promise kept .................................................................................... 15 Restored Government Finances Reduced Taxes and Helped Businesses and Families ...............................................15 Fixed the Economy ...........................................................................................................16 Tourism ......................................................................................................................16 Financial Services .......................................................................................................17 Supporting Business ..................................................................................................18 Supporting Suitable Development .......................................................................18 George Town Revitalisation .....................................................................................19 Improved Employment Opportunities for Caymanians ........................................ 20 Training and Development .....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • MINUTES of the 6Th MEETING of the 2013 COUNCIL on 12Th JUNE 2013, CHAMBER of COMMERCE CONFERENCE ROOM, WEST BAY, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS
    MINUTES OF THE 6th MEETING OF THE 2013 COUNCIL ON 12th JUNE 2013, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONFERENCE ROOM, WEST BAY, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS. ATTENDING: Mr. Johann Moxam, President-Elect Mr. Barry Bodden, Vice President Mr. Wayne Cowan, Treasurer Mr. Lendon Jackson, Secretary David Kirkaldy, Immediate Past President Alan Brady, Councilor, 2nd year Mrs. Natalie Urquhart, 2nd Year Councilor (arrived at 4 p.m.) Mr. Rory Mohammed, 2nd Year Councilor Mrs. Katie O’Neill, 1st Year Councilor Mr. Roger Ponce, 1st Year Councilor Mr. Paul Pearson, 1st Year Councilor Mr. Wil Pineau, CCE, Chief Executive Officer 1. Call to order Acting Chairman and President-Elect Mr. Moxam called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. He confirmed the required quorum of five Councilors. CEO Wil Pineau, CCE, recorded the minutes. 2. Apologies Mr. Chris Duggan, President and Chairman 3. Review/Approval of draft minutes from the 8th May 2013 Council meeting The draft minutes were distributed to the Council prior to the meeting for review. A motion to accept the draft minutes without amendment was moved by Mr. Mohammed, seconded by Mrs. O’Neill and approved unanimously. 4. Action items arising from the Minutes a. Employees’ Handbook for Chamber members Councilor Alan continues to make progress on this guide. He has developed the table of contents for the booklet to include the following sections: pensions, statement of working conditions, lay-offs, termination and dismissals; time off work (vacation, compassionate leave, public holidays, adoption leave, sick leave and maternity leave), overtime (from an employee’s perspective), notice, redundancy (Caymanian entitlement over non-Caymanians), Labour Tribunals, Health insurance, Freedom of information., health and safety at work, grievance procedures and the responsibilities of the Department of Labour and Pensions (include location and contact information).
    [Show full text]
  • Purchase Agreements
    PURCHASE AGREEMENTS 2016/17 FOR THE 18-MONTH PERIOD ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 ACADEMY SPORTS CLUB ..................................................................................................................................... 7 AUDITORS OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY .................................................................................................................. 13 BODDEN TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB ..................................................................................................................... 19 BRITISH RED CROSS CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH .............................................................................................. 25 CAYMAN AIDS FOUNDATION ........................................................................................................................... 31 CAYMAN AIRWAYS LIMITED (CAL) .................................................................................................................... 37 CAYMAN ATHLETIC SPORTS CLUB .................................................................................................................... 45 CAYMAN CARNIVAL BATABANO COMMITTEE .................................................................................................. 51 CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cayman Islands Constitution
    Audio Constitution Track Listing Track Section Number Section Title Reader 1 Credits Credits April Cummings 2 Cover Page Cover Page Quincy Brown 3 Section 1 Citation and commencement Sean Ebanks 4 Section 1 – Footnote A Section 1 Footnote A Sean Ebanks 5 Section 2 Interpretation Sean Ebanks 6 Section 2 – Footnote B Section 1 Footnote B Sean Ebanks 7 Section 3 Revocations Sean Ebanks 8 Section 4 Establishment of Constitution Sean Ebanks 9 Section 5 Existing laws Sean Ebanks 10 Section 6 Existing offices and officers Alex Johnson, JP 11 Section 7 Legislative Assembly Alex Johnson, JP 12 Section 8 Electoral districts Alex Johnson, JP 13 Section 9 Pending legal proceedings Alex Johnson, JP 14 Schedule 1 Revocations Quincy Brown 15 Schedule 2 Contents Quincy Brown 16 Preamble Preamble Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP 17 Part 1 – 1 Guarantee of rights, freedoms and responsibilities Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP 18 Part 1 – 2 Life Betty Ebanks, BEM, Cert. Hon. 19 Part 1 – 3 Torture and inhuman treatment Zena Merren-Chin 20 Part 1 – 4 Slavery or forced or compulsory labour Zena Merren-Chin 21 Part 1 – 5 Personal liberty Zena Merren-Chin 22 Part 1 – 6 Treatment of prisoners Kurt Walton 23 Part 1 – 7 Fair trial Winston Conolly 24 Part 1 – 8 No punishment without law Winston Conolly 25 Part 1 – 9 Private and family life Sara Collins 26 Part 1 – 10 Conscience and religion Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette 27 Part 1 – 11 Expression William “Billy” Adam 28 Part 1 – 12 Assembly and association Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette 29 Part 1 – 13 Movement Chanda Glidden 30 Part 1 – 14 Marriage Joy Merren 31 Part 1 – 15 Property Richard Christian 32 Part 1 – 16 Non-discrimination Betty Ebanks, BEM, Cert.
    [Show full text]