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. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP, MLA Leader of the Opposition, First Elected Member for West Bay Attorney General, ex official Member responsible for Hon Samuel W. Bulgin, JP, QC Legal Affairs Capt A Eugene Ebanks, JP, MLA ABSENT Fourth Elected Member for West Bay Official Hansard Report Friday, 30 May 2014 91 OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT THRONE SPEECH AND BUDGET 2014/15 SESSION FRIDAY 30 MAY 2014 10:10 AM Third sitting [Hon. Anthony S. Eden, Deputy Speaker, presiding] The Deputy Speaker: I have apologies from the Honourable Speaker, the Honourable Attorney Gen- The Deputy Speaker: I call on the [Third] Elected eral and the Honourable Leader of the Opposition. Member for West Bay to lead us in prayers. STATEMENTS BY HONOURABLE PRAYERS MEMBERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CABINET Mr. Bernie A. Bush, Third Elected Member for Let us pray. West Bay: The Deputy Speaker: I have no notice of statements. Almighty God, from whom all wisdom and power are derived: We beseech Thee so to direct and prosper the deliberations of the Legislative Assembly now as- GOVERNMENT BUSINESS sembled, that all things may be ordered upon the best and surest foundations for the glory of Thy Name and for BILLS the safety, honour and welfare of the people of these Islands. SECOND READING Bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth II; Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Charles, Prince of Wales; and APPROPRIATION (JULY 2014 TO JUNE, 2015) all the Royal Family. Give grace to all who exercise au- thority in our Commonwealth, that peace and happiness, BILL, 2014 truth and justice, religion and piety may be established among us. Especially we pray for the Governor of our DEBATE ON THE BUDGET ADDRESS AND THE Islands, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Official THRONE SPEECH TOGETHER WITH THE Members and Ministers of Cabinet and Members of the GOVERNMENT’S POLICY STATEMENT Legislative Assembly, that we may be enabled faithfully to perform the responsible duties of our high office. All [Continuing thereof] this we ask for Thy great Name's sake. Let us say The Lord’s Prayer together: Our Fa- The Deputy Speaker: Does any other Member wish ther, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy to speak? [pause] Does any other Member wish to Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in speak? [pause] Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us I call on the Fourth Elected Member for our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass Bodden Town. against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the Mr. Alva H. Suckoo, Jr., Fourth Elected Member for glory, forever and ever. Amen. Bodden Town: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make I rise to give my contribution to this debate. His face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The And before I zone in on the actual topic at hand, I Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon us and give would just like to reflect a little bit on this past year in us peace, now and always. Amen. office for me, which has been extremely eventful. I am still extremely pleased and humbled to have been The Deputy Speaker: Proceedings are resumed. chosen to represent the people of Bodden Town and Please be seated. these three Islands. As I said, it has been a very hum- READING BY THE HONOURABLE bling experience, but I am always grateful for the op- portunity to represent the people of Bodden Town. I SPEAKER OF MESSAGES think there can be no greater reward than what I have AND ANNOUNCEMENTS experienced this past year. I know they say that our job is, at times, APOLOGIES thankless. But I certainly didn’t choose this job for thanks; I did it because I thought I could make a dif- ference and contribute to the development of this Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly 92 Friday, 30 May 2014 Official Hansard Report country. I think all of my colleagues share that senti- Mr. Alva H. Suckoo, Jr.: I know my colleague from ment and that ambition. I think I chose well when I East End will deal with him. decided to join the Progressives and work with the Progressives-led Government to better the country. Mr. V. Arden McLean: Oh yeah! Mr. Speaker, I think we should all be con- gratulated for deciding to serve our country. I know Mr. Alva H. Suckoo, Jr.: Mr. Speaker, being a repre- that we have all sacrificed in some way, shape or sentative in Bodden Town I have had the privilege, form. I have heard comments in the public about along with yourself, of spending a lot of time in the some of us who were not worthy of being in this hon- district because our other two colleagues have been ourable House because of our backgrounds or, what busy, obviously, as new Ministers. As Councillor for was referred to, some of the high salaries that some the Minister of Health, I understand the workload that of us used to make before we became representa- they have taken on. And I do not envy them, to say tives. I just wanted to say a few words about that be- the least. cause, to me, it is reminiscent of an attitude that actu- In Bodden Town we have actually made a fair ally held this country back for many years. And what bit of progress. It has only been a year (and I am not surprises me is, that I am hearing these comments making excuses, Mr. Speaker), but we have done being made in the public by individuals who are not some work in the district and there’s a lot more to from these Islands and who are representing certain come. But just to highlight some of the important individuals, or claim to represent some of us, and that things that we have done . for me, as Councillor of really disturbs me. I call it the “plantation syndrome.” Sport, I thought one of my first undertakings would be I hope that we can work together to eradicate to promote the sport of boxing in Bodden Town. We that sort of behaviour because it is despicable. And I have actually started the boxing programme at the think that individuals who decide to pick on individuals civic centre with a lot of success. I think at the last in here because they may have made a good living count there were about 15 young men who would oth- and may have been successful at some time or an- erwise be loitering on the streets, or looking for some- other and decided to sacrifice—and I say sacrifice— thing to do, who have now taken their place in that and put aside their personal goals to serve the people boxing programme. of this country, I think it is an embarrassment for any- They are not only learning the art of boxing, one, any Caymanian or any foreigner, to point at any but they are also learning a discipline. They are being Member of this House and accuse them of being not taught quite a bit by coach Doney there. I have gone worthy of being in here. by on a few occasions to visit and observe and that programme has taken off and taken root. I am ex- Mr. V. Arden McLean: Stop tip-toeing ’round and say tremely proud to have been a part of that. who he is. The Minister has also made sure that the Sa- vannah playing field is now open to the public. It is Mr. Alva H. Suckoo, Jr.: No.