District councils on agenda
(CNS): A number of controversial laws will be up for debate when the Legislative Assembly resumes Monday, including the law to create district councils. Although the establishment of these local bodies is broadly supported, the fact that they will not be elected has stirred up controversy. Ezzard Miller, the independent representative for North Side who has already established a district council in his constituency for which the members have been elected by the local people, is proposing a number of amendments to the government’s bill. Although he is unlikely to receive much support for his changes from the government bench, it will at least provide an opportunity for all members of the House to question why these bodies will be undemocratic.
Miller has said he wishes the district councils across the island to be created through a democratic process that involves all of the people and will not support the proposed legislation without changes. It is unclear what will happen to Miller’s own council once the law is enacted and government is in a position to appoint three of the people on the council and whether three of Miller’s elected councillors will be forced to step down
The bill was first published in November and revealed that the councils would not be elected but would be appointed by Cabinet. Of the maximum ten councillors only two have to be recommended by the opposition in each district, unless there is no government member in the constituency when Cabinet will only be able to appoint three members. The members will have to live in the district and, according to the proposed legislation, will have “special qualifications, training, experience or knowledge of the district” suitable to the role.
The idea to create district councils was part of the 2009 Cayman Islands Constitution and the law will provide for a district council in each of the six electoral districts or constituencies where they people on the council will advise their MLAs on the issue that are particular to the district they represent and raise concerns that need to be taken to the main legislature.
Category: Headline News
Agreed. Well done Ezzard! You have to stand for democracy and don’t let anyone tell you it is a waste of time.
If District Councils are appointed by Government it is a waste of time. Give me a break. District Councils should be elected by the Districts whether they be UDP or PPM or Independent.
I find this really funny…can you imagine a UDP elected council in North Side telling Ezzard what he MUST bring to NS and SAY in the house??? Or a PPM dominated council in West Bay telling Premier what they need and what he should say? I know…democracy!
Clearly these councils must be aligned with the government of the day and also dissolve with any government change. Waste of time & money otherwise.
One suggestion however is as follows. They should have Opposition/Government members on them, in the same ratio as is found in the LA of the day. Currently 9 to 4 ratio (or 5 depending on EM’s mood)
This is a very simple issue. You cannot have MID-Term elections by voting for an opposition council. If people want change, wait until 2013 or call a referendum. It would be a waste of time and effort (not the least illogical) to have an opposition run district councils and a party in power that would not do what they said in the first place. Total waste of time and energy. And if the councils were set up so they HAD to be listened to you would negate the election process. Sorry Mr Ezzard, this suggestion makes no sense.
Councils should be primarily the party in Power with opposition input as is being suggested.
Want to change the Government of the day?..do that at the next election and at the same time one would change the councils. simple and effective.
And I thought there were too many MLA’s! The LA is all we need for local government.
I’m almost afraid to ask. Will these council members be paid?
Good Question. The new Constitution calls for the following “Institutions supporting Democracy”…
1. Human Rights Commission
2. Commission for the Standards in Public Life.
3. Constitutional Commission
4. Advisory District Councils
5. Complaints Commission (sorta existing-more to come, 2009/10 spent CI$ 968,000+)
6. Electoral Boundaries Commission
7. National Security Council
8. Judiciary & Legal Services Council
9. Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy ( to look into prisoner clemency)
I understand that the past Governor had asked for 530 new civil servants just to assist in organizing and getting them to start up phase. Even if these folks were are volunteers, the civil service support will cost millions per year.
Can you say DIRECT TAXATION? How in the world can our country afford these no matter how good they are to have? Silly to model a document like this after the tax-paying UK model. This is stated as one of the “achievements” of PPM in their documentation. Thank you Alden and PPM.
Good Fight Izzie… they should be elected by the folks they Rep….
This is not the idea of the councils. The folks have already selected who should represent them. They are in the LA until next election.
The Councils are merely to pass on to the MLAs in Government what is happening in their districts and feed them ideas and needs.
In Cayman, this is almost a crazy idea. The members of the LA are available and in their districts every night and do have significant direct contact with their constituents( Funerals, Weddings, bars, almond trees, gas stations, etc). They also have offices in each district that we pay for.
These councils are really not logical for 15,000 voters on 100 square miles. Just more expense.
district councils for an electorate of 10,000?????….zzzzz
if district councils are set up…there must be expat representation!
Get your facts right. The electorate is 15,000. I agree that there should be expat representation.
Why? They’re not citizens
And no where else in the world including where they most likely come from does expats get say in the running of the country. These countries all have features like the work permit or the rollover.
Why dont they suggest the changes to England or USA or Canada.
Rubbish.
Look here for a list of countries that allow expats to vote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_foreigners_to_vote
Why can’t expats be allowed to work with locals to have a say in discussing ways to improve the community we all share?
But they pay a lot more per head to the country (including indirectly) than the average Caymanian!
But at least they are educated, speak proper english and have a job.
They keep this country running.
While I am still undecided on who should be on the Councils, it is a good question if non-voters should be included. Unfortunately, there is no good answer because of the vague, undefined, purpose of the Councils. If they are to be a training ground for district representatives (a Senate by another name) then it swings one way. If they are merely to identify issues, raise them with MLAs and work on them, then nationality should be no barrier (either way). Again, we come back to the question: what is the point of these Councils?
It is unfortunate that the government has chosen to take this minor and, frankly, unecesary part of the Constitution and attempt to implement it in such a poor fashion, when other sections are still wanting. But, then, they didn’t vote for it.