Self determination at impasse, Cayman rep tells UN

| 21/06/2011

(CNS): With the UK's position that it does not believe the Cayman Islands should even be on the United Nation's list of non-self governing territories, while at the same time having devolved none of its real power in the 2009 Cayman Constitution, Wil Pineau told UN delegates that self determination appeared to be at an impasse. “We do not regard the introduction of a new administrative arrangement between the administering power and her territory as a sincere attempt to advance the progress towards self-determination,” Pineau said on behalf of the civil groups he was representing at a recent UN meeting.

“During the constitutional discussions, the UK made it clear that specific conditions had to be met and lines could not be crossed, otherwise the administering power would not agree to a new constitution for the Cayman Islands,” the Chamber CEO added.

Pineau was addressing the Caribbean regional seminar on the implementation of the third international decade for the eradication of colonialism, which was held in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines earlier this month, on behalf of Cayman Islands Non-Governmental Organizations Constitutional Working Group, which included the Chamber, the People for Referendum (PFR) and the Concerned Citizens Group (CCG). The meeting had originally been scheduled to be held here in the Cayman Islands, but the CIG declined the invitation and chose not to send a government delegate to the talks.

In his address Pineau said the UK government had failed to educate the people of the non-self governing territories (NSGTs) about the options for self determination and called for more help from the UN.

He suggested that future regional seminars should only be convened in the NSGTs with public access including the press to all deliberations and for the UN to work with government and civil society groups in the NSGTs to provide education resources and funding.

“Find ways to develop governance and capacity building with or without the administering Powers cooperation and involvement,” Pinneau said in his address as he called for more support. Pineau also suggested increasing dialogue between the C24 and civil society in the OTs that would assist with the development of participatory democracy.

“At present there is minimal communication between the C24 and civil society in the Cayman Islands. Communication usually occurs leading up to the regional seminars. Correspondence submitted to the UN Secretariat in most instances remains unanswered,” he added.

Pineau said that education must continue to be at the epicenter of all activities. “Such education must of course clarify to the people of the Cayman Islands that the expression 'self-determination' is not a synonym for the word 'independence' – although 'independence' is numbered amongst the options to be available to NSGTs.”

He added that the UK, in cooperation with the territorial governments and appropriate bodies of the UN system, should develop political education programmes for the territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination.

“An informed and enlightened civil society will ensure that informed choices are made as they make decisions towards self-determination,” he noted.

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  1. Allen says:

    I don't think a country should have that much athority over a government.  A country should be able to stand up to the UK.  Other countries have left the uk, some by force.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Why are these NGOs pushing this? Caymanians will determine their own destiny in time.  Hands off NGOs we've told you once, twice and many times we do not want "Independence" for the Cayman Islands.

    Mr. Will Pineau until our Caymanian men of old come back and tell us to vote for Independence we will not.  So please I beg you drop the case.  We have been "British" since 1503 and have never been ruled by anyone else.  For the records people of DNA to Terra Firma (with 3 generations and more from here in the Cayman Islands) are very happy with our British status, just as you are being an American.

    • anon says:

      you don't understand

    • C-Man to the Bone n Proud of IT says:

      Well said,Thank You!! Wil Pineau needs to focas on the better business practices of the Chamber of Commerce, making sure that the concessions being recieved are past along to us the consumers rather than talking shit about eventual Independance, we dont want independance now or never!! wish he and all the rest of the NGO's would get that in their thick skulls…. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    The "Cayman Islands Non-governmental Organizations Constitutional Working Group"??  I'm supposed to care??

    • anonymously says:

      but isn't non-governmental almost like a private rest room – not public?  jeeeesss.. I think you lost me now!

    • hmmmmm says:

      The question that needs to be asked and answered is who gave the power tothis NGO that PIneau speaks for?.  How many Caymannians do they represent. Can the/theyhey show a document ouitlining the pros and cons for these Islands and how if we are to consider Independence what steps we ned to take, but I digress who they speaking for i know it na me and many others.

  4. Naya Boy says:

    Their is no rest for the wicked anon 10:57 and any man who reads too much and use his own brain too little falls into the lazy habit of thinking. We need to keep our dialogue open in such matters and be represented at some level in these matters wether it is good or bad. The process of learning continues even after we are long gone.

  5. anonymously says:

    I can see it now from the loyalist, Chris Crooker in tears:- 

    LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!   ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS BE A DESK CLERK!!!  LEAVE HER ALONE!!!

     

  6. Anonymouse says:

    These well-intentioned persons are (being) played a dangerous game where the outcome is likely to be independence. People in Cayman are very well educated on their practical options: Teritoriality or Independence. If the UK, as they have often said, will not accept 'self-determination' without independence, there is no other practical option. Educating Cayman won't change that. Again, the game is to 'educate' Cayman so that we put pressure on the UK to do what the "cayman Representatives" want. – There are too many gamesbeing played here for people to trust any of the players.

    • Jeff says:

      it won't work!  how are we going to pressure the UK?  haven't they had enough chance to make a positive difference?  But they keep spying on us

      • cow itch says:

        sicknin mannn!  they keep spyin on me grass piece wit deh helicopter…. britney go hooome!

    • Anonymous says:

      How do you expect the cayman people to put pressure oon the UK to do what we want when we can not pressure our elected officials to do the peoples will?

  7. Anonymous says:

    Does Wil Pineau actually understand what he is talking about? Because I sure the Hell don't!

    Why do these overpaid bureaucrats always think it's so smart to talk gibberish?

    • Dennie Warren Jr. says:

      Wil is telling the UN that the UK is continuing to neglect its UN obligations to the Cayman Islands.  For example, see Article 73 of the UN Charter, which you can read it here: http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter11.shtml

      But to see an example of how the UK is mistreating one of its own overseas territories, starting in the 1960s up until today, watch the following video regarding the Chagos Islands called “Stealing A Nation”: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3667764379758632511# 

      To read more about this subject, check of the following website: http://overseasreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/cayman-civil-society-supports-self.html

      Also see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_Archipelago
       

      • Pit Bull says:

        He just could not resist the "Chagos Gambit" could he?

        • Libertarian says:

          Pit Bull

          Should not the truth always be told? 

          The Chagossians (BOT citizens) have not yet received any closure or justice since their eviction from Diego Garcia. It has been over 40 years now. 
           

          • Pit Bull says:

            The matter went to the highest Court in England and it was confirmed that the Government was entitled to act in the national interests.  The interests of a small sub-national group cannot displace the interests of the nation as a whole.  They have had plenty of days in Court and justice has had its say.

             

            • Libertarian says:

              A military base in the Indian Ocean is strategic yes, but why are these people still living in poverty on the island of Mauritius?  Does not sound like Justice to me that after a few suffered for the whole national interest, there is no just compensation?  How can the highest Court in England explain evicting people from their homes never to return, was a just act? Chagos islands consisted of many islands, could not they have still built a military base with the people there?

  8. No change, not ready! says:

    Even the UN can see that our politicians are greedy small minded fools.

    Recent years of introducing a party system has sadly pushed us backwards by two decades. We are not ready for "self determination" and I cannot even whisper the "i" word.  Sorry, come back in a few more years.  

    We need freedom of information to work and it has not had enough time or success yet.

    We need a balanced budget before we can determine our future priorities and how we spend and the budget is a total mess. Come back when it is fixed. (and send help UK to sort it out)

    We cannot self-determine with the majority of voters being the civil service and the majority of residents without human rights.

    We need political accountability and transparency in goverment and we have just started this process without muh luck.

    Other countries may be ahead of us in this process, but we have a long way to go.

    Do not push a child to do man's work, you will only end up cleaning up their mess.

    • Anonymous1 says:

      Hmmm…

      So we rely on the UK to make those changes.

      Or, do we rely on Ourselves?  

      Under the UK, it appears they are incompetent to ensure us democracy. Where is the Governor when we need him?

  9. Libertarian says:

    The United Kingdom knows that if the United Nations takes us off the list of non-self governing territories (NSGT), she will be able to do as she pleases without justified international response. The UN is constantly on her back regarding the freedoms and rights of the Overseas Territories. 

    • Anonymous says:

      What freedoms and rights  are we talking about here ?

      Does anyone in their sane minds really think that the Cayman Islands is ready to move towards independence with the current system that is in place now, remaining ?

      What would we have here; hmmm, let see.

      A segregated and divided population of approx:

      30,000 Caymanians, with all legal rights and privileges.

      10,000 foreign workers on licence (work permit) with no rights, no ties to the country and very insecure futures.

      10,000 or so legal residents, again with no rights but with enough economic power and stability to make all the difference but being castigated by the Caymanian population for stealing their country.

      And this is the new nation of the Cayman Islands, respite with all the trappings of one of these UN-freed oppressed countries ?

      Maybe when some of these agitator morons finally come to their senses and realise that independence calls for a unified population, with all the same rights, responsibilities and purpose for their nation, they will recognise the Cayman Islands that they live in, truly, for what it is.

      So, tell me now, will an independent Cayman consist only of the 30,000 Caymanians then ?

      • Libertarian says:

        The "rights and freedoms" that comes with being able to determine one's state or destiny; i.e., Self-determination. Independence is just "one" self-determinatory option that has been democratically approve by the majority of a country. I am with the U.N. charter on being able to determine one's future. Self-determination is beautiful and a fundamental human right; it makes sense even in terms of individual freedom.

        There are other options of self-determination other than Independence. Apparently, the Cayman Islands is given only two options:  Remain as a British Overseas Territory or Independence. Hence, the "mother" country has through her intervention, crafted a Cayman Islands Constitution that has been limited in scope. A portion of Caymanians fear Independence because it is the only option they know. They are not educated to know the other options that could provide more "rights and freedoms" like being a protectorate, a free associate state, or integration.

        In regards to "rights and freedoms" on which we can improve on now, it would be like you have a drum with holes and you filled it with water. In the end, the water of rights and freedoms will not be secured, because of the loopholes in the drum (the country's self-determinatory state). The question you need to contemplate on:-  Is our rights and freedoms guaranteed and secured being a British Overseas Territory?

        No matter how much the U.N. may have its corrupt members, at the end of the day, should the UK have rule over a nation; or, should the people have that rule?  Which path would be the better way for the people's "rights and freedoms"?

        And in a framework of determination that is best for its people, most naturally, it would benefit all those who visit, expatriates and foreignors alike. That the more liberty citizens have in their own country, it will equate, more "rights and freedoms" bestowed to expatriates and foreignors. It is inevitably reciprocal and shared.

        Note:  Immigration permits and governmental fees, are the means by which government finances its operations and its civil servants. It replaces from having to introduce direct taxation, hence ruining the financial industry. So such indirect funding is necessary to maintain the essential services of government for a small country such as Cayman.

        Regards