Referendum bill passes

(CNS): Staying late into the night legislators have now passed the referendum bill in the Legislative Assembly facilitating the country’s first ever referendum. On Monday 23rdd February following the day’s debate, the new bill was passed which will enable the country to decide if it wants to adopt the proposed constitution in a nationwide vote on 20 May, the same day as the General Election.

In keeping with section 29 (2) of the present Constitution, the Referendum (Constitutional Modernisation) Bill 2009 states that for the referendum to pass and the final constitution draft to be accepted,more than 50 percent of the voters taking part in the referendum should vote “yes.”

The referendum question stated in the bill requires a simple yes or no vote, and reads, “Do you approve the Draft Constitution, which was agreed by the Cayman Islands Constitution Delegation and the Government of the United Kingdom on 5 February 2009, and tabled in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands on 11 February 2009?”

The bill provides for the manner and procedures of conducting the referendum, including regulations by Cabinet. Under the present constitutional provisions, referenda can take place only for questions of national importance, which have to be brought to the House and accepted by the majority of Members.