New members appointed to constitutional commission

(CNS): Jude Scott has been appointed to chair Cayman’s Constitutional Commission by Governor Duncan Taylor following the death of Pastor Al last year. Sara Collins has also been appointed to the three person commission and will replace Julene Banks, who has now completed her two year term. Wil Pineau will continue to serve alongside the new appointees as a member. This is the first time new appointments have been made to any of the constitutionally created commissions since the implementation of the 2009 Constitution Order.

The commission was established under Section 118 of the 2009 Constitution. Its remit is to advise government on questions concerning constitutional status and development; promoting public understanding and awareness of the constitution and its values, and publishing reports, papers and other documents on any constitutional matters affecting the Cayman Islands. In broad terms, this commission may be said to combine the functions of an advisory body with those of a think tank on constitutional matters.

The commission clashed with government last year when it offered advice on the creation of district councils and pointed to the North Side district council being an example of what they believe the architects of the constitution had in mind. The premier accused the commission of going beyond its remit and misusing their position as they were trying to influence public opinion on the controversial issue after he brought the law to create the local bodies under an appointment system by Cabinet

Bush accused the commission of “poor performance” of its mandated functions and said the members were against him. Bush said the commissioners needed to be better “schooled in their role and functions” as he accused them of attempting to “frustrate” his administration. Despite the function of the commission, Bush said no government would base its executive decisions on the advice of a Constitutional Commission.

Speaking about the new appointees to the commission, the governor said he was pleased that both Scott and Collins had accepted the appointments as he pointed to the commission’s role in promoting democracy.

“The Constitutional Commission plays an important role in our democracy and I am confident that these new members will work together with Member Wil Pineau to continue to educate the people of the Cayman Islands on the 2009 Constitution” said Taylor.

Jude Scott is the current Global Chief Executive Officer of Maples and Calder, a post he has held since 1 February, 2011. Previously an audit partner at the Cayman Islands office of Ernst & Young, Scott retired in 2008 after spending over 23 years with firm, specialising in the audits of investment funds, investment companies, banks and insurance companies.

Scott has served on various Cayman Islands Government and private sector boards and committees, including the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants, the Cayman Islands Financial Services Council, Cayman Airways, Cayman National Corporation, the Ministerial Council for Tourism, the Education Council, the Insolvency Rules Committee and the Stock Exchange.

Sara Collins is a former partner of Conyers Dill & Pearman in the Cayman Islands. A graduate of the London School of Economics, she was admitted as a barrister of England & Wales as well as an attorney at law in the Cayman Islands; though she is not currently practising in either jurisdiction. Collins was also chair of the Human Rights Committee, the forerunner of the current commission, and was a member of the constitutional negotiating team.

For more information on the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 or the Constitutional Commission please visit: www.knowyourconstitution.ky; e-mail info@knowyourconstitution.ky or call 244-3685 or fax 945-8649.