Cabinet hopes for consensus ahead of LA meeting
(CNS): Government has announced that it expects to sit for three days next week in the Legislative Assembly and will be holding a business meeting with the other members to reach consensus on a number of bills it hopes to bringto the LA on Monday. From legislation facilitating human tissue donation for the first time in Cayman to the Marine Conservation Law amendment to protect stingrays in all Cayman waters, the premier said she wanted to gain the support of the opposition before all of the bills that Cabinet wants to present will be revealed. As a minority administration, the government is in the hands of other members and requires support from its former UDP colleagues or the opposition before it can be sure of safe passage for any bills.
In what may be the final meeting for the members of the Legislative Assembly before the governor dissolves the parliament on 26 March, Cabinet has approved the Mental Health Bill for tabling in the LA Monday.
Mark Scotland, the health minister, said he was hopeful of getting support for the bill as it would be a significant achievement, given that the current legislation is 15 years old and does not address any of the major changes that have happened in recent years. The new bill takes into account new treatments and has dealt with weaknesses identified in the old law. He said it focused on improved patient-centred care and protects patients’ rights, especially when they are detained involuntarily for treatment.
Scotland said it also establishes a mental health commission, which will hear appeals from mental health patients. It introduces different detention orders regarding observation and treatment of patients as well as their medical needs. Scotland said that once the bill was passed, the next step was a mental health policy, followed eventually by a much needed specialist facility. He said that government had already engaged with the private sector about the creation of a mental health care centre, but step one was getting the bill approved.
Along with the amendments to the Marine Conservation Law regarding stingrays and the new limitations on board members, he said he was brining minor amendments to the National Cultural Foundation’s legislation as well as the Health Practitioner’s Law.
The Human Transplant Bill, which is the final missing piece of legislation in the deal government struck with Indian heart surgeon Dr Devi Shetty to bring his proposed health city to Cayman, is also going to be tabled in the LA Monday. Work is now underway at the hospital and with changes already made to the Health Practitioner’s Law and the tort reform laws to limit the liability of the doctors at that hospital, the passage of the Human Tissue and Transplant Law fulfills the legislative side of the bargain government struck with the surgeon.
The law will regulate the use of human tissue and establish a council to monitor compliance. It has taken several years to draft and will allow organ donation schemes in Cayman to save lives and allow lawful organ transplant operations. It also deals with live donations and prohibits the trading in human organs or tissue.
Alongside the health related legislation, the government will also be seeking to bring bills that relate to last year’s budget and fee increases affecting the offshore sector. The premier spoke of other possible legislation but she said she wanted to first secure some consensus with other members and a press release would then be issued relating to the business government hoped to complete in what is expected to be a three day sitting.
Category: Politics
Didn't they say earlier they will also deal with the roll over? That is equally or more important issue, that is, if Cayman wants to keep up with the competition.
Well I guess this is further evidence that a Coalition government can work after the May elections now that they see the merits in finding consensus on issues
little or nothing has been done for the past 4 years…. i doubt that will change now….
Oh my, a three day week! They'll need an all-expenses paid trip somewhere nice to recover from that!
No mention of OMOV………..
They need to be dealing with Immigration policies and the rollover.
I find it mind-boggling that Mark will bring legislation that affect membership on the Marine Conservation Board, when in four years he was unable to bring ANY amendments to the Marine Conservation Law, and he voted for the first piece of UDP legislation moved by none other than Juliana O'Connor Connolly to remove the requirements that persons have knowledge in some area as a specific requirement to sitting on boards.
If JuJu has anything to do with it then I suspect the worst. It wouldn't surprise me if she (as a last hurrah) packed the Marine Conservation Board with like-minded people who would remove the requirements for any marine park areas in Cayman Brac, and overturn the ban of grouper fishing.
No messing around with the constitution till there's a new government!!
I dont abuse or suppor tabuse of marien environs, BUT, after being impotent so many years, why is the DOE suddenly "empowered" to protect the N. Sound.. WHo has a special interest in this area??
The Brackers are right to stand up!!
Thank you Mr. Solomon for the Law that will allow people to donate their organs to save hose they love.
May God Bless you.
He could donate his brain, what little there is, and still be a UDP candidate for George Town.
His brain is brand spanking new, its never been used.
It certainly has been used to promote a law that will save lives. That's more than a lot others in the LA can say.
Listen his continued and stubborn support for the UDP and disgraced ex-Premier Bush tell us everything we need to know, he has already lost his seat in GT and he will never get a 2nd chance from us voters. He is also guilty of being a surly miserable useless excuse of a Politician and needs to grow a persponality.
P.S. the Malcolm X glasses do nothing to make him look any more intelligent.
I know he would consider donating his heart if all Caymanians could be united, as opposed to some who still acting like crabs. Admit it, saving a life is important and he is the only MLA who cared enough to do it.
Clearly Mr. Soomon forgot to tell you that you can do this already. People make private donations 'to save those they love' all the time. The problem is having the facilities to do it on-island.
Better ask Mr. Solomon if his new law will allow pig heart vlaves and other, newer, cross-species transplants as well?
Please be honest; it won't hurt. If the law allowed something that was already permissible legal would have already said so.
Please feel free to refuse a pig heart transplant if you should ever have the need for one. They have been saving peoples lives for years and are not new or experimental operations anymore. In many cases it is a better option to mechanical valves. I know some people have unfounded prejudices thinking it will make people grow curly tails or start oinking but in fact there is no truth to that. Those who feel that way are free to refuse the option, but do not deny that live saving opportunity to others.
I know. Thats why I used the pig valve as an example. What I don't know is ifthe new law will allow it. Do you? (The problem here is transparency and public involvement & input in thelegislative process. Some laws have it, others, not so much.)