Premier presses for parliamentary independence

| 15/11/2013

(CNS): The country’s seat of democracy is still controlled by the deputy governor’s office, but Premier Alden McLaughlin believes that needs to change and is pressing for the independence of the Legislative Assembly from the administrative arm of government. Speaking at a special seminar organised by the local branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) designed to help MLAs better understand parliamentary procedure and rules at the Legislative Assembly, McLaughlin said that the Standing Orders, the regulations that govern the procedures, need to be modernised. The seminar offered an opportunity for MLAs to discuss making the LA an autonomous body and removing the direct link to the civil service. 

Ezzard Miller, the independent member for North Side, said that the three elements of government — the parliament that makes the laws, the civil service which implements them and the judiciary which upholds them — had to function independently and separately from each other, so it was wrong for the executive arm of government to control the management and budget of the legislature.

The members of the LA were offered presentations from local attorney Steve McField, and overseas contributors included Speaker of the Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives, Wade Mark; Speaker of Bermuda’s House of Assembly, Randolph Horton; Speaker of Dominica’s House of Representatives, Alix Boyd-Knight; and Clerk of Jamaica’s Houses of Parliament, Heather Cooke.

Cayman’s own speaker, Julianna O’Connor Connolly, also took part in the presentations. Senior MLAs provided tips and assistance to the new members, adding value to the discussions and debates emanating from the proceedings.

The CPA Secretariat’s Assistant Director of Communications and Research, Arlene Bussette, summed up the purpose of the two-day session. She said the core CPA programme aims to build capacity in newly elected MLAs to help them meet their democratic duties effectively and efficiently, while also serving as a refresher course for returning parliamentarians.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Then who would hold them accountable?   Who would keep the already rampant corruption and incompetence from taking over the rest of the island?  Exactly!  Prove that there is a chance you guys can actually do the job and stop wasting time on foolish little boy whims.

    • Anonymous says:

      Alden may as well – the DGov's office is impotent in any meaningful matters anyways…and the Chief Officers are mostly busy creating their own personal lil fifedoms!

  2. Anonymous says:

    News Headlines: Cayman Islands ranked as pooerest islands in Caribbean Region since becoming Independent.  I hope the Caymanian people relialize what he is truly aiming for!!! And put a stop to him…

    • Anonymous says:

      Try to at least understand what is being discussed before you comment. Ignorance causes all sorts of unnecessary confusion.

    • Anonymous says:

      Now that is an idiotic comment. That is not how a territory becomes independent, idiot.   

  3. Anonymous says:

    How about complete seperation and aim for independence…I mean complete sovereignty from Britain? 

  4. Pliny the Meddler says:

    Now THIS is what Alden loves best! Immersing himself in the intricacies of parlimentary procedure.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Separation of powers is not an integral part of Westminster style parliamentary democracy.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who cares? This is not really awestminster style parliamentary democracy. It's like a council.