Vexed Bermoothes

The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs of the UK House of Commons has published their Seventh Report on the Overseas Territories.

It includes a wide variety of “housekeeping” suggestions regarding ways to improve governance in the Overseas Territories as well as to improve the UK’s relationship with them.
It includes a whirlwind tour of Bermuda’s dysfunctions including […]

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As noted here previously, the Government of the Cayman Islands is in the midst of a massive public consultation regarding modernisation of their Constitution.  The proposed draft was to have been put before Caymanians this summer, before taking it for a constitutional negotiation with the UK.
That plan is now changed, revealing some of the FCO’s […]

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More from the UK FCO on referenda last month:

As the 1999 White Paper pointed out, the United Kingdom’s policy towards the Overseas Territories rests on the basis that it is the people of each Territory who determine whether they wish to stay linked to the United Kingdom or not. The United Kingdom has no […]

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The Governor made his usual mystifying clarification this week on the means to adjudge public support for independence in an overseas territory:
While he offered a referendum as one option of gauging if Bermudians want to cut ties with the UK, he said that it was not the only one, though he did not […]

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For the last year, our friendly competition in the Cayman Islands have been engaged in a public discourse to update their Constitution. They have now released the draft proposals, which will go before a public referendum later this year.
They clearly have their eye - both in emulation and in correction - on Bermuda. […]

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Government has announced that October 13 will be a new public holiday for Bermuda National Heroes Day.
Starting in 2009, the 400th anniversary of Bermuda’s founding as a British settlement, Government will cut the traditional public holiday in June celebrating the Queen’s Birthday.
National Heroes Day will thereafter be celebrated on the second Monday in October.

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The UK FCO has repeatedly indicated that “a referendum is the preferred route” to independence by its Overseas Territories.
However, when pressed on the issue at a meeting in Cayman, Meg Munn provided a little more detail on their stance:
Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the Committee, asked whether an overseas territory would be granted independence […]

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The Cayman Islands is updating their 1972 Constitution. Their Government just announced that the new proposed Constitution will be put to a public referendum in May, following a rigorous public consultation.
The proposals include a clause that future constitutional amendments will require a majority vote in a national referendum. Other proposals include:

The ability for […]

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Earlier this week a senior British diplomat, Leigh Turner, said political independence is a matter entirely for the Overseas Territories, even as he said he would welcome some of them breaking ties with the United Kingdom.
I guess he’s met our Premier.
In response, the Caribbean’s top diplomat and CARICOM booster, Sir Ronald Sanders cautions that the […]

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Back in the 60s Bermuda led the way in constitutional reform among the British colonies.
Now, arguably, some of the laggards in that process have the opportunity to leapfrog Bermuda as they modernize their Constitution and Government.
The Cayman Islands is entering a process of constitutional reform. You can stay up-to-date at http://www.constitution.gov.ky.
Some refreshing thoughts:
We believe […]

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