Patrick Manning, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, has set 2011 as the target for economic integration in his proposed Caribbean federation. Why would he chose a date a mere three years from now, which seems ridiculous if not irresponsible? The answer is, because he thinks like an ambitious politician. As pointed out, none of the [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Independence'
Small Country Blues
August 28th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Independence
The PLP’s marketing of independence avoids the plain facts that minuscule countries have a hard time going it alone. Local enthusiasts wishfully say that Caricom solidarity or some new island federation might overcome that size disadvantage. The local media has not covered the radical moves that some island states in the Caribbean are currently proposing [...]
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UK Foreign Affairs Committee on Bermuda
July 5th, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics, Independence, Reform, Transparency
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 [...]
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Rafferandum III
June 30th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Independence
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 [...]
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Rafferandum II
June 30th, 2008 · Comments Off · Independence
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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Rafferandum
June 28th, 2008 · Comments Off · Independence
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 clarify [...]
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Cayman Reform
May 23rd, 2008 · Comments Off · Accountability, Bermuda Politics, Independence, Transparency
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. The [...]
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Get the Hint?
April 10th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Independence
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 [...]
Tags:Independence
Clear As Mud
April 2nd, 2008 · Comments Off · Independence
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 [...]
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Answering to the People
February 26th, 2008 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Independence
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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