Statement by Leader of the Opposition: The opposition will not participate in Parliament

Statement by Hon Roy McTaggart, The Leader of the Opposition

The opposition will not participate in Parliament with Speaker Bush as presiding officer.

October 7th, 2022

Over the past week the entire country has witnessed first-hand what can be considered a government that has become increasingly desperate and heavy handed and willing to ignore proper procedure and rules.

We are concerned that the Speaker has resigned and is expecting to continue in the chair and is being enabled to do so by the Government. Regardless of any purportedly effective date the fact is that Mr Bush has resigned as Speaker and must demit the chair immediately and the Deputy Speaker sit as the presiding officer as required under section 4(1)(b) of the Standing Orders.

I would also add that not only have they banded together to prevent a motion of lack of confidence in the Speaker from being debated but they have done so on a false premise. This refusal of a valid motion is inexcusable and a violation of all democratic principles of Parliament.

I regret to say that under this Government we are rapidly becoming a ‘kangaroo parliament’. We take our oaths seriously when we swore to serve the people of the Cayman Islands in the House of Parliament. We would be abdicating our duty to the country to participate in the sham that today’s meeting of Parliament has become.