A popular hymn, written in 1866 by Katherine Hankey (my late mother’s favourite), is “Tell Me the Old, Old Story”. Here in Cayman a similar song is called “Tell Me the SAME Old Story.” Whenever we get near a General Election we hear that SAME OLD song. “Transparency”, “open Government”, “Freedom of Information”, “We’re here to serve you.” What absolute poppycock! It has never happened and I’m afraid it never will. What does irk is when it is in everyone’s interest, except a few people in power, to keep the people of the Cayman Islands, informed it doesn’t happen – or the information to be given out is delayed and delayed.

A case in point is the review of Britain’s relationship with the overseas territories and how our premier has handled it. Hon. McKeeva Bush knew about the required public consultation in March and did not announce it until October. Why? There has to be a reason. The membership committee’s formation was executed BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! The matter was not even brought to the Legislative Assembly (LA) for debate. Now there is a mad rush to conduct the meetings and as Opposition leader, Alden McLaughlin, has said, “People do not have the opportunity to understand the issues that matter, never mind go on to make a constructive contribution. People are being deprived of a proper opportunity to make representations.”

Another good point he made was “the direct contributions being made on the FCO’s website would allow for anyone to comment about Cayman even if they did not live here, which may give a false picture of the view of the Cayman people.” The premier will be presenting Cayman’s input on the new paper in London later this month but the MLA’s have warned that the public will have no idea what that position is until after the event.

Now we have Jennifer Dilbert, the Cayman Islands Information Commissioner, announcing she is still waiting on the outcome of the Legislative Assembly’s review of the Freedom of Information Law (FIL) and despite her requests the committee have refused to reveal any of the public input it has received. Did you read that correctly? “The committee have refused to reveal any of the public input it has received.” The committee Mrs. Dilbert is referring to was created 18 months ago comprising the whole LA to review the FIL. 18 months ago Mrs. Dilbert submitted her recommendations to the committee MORE THAN A YEAR AGO!

Of course there is a reason given for their refusal to provide her with the requested information. The sub-committee (aha – a  SUB committee) declined to do it “indicating that they would prefer to wait until they have completed their review of the FOI Law before releasing any information which they are considering during their review.” They have already had OVER A YEAR!

George Town MLA, Ellio Solomon, campaigned vigorously since 2001 for more transparency in Government including providing more information in a timely fashion as the “people have a right to know.”  He even had a political website, CayPolitics.com dedicated to this very topic, a “place to educate and provide a forum to discuss important issues.” He joined Rooster 101 FM in 2006 and co-hosted the popular radio talk show “Cayman Crosstalk”. He consistently panned the PPM Government of the day for not being open and keeping the general public in the dark. He was elected an MLA because many people believed he meant what he said. He is a member of the backbench and secretary of the ruling UDP Government. A government that is the most secretive of any administration I have known in the thirty years I have lived here.

Any government in happier times needs the people on their side. When things are going smoothly we are a little more laid backed. We don’t ask so many questions, perhaps because we don’t really care to know. Don’t rock the boat. However, when McKeeva Bush was a backbencher he queried everything. He did not sit quiet. He accused every government he did not support of not informing the people. Mr. Solomon often repeated Mr. Bush’s very words. Mr. Solomon announced recently he is proud to be a member of the UDP. Is he not listening to the people? The very people who elected him?

Will anyone now believe a candidate in an upcoming election who tells me the old, old story?