Sir Jeffrey Jowell, QC, the Cayman Islands Government’s former drafting adviser on the Cayman Islands 2009 Constitution Order, has filed an application for limited admission to the Cayman Islands bar to assist Education Minister Tara Rivers’s legal team.

Ms Rivers is fighting a challenge to her eligibility for public office.

West Bay political opponent, Velma Hewitt, who just missed out by coming fifth for the four available seats in the district at last’s May General Election, is challenging Ms Rivers eligibility for the seat she gained via her husband John Gordon Hewitt.

The petition filed by Mr. Hewitt through his local attorney, Steve McField, poses a list of questions including: “That Ms Rivers resided in the United Kingdom during the period 2 October 2006 to 30 May 2009? That Ms Rivers was employed to Allen & Overy, Allen & Overy Service Company Limited of No. 1 Bishops Square, London E1 6AD, UK, from 2 October 2006 to 30 May 2009? That Ms Rivers was not a resident in the Cayman Islands for the past seven years prior to 27 March 2013?”

Ms Rivers attended Toronto’s York University business school in 2001 gaining an MBA in 2004, followed by a law degree in 2005. She qualified as an attorney in both Ontario and New York in 2006. While qualifying in the UK, she worked for London-based Allen & Overy, which also has offices in Canada and New York. She qualified in the Cayman Islands in 2009, joining Conyers Dill & Pearman.

Sir Jeffrey is one of the leading authorities on public sector law in the United Kingdom and was here in Cayman for nearly a year between July 2007 and June 2008 advising the government on the drafting of the new constitution.

The petition challenging Ms Rivers is set to be held this Wednesday 17^th July.

See also iNews Cayman Editorial “The Editor Speaks: Disappointing and why now?” published June17th 2013 at: http://www.ieyenews.com/2013/06/the-editor-speaks-disappointing-and-why-now/

And

“UPDATE Tara Rivers’ election-win challenged – Hearing date set” published June 18^th 2013 at: http://www.ieyenews.com/2013/06/tara-rivers-election-win-challenged/