(CNS): Ministers who cannot support the cabinet’s decisions have only one option: to resign, according to the cabinet manual, which was first released on Friday.This document was issued by the Central Planning Office bring the action coat decision This stems from conflict within the government over when the National Conservation Council can direct environmental protection to another government agency.
As of Monday afternoon, neither Minister Jay Ebanks, who heads the organizations involved, nor Prime Minister Wayne Panton had commented on the clash, which goes against the concept of collective responsibility, according to the manual. I think that the.
Members of the NCC and the Central Planning Office are appointed by relevant cabinet ministers, Pantone and Ebanks, with input from cabinet colleagues, and both committees are tasked with carrying out government policy. But when the CPA rejected a directive from the NCC under the National Conservation Act and her PACT government’s agreed sustainability policy to protect designated environmental areas from development, the NCC sought judicial review. I was.
The prime minister agreed to the appeal as a means of settling a dispute that had a lot to do with the interpretation of the law. However, the appeal decision has now left the CPA in a gray area politically, and the coincidental publication of a Cabinet Manual has raised further questions about this internal government debate over policy and the meaning of the law. is occurring.
The 26-page manual outlines the procedures for conducting government business, and it is the governor’s responsibility to ensure that ministers comply with the rules. Section 20.1 deals with the principle of joint responsibility. increase. NCC v CPA Bogey Sand Incident seems like a challenge.
“The Ministers shall be collectively responsible to Parliament for all matters for which they are responsible… jointly responsible for
Section 20.2 states:
Critical to the success and effectiveness of the ministerial system. ”
Once a policy is agreed, ministers must follow and support the decision, even if they personally disagree. “Cabinet members who cannot accept and support the decisions of the Cabinet have no choice but to resign. is obliged to take responsibility for its decisions.”
It is not clear how the policy on sustainability was agreed by the Cabinet, but sustainability is at the core of the PACT government’s broader policy, and the Nature Conservation Act is at the core of the prime minister’s ministry’s policy position. It is clear. of sustainability and climate resilience.
The manual also describes careful planning, good faith, and the Cabinet’s ‘no surprises’ approach. However, his CPA’s decision to appeal the court’s ruling appears to have been made public before it was notified to the prime minister’s ministry after the Treasury Department revealed that funding was available.
“Managing the internal political consultation process is essential for the proper functioning of the Cabinet. Ministers and officials should factor in the time required for consultations into their plans,” stated section 52.2 of the document. increase.
It covers a wide range of matters, including how ministers should be after elections and confidentiality obligations. This work was started in 2004 as an update to the guide on the operation of the Executive Council, valid since 1995. Classified as a restricted document, this guide was previously closed to the public. However, the PACT government has now replaced the 1995 guide and made the new Cabinet Manual a public document.
Governor Martyn Roper said completing and issuing the manual was an important step in strengthening and maintaining good governance in the Cayman Islands. Roper said in his constitutional role as chairman of the Cabinet, he would work closely with the Cabinet Office to ensure that all Cabinet-related affairs are conducted in accordance with the manual.
“This important step, coupled with the recent decision to publish summaries of Cabinet and National Security Council meetings, underscores the elected government’s continued commitment to transparency,” he said. A press release about the publication stated:
“This reinforces the Cayman Islands’ strong reputation as a mature, well-run, stable jurisdiction and governed by the rule of law. , is a sign of a healthy and thriving democracy and plays a key role in the Cayman Islands success story.”
Prime Minister Wayne Panton, who played a role in updating the document during his first term in the Cabinet from 2013 to 2017, said making the document public is a commitment to transparency and fulfilling a promise to the public. He said that it was
“Publishing the Ministerial Manual follows the approval of the Ministers and Ministerial Code of Conduct and the issuance of a summary of the weekly Ministerial Meetings, which remained secret before the PACT government,” he said. “These actions represent an unprecedented level of commitment to transparency and good governance.”
Mr Pantone added that he hoped Cayman Islands people would get more insight into the work of the Cabinet. The manual remains a working document that will be updated regularly as processes and procedures are improved, he added.
See the cabinet manual inside. central nervous system library.
