SBC3- SELF- SUFFICIENCY,
DETERMINATION AND GOVERNANCE
Hon. William McKeeva Bush, Cayman Islands, contributing to the debate.
initiatives with an acknowledgement that the country will continue on improving the situation by “evolution”. Mr Singer concluded his
presentation with “on the Isle of Man, we have no independence day, we have always had a government, and there was never a magic moment. We achieved our position by gradual change and potent argument. We would not have been where we are now by revolution.”
The discussion
Connétable John Refault and Deputy Roy Le Herissier, Jersey, welcomed and supported the presentations by the discussion leaders, and questioned whether it would be detrimental for their respective countries to follow the independence route?
Hon. James Netto, MP, Gibraltar related to the challenges faced by the Falkland Islands, given its experience of a hostile neighbour disregarding/ ignoring the Treaties entered into. The question of “who owns the land” is a debate that has undermined democracy.
He pointed out that all were seeking change and improvement for their respective countries and to have powers and control of their destiny. He called however for a gradual evolution which enables stability, or by other means, namely a revolution. To adhere to the former means an exchange of dialogue and peaceful but robust questioning of policies and plans discussed in public and social media that can draw government into discussion on true reform and change.
The latter consists of manning the barricades where often extremism comes to the fore in order to enable democracy and change dirty words. He asked which of these two scenarios were more likely to bring self determination and
self governance followed by self sufficiency. The violent revolution had the potential to bring its own need for power and control resulting in further violence creating a vicious circle of regression and recrimination. On self-sufficiency there have been great developments namely because of the country’s stability, no corruption, a sufficient food production, free education and health services, a supportive social care and a benefits system. The present challenge is to make these services sustainable moving into the future. The Isle of Man spends time supporting small countries develop their democratic foundations, and welcomes officers from developing countries on study visits. Officers have come from: Kenya; Turks and
322 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four
Caicos Islands; and Tristan Da Cunha. In addition, the Isle of Man has also provided Guernsey, Alderney and Gibraltar with their Hansard reports. With Tynwald Parliament using voice recognition for producing its Hansard reports, it is one of the few countries in the world that has developed such a system.
The country contributes £300,000 annually into a Small Countries conference with 24 delegates attending from around the world. It is achieved with the view of introducing effective parliamentary procedures and internal audit within their own countries using the Isle of Man’s experience and knowledge gained from the development of its own government system. There is an intention to continue with these
Mr Tom Duncan, ACT, asked how discussion leaders’ respective countries managed to secure endorsement from organizations such as OECD, in relation to self- determination and self-governance. Panelists responded that the OECD carried out an inspection, and one that was transparent. Mr Singer extended an invitation to members of fellow Small Branches to the Isle of Man to understand the manner in which they worked.
Hon. William McKeeva Bush, JP, MLA, Cayman Islands, remained sceptical on whether there was such a thing as self-determination, but pointed out that the UN was adamant it is attainable as per the “will of the people”. In response,
Mr Edwards emphasized that self- determination should be premised on the will of the people as opposed to the interest which could be determined by outsiders. Mr McKeeva Bush stated that the Cayman Islands has never being given opportunities to control its own investments that
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