Premier Hosts First Collaborative Meeting with Cayman Oversight Commissions

Honorable Premier Andre Ebanks marked a significant milestone in Cayman Islands governance this week, holding his first official meeting with representatives from the Commission for Standards in Public Life, the Human Rights Commission, and the Constitutional Commission.

The discussions focused on identifying areas for enhanced progress in public service and governance. Premier Ebanks—who is responsible for advising the Governor on appointments to key constitutional commissions, committees, and councils—expressed his enthusiasm for working closely with these oversight bodies.

“It was a great pleasure this morning to meet with the Constitutional Commission and also the Human Rights Commission to talk about current issues and, most importantly, how we keep lines of communication open and dialogue, so that we can resolve things in the community and make our country stronger,” said Premier Ebanks.

Focus on Human Rights and Wellbeing

Reflecting on the meeting, Barrister Nicholas Dixie of the Human Rights Commission expressed cautious optimism about future joint initiatives—particularly regarding mental health and wellbeing projects, as well as reforms in the prison system.

“We were very, very pleased to have the opportunity to talk about many of the concerns that we have, in particular the mental health crisis in our prisons at the moment, and also the concerns we have in relation to the spouses of asylum seekers and their ability to work,” said Dixie.

Strengthening Constitutional Oversight

Lemuel Hurlston, Chairman of the Constitutional Commission, highlighted the candor and openness of the discussions.

“It was a very frank and useful discussion, and we look forward to having more of these in the future,” Hurlston said.

Observers and participants described the session as a constructive first step, with many anticipating that continued, regular communication and steady progress will be vital as the government and independent oversight bodies work together to further enhance good governance in the Cayman Islands.