Public Invited to Help Shape Reforms to Cayman’s Standards in Public Life Act

The Commission for Standards in Public Life is inviting public feedback on proposed changes to the Standards in Public Life Act through a short online survey.

The Commission for Standards in Public Life is inviting members of the public to have their say on proposed changes to Cayman’s Standards in Public Life Act through a newly launched online survey. The planned updates aim to strengthen Cayman’s already robust governance framework and promote even higher standards of ethical conduct in public service.

Commission Chairman Woody Foster said the body remains committed to upholding the principles of good governance and integrity across the public sector. He noted that while Cayman has a strong framework in place, there is a clear opportunity to modernise and enhance the Standards in Public Life Act to reflect evolving best practices. To support this work, the Commission has engaged former Auditor General, Sue Winspear, to assist in designing and delivering the proposed improvements.

A key responsibility of the Commission is administering the Register of Interests, which requires Persons in Public Life to file an annual return declaring their business interests, financial interests, land and property holdings, as well as any gifts, hospitality or potential conflicts of interest. At present, this Register is available for public inspection only by appointment at the Commissions Secretariat Office in George Town. One of the main questions in the consultation is whether this information should, in future, be made available online to increase accessibility and transparency.

Commenting on the consultation, Ms. Winspear said the Commission is keen to promote greater openness around the Register of Interests but recognises the need to strike a fair balance between public accountability and personal privacy. The survey therefore explores how best to provide meaningful transparency while safeguarding appropriate personal information.

The consultation also looks at the level of detail required in annual returns. The Commission is considering changes that would allow the Office of the Auditor General to use the Commission’s returns for audit purposes. Currently, Persons in Public Life complete two similar declarations each year, and the proposed reforms could streamline this process while improving the quality and usefulness of the data collected.

In addition, the Commission is seeking views on several possible enhancements to the regime, including whether information provided in returns should be capable of verification against other public service records, whether personal loans given or received should be declared, and whether mandatory training on ethical conduct and the responsibilities of public office should be introduced for all Persons in Public Life.

The consultation also touches on accountability for Members of Parliament. While the Commission is tasked with investigating alleged misconduct in public service, there are currently no formal sanctions or penalties that apply specifically to MPs due to the absence of a Parliamentary Code of Conduct. The Speaker, supported by the Commission, is working to introduce such a Code, and the survey asks the public whether sanctions should apply to MPs for breaches and, if so, what form those sanctions should take.

Mr. Foster said the survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete and encouraged broad participation from across the community. He emphasised that public input will directly inform the final shape of the legislation, which is designed to promote ethical behaviour and integrity across all areas of public life in the Cayman Islands.

Members of the public are urged to share their views and help strengthen Cayman’s governance framework by completing the online survey using the link or QR code provided in the public notice.

For more information about the Commission for Standards in Public Life and its work, visit: www.standardsinpubliclifecommission.ky.