CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
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"4.
(a)
Internal General"
Visit of Mr R F R Deare, Head of WIAD.
At the conclusion of an informal meeting with Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Governor was asked to withdraw as Members wished to raise a personal matter affecting the Governor. A petition was presented signed by the seven government Members requesting an extension of the Governor's tour of duty, due to expire on 31 May. The five other Members declined to sign, saying that it was an opportune time for change.
a post-elective political move probably
intimating that the opposition group is not prepared to toe the line on any proposals made by the Rodden group. The issue was not raised by any candidato in the elections.
At the meeting the Governor raised the question of capital punishment and the Speakership. Members reiterated that they wished to retain the death penalty as a deterrent. Mr Benson Ebanks said that all Members present knew although the general public did not that the death penalty would never be carried out. Members agreed that the Governor should continue to be Speaker, giving as their 534 reason that in a small community it was difficult to find a Caymanian
completely and apparently free of bias.
X
(e)
The Government has approved a salaries increase of 10% for the Civil Service effective from 1 January 1981. This is in accordance with a formula accepted both by government and the Civil Service, which was enumerated in the Hall Revision of Salaries at the beginning of 1980. This enunciates the principle that awards should not be automatic, but made only when the economy is buoyant enough to sustain them. 4% is given for the first 5% increase in the consumer price index and 3% for each additional 5% increase thereafter.
3.
A Bill is being taken to the Budget Meeting of the Legislative Assembly in February requiring the publishers of certain papers and handbills to print their name and address on the documents and making it an offence not to do so, or to distribute a paper not so endorsed. This is aimed at the underground paper "The Voice" which has not reappeared since the elections, It is not aimed at suppressing it, but would enable proceedings for libel to be brought more easily.
4.
The Budget Meeting of the Assembly, at which the annual Throne Speech will also be delivered, is likely to be a heated one with hard-hitting probes by the opposition and the government benches in vociferous defensive.
CC: MR Lett Esq.
Kingston
Yours Tom
T Russell GOVERNOR
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL