TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 107

leader of the Elected Members, the Governor and the Financial Secr

etary (formerly the Chief Secretary) are both in a difficult position. The latter is the leader government business in the

Assembly, with a minority of three ex officio official members.

The Governor has several roles: first, as

President of the

Legislative Assembly; second as Chairman of the Executive Council; and third, as "Head of State". There is a tendency to treat him like a "President" in the USA constitutional sense perhaps because of the closeness to the USA. The Governor has a real "binding" role in the community and must watch for opportunities both public and private, in this regard. [In the absence of a Chief Minister, the Governor regularly has to deal bilaterally with each of the four Elected Members of Executive Council which is time consuming and must be delicately handled.] The distribution of work in, allocation of, portfolios, is delicate and vital; again,

a role for a Prime Minister, which Cayman does not have.

and

usually

The Governor is looked on as ultimately responsible for just

about anything, and there is a common belief that any person has a right of access; this is much used. People tend to regard the Governor as responsible for major issues, leaving district issues. to the Elected Members. This can result in a tricky position where Governor is "appealed" to by individuals or groups of people against the decisions of the Elected Members.

The Governor has to watch his step carefully, not being used

as a lever by one group against another, while yet restraining the

politicians in a majority when they are set in an undesirable

direction; has to help the Financial Secretary protect the Tenders

Committee against political interference; has to deal with the

usual range of loonies and bores and hopeless cases; and has all

the time to watch the delicate relationship of the UK Government

with a

a country which is proud of the link with the Crown and of being a Colony but doesn't much like being called one. They are sensitive to their "undeveloped" constitutional position compared

with other Caribbean territories, and one regularly hears visiting

Jamaicans, for example, giving unwanted advice on constitutional

advance! There is a (small) number of people who want power (for

themselves) in Caymanian hands and resent the "imposition" of a

nonCaymanian Governor on them by the UK Government, and resent

Official Executive Council/Legislative Assembly Members. Colour

is not an apparent problem, but

but it does lie underneath what are

generally very good community relations.

/The