BRYAN’S MOTION TO ‘UN-MASK’ WINS FULL PARLIAMENTARY BACKING

A spirit of cross-party unity that characterised recent sittings of the Cayman Islands Parliament was again demonstrated with the broad support of a motion brought by Hon. Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Kenneth Bryan, to restrict the wearing of face masks in public as an anti-crime measure.

Mr Bryan, who is also the Deputy Leader of the main opposition People’s Progressive Movement(PPM/Progressives), said ’masking-up’ in public by some persons, regardless of the purpose, has become a cause of anxiety for others.

“I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this motion. Let us stand and send a clear message that the Cayman Islands will not be a playground for masked criminals. We will protect our businesses, we will protect our residents, and we will restore the peace that our three islands deserve.”

Presenting a Private Member’s Motion, he urged the government to legislate against the practice. “Let us give the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service the legislative clarity that they need to challenge someone wearing a full face-mask in high-risk areas without a legitimate reason,” the George Town Central MP urged in tabling his motion.

‘UN-MASK’ THE CRIMINALS

The reaction was swift and extensive, with Government and Opposition members immediately rallying in support while also stressing the need for a balance between fighting crime and upholding individual rights.

Leading off the debate, Hon. Premier Andre Ebanks committed the government to following through with developing the relevant legislation, mindful, he said, of proportionality and human rights considerations.

“We agree with the foundation. We’re going to work with the Attorney General’s chambers to find a method and a manner in which to do this so that it’s not unnecessarily challenged. That will include consultation with the opposition.”

The Premier also stated, “But at the end of the day, I think that is broad agreement and support. The country is rejecting full face covering, which has some legitimate grounds because we do not feel safe.”

Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Gary Rutty: “This is long overdue…We need not only to make our people feel safe, but also our visitors who come to our shores…It’s a very balanced proposal that has been put forward.”

Hon. Minister for Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Jay Ebanks, observed: “This has become a serious problem. It has actually brought crime into the area…What are the fines for this? That is what we need to deep dive into, making sure it’s not just another slap on the wrist. We’re taking it very seriously.”

Hon. Minister for Health, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, acknowledged that in some instances there would be medical reasons for wearing a face mask. But she also raised the alarm about criminal activity, even in her constituency. “On behalf of the people of West Bay Central, we have been impacted by individuals who come into our constituency with those T-shirts around their faces and choose to rob the little wayside stores.”

Hon. Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, Nikolas DaCosta: “This is a very easy motion for me to support, as the Premier said, especially observing the emerging and constant behaviour of full-face coverings around this country. It’s unacceptable.” Pointing out that his Ministry of Home Affairs has made significant investments into CCTV systems for public safety, Mr DaCosta said, “All of that money goes to waste if we can’t even identify who’s frolicking and gallivanting around the streets.”

Hon. Minister for Social Development and Youth, Isaac Rankine, spoke of a direct link between some mask-wearing and crime. “We have seen this build-up, and there is obviously a direct link to mask-wearing and the increase in crimes that we’ve seen around the country.”

Hon. Parliamentary Secretary Julie Hunter noted that in many instances, the wearing of face masks is at best suspect. “I would say that a lot of people who walk around with face coverings are not doing it just for the sake of having on a face covering, but most times you associate that with something wrong that they want to do…and to cover up something that they’ve done that is not acceptable.”

Hon. Minister of Finance and Education, Rolston Anglin, appealed for broad deliberation in putting the legislation to ensure that it also safeguards individual rights. However, he added: “We don’t need anyone to tell us there is a definitive connection in masking up to commit crimes, certainly in fashions that otherwise would not have even been attempted…This not only poses a huge public risk. As has been mentioned, this is a culture that we want to stamp out.”

Hon. Independent MP for Bodden Town West, Chris Saunders, made this observation: “There are certain things that are very Caymanian, and  there are some things that are un-Caymanian…And the minute we start seeing these things chip away, at some point, it becomes the norm. And this is one of the things that should never become the norm.”

The motion was unanimously adopted and will now go to the Government to begin the process of consultation and drafting the legislation.