Letter from the Parliamentary Relations
Team, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Second Clerk of the
Committee
FAC OVERSEAS TERRITORIES
INQUIRY: CAYMAN
ISLANDS
I am writing to update you on recent events
in the Cayman Islands which are relevant to your ongoing inquiry.
On 27 March the Governor announced that he had
sent three senior police officers (including the Commissioner)
on compulsory leave in the wake of an investigation into allegations
made against one of the Deputy Commissioners and a newspaper editor.
He confirmed that these allegations had been found to be false
following a covert investigation led by officers from the Metropolitan
Police. In the course of this investigation other matters emerged
which have led, after very careful consideration and legal advice,
to three officers being sent on compulsory leave pending further
enquires. An Acting Commissioner (also on attachment from the
Metropolitan Police) has been appointed.
The Governor has undertaken an extensive and
pre-planned series of briefing meetings to reassure both the general
public and wider international business community that the Cayman
Islands remains a safe, law-abiding country with an effective
police service. The Leader of Government Business has indicated
his support and the Governor has received endorsement of his actions
from all sections of the community.
By unfortunate coincidence the pre-planned publication
of the Commission of Enquiry Report happened the following day.
The Commissioner concluded that Charles Clifford, Minister for
Tourism, wrongly took official documents when he resigned from
the Public Service (although he commented that Mr Clifford's conduct
may be seen to be understandable having regard to the view of
some senior Cayman civil servants that this was acceptable practice),
and that he was not acting as a whistleblower but rather in pursuit
of his own political ambitions when he made these documents public.
He did not recommend taking any action against Mr Clifford, as
he found that the most commercially sensitive information was
not disclosed, the unauthorised disclosure did not cause any damage,
and the public did have a legitimate interest in the information
disclosed. He said that this information was of a kind that the
public would have a right of access to when the new Cayman Freedom
of Information Law came into force. While the Governor has confirmed
that he will take no further action against Mr Clifford, he said
publicly at the time of the report's release that Mr Clifford's
actions were regrettable and not in line with the standards expected
of public servants, and he has made this clear to Mr Clifford.
In addition, the Commissioner made several recommendations
aimed at improving the governance of the Cayman Islands, which
the Governor is reviewing with the Chief Secretary and the Attorney
General. We hope these will be swiftly implemented after, as appropriate,
consideration by Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly.
9 May 2008
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