Hon. Samuel Bulgin QC, JP

Opening and Welcoming Remarks

Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

His Excellency the Governor,

Hon. Premier, Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Deputy Governor and Hon. Ministers of Cabinet, Hon. Leader of the Opposition and other Members of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Judges of the Grand Court, Colleague Attorneys General, Hon. Chief Magistrate and other Hon. Magistrates, Acting Solicitor General, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Cabinet Secretary, Commissioner of Police and Dep. Commissioners of Police, our distinguished delegation from the FCO led by Mr. Greg Reisman; Mr. Jason Carter from the US Dept. of Justice, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – Good morning.

I am understandably thrilled to be the host Attorney General and to welcome you to the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference.

A special welcome to fellow Attorneys General, and other visiting delegates from overseas! We have delegates from: Anguilla, BVI, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Jersey, Montserrat, St. Helena, Pitcairn, Turks & Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Welcome and we hope that in between discussing all the knotty issues on the agenda, you will find some time to get out and around to enjoy the beauty of our Islands, the warmth and hospitality of our people, and to indulge in some of Cayman’s sumptuous culinary delights.

I am understandably delighted to have you here and we look forward to navigating the myriad of issues reflected on the conference agenda and which are of common interest to our various jurisdictions.

Indeed, the annual conference of OTs Attorneys General, normally chaired by the AG/or SG of the UK, is an invaluable opportunity for us to exchange views and experiences, as well as to formulate and implement action plans that are of vital importance to the legal systems of our respective jurisdictions.

I am mindful that we are meeting at a time when the UK and our OTs are facing enormous challenges from domestic as well as international issues.

Issues to do with Brexit, the EU, OECD, FATF; as well as human rights, natural disasters, transnational organized crime and other antisocial behaviour, etc.

These are all matters that continue on a daily basis to engage the Chambers of all Attorneys General present at this conference.

But as often noted elsewhere, the conference also affords us a significant opportunity for forging mutual understanding and support among colleagues.

As we AGs are only too aware, it can often be a very demanding, lonely, and at times, an uncomfortable job. And it doesn’t get any less sensitive when AGs have to be the legal adviser for the Governor and simultaneously for the elected Representatives, especially if they do not see eye to eye on a particular issue. It can be very daunting. Perhaps, Sir Patrick Hastings, AG of the UK in 1925 said it best, when he commented: “being AG is my idea of hell.”

That notwithstanding, it is a very professionally rewarding and fulfilling role. One in which we are expected at all times to offer objective and professional legal advice to our various clients across government in a way that clearly delineates what is legally permissible and what is not. And to suggest or advise on ways to legally move forward, even if with less fanfare!

This is why we greatly appreciate our annual conferences where we can collectively share our experiences and challenges.

Additionally, the presence of colleague legal advisers from the UK FCO affords an invaluable opportunity for us to benefit from the UK’s guidance and perspectives. It also offers that direct source of support and soundings that may otherwise be purely aspirational.

In that view, allow me to pause here and offer apologies from Mr. Ian Hendry – FCO consultant on Constitutional Reform. This is the first time he is missing from one of these conferences and he greatly regrets not being able to attend and has asked me to offer his apologies.

In a related way, I must also note the presence of our colleague from the US DOJ, Mr. Jason Carter. Indeed, Representatives from USA and Canada DOJ have become regular participants at these conferences. The USA and Canada are two of our most important and strategic treaty partners in just about every sphere of Criminal Justice work, including Exchange of Information, extradition, restraint and forfeiture asset-sharing as well as other areas of International Cooperation. Their support is invaluable.

Ladies and Gentlemen – This allows me to segue nicely on to talk about the person who has constitutional responsibility for External Affairs, the Gentleman who is constitutionally charged with exercising executive authority in the Cayman Islands on behalf of Her Majesty, as is the case in the other OTs as well.

His Excellency the Governor is one of the AG’s principal clients and is therefore uniquely placed to be associated with this gathering.

Governor Martyn Roper, OBE, has recently been appointed as our Governor and has wasted no time in earning the trust and confidence of the Cayman Islands Government and people. He is unequivocal in his advocacy for the Rule of Law and good governance.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our Governor, His Excellency Mr. Martyn Roper will now bring you greetings.

______________________________________________________

The Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA, is serving his second term as Premier of these Islands. He is an Attorney by training, and likes to refer to himself as a retired lawyer. The Premier, along with the other Ministers of the Cabinet, are among some of the most important and demanding clients of an AG. But equally, they are some of the most supportive of the role we play as legal advisers.

The Premier is a very passionate proponent of constitutional modernization and good administration.

Please join me in welcoming the Hon. Premier to bring greetings.

Cayman Islands Premier’s Remarks at OTAG Annual Conference Opening

The Hon. Premier’s remarks at the opening ceremony are being uploaded to GIS YouTube Channel – please check out the link https://youtu.be/QuEgjptnQz0.