Portfolio Of Legal Affairs
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, 09 July 2006
Contact: Bina Mani
Direct line: (345) 244-1758
Tel: (345) 949-8092
Fax: (345) 949-5936, 946-0664
E-mail address: Bina.Mani@gov.ky
Official Government Website: www.gov.ky
Law Reform Commission Gets New Appointees
The Law Reform Commission has enhanced its considerable expertise through the services of two legal luminaries.
Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr Langston Sibblies as chairman on 18 July. Mr Sibblies, who has been a commission member for more than a year, is the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority's general legal counsel.
Cabinet also approved the appointment of Mr Ian Paget-Brown of Paget-Brown & Company as a commissioner.
The Law Reform Commission was established by the Attorney General, the Hon. Samuel Bulgin, QC, to facilitate lawmaking. "The Cayman Islands is extremely privileged to have Mr Sibblies and Mr Paget-Brown serve in these capacities," Mr Bulgin said.
Describing Mr Sibblies and Mr Paget-Brown as legal luminaries, the Attorney General noted that they have practised law for a combined total of more than 60 years in several jurisdictions, including Canada, the UK and Cayman.
Mr Sibblies was educated in law in Jamaica and Canada. Previous posts in the public sector include crown counsel (Cayman), senior crown counsel (British Virgin Islands), legislative policy counsel (Ontario), and director of public prosecutions (Grenada).
In the private sector, he has worked as a law editor with a leading Canadian tax and business law publisher, and practised as a private lawyer in Jamaica and Toronto.
"I am honoured to have been asked by the Attorney General and the Cabinet to take on the role of chairman at this time," said Mr. Sibblies of his appointment. He would "endeavour to build on and continue the good work that the commission has done since its existence," he added.
The post of commission chairman had been vacant since the 28 April retirement of Mr Nigel Clifford, QC. Mr Clifford headed the commission since its inception in 2005.
Mr Paget-Brown, who has practised law in Cayman for nearly 35 years, was educated in law in the UK and the US. He now divides his time between Cayman and the US, working in the areas of company and banking law (including insolvency); trusts; civil litigation; anti-money laundering and terrorist financing controls; and regulatory laws.
His appointment to the commission, which he terms an "honour," provides an opportunity to develop laws "with the benefit of consultation, to the highest standards," he commented.
The commission's other members are Solicitor General Cheryll Richards; Mr Andrew Jones, QC; and Ms Eileen Nervik.
Law Reform Commission Law
Legislation to amend the Law Reform Commission Law (2005) is underway.
Cabinet has approved an amending bill to the Law Reform Commission Law (2005), which includes consolidating the role of the commission. Other outcomes envisaged in the bill are making provision for the appointment of a temporary chairman, by members present at a meeting; the giving of notice for meetings; and for the validation of proceedings of the commission, in the event of any vacancy among the members.
When enacted, the bill would also allow for additional commissioners to be appointed, "further broadening the representations on the commission," explains the Hon. Attorney General, Mr Samuel Bulgin, QC.
The office of the Law Reform Commission is a secretariat, and provides more than just administrative services. The bill seeks to fully explain its functions, Mr Bulgin adds.
Sidebars:
Legal Counsel Appointed
The commission’s new legal counsel, Ms Fikile Dlamini, took office on 18 April this year. She comes to Cayman after completing a two-year stint in the British Virgin Islands.
An attorney-at-law for more than 25 years, Ms Dlamini has also practised in her native Swaziland and St. Lucia. She says she is “very excited” about the commission’s work, and is thankful for the opportunity to make a contribution.
She adds, “My job pulls together my experience from things I have done in the past, yet reaches into a number of new and interesting challenges.”
Law Reform Commission Law
Legislation to amend the Law Reform Commission Law (2005) is underway.
Cabinet has approved an amending bill to the Law Reform Commission Law (2005), which includes consolidating the role of the commission. Other outcomes envisaged in the bill are making provision for the appointment of a temporary chairman, by members present at a meeting; the giving of notice for meetings; and for the validation of proceedings of the commission, in the event of any vacancy among the members.
When enacted, the bill would also allow for additional commissioners to be appointed, “further broadening the representations on the commission,” explains Ms Neblett.
The office of the Law Reform Commission is a secretariat, and provides more than just administrative services. The bill seeks to fully explain its functions, Ms Neblett adds.
(GIS)
Captions for photos supplied to GIS
Photo 1:
New chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Mr Langston Sibblies.
Photo: 2
Commission member Mr Ian Paget- Brown.
Photo 3
New legal counsel at the Law Reform Commission, Ms Fikile Dlamini.
