Referendum (Cruise Berthing Infrastructure, Gambling and Cannabis) Bill, 2024

Government bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Ports

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Gazetted
Published in the Gazette
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Introduced
31 January 2025
First appeared on the order paper
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Passed
6 February 2025
Third reading
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Enacted
20 February 2025
Act 1/2025
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In force
20 February 2025

What this law does

This bill sets up a national referendum in the Cayman Islands asking registered voters three yes/no questions: whether to develop cruise berthing infrastructure, whether to legalise a National Lottery, and whether to decriminalise possession and consumption of small amounts of cannabis. It establishes how the vote will be run, largely by applying existing election law, and provides that the Cabinet will set the voting date by gazette notice.

  • Holds a referendum on three questions: cruise berthing infrastructure, a National Lottery, and decriminalising small amounts of cannabis.
  • Gives each registered elector one vote, using the same eligibility rules as general elections.
  • Applies the Elections Act to the referendum with modifications, such as observers replacing candidates' agents and yes/no answers replacing candidate names.
  • Allows legal challenges to the vote count only through judicial review filed within six weeks, and charges the cost to general revenue.

Who it affects: registered electors in the Cayman Islands, Elections Office and returning officers, Cabinet and Government (who set the date and run the vote), tourism and cruise industry stakeholders, potential lottery operators and gambling-related businesses, individuals who use or possess cannabis

This summary is AI-generated from the official document and may contain errors; it is not legal advice. Always consult the source text below.

Official documents

Debated in Parliament

Hansard sittings whose records mention this law:

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