🗳️ UPM government in disagreement over additional referendum questions

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan is advocating for the inclusion of more topics in the upcoming referendum planned by the UPM government. The referendum, which is expected to take place later this year, will primarily focus on the development of a cruise berthing pier in Cayman. Bryan, however, has expressed his desire to add questions about legalising gambling and cannabis to the ballot. Despite his efforts, Bryan has been unable to convince his UPM colleagues to expand the vote. 🚢

Bryan has blamed former premier Wayne Panton for not setting a referendum on the issues of a national lottery or decriminalising cannabis before he was removed from office. Bryan's stance on these issues has remained consistent, believing that the public should be involved in making such significant decisions. However, until there is a majority support in the caucus, the inclusion of these topics in the referendum is unlikely. The minister also clarified that he supports the decriminalisation, not legalisation, of cannabis, as he believes it should not be something that ruins people's lives. 🌿

Despite the lack of support from his colleagues, Bryan continues to push for a national lottery to stop criminalising people for buying a number. However, his efforts have been in vain as his colleagues do not agree. Bryan stated that without a majority of government officials agreeing, the issue cannot be included in the referendum. The minister also noted that while he understands the frustration of those advocating for legalisation, he believes people fully understand the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation. 🎰