The Christian Association for Civics and Political Education (CACPE) in the Cayman Islands is making plans to take legal actions against the state in the event law is passed mandating that even non-Caymanians be vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to public relations officer, Kattina Anglin, the association believes that the law wishes to strong-arm people who want to live and work in The Caymans into getting vaccinated despite their religious beliefs and a lack of faith in the effectiveness of vaccines that were rushed to market.  

“We have promised we will support any legal action against whatever laws the government makes that forces the vaccination of so many citizens and residents of this country. It is against human rights and we don’t support it,” declared CACPE.

Anglin said that, while the law no longer covers mandatory vaccination for those with links to The Caymans, several local companies have requested that Cayman staff be vaccinated. This, she said, should be opposed on legal grounds.

A ‘Letter Before Action’ was sent out to Government officials by lawyers from KSG Attorneys-at-Law on September 7 on behalf of the CACPE, outlining objections to the bill, which also argued the discriminatory elements and contrary to the provisions of the Cayman Islands Bill of Rights.

“In the event that the Government does pass a law to this effect, our client gives notice that it will challenge the law through the judicial process, including the seeking of a declaration of incompatibility under section 23 of the Bill of Rights.”

“If in any legal proceeding’s primary legislation is found to be incompatible with this Part, the court must make a declaration recording that the legislation is incompatible with the relevant section or sections of the Bill of Rights and the nature of that incompatibility,” stated in Section 23 (1).

“A declaration of incompatibility made under subsection (1) shall not constitute repugnancy to this Order and shall not affect the continuation in force and operation of the legislation or section or sections in question,” Section 23 (1) continued.

Members of Parliament approved the Immigration (Transition) Act and the Customs Change and Border Control Act on (October 5). After two days of debate, several amendments were made by the committee, removing the requirement for Cayman children and dependents who register with the Caymans to be vaccinated.

During the debate, opposition members asked why the Government pushed the bill, with a shorter public consultation period, when they would likely be challenged in court.

The country’s attorney general, Samuel Bulgin, defended the legitimacy of the bills in the debate and said they were based on sound constitutional law.

The CACPE says it is wrong of the Government to go against human rights and “established medical principles” to impose medical care on any population. The association has begun raising money to employ lawyers to push back on the vaccine mandate.