What are the business interests of Cayman MPs?

Cayman’s politicians have ownership interests in businesses ranging from broadband and clean gas providers, through to condo ownerships and rentals, restaurants, power companies, real estate, tech and airport security, according to information from the Register of Interests for Members of Parliament.

The diverse portfolios – cutting across every sector of the Cayman Islands economy – were disclosed to the Standards in Public Life commission as part of the requirements for all public officials, including MPs.

Premier Wayne Panton lists ownership stakes in Infinity Broadband, which trades as C3 and Clean Gas Ltd as well as a number of less well known companies among his 10 company partnerships. He also lists interests in 16 different properties.

Moses Kirkconnell, the former deputy premier and tourism minister, has a stake in 11 different businesses, mostly on Cayman Brac, including condo rentals, real estate and property management and owns more than 20 properties, either personally or with others.

Former Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush lists a goat yard and a real estate firm on his declaration of interest form.

Housing minister Jay Ebanks cites a condo rental company as his only business interest, while new Minister for Labour and Border Control Dwayne Seymour has an interest in an airline security firm.

Health Minister Sabrina Turner is the only MP with no business interests, land or property ownership, other sources of income or loans listed on the Register of Interests, examined by the Cayman Compass for this article.

The register is supposed to be a complete record of all investments and liabilities for the islands’ MPs and is designed to ensure accountability and good governance. It also includes the business interests of spouses or adult children.

Transparency and accountability

Whenever a new road is planned, an energy contract considered or even when COVID supplies are ordered from overseas, questions are asked about who stands to benefit.

For that reason, MPs – and a host of other senior public officials – are required to file an annual declaration that includes all their business and property interests.

The point of the database is to achieve some transparency around possible conflicts of interest and prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption.

MPs are required to recuse themselves from decision making on issues which impact their own land or business interests. While the list is technically ‘public’, you won’t find it online.

Anyone who wants to review the declared business interests of their politicians must make an appointment and view the list manually.

Since 2020, the list has been in the hands of the Commission for Standards in Public Life, which has a remit to permit public inspections during working hours. And according to its originating legislation and regulations, it is an offence to take photocopies, photographs or any other electronic recording of the records.

Anyone inspecting the documents – on a laptop computer or in written form in lever-arch binders at the commission’s headquarters – is required to hand their cellphone over to a receptionist,

The Compass reviewed the list recently and made handwritten notes of the interests declared by the 19 current members of parliament, elected in 2021. It is the first time the full list of interests for this intake of MPs has been published. In some cases it was not clear wether the interest related to themselves or to a spouse or adult child. In cases where it was clear, we have specified.

Here is the full list of declared interests of elected representatives:

The Sunshine Project: In an effort to improve transparency and accountability in public life in Cayman, the Compass Issues section will periodically publish stories that help provide greater access to information about the business interests, spending and activities of public officials. If there is something you want us to dig into, email [email protected].