Topic: Alden McLaughlin
EDITORIAL – Do not dismiss the public in port discussions
Our primary concern is the decision-making process be transparent, with plenty of opportunity for public input on the plans.
Premier makes no guarantees over port referendum
Government will proceed with plans for a new cruise and cargo port in George Town harbour despite claims from campaigners that they have collected enough signatures to trigger a referendum on the project.
Public statement: Hurricanes — prepare for the worst and pray for the best
Each year as I prepare to work on this annual Hurricane message to you I do so with a certain amount of trepidation because as I put pen to paper, none of us knows what this hurricane season is going to bring.
What are the business interests of Cayman’s government officials?
A recent court case raised concerns about elected representatives' potential business interests with private citizens.
Premier congratulates new Opposition leader
Premier Alden McLaughlin released some details Friday of a letter of congratulations he sent to the new Leader of the Opposition, Arden McLean.
Cruise berthing facility recruits another benefactor
Cayman’s potential cruise berthing facility came one step closer to reality Wednesday, when Premier Alden McLaughlin announced that MSC Cruises has made a financial commitment to the project. Royal Caribbean, Disney and Carnival had previously signed on to help build the facility in George Town.
Landmark environmental legislation under review
A broad committee including developers, environment and tourism officials, legal experts and government leaders has been assembled to review the island’s National Conservation Law.
RCIPS unit to tackle money laundering
A new task force has been established to proactively investigate money laundering and terror financing in the Cayman Islands.
Governance change looming for schools
In his recent strategic policy statement to the Legislative Assembly, Premier Alden McLaughlin outlined a move to decentralise control away from the Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services.
Premier says investment in crime fighting has paid off
Investment in community policing is paying off, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Thursday. Highlighting a steep drop in the burglary rate, McLaughlin said his government’s decision to fund 75 new officers had helped police get crime under control.
Legislators clap back at premier’s ‘insult’
Opposition legislators issued a response Thursday to remarks made by Premier Alden McLaughlin about how groups of Independent candidates are not equipped to run the country.
New Bodden Town clinic to offer more services
There is, as of yet, no designated site, but a new and larger health clinic serving Bodden Town is expected to be under construction by 2021.
Premier: Independents not fit to lead
Premier Alden McLaughlin has highlighted division among the Opposition ranks as evidence that groups of Independent candidates are not equipped to run the country.
Decade-old disabilities study still not public
Premier Alden McLaughlin said during his Strategic Policy Statement this month that a new Sunrise Adult Training Centre will be built by early 2021, but government still has not released a study commissioned nearly 10 years ago on the special-needs facilities.
Premier rides for charity in Monaco
Premier Alden McLaughlin, on the invitation of Prince Albert of Monaco, cycled 87 miles from St. Tropez in France to Monaco on Sunday to help raise funds for charity.
Premier meets UK government officials
Premier Alden McLaughlin says he warned senior UK government about meddling in Cayman affairs during meetings he held in London this week.
Premier Alden McLaughlin travels to UK and Europe
Premier Alden McLaughlin is visiting London this week with Roy Tatum, head of the Premier’s Office, to continue talks with the United Kingdom government on issues affecting the Cayman Islands.
Strategic Policy Statement: A detailed look at premier’s long-term plans
In a lengthy speech Friday, Premier Alden McLaughlin outlined the broad strokes of government’s policy agenda through to the end of 2021.
Healthcare costs a ‘massive social issue’ warns Premier
Government is investigating a national health insurance system among a number of potential solutions to curb spiralling healthcare costs.
Government to appeal same-sex marriage ruling
Government plans to appeal the chief justice’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Wednesday.
BREAKING: Government to appeal same-sex marriage ruling
Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Wednesday that the Cayman Islands government had instructed the attorney general to appeal Chief Justice Anthony Smellie’s ruling that legalised same-sex marriage last week.
Prince opens ‘people’s airport’
“This is truly the people’s airport,” Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell declared as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall officially opened the new expanded terminal Wednesday.
Government to outline long-term budget plans
Government will present the broad strokes of its budget plan for 2020 and 2021 during the next session of the Legislative Assembly.
Dart tower plan sparks national debate
The idea of skyscrapers on Seven Mile Beach will be one of the options up for discussion as the Cayman Islands attempts to formulate a Development Plan for the future of the country.
Early arrival for new police helicopter
A new police helicopter will arrive in the Cayman Islands within days, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Governor Martyn Roper announced Wednesday.
EDITORIAL – Skyscrapers on Seven Mile Beach? It’s worth a look.
It is easy to get carried away by the idea: That Dart Enterprises will propose constructing a tower that would far and away be the tallest structure on Grand Cayman.
Dart plans ‘iconic tower’ for Cayman
Dart Enterprises is planning to build a tower that would “greatly exceed” Cayman’s current 10-story height limit on buildings, Premier Alden McLaughlin said at Thursday’s Cayman Economic Outlook conference.
Miller says Cayman not ready for independence
Opposition leader Ezzard Miller says he shares Premier Alden McLaughlin’s concerns about potential legislation that would grant British citizens the right to vote and hold elected office in its overseas territories, including the Cayman Islands. But Mr. Miller he does not think the threat of leaving British protection is a good strategy.
BVI voters choose new government
The former opposition Virgin Islands Party won eight of the 13 legislative seats in the British Virgin Islands during Monday’s elections, unseating a National Democratic Party that had controlled government there since 2011.
Chamber survey: Company profits grew in 2018
A survey of 160 businesses conducted by the Chamber of Commerce found that most of them increased their profits last year.
Cayman bracing for negative Financial Action Task Force review
A report on the Financial Action Task Force’s recent review of Cayman’s defenses against terrorist financing and money laundering will likely be released next month, and the results will not be positive, according to Premier Alden McLaughlin.
Premier: March 28 will be public holiday
Premier Alden McLaughlin has announced that March 28 will be a public holiday to mark the visit of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Canadian high commissioner visits from Jamaica
The High Commissioner of Canada based in Jamaica visited the Cayman Islands last week to meet with Canadians living here, as well as local officials.
EDITORIAL – Good news, good news: At last we have a ‘permanent’ governor
Governor Roper, as head of the civil service, holds the keys to setting us free from government’s overreaching and overbearing interference in our daily personal and professional lives.
Vestrymen, justices of the peace recognized at Heroes Day
More than 100 individuals and organizations who helped shape Cayman were recognized on a windy Monday morning Heroes Day ceremony.
Delegation promotes financial services
Premier Alden McLaughlin told the more than 150 attendees at the 6th Annual Cayman Finance New York Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday that Cayman remains bullish about the prospects of financial services business in the jurisdiction and that the country and government are gearing up to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the future.
Heroes Day celebrations to be held Monday
This year’s National Heroes Day celebration will be held in Heroes Square in downtown George Town on Monday, Jan. 28.
Police warn of scam using premier’s identity
The Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has received reports of an attempted scam using an account that impersonates Premier Alden McLaughlin. A similar scam recently targeted the identity of Cayman governor Martyn Roper.
Governor to accompany government officials at financial services meetings
Governor Martyn Roper is scheduled to travel to New York on Monday to attend a series of events with U.S. financial services associations, including Cayman Finance’s breakfast briefing on Tuesday.
Cayman delegation returns from ‘engagement’ tour of Europe
A Cayman government delegation finished a series of more than a dozen meetings in Belgium, France and Germany last week before heading to New York to attend the Cayman Finance Breakfast Seminar.
Cayman delegation meets with EU finance officials
Cayman politicians are meeting with officials in Brussels this week regarding Cayman’s future status in terms of how its tax laws are seen by the European Union.
Premier travels to United States and Europe to discuss new legislation
Premier Alden McLaughlin left the Cayman Islands on Wednesday to attend meetings in London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and New York to continue discussions about recently approved economic substance legislation and Cayman’s efforts to meet international standards for the financial services industry.
New Year’s message from the Premier
Fellow Caymanians and residents, Happy New Year!
Governor and family enjoy festive party
The governor and his wife enjoyed a festive Christmas party at Government House last week at their last official function of 2018.
Premier’s Christmas message
As we go through the year, the days and weeks can sometimes seem to stretch on forever, but by year’s end we often reflect that though the days and weeks may seem long, the years are indeed short.
Christmas boost for thousands of government workers
Thousands of workers are effectively getting a Christmas bonus with the news that government has sanctioned cost of living salary adjustments for the majority of statutory authorities and government companies.
UK agrees to new ministry
The U.K. government has formally agreed to Cayman’s plans of establishing a new Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, as well as a Cayman Islands Government Office in Hong Kong.
Renewable energy company disputes OfReg over pricing
The renewable energy company Cayman OTI released a statement on Thursday disputing the characterization by the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) that a proposed floating power plant in North Side would not produce energy at a reasonable price.
Premier responds to May confidence vote
Premier Alden McLaughlin issued a statement congratulating British Prime Minister Theresa May after she won a vote of confidence among her Conservative Party colleagues Wednesday evening in London.
Premier hosts London dinner
Past and present governors of the Cayman Islands attended a dinner hosted by Premier Alden McLaughlin in London last week.
Premier opens Joint Ministerial Council meeting in London
The two-day Joint Ministerial Council meeting between British Overseas Territories and the U.K. government began Tuesday at Lancaster House in London with welcome remarks from Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, as president of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association.
London trip kicks off with environmental workshop
Premier Alden McLaughlin hosted the first environmental workshop for the U.K. Overseas Territories Association on Monday, one of a series of meetings he and other government officials are having in London this week.
Premier: Cruise lines commit to help finance cruise berth facilities
While speaking at Friday’s ceremony to christen the newest jet of Cayman Airways, Premier Alden McLaughlin made a major announcement concerning another aspect of the tourism industry.
Premier leads delegation to London for constitutional talks
Premier Alden McLaughlin and a government delegation will leave Cayman Friday to attend a series of meetings in London that will involve discussions on constitutional issues.
Premier: OfReg was headed toward insolvency
After losing some $300,000 by the end of March, the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as OfReg, was on track to be insolvent by July before government injected $1 million into the territory’s regulator, Premier Alden McLaughlin said on Thursday in the Legislative Assembly.
FCO director makes rounds in Cayman
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office director for the overseas territories, Ben Merrick, visited Grand Cayman on Friday, for a full day of meetings with government and local officials.
Cayman delegation to meet UK officials on constitutional reform
Opposition politicians and government will present a united front in talks with British officials over proposed changes to Cayman’s constitution designed to protect the island’s right to make its own decisions on domestic matters.
Border control merger a ‘multi-year’ project
The merger of Immigration and Customs into a joint border control agency could take years to implement, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday.
Bill eases way for long-term residents to apply for PR
The Immigration Transition Bill seeks to remove a restriction that prevents residents who have been in the Cayman Islands for more than nine years from applying for permanent residence.
Government buys land for public park
Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Wednesday that government has purchased a plot of land known as Scranton Central Park for $272,500 as part of plans to enhance public park areas in the middle of George Town.
UCCI board pushes for salary increases for college staff
Public school teachers cheered in August this year when Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly announced a plan to increase their salaries over the next two years to a minimum of $5,000 per month.
Change in aid rules could help disaster relief
British Overseas Territories that suffer serious economic decline after a natural disaster could qualify for official development assistance under new international aid rules.
Busy first week for governor
The Cayman Islands’ new governor Martyn Roper touches down in the territory Monday morning, before a hectic first week of official engagements.
Premier welcomes governor in video call
Premier Alden McLaughlin said he is looking forward to working with the island’s new governor Martyn Roper after the pair spoke for the first time via video conference Tuesday.
Cayman seeks veto power over future Governor appointments
Incoming governor Martyn Roper could be the last head of state in the Cayman Islands to be unilaterally appointed by the U.K., if the islands’ government gets its way.
South Sound boardwalk faces more delays
Some two years after Premier Alden McLaughlin said that the South Sound boardwalk would be finished by the end of 2016, government has still not announced an expected completion date for the $1.3 million project.
MLA Bryan wants new meeting to air all views on port project
Independent MLA Kenneth Bryan, who represents George Town Central, said a Thursday night meeting on the pending cruise ship port project was meant to provide his constituents with relevant information and a forum where the future of the project could be discussed.
Cayman, UK resume crime-fighting cooperation
The U.K. and the Cayman Islands have reached an agreement that will allow the continued cooperation in the fight against money laundering and other crime under an agreement struck more than two years ago.
EDITORIAL – Insuring the future of our water sports
In 2006, a young Cabinet Minister by the name of Alden McLaughlin tabled in the Legislative Assembly a report titled “Safety of Small Commercial Waterborne Vessels.” The report, prepared by the Office of the Complaints Commissioner, noted some “exemplary operators” but concluded that in the absence of sufficient regulation, others fell far short of “acceptable standards” for equipment, operations and crew training, certification and knowledge.
Opposition, government clash over proposed Cayman National deal
As shareholders of local bank Cayman National Corporation Ltd. mull an offer by the Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago (Barbados) Ltd. to buy up to 74.99 percent of their shares, the territory’s opposition legislators are calling for the “repayment” of a $20 million “investment” government made into a former Cayman National subsidiary in 2005.
Premier meets with shipowners in Athens
Premier Alden McLaughlin traveled to Athens earlier this week to meet with Greek merchant ship owners and shipping industry representatives after his visit to the Monaco Yacht Show.
Telecoms companies oppose OfReg’s internet plan
In March, the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as OfReg, announced that it was launching a process that would result in high-speed internet services being made publicly available to every resident in the territory.
