Topic: Alden McLaughlin
Premier: No referendum needed on civil unions
No public vote on the acceptance of a legal status similar to marriage for same-sex couples is needed because the Progressives-led government has no intention of implementing such legislation, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Friday.
Premier fires back at Bridger
Premier Alden McLaughlin angrily responded in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday to a letter from former Operation Tempura senior investigating officer Martin Bridger, saying that it constituted “an attempt at blackmail and an attempt at extortion of the Cayman Islands Government.”
EDITORIAL – On the landfill: No plan, no timetable – and no money
There it is, at last, the white flag of surrender. The treacherous Mount Trashmore has claimed victory over yet another Cayman Islands government administration.
Premier: 33 people in Ready-2-Work
A government jobs program that pays private sector companies to “take a chance” on hiring unemployed Caymanians has nearly three dozen participants, Premier Alden McLaughlin said this week.
Premier: Gov’t supports medical uses for cannabis oil
Premier Alden McLaughlin has instructed government lawyers to draft legislation allowing local doctors to prescribe cannabis oil, which is derived from the marijuana plant, for medical purposes.
EDITORIAL – ‘Budget dining’: The Progessives’ fundraising affair
A good portion of politics is appearance. And this sort of thing just looks … well … like “insider trading” – where political insiders were encouraged to trade cash possibly for influence, certainly for information.
Bush says government fundraiser ’questionable’
Cayman Islands Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said it was “absolutely poor and questionable” for the premier to present details of the upcoming government budget to a $200-a-plate political party fundraiser at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Tuesday night, before the official release of the spending plan in the Legislative Assembly next week.
Premier: Three-year budget surplus is $399 million
The Cayman Islands public sector will end its current budget year with a $145 million operating surplus, Premier Alden McLaughlin told a private audience at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Tuesday night, noting that the total surplus over three years is $399 million.
Beneficial ownership: Government says US must sign first
The Cayman Islands will not adopt a mechanism for the exchange of beneficial ownership data that is not implemented by the United States.
EDITORIAL – Cayman’s upcoming brutal battle on beneficial ownership
In regard to the Cayman Islands’ stance on financial services transparency, there is no room for lack of clarity.
Cayman hasn’t committed to automatic sharing of ownership data
Contrary to international media reports and a press release from No. 10 Downing Street, the Cayman Islands government did not commit to the automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information prior to the Anti-Corruption Summit in London last week.
Premier wants ‘seat at table’ in talks
Addressing world leaders at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London on Thursday, Premier Alden McLaughlin defended Cayman’s anti-money laundering and tax avoidance regimes and called for a seat at the table in developing a new global standard on sharing information about who owns companies and trusts.
Cayman joins beneficial ownership initiative
The Cayman Islands will join a new United Kingdom-led initiative on developing a global standard for sharing information on ownership of companies and trusts, the Ministry of Financial Services announced Wednesday.
Cayman joins iniative for new ‘global standard’ on company ownership info
The Cayman Islands will join the United Kingdom’s effort to develop a new global standard for sharing information on the owners of companies and trusts, likely to include automatic exchange of ownership information, according to the Ministry of Financial Services.
EDITORIAL – Supporting our Cayman delegation in London
“Politics stops at the water’s edge” is the now-famous saying by Arthur Vandenburg, the former Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who called for a stop to partisan politics when international relations were concerned.
Premier, minister head to London as beneficial ownership deal unravels
The United Kingdom is seeking an agreement with other leading economic powers in western Europe – and elsewhere – that will lead to the automatic exchange of data on company and trust ownership information.
Cabinet ministers to approve their own ‘code of conduct’
An updated “code of conduct” for Cayman Islands government ministers – first considered three years ago – is expected to go to Cabinet members shortly for approval, which means the ministers themselves will approve rules for their own conduct.
Back-to-back legislative meetings expected
A marathon meeting of the Legislative Assembly that begins Wednesday is expected to take a few weeks to complete, putting the meeting’s end shortly before the government presents its next budget in late May.
In honor of the Queen’s birthday
Her Majesty the Queen turns 90 and nominations open for Queen's New Year Honours.
Strong turnout for Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge
Dignitaries and government officials joined nearly 200 participants from the Cayman Brac community for the 2016 Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge.
EDITORIAL – Democracy working as intended
The Speaker and the Premier are under no obligation to facilitate political grandstanding by minority MLAs eager to wrap themselves in the mantle of "parliamentary privilege."
Legislative meeting rules may be changed
Former West Bay lawmaker Benson Ebanks is often credited with describing parliamentary democracy in the Cayman Islands by stating: “the minority must have its say, but the majority will have its way.”
UK opposition slams Cayman for beneficial ownership ‘victory’
Speaking in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn Wednesday again criticized Prime Minister David Cameron and the new beneficial ownership agreement with Cayman announced this week.
‘No show’ may be a legislative first
Although Cayman political insiders said they were little surprised by government members skipping out on a meeting of their own parliament this week, it’s possible the “no show” for Wednesday’s meeting may be a first for the Cayman Islands.
Emergency legislative meeting fizzles, police motions not heard
Two attempts to hold a special emergency meeting of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly failed Wednesday after lawmakers were unable to obtain the requisite number of attendees either in the morning or the afternoon.
Premier: Gov’t will not agree to emergency meeting
Members of Cayman’s ruling government will not agree to attend an emergency meeting of the Legislative Assembly set for next week to debate two legislative motions related to the management and effectiveness of local law enforcement, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday.
Governor says Baines is owed payout
Outgoing Royal Cayman Islands Police Commissioner David Baines is due his final year’s pay and benefits – including more than $130,000 in salary – following his separation from the police service a year before the end of his contract, according to Governor Helen Kilpatrick’s office.
Police Commissioner Baines to leave post by end of May
Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick announced the departure of Royal Cayman Islands Police Commissioner David Baines by the end of May in a surprise public statement Tuesday afternoon.
EDITORIAL – Police and crime: ‘Lack of confidence’ – in lawmakers
“Lack of confidence” motions are serious parliamentary business. However, the particular motion being brought by independent and opposition lawmakers against Police Commissioner David Baines is not.
Amendment seeks healthcare coverage for retired House Speakers
Proposed legislation made public this week seeks to provide healthcare coverage for retired Speakers of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly who were not elected as members of the House when they served in that position.
Lawmakers told caucus makes government land sale decisions
An initial decision on which Cayman Islands government “surplus” properties would be put up for sale was made by the Progressives-led administration’s political caucus, a senior civil servant told lawmakers last week.
The road to Bodden Town’s proposed $200 million hotel
Work is under way to construct a new stretch of road adjacent to the site of a planned five-star resort in Beach Bay, Bodden Town.
EDITORIAL – Minister Archer on target with public debt
Because of Finance Minister Marco Archer’s attempts to guide the Cayman Islands government out of debt, local taxpayers have accumulated a new kind of debt — of gratitude.
Women’s rights treaty ratified for Cayman
After more than a decade of working toward the goal, the Cayman Islands government announced Tuesday that the United Nations would extend the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women – often referred to as CEDAW – to the Cayman Islands.
Cayman delegation attends swearing-in of new Jamaican PM
Among the dignitaries at the swearing in of Jamaica’s new prime minster, Andrew Holness, last week was Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin and Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush.
Bryan verdict adjourned
Kenneth Bryan, former political assistant to Premier Alden McLaughlin, may hear the verdict in his trial on Feb. 24, after the date was adjourned from earlier this month.
Minister Rivers calls for Hewitt bankruptcy
A late January filing in the Grand Court seeks to bankrupt West Bay’s John Gordon Hewitt and wife Velma Powery-Hewitt for failing to pay nearly $140,000 in costs to Education Minister Tara Rivers.
EDITORIAL – On tact and tactics: The premier’s lesson for Minister Rivers
The counterattack by Employment Minister Tara Rivers against the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce has revealed the existence of an information rift not only between herself and the business group, but also, apparently, between herself and Premier Alden McLaughlin.
EDITORIAL – Eric Bush: Our man in London
"Bittersweet" is how Premier Alden McLaughlin aptly described Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush's departure from the Cayman Islands to lead our government's London office.
Chief officer Bush takes London post
Senior Cayman Islands civil servant Eric Bush has been appointed to lead the government’s London office, a post he once had oversight responsibility for during the tumultuous tenure of former office chief Lord Blencathra.
Bush: Government has to operate
The formation of a coalition among Cayman’s disparate political opposition groups seems a remote possibility at this stage, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said this week.
EDITORIAL – Early elections: Cayman deserves clarity and certainty
Election time in the Cayman Islands is rapidly approaching. Just when it will arrive … that’s something we’re not so sure about. And it’s a major problem.
This close
Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran and Premier Alden McLaughlin indicate just how close the world is to eradicating polio, thanks to Rotary’s help.
EDITORIAL – The Chamber’s changing of the guard
Let us extend a welcoming hand to new Chamber of Commerce President Paul Pearson, and offer a congratulatory pat on the back to outgoing Chamber President Barry Bodden for a job well done.
Bare-bones government weighs options
With just nine members on the ruling government bench, the Progressives-led coalition was left to consider this week whether it would seek to muddle through the next 14 months via the slimmest of majorities or call for elections ahead of the usual May 2017 date.
Mixed reaction to BBC documentary
The BBC’s documentary on the Cayman Islands, “Britain’s Trillion Pound Island” showed off some of the island’s natural beauty to viewers in the U.K. But not everyone watching from Cayman, including some of the people featured in the show, were too impressed.
EDITORIAL – BBC program: A ‘trillion’ thumbs down
The recent BBC documentary on Cayman, "Britain's Trillion Pound Island," is a documentary insult and a journalistic mess.
Dr. Roy named as new national hero
Cayman’s newest national hero is the late Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart, a pioneering politician, businessman, dentist and philanthropist.
Premier Alden McLaughlin made the announcement at...
Premier: Wrong time for clock change
Government has walked back on plans to introduce Daylight Saving Time, saying it is not the right time for the change.
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who...
Canadian diplomat visits Cayman
Canada’s consul general to the Cayman Islands, Sylvain Fabi, made a courtesy visit to Cayman last week, to meet local officials, politicians and Canadian...
EDITORIAL – Ready2Work: Government’s latest ‘freebie’
We give the government credit for creativity, but we are skeptical that the newly announced “Ready2Work KY” program will succeed in addressing Caymanian unemployment.
Premier...
Minimum wage coming in six weeks
Government will introduce a $6-an-hour minimum wage on March 1, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced at the Cayman Economic Outlook conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand...
Brac airport veteran retires
Longtime Cayman Brac airport worker Daryl “Bud” Walton retired last week after nearly three decades.
Mr. Walton, officially the airport’s maintenance officer, was lauded Friday...
MLA Connolly leaves Progressives caucus, says he’s ‘not a politician’
George Town MLA Winston Connolly announced late Monday that he will no longer be a member of the Progressives political party caucus and is...
Government to pay wages in back-to-work project
Government will pay up to the first six months’ salary for new workers taken on by private businesses in a new back-to-work scheme for...
New courthouse closer to reality
Chief Justice Anthony Smellie announced on Wednesday the specific steps that have been taken to make a new courthouse a reality.
He was speaking at the formal opening of Grand Court for 2016 after a ceremonial inspection of a police guard of honor outdoors.
Brac hotel to reopen after face-lift
The Cayman Brac Beach Resort plans to hold its official grand opening on Friday, following four months of renovation work.
Pauline ‘Polly’ Tibbetts, 1927-2016
Polly Tibbetts passed away on January 4, 2016
Bush raises questions over vehicle licensing center
Cayman's opposition leader asks the governor to look into the construction of a vehicle licensing facility in Breakers.
Constitutional Commission: 9-member government bench possible
Cayman's Constitutional Commission weighs in on the Legislative Assembly numbers debate.
The shifting sands beneath the government’s feet
With about a year-and-a-half to go until the 2017 elections, the ground is once again trembling beneath Cayman’s elected government.
Cayman Brac’s oldest resident laid to rest
Myrtle Jane Brown, Cayman Brac’s oldest resident, passed away on Dec. 15, 2015. She was 101.
A month-by-month roundup of Cayman’s 2015 news stories
Top stories of 2015 in the Cayman Islands
How to address unemployment (Hint: Education)
Cayman’s unemployment problem is not the result of anti-Caymanian employers. It is a symptom of an underlying condition among large segments of our society.
Premier Alden McLaughlin: Suckoo, Eden departures ‘unfortunate’
Premier Alden McLaughlin has described as “unfortunate” the defection of a second backbench legislator to the opposition benches.
Unemployment PPM’s ‘Achilles’ heel’
Premier Alden McLaughlin has described Caymanian unemployment as the “Achilles’ heel” of his administration and called for a “sea change” in approach from the business community.
Alva Suckoo resigns from PPM
Bodden Town representative Alva Suckoo resigned from the ruling Progressives party Wednesday, saying he believed the country’s Christian foundations were “under attack”.
Top stories of 2015: One man, one vote approved
The approval of 'one man, one vote' in 2015 marked a "sea change" in Cayman Islands politics.
Top stories of 2015: The year of the report
The theme for government in 2015 may well have been “The Year of the
Report.” Ministers and civil servants have been going through a yearlong
review of the EY Report, which calls for numerous government reforms.
Top stories of 2015: Airport expansion in the works
Government broke ground in September on the $55-million expansion of Owen Roberts International Airport.
Editorial Year in Review Economic prosperity, education
Compass editorials in 2015 on economic prosperity and education.
Top stories of 2015: Bush, McLaughlin take legal action
Both Cayman's premier and opposition leader got litigious over the 2013 general election during 2015.
