Topic: editorial board
EDITORIAL – Law passed, problem solved … Not even close
As written and approved, but never enforced, the law requires elected politicians, senior government workers and government-appointed board members to disclose publicly their personal interests as a means of identifying potential conflicts.
EDITORIAL – Tick-tock, tick-tock: The Brexit bomb gets closer
All of this, of course, is (or should be) of great interest to all of us in Cayman. After all, we are in the passenger seat (as are all the British territories) with these ambitious incompetents at the wheel.
EDITORIAL – EU ‘blacklists’: Raise the Cayman flag, not the white flag
We would challenge the Netherlands, or any of the countries named above, to subject themselves to the same level of intense scrutiny levied upon Cayman. They will never do it, which is prima facie evidence of the hypocrisy afoot in their pious proclamations.
EDITORIAL – Conservation Council: Once fanged and feared, now dormant and toothless
Although we do not believe that the interests of environmental advocates should be given equal standing with the wishes of citizens seeking to use or develop their own private property, we would defend the position that concerns about the environment are oftentimes valid and in need of thoughtful advocacy.
EDITORIAL – Lighting the path for Cayman’s young people
It is well-accepted that early intervention and positive behavioral supports can have life-changing effects on at-risk and troubled youths, helping to forge brighter individual futures and to reduce societal problems such as crime.
EDITORIAL – Construction on Seven Mile Beach: Is the sky the limit?
Skyscrapers on Grand Cayman? Back away from the ledge, and break out the smelling salts – envisioning future progress is not for the faint of heart.
EDITORIAL – No ‘Dutch treat’: Netherlands attacks Cayman via ‘blacklist’
By issuing a “blacklist” of 21 low-tax jurisdictions (including the Cayman Islands), the Netherlands has demonstrated that it is full of … well, call it “gall.”
EDITORIAL – Unwrapping government’s ‘Christmas gifts’
On a per-minute basis, this week’s sitting of the Legislative Assembly could be the most impactful gathering of lawmakers in Cayman Islands history. For better or worse.
EDITORIAL – Magistrate hits the mark on seriousness of illegal motorbiking
This particularly egregious case is a microcosm of the island’s serious issue of reckless motorbiking – behavior which is obnoxious, dangerous, illegal and, at its worst, a blatant display of disdain for police and disregard for the concepts of public safety and law and order.
EDITORIAL – Miss Universe: A crowning achievement
According to the Miss Universe organization, “The women who compete embody the modern, global aspiration for the potential within all women.”
EDITORIAL – ‘Barkers Park’ and principles of private property
In a small, capitalistic society such as the Cayman Islands, private property rights carry disproportionate importance, nearly to the point of sanctity.
EDITORIAL – 11th-hour scramble to push through ‘blacklist bills’
We draw no comfort from the ministry’s claims that the bills have been subjected to in-depth consultation with Cayman’s financial services industry, local regulators, the EU and OECD. Assuming those discussions took place, they took place behind closed doors – out of sight, and earshot, from either Cayman’s public or stakeholders who were not selected by the government for consultation.
EDITORIAL – Put us down for ‘being bullish’ on the Brac
The government is exploring the potential of constructing a cruise dock on Cayman Brac to boost tourism and, by extension, the economy on that island. It might very well be a port we could support.
EDITORIAL – When ‘less is more,’ but none is better
In recent weeks we have noticed, with a certain degree of satisfaction, that we have not been noticing certain nuisances around Grand Cayman that heretofore have been irritating us to no end.
EDITORIAL – Cayman Airways flies into its future on Boeing Max 8 wings
We made this flight just at the time when a rumor began circulating that the plane (too large) could not land at the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (too small). What better way to disprove that “fake news” than a smooth landing with plenty of runway left over?
EDITORIAL – A closer look at our country’s ‘foreclosure’ law
The Law Reform Commission is inviting public comment concerning several suggested modifications to the Cayman Islands’ “foreclosure” regime. Although as a rule we advocate for swiftness in government action, this particular subject – which concerns fundamental issues such as home ownership and private property rights – demands careful deliberation.
EDITORIAL – A second look at changes to gambling laws
Late last week, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin announced that government was calling “time out” on proposed amendments which would have drastically increased penalties for a wide variety of gambling-related crimes.
EDITORIAL – What tiny Sark can teach the Cayman Islands
Since its inception in early 2017, the Cayman Islands’ Utility Regulation and Competition Office, more commonly known as OfReg, has been defined by erratic policymaking, general ineptitude, threats of violence and the incomprehensible squandering of over-budget dollars.
EDITORIAL – Paying our respects to one of Cayman’s ‘Founding Fathers’
A well-lived life, such as that of Arthur Hunter’s, leaves an indelible impression on those fortunate enough to have shared the stage with such a man, if only too briefly.
EDITORIAL – Brexit proposal: EU’s final offer. May’s final stand
No one in the United Kingdom voted for a “soft Brexit,” the inedible concoction comprised of backroom deal-doing and anti-democratic compromise that is now being touted by Mrs. May and her supporters (who are abandoning her in droves).
EDITORIAL – A small gesture of goodwill for local charities
Even as our country’s charities ramp up their altruistic activities, Cayman’s lawmakers are bestowing upon the philanthropic community a (to be honest) rather modest gift.
EDITORIAL – Hello, ‘Jasmine’: A new name for a venerable charity
The angelic souls behind Jasmine (nee Cayman HospiceCare) unfailingly step forward to preserve clients’ dignity and provide comfort during their most vulnerable moments.
EDITORIAL – Christmas trees: Bugs or humbug?
This year, only 1,500 Christmas trees will be available for sale in Cayman, half the number of the previous year.
Something is clearly wrong here.
EDITORIAL – Hit and run: The latest assault on law enforcement
This dual degradation of the public’s respect for police, and the police’s relationship with the public, is an extremely troubling trend that if left unchecked, could and will erode the cultural cornerstone of law and order.
EDITORIAL – Another $4.53M in life support for CINICO
At this point it may seem somewhat obvious to observe that something is seriously wrong with Cayman’s healthcare system generally, and with Cayman’s public health insurer specifically.
EDITORIAL – Cayman’s cullers have invasive iguanas at bay
Two-and-a-half weeks into Grand Cayman’s “great green iguana cull,” local hunters had bagged 111,732 of the invasive reptiles, according to figures from the Department of Environment. That’s an impressive start toward the year-long target of 1 million iguanas.
EDITORIAL: The landfill saga continues – seemingly without end
The long wait continues, despite last year’s selection of a Dart group-led consortium to build and operate what officials like to call an “Integrated Solid Waste Management System” (or “ISWMS”) but what we’ll refer to as a “new landfill.”
EDITORIAL – When government despoils Cayman’s precious wetlands
To environmentalists and conservationists alike, there is no mission more sacred than protecting tropical wetlands, the incubator and habitat of many forms of life...
Mail call: Court records
Cayman’s court officials have again pushed back a launch date for digital records -- on online system that should make it easier for residents to follow what is happening in our courts.
EDITORIAL – Education 102: A ‘re-introduction’ to Cayman’s schools
In first world countries, this sort of information falls into the category of “old news” (or “not news”) because the figures typically are well-known and readily available to the public. In Cayman – well …. Suffice to say that our reporter Mark Muckenfuss put his phone book, Rolodex and records searching ability to good use.
EDITORIAL – Licking the government’s stamp duty issue
If there is one place on the planet that should have a simple tax structure, it is the Cayman Islands. So why are lawmakers considering adding more complexity to our country’s stamp duty regime on property purchases?
EDITORIAL – Pirates Week: Yo ho ho. Ready set go …
Ahoy readers! Steel yourselves for fireworks, food, music and – yar – an invasion of buccaneers and scurvy scallywags from near and abroad. Pirates Week, the national festival of the Cayman Islands, is upon us.
EDITORIAL – First days: Mulling the culling debut
What appears to be going on is the result of a less-than-clear instruction from Fred Burton, head of the DoE’s terrestrial resources unit and leader of the culling project.
EDITORIAL – The lights come back on at Government House
At the conclusion of what must have been a long and wearying day of traveling and ceremonies, the governor and his wife greeted with grace and kindness the crowds of inquisitive strangers.
EDITORIAL – Examining the Gambling Law: By the ‘numbers’
With our lockups bursting at the seams and court dockets crammed to the point of paralysis, the stated intention of lawmakers to toughen penalties for illegal (yet ubiquitous) gambling calls for careful scrutiny.
EDITORIAL – To Grand Cayman’s green iguana cullers: Happy (and safe) hunting
With the project set to begin officially on Monday at 8 a.m. sharp, it seems that officials have done their best to get all their administrative ducks in a row.
Next up: One million green iguanas.
EDITORIAL – The high cost of low-performing schools
The poor report on Clifton Hunter demonstrates the truism that, beyond an easy-to-discern level of sufficient investment (i.e. safe and comfortable facilities of adequate size), pouring additional resources into a school – whether it be in the form of sparkling buildings or new technologies – does little to improve the amount of learning that takes place within that school.
EDITORIAL – A ‘good news’ day in the Cayman Islands
Monday’s front page was not a deliberate attempt to inspire a rose-hued perspective about current events. It was, fortunately and refreshingly, an accurate reflection of the day’s news in these islands.
EDITORIAL – Godspeed and good tidings to Cayman National
Cayman National may rightfully be considered a community treasure by many, but it is also a publicly traded company with duties and fiduciary responsibilities to its shareholders.
EDITORIAL – Motorists snarl about event-related traffic snarls
Downtown drivers received an unwelcome surprise last Wednesday when blocked streets caused traffic headaches far surpassing even the usual evening gridlock.
The worst part is, the jam was entirely preventable.
EDITORIAL – Celebrating our academic champions
Our children’s future success will depend on their ability to compete in a global workforce which is highly skilled, technically proficient and based on continuous learning and improvement.
EDITORIAL – Seeking a new beginning for Sunrise Centre
A fundamental reason why humans organize into societies – and accordingly adhere to restrictive forces such as taxation, laws and governments – is to ensure, through the collective, protections and advantages that cannot be achieved by the individual.
EDITORIAL – Respect school buses, protect Cayman’s schoolchildren
Road Safety 101: When you see red flashing lights on a school bus, stop your car. There is no excuse not to.
EDITORIAL – CINICO CEO fired: Government’s ‘silent treatment’
The government’s cursory announcement of the firing of Lonny Tibbetts (after eight years’ leading CINICO) masquerades as information, but it is actually an insult – to the public’s intelligence, and to the public’s right to know.
EDITORIAL – A clear signal to government on errant internet plan
In perhaps what is a rare, even unique moment, four deeply competitive rivals are speaking in harmony on a highly technical subject that is crucial to the economic future of the Cayman Islands.
EDITORIAL – George Town landfill: Time to clear the air
Over the past two years, nearly 2 million pounds of trash have been intentionally incinerated at the George Town and Cayman Brac landfills, without the use of “scrubbers” – devices that remove toxins from the incinerators’ exhaust.
EDITORIAL – Invincible Investment: Tokyo takes on Seven Mile Beach
We do not know much about Invincible Investment Corporation, but we share at least one thing in common with the newest landlord on Seven Mile Beach: confidence in the strength of the Cayman Islands tourism sector.
EDITORIAL – Auditors unearth $2 million of problems at DEH
The recently released auditors’ report confirms three sources of stench within the Department of Environmental Health: the garbage accumulating on curbsides and in dumpsters; the department’s $2 million in overspending on overtime pay in the 2016/17 budget; and the public statements at the ministerial level that consistently downplayed departmental problems, even while internal auditors were discovering and reporting them.
EDITORIAL – Preventing plastic from despoiling our beaches
Full-time government beautification and cleanup crews would be able to keep Cayman’s persistent trash problems in check, yielding a pristine environment to be enjoyed by Cayman’s residents and visitors, alike
EDITORIAL – Needed: A report from our woman in Brussels
The reality is that international investing and commerce, which constitute the vast majority of what takes place in the financial sector in these islands, do not require a huge physical presence.
EDITORIAL – Seeing the world while working for government
We would argue that for a premier or governor to be successful and effective, much of their work is composed of marketing and public relations.
EDITORIAL – ‘Conspiracy of silence’ surrounding the Choudhury affair
If British officials believe last week’s two-sentence statement on the removal of the territory’s governor will be the final word in the story of Anwar Choudhury in the Cayman Islands, they are dreaming “happy dreams.”
EDITORIAL – Cruise pier: To be or not to be?
As readers can see for themselves, the “pro” and “con” sides differ on many aspects of the port proposal, but what everyone should agree on is that the cruise dock would constitute the single largest and most influential public works project in the history of Cayman, the impact of which will reverberate through the tourism sector and wider economy, far exceeding the capital cost of the project, whether that turns out to be $150 million, $200 million or more.
EDITORIAL – Health City demonstrates healthy progress
File the subject matter of today’s editorial – Health City Cayman Islands – under the heading of “good news.”
EDITORIAL – Britain vs. Cayman: A lack of transparency on financial transparency
The secretive row is indicative of – potentially an eroding relationship between country and colony – but at minimum an absolute breakdown of communications … between the FCO and our government, and between Mr. Toon’s agency and our watchdogs.
EDITORIAL – At OfReg: Dignity and decorum must be restored
Never let it be doubted: Mr. Pierson is a loyal patriot who deeply loves his country. It is for that very reason – love of country – that he must resign.
EDITORIAL – Now let us praise our scuba Hall of Fame inductees
As the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, and home to many of the world’s most outstanding dive sites, it is appropriate that our islands recognize and honor excellence and advances in the sport.
EDITORIAL – Comments policy: No ‘no names,’ no pen names
A growing, and we believe consequential, debate is taking place in the media world about the perils of publishing “anonymous submissions.”
EDITORIAL – ‘After Ivan’: Reflections on an anniversary
For the portion of our population who were not present when the hurricane hit, it is somewhat difficult to express (but nearly impossible to overstate) the impact that Ivan had on the physical landscape and societal fabric of this country.
EDITORIAL – Government’s spending, spending, spending plan
In recent weeks, days and even hours, we can’t help but observe what appears to be a significant expansion and growth of government that includes new infrastructure (building projects and building acquisitions), new agencies, and now even a new ministry.
EDITORIAL – Beach patrols respond to crime wave
Underneath their smiles, we expect our police to be tough – and to enforce the law.
EDITORIAL – Looking the hurricane season in the eye
If the world’s most accomplished hurricane prognosticators cannot even predict the likelihood of events expected in a mere matter of weeks, what faith ought we to have in predictions that extend to the next 50 to 100 years?
EDITORIAL – Bad things can happen to ‘NiCE’ programs
Like many in Cayman, we have spotted in recent days teams of NiCE workers at work alongside our highways, and, frankly, their efforts are making a noticeable difference.
EDITORIAL – Tick-tock goes the Choudhury clock: Where is our governor?
The longer this issue remains unresolved, the greater the reputational damage that continues to accrue – certainly to Governor Choudhury but also to the U.K. and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
EDITORIAL – Welcome to Denver: Cayman Airways’ gateway to the West
As Cayman is now the only Caribbean island with a direct route to Denver, we expect maiden flights to be booked next March with Mile High City families eager to experience life at (and below) sea level.
EDITORIAL – Water hazards: The perils of reckless ‘jet ski’ operators
Like their notorious counterparts on two wheels, antisocial operators of personal watercraft are turning Cayman’s coastlines into speedways, threatening lives and interfering with others on (and under) the water.
EDITORIAL – A no-compromise commitment to public education
No single student, or clusters of multiple students, should EVER be allowed to disrupt the education of an entire class. Toughness is called for here – “understanding” can come later.
EDITORIAL – More input sought on tourism plan: Here’s ours
Let us dare state what the report did not address (other than acknowledging its existence): This country has yet to resolve whether its future lies in being a high-end stay-over jurisdiction or a mass-market cruise ship destination.
EDITORIAL – Cayman’s aspiring chefs meet the culinary challenge
Congratulations to Cayman’s Youth Culinary teams, who represented our country admirably with their “Page One” performance at the Caribbean Junior Duelling Challenge in Barbados last weekend.
EDITORIAL – Replacing secrecy with transparency in government policy
Silence may be safe, it may be convenient, but it is not an acceptable strategy in a free and democratic society.
EDITORIAL – The iguana battle: Is Cayman facing a ‘cull-de-sac’?
Cayman has a serious problem that, frankly, it is not taking seriously at all.
EDITORIAL – Boxing Day: Sorry, not this year
The Bodden Town boxing gym has been KO’d without a single punch being thrown or a competitor entering the ring … which, of course, raises a serious question: Has anyone yet notified Manny?
