Topic: Ezzard Miller
Government: Long-dormant anti-corruption law a ‘priority’
Government officials promised Wednesday in a Public Accounts Committee hearing that government will soon reintroduce the long-dormant Standards of Public Life Law, a piece of legislation designed to prevent conflicts of interests in government.
Plans for Cayman kai spark debate over beach access
Plans for public toilets and a parking lot at a small public beach in Cayman Kai have been approved despite strong objections from neighboring residents.
Opposition plans ‘alliance’ ahead of 2021 election
The coalition of independents led by Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller plans to form a political group that will run a candidate in every constituency at the next general election.
New Year’s message from the Leader of the Opposition
As we count down to the new year, we once again have an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to recommit ourselves to goodwill, harmony and personal and shared responsibilities for the year ahead.
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.
Opposition leader’s Christmas message
From my family to yours, and from all the Members of the Opposition and their families, a merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.
Gas prices fall, but not as much as in U.S.
Gas prices reached a four-month low as of Monday, falling to an average of $4.76 per gallon, according to the latest data from the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg).
Cayman Airways new planes could add $10M to annual costs
Government is likely to have to inject significantly more cash into Cayman Airways to help fund the cost of its new fleet of aircraft at a time when the airline is suffering from falling revenues, legislators heard Thursday.
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.
Governor meets with Opposition
Cayman’s new governor, Martyn Roper, meets with members of the Opposition on Tuesday, his second day on the job.
DEH director’s settlement remains under wraps
Government has declined to reveal the details of any settlement with former director of Department of Environmental Health Roydell Carter after an open records request from the Cayman Compass.
EDITORIAL – Communication is key to an effective Opposition
In a parliamentary system, the Opposition provides a critical check on the ruling Government’s power – primarily by asking tough questions and providing dissenting viewpoints.
Opposition reacts to governor’s removal
The FCO disclosed that Mr. Choudhury would be continuing in a diplomatic post in London, from which, not incidentally, we can only infer that the “allegations” against the Governor could not have risen to any very serious level.
EDITORIAL – An easy call: Deal directly with the media
Decades ago, the editor in chief of “D” (Dallas) Magazine, who now holds the same title at the Compass (talk about a career stall), answered the phone at his desk. He regretted it immediately.
Government rejects calls for port referendum
Government rejected calls from the Opposition for a referendum to be held on the controversial cruise pier project after a lengthy debate in the Legislative Assembly that ran into the early hours of Friday morning.
Motion on cruise berth referendum defeated
A private member's motion calling for a referendum on the controversial cruise berthing project was voted down by government members after a lengthy debate in the Legislative Assembly.
Miller: Government faking integrity legislation
The Cayman Islands government’s efforts to maintain the integrity of public projects and hiring processes are “being ignored” by top-ranking officials, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller said Thursday in a lengthy public statement.
Light agenda for Cayman Brac Legislative Assembly session
A relatively light legislative agenda is expected when Cayman Islands lawmakers head to the Brac next week.
10 weeks pass, no word on governor
Wednesday, Aug. 22, marked 10 weeks since the announcement of the sudden, temporary removal of Governor Anwar Choudhury from his post without further explanation from U.K. officials.
Opposition calls for referendum on cruise project
Opposition politicians are calling for government to hold a public referendum on whether to proceed with the cruise pier project in George Town harbor.
EDITORIAL – Officials should ‘play ball’ with North Side parents
We support the community’s spirit and empathize with their impatience. There is no question that the students and community will benefit from the new football field and track, yet – thanks to government inaction – this relatively simple project has lain dormant for years.
PTA charges ahead with North Side school playfield
Parents of students at the Edna M. Moyle Primary School met with members of the PTA executive committee on Thursday night to hear about plans for developing the school playing field after MLA Ezzard Miller complained government had not earmarked any funds for the project.
Government officials express support for education changes
The Legislative Assembly appears to be lining up behind changes in the Cayman Islands education system being proposed by the Education Council and to tap into the budget surplus to pay for those changes. Both government and opposition leaders are expressing support.
UK Lord ‘hopes’ Governor Choudhury probe done soon
A litany of concerns related to the ongoing investigation involving absent Cayman Islands Governor Anwar Choudhury made public last week were not addressed in responses made by senior U.K. and Cayman officials Thursday.
Opposition questions ‘fairness’ of Gov. Choudhury investigation
Cayman Islands Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller has questioned whether the public spokesperson in the investigation of withdrawn Governor Anwar Choudhury – Head of the Governor’s Office Matthew Forbes – is the same person who filed complaints against the absent governor.
Memorandum from Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller
To His Excellency the Acting Governor: This is regarding your letter to editors of July 26, 2018, a copy of which the Governor’s Office emailed to me on the same date.
EDITORIAL – Let’s get the kids of North Side their ‘Field of Dreams’
It’s impossible to say with precision when the relationship between North Side representative Ezzard Miller and this newspaper began to deteriorate.
Miller: Government ‘making excuses’ on school playfield
Cayman’s opposition leader blasted the civil service Tuesday for “making up excuses” on a proposal to put artificial turf down on a section of field outside the North Side primary school – a project MLA Ezzard Miller said school parents and his constituent office have been working on for four years.
House Speaker blocks attempt to bring perjury charge against civil servant
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush on Wednesday blocked an attempt by political opposition members to bring a contempt of parliament action against government chief officer Jennifer Ahearn.
Letter – Celebrate values like courage and fairness
I saw Kirkland Nixon toe-to-toe with captains of industry and high-priced attorneys on fundamental principles, and on each occasion principle to him was like bedrock.
Manderson: Chief officer did not intentionally deceive PAC
Acting Governor Franz Manderson said there is “no basis” for taking disciplinary action against Health Ministry Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn for allegedly giving a false answer to the Public Accounts Committee last October.
Premier: UK orders on beneficial ownership will be fought in Cayman
If the United Kingdom decides to mandate a public beneficial ownership registry for Cayman companies, the Mother Country will face a legal challenge in the Cayman Islands courts, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday.
Government telecom licensees not paying fees
Some government entities that are licensed to provide telecommunications services by the territory’s regulator are not paying their annual licensing fees, a senior official at the agency confirmed Wednesday.
Legal Department blames Operation Tempura for $2.7M consultant bill
The litigious fallout from the ill-fated Operation Tempura corruption probe, which ended nearly a decade ago, was blamed last week for running up a $2.7 million consultant’s bill within government’s Portfolio of Legal Affairs.
Public’s patience wears thin with erratic garbage pickups
Dumpsters at the George Town landfill for people to drop off their own household waste overflowed into the car park Monday.
Governor Choudhury explores Grand Cayman
One advantage to being the governor in a tourist destination is getting to play the tourist.
Investment body dormant for 15 years
A government committee that has the job of reviewing capital projects and making sure government can afford them has been dormant for some 15 years, according to statements made during Thursday’s hearing of the Public Accounts Committee.
EDITORIAL – Two leaders, opposing sides, shared priorities
Premier Alden McLaughlin and Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller may sit on opposite sides of the Legislative Assembly, but in their New Year’s messages, they appeared to be singing from the same hymnal.
Lawmakers ask for review of stock exchange hire
Opposition lawmakers raised questions Tuesday regarding the hiring process for newly appointed Cayman Islands Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Marco Archer, with some politicians opining that the legal process mandated for the appointment did not appear to have been followed.
Opposition: Combine poor relief, seamen’s and veterans payments
The Cayman Islands government plans to spend more than $36 million on poor relief, as well as stipends to former seamen and veterans over the next two budgets.
Third lawmaker backs limit on Caymanian status grants
Deputy Opposition Leader Alva Suckoo said Thursday that government should “strongly consider” limiting grants of Caymanian status only to individuals who were Caymanian by descent or who had received that status through marriage.
Speaker questions PAC role
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush noted a “concern” Wednesday that the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had overstepped its role in recent months, wading into areas such as employment within the government service.
Opposition: Budget does little for average Caymanian
The Cayman Islands government’s 2018 and 2019 budget proposals continue the “regressive” policies of the Progressives party and do little to assist the average income or poorer Caymanian worker, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller said Wednesday.
EDITORIAL – John Gray campus must not wait until 2021 for completion
Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has said completing the John Gray project is a priority. We trust that she, Education Councillor Barbara Conolly and Education Council Chairman Dan Scott will work to keep the John Gray project moving forward until it is finally removed from the “to do list” and added to the government’s list of accomplishments.
‘Pay attention’ to land sales, MLAs warn
The Cayman Islands government is now in the process of selling off an estimated $38 million worth of what it considers surplus properties, opposition politicians said Wednesday.
Opposition: Make education a priority
Revelations that one Grand Cayman high school has a high percentage of special education needs children and that another may not finish construction for four years led opposition politicians on Wednesday to question government’s commitment to education.
Community meeting called for Savannah and Newlands
Anthony Eden and Alva Suckoo, the Members of the Legislative Assembly for Savannah and Newlands, respectively, have invited their constituents to a community meeting that will be held Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Savannah Primary School Hall.
Overhaul of welfare system proposed
Welfare programs should be integrated in a “one stop shop” to provide swifter access to assistance to those in need and better value for money to government, according to an outline business case for reform of the beleaguered system.
$180,000 report suggests two choices for social welfare
A $180,000 study completed in March as part of an ongoing review of Cayman’s troubled social services network looked at the structure of those services rather than how specific services to the poor and indigent might be improved, according to testimony in the Legislative Assembly’s PAC.
Opposition proposes committee to review healthcare
Not a single recommendation from the much-ballyhooed National Health Policy & Strategic Plan for the Cayman Islands 2012-2017 has been carried out over the last four years, according to Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller.
Premier outlines capital projects, policies on opening day of LA
With the next four years being his last term as the leader of the territory’s government, Premier Alden McLaughlin said on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly that he “will be leaving everyone on the field” to ensure that his administration delivers on its promises to the Cayman Islands.
Out of the shadows: Bryan parts with opposition
George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan said he has been “pushed out” of an alliance with opposition leaders and now will be independent of any voting blocs in the Legislative Assembly. The first sitting of the 2017-18 legislative session begins Wednesday, Aug. 23
MLAs question need for government land sales
The Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee last week questioned government’s reasons for selling off Crown-owned properties determined to be “surplus” in a five-year-old review by the Lands and Survey Department.
Government to redraw ‘willy-nilly’ national development plans
The “willy-nilly” development of Grand Cayman properties and roads – as some lawmakers described it Wednesday – may soon end as government redraws zoning plans for the first time in more than 20 years.
EDITORIAL-Auditor General: A watchdog that could use more ‘bite’
Auditors do not win popularity contests. And yet, we must confess we are inordinately fond of auditors and, in particular, Auditors General such as Ms. Winspear, who do, if not God’s work, certainly ours, meaning the people of the Cayman Islands.
Government fiscal policy plans due next month
The Cayman Islands government will announce its budget plans in the midst of hurricane season this year, changing to a two-year budget cycle approved by the previous administration.
Opposition firms up roles in shadow government
The members of the Legislative Assembly who are not part of the governing coalition announced Tuesday that they have formally organized in opposition.
Independent legislators look to join new ‘unity’ government
The Cayman Islands new coalition government will have at least 13 members, possibly as many as 15, by the time it is sworn in Wednesday morning.
EDITORIAL – One Man, One Vote: Lessons learned from the election
Instead of making Cayman’s districts smaller, more numerous and more inward-facing, officials should have done the opposite: Make the entirety of the Cayman Islands one single district, and allow residents to vote on the same slate of candidates.
Independents’ day: Coalition government looms
A disparate group of independent candidates triumphed in Wednesday’s general election, but they did not manage to win a 10-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly.
Miller escorted home by police
North Side incumbent Ezzard Miller planned a get-together at the home of a long-time supporter after results were announced in his district, regardless of who won.
Police, employment issues focus of first national debate
Police accountability and crime opened the first Cayman Islands national debate ahead of the May 24 election.
North Side candidates spar over education
The state of Cayman’s public education system took center stage in a debate among three of the four general election candidates for North Side...
Incumbent Miller facing ‘approachability’ issues
After two overwhelming victories in 2009 and 2013 in North Side district elections, independent incumbent Ezzard Miller is facing multiple challengers this year who appear to be questioning his ability to work with other elected politicians.
Election round-up: An alliance … of sorts
The Cayman Compass reported last month that a new political group, the “Cayman People’s Alliance” had been formed ahead of the May general election.
Independent candidates forming pact
Some independent candidates for the May 24 General Elections are in the process of forming a Cayman People’s Alliance. The term was made public when Arden McLean referred to it during his campaign launch in East End on Wednesday night.
More independents, more women in 2017 general election
The 2017 general election has brought out more independent candidates and more female candidates than its predecessor in 2013, according to figures reviewed by the Cayman Compass.
Record-setting Nomination Day: 63 hopefuls compete for 19 seats
A record 63 candidates will contest the Cayman Islands general election on May 24 after a frantic day of nominations across the country generated some surprises.
Election: Tibbetts, Connolly out, Eden back in
One long Cayman Islands political career came to an end Monday night, while another lengthy one continued and a fledgling career was seemingly cut short, as candidate nomination day loomed for general election candidates.
Miller defends ‘swamp’ road proposal
North Side legislator Ezzard Miller defended plans for three new roads in the district and accused the National Conservation Council of being “out of touch” for requesting an environmental impact assessment before the roads could be gazetted.
Bodden Town-Rum Point road proposed through mangroves
A new road that would cut through the Central Mangrove Wetlands to link Bodden Town to Rum Point is under consideration.
Cayman Finance defends law firms, says MLAs threaten financial sector
Cayman Finance, the primary organization representing the financial services industry in the Cayman Islands, has raised concerns that allegations from independent legislators of potentially criminal wrongdoing by the island’s law firms could do significant damage to the territory’s core industry.
