Topic: Human Rights
Hundreds turn out for Cayman Pride march
A near-record crowd of more than 500 people turned out for the Cayman Pride parade on Saturday, which ended with a party at a beach club.
Privy Council rules permanent residency points system is constitutional
The attorney general has won a case in the country's final court of appeal over a Cayman court's declaration that the islands' points system for permanent residence breached human rights.
Cuban nationals inexplicably moved from homes to cramped shelter
At least a dozen Cuban nationals, living in rented accommodation, were rounded up and moved into an overcrowded temporary shelter at Bodden Town Civic Centre Monday evening, the Compass has learned.
UK government: Public registers do not breach privacy rights
The UK government has concluded that its new register of overseas entities and the register of persons with significant control are both compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Domestic violence victim wins right to fight to stay in Cayman
A domestic violence victim who faces having her permanent residence revoked after the breakdown of her marriage has won an injunction allowing her to remain in Cayman and fight to stay here permanently.
COVID court challenge could open the floodgates
A human rights challenge to Cayman’s COVID-19 rules could set a precedent that opens the floodgates for hundreds of similar cases from people forced to isolate for long periods after contracting the virus.
Facing deportation, domestic violence victim challenges immigration law
A woman whose marriage broke down after she reported her husband for domestic abuse faces having her Permanent Residence revoked, potentially forcing her to leave the Cayman Islands, according to court documents.
The issue explained: COVID restrictions and human rights
The Cayman Compass takes an in-depth look at Cayman's COVID regulations and their impact on human rights and asks if all of the measures taken by government can still be justified as the pandemic enters its third year.
Extended ‘house arrest’ for COVID cases could breach human rights
Hundreds of people in the Cayman Islands may have been kept under ‘house arrest’ for longer than was medically necessary or legally justifiable, according to two senior human rights lawyers.
Protecting the right to good governance
James Austin-Smith knows most people in the Cayman Islands will never have to fight for their right to a fair trial or freedom from torture.
Police officers argue age, nationality discrimination
A human rights case of 10 Caymanian police officers who claim they were discriminated against on the grounds of age and nationality when they were forced to retire or accept a demotion at age 55 stalled in Grand Court on Tuesday.
Human rights expert calls for ‘abolition of tax havens’
An independent human rights expert has urged the United Nations to convene a world conference on tax avoidance and tax evasion, the abolition of tax havens and the protection of whistleblowers. “I sincerely hope that the abolition of tax havens and the creation of a United Nations Tax Authority ... will be among Mr. Guterres’s priorities."
Human rights highlighted for Mental Health Day
Cayman’s Human Rights Commission has released a booklet describing how human rights can apply to situations involving mental illness. The booklet gives case studies from the European Court of Human Rights as guidelines for how to handle specific situations.
Cayman legalizes plans for witness protection
Cayman Islands witness protection methods that have previously been described as “ad hoc” in some cases and raising potential human rights concerns in others, will take effect in specific local legislation this month.
Privy Council: 19 months too long for citizenship application
The judicial committee of the U.K. Privy Council has overturned an earlier decision of an eastern Caribbean court, ruling that a 19-month delay in registering an application for citizenship was too long and was “likely to be unlawful” when considering the applicant’s human rights, according to the judgment issued Aug. 2.
‘Solomon Webster’ Bill aims to protect rights of disabled
Named for the slain former Cayman Islands Special Olympics athlete, the Disabilities (Solomon Webster) Bill proposes new legislation to protect the rights of disabled people and create a National Council for Persons with Disabilities and a voluntary disabilities register.
Gay couple wins work permit appeal
Ruling in favor of a same-sex couple, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal granted Leonardo Raznovich’s application to be added to his spouse’s work permit as a dependent. The decision ends 14 months of applications and appeals to the Immigration Department.
Bus shelters and other issues
From years ago I have appealed to our government to erect bus shelters for our schoolchildren but to no avail.
Potential rights breaches by Immigration Department revealed
The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission reviewed three potential cases of human rights breaches against the Immigration Department in 2015, a report made public Wednesday revealed.
Cayman to host LGBT conference
The 7th annual Queering Paradigms conference, an international conference focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, will be held in Cayman in June.
Jay Leno to speak in Cayman
Comedian and former late-night talk show host Jay Leno will be the keynote speaker at the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit.
Mr. Leno was the host of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” from 1992 to 2014.
A month-by-month roundup of Cayman’s 2015 news stories
Top stories of 2015 in the Cayman Islands
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.
‘World’s most famous hacker’ to speak in Cayman
A notorious computer hacker who was once on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for hacking into 40 major companies will be coming to Cayman in February.
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.
Top stories of 2015: Lawmaker's motion against same-sex unions sparks debate
A speech on the topic of same-sex unions made in the Legislative Assembly in August, sparked a months-long and still ongoing debate that pitted members of the Cayman Islands government against those advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Professor: Same-sex unions legislation 'inevitable' in Cayman
When human rights professor Robert Wintemute visited the Cayman Islands in January to deliver a critique of the islands’ “out of date” laws on rights for homosexuals, he hoped to start a conversation.
PR application, appeal take eight years
A man whose application for permanent residence took more than eight years from the date it was filed to when it was rejected by an appeals body has sued the Cayman Islands government, seeking re-consideration of the case.
Cayman to host One Young World leaders in 2016
The Cayman Islands will host hundreds of young world leaders next year at a special international summit on the topic of sustainable finance.
Christmas wishes: Keep it kind, Cayman Islands
Our elected statesmen would do well to draw inspiration from the sounds of Christmas, and utilize the feelings of goodwill and politeness to temper their political discourse.
Gay rights battle paralleled in Bermuda
A landmark ruling in the Supreme Court of Bermuda giving same-sex couples equal rights on immigration and employment issues has been cited as further evidence that the Cayman Islands needs to modernize its own laws.
Efforts to help migrants thwarted by police
A group of Cayman Islands residents who chartered a vessel to try to bring food and water to migrants on a ramshackle boat say marine police prevented them from assisting the men.
Straight talk on gay marriage
On some subjects, particularly ones whose fundamental nature is cultural or moral, there is no clear opportunity for compromise. In the Cayman Islands, same-sex marriage is one of these.
Premier, human rights body clash on same-sex unions
The government cannot consider any request to recognize same sex unions, Premier Alden McLaughlin said in a letter to the Human Rights Commission that was made public on Monday.
Governor: Religious beliefs 'not relevant' to commission appointments
Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick confirmed Thursday that religious beliefs of government appointees should have nothing to do with their service on public commissions.
Free speech, hate speech, and Mr. Eden’s speech
As an individual, Anthony Eden has a protected right to free speech. As an elected MLA, Mr. Eden is sworn to uphold the Constitution. This is where the trouble begins.
MLA Anthony Eden 'We do not need an atheist chairing our Cayman Islands...
Saying recent statements showed a “total apparent disrespect for the majority of residents in Cayman,” Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden suggested Wednesday that the current chairman of the Human Rights Commission be replaced.
Operation Tempura case judge joins Cayman's appeals court
A former U.K. High Court judge who once presided over various Cayman Islands court actions related to the ill-fated Operation Tempura investigation has joined Cayman’s Court of Appeal.
Changes to prisoners' release take effect Feb. 1
The Cayman Islands Governor’s Office is seeking volunteers to help decide when and how criminals – including those convicted of murder – should be released from prison.
Cayman’s disabled face ‘unnecessary’ discrimination
Cayman’s human rights watchdog has taken current and past governments to task over failures to implement legislation protecting disabled residents from potential discrimination.
Juvenile justice center write-off: $678,000
The Cayman Islands government has written off nearly $700,000 spent on the partial construction of a juvenile justice center.
More human rights claims filed against immigration boards
Two Grand Court lawsuits filed this month against the Immigration Appeals Tribunal allege that decisions of the tribunal were contrary to human rights protections in the Cayman Islands Constitution Order (2009).
Law professor condemns UK silence on gay 'hate speech'
The professor at the center of a gay rights case in the Cayman Islands told a conference for international lawyers that he believes the United Kingdom is failing to meet its responsibilities with respect to human rights for homosexuals in the Overseas Territories.
Rights commission highlights healthcare, homelessness
Cayman's human rights watchdog reviews some ongoing mental health issues in the territory.
Business in brief
Red Cross raises $56,000 with golf tournament; Campbells announces scholarship recipients; Pan-American Life celebrates launch; Samson & McGrath’s Trevor Burke admitted to Cayman Bar; Extended hours for business licensing; Fidelity Bank Bahamas appoints new chairman.
Legal aid bill sets $20K initial fee limit
An initial limit of $20,000 per case is proposed in the latest attempt by the Cayman Islands government to rewrite legislation governing its legal aid services budget.
Laws without enforcement lead to injustice
For any perceived problem, government has at least one solution for it, on paper. Of course, there is a difference between paper solutions and real solutions.
Far-reaching effect of permanent residence ruling cited
A recent court decision in permanent residence case may be a game-changer, not only for immigration-related matters, but for many other areas in which appointed boards make rulings and hear appeals on a plethora of matters, from business licensing to planning issues.
Cayman's human rights issues to be aired internationally
The gay law professor at the center of an immigration test case challenging the unequal treatment of homosexuals in the Cayman Islands has been invited to make a presentation on the issue to the International Bar Association.
Cayman issues poised for 'prime time'
From the standpoint of sheer numbers, we cannot recall another point in time where Cayman faced so many reputational threats of our own creation.
‘Sea-change’ in permanent residence process expected
The effect of a judgment issued by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie could have a "sea-change" effect on the way permanent residence applications are handled.
Gay law professor can apply for visitor permit
A law professor fighting to have his same-sex marriage recognized by Immigration officials so he can stay in Cayman says he has been told he can apply for a visitor’s permit as an interim measure.
Gay couple challenge Immigration decision
A gay law professor and his husband are at the center of a possible test case, challenging the “unequal” treatment of homosexual couples in the Cayman Islands.
Fallout spreads from Mr. Eden’s intemperate remarks
Anthony Eden’s remarks on the floor of the Legislative Assembly regarding homosexuality could not have been more ill-conceived – but they were also ill-timed.
MLA Suckoo denies 'hate speech,' apologizes
One Bodden Town MLA at the center over allegations of 'hate speech' against homosexuals speaks out.
Organizers defend LGBT lecture series
The organizer of a lecture series on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and gender rights in the Cayman Islands has responded to critical remarks made by Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden during a recent meeting of the Legislative Assembly.
Marriage debate was 'hate speech,' rights commission says
The Human Rights Commission accused certain MLAs of using their elected positions to espouse “poisonous hate speech and threats of violence” against homosexual men and women.
Mr. Eden’s regrettable remarks on the floor of the House
Anthony Eden's diatribe during his motion to confirm that the definition of marriage in the Cayman Islands is a union between a man and woman did the country no favors.
Government says marriage is between one man, one woman
The Cayman Islands government has passed a motion to maintain the definition of marriage as it is currently written in the law: a union between a man and a woman.
Court lists wrong defendant in ‘insulting modesty of woman’ case
The Cayman Islands court system listed the wrong name for a defendant in a criminal case due before the Summary Court on Monday.
HRC: Government must allow civil unions
Cayman is about to get a wake-up call when it comes to recognizing same-sex unions, the Human Rights Commission warns.
Activists urge Cayman rights for same-sex unions
A local LGBT activist starts a petition drive to change Caymanian immigration law so that gay couples are granted the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Cayman, today: No country is an island
Things in the Cayman Islands have changed – and in many ways more dramatically in the past 50 years than in the preceding 50,000.
Cayman's principal education lesson: Subtraction by division
Does Cayman have the will to deal with our "segregated" school system?
Finance Committee debate: School access and the Bill of Rights
Questions were raised during a Finance Committee hearing on the country’s education budget about whether policies that prevent the children of foreign workers from accessing free schooling in the public education system were incompatible with the Bill of Rights.
Red Cross to mark World Refugee Day
Saturday marks the United Nations 14th annual World Refugee Day, as the Cayman Islands Red Cross celebrates its budding regional partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Budget, legal issues hold up human rights legislation
Important human rights-related legislation is being held up over government staffing issues.
Human Rights Commission says minimum wage too low
Members of the Human Rights Commission called the minimum wage proposal too conservative, but did commend the committee for its work on detailing abuse of domestic workers in Cayman.
Attorney General: Human rights drive up legal aid costs
Cayman's legal aid costs skyrocket as more qualify for legal assistance.
WHO mental health report cites lack of facility, training
A report from the World Health Organization cites the lack of a national mental health policy and a shortage of beds for psychiatric patients as weaknesses in Cayman’s health system.
Modest savings expected from government merger
Government will likely not realize any savings from a proposed merger of two independent oversight offices.
Online government services progressing
A new steering committee hopes to launch an Internet portal this year that would move many Cayman Islands government services online.
