Topic: James Austin-Smith
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.
Doctors Express seeking ‘very significant sum’ in damages
The lawyer for Doctors Express says they are seeking "significant" damages for a 2019 raid on the premises which was found to be unlawful.
DPP asked to review unlawful raid of Doctors Express
Doctors Express' attorney says he is writing to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine if any criminal conduct might have occurred by individuals behind a 2019 raid of its healthcare facilities.
Former Human Rights chair questions legality of beach ban
The former chair of Cayman’s Human Rights Commission has questioned the legality of some of the restrictions currently in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Top spot left vacant at human rights body
The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission is currently a leaderless ship after lawyer James Austin-Smith stepped down from the chairman’s role.
Bush calls for human rights chair to be fired
Speaker McKeeva Bush led calls for Human Rights Commission chair James Austin-Smith to be fired for speaking out against the government’s decision to appeal an historic ruling legalising same-sex marriage in the Cayman Islands.
UPDATE: Speaker Bush calls on governor to fire Human Rights chairman
Speaker McKeeva Bush has called for Human Rights Commission Chairman James Austin-Smith to be immediately fired by Governor Martyn Roper, following the commission’s statement Thursday criticising government’s decision to appeal the chief justice’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage.
Human Rights Commission: Government appeal ‘ill-considered’
The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission has spoken out against government’s decision to appeal last week’s historic ruling legalising same-sex marriage, describing it as “ill-considered” and doomed to fail.
Marchers walk in silence to honor victims of domestic violence
A group of about 50 people walked along Elgin Avenue, from the old government building to the center of George Town, Thursday night in support of victims of domestic abuse.
Prison inmates’ move to migrant center on hold
Although it was proposed as a way to relieve stress on Cayman’s overcrowded prisons system, it appears inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward will not be moving to new housing at the Immigration Detention Centre facility for at least a few months.
Filthy conditions discovered at immigrant center
Rotten food with maggot infestation, dirty and stopped-up toilets, moldy or damaged showers and inadequate fire prevention systems were found during an inspection of the Immigration Detention Centre in George Town last week by members of the Human Rights Commission.
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.
EDITORIAL – A response to Mr. Austin-Smith’s response to us
We take letters such as Mr. Austin-Smith’s extremely seriously. Whenever we receive such letters, it is our inclination to publish them without comment. Let them have their say. After all, we have “our say” in this space every day of the week.
LETTER – Human Rights Commission: Our efforts to help Cuban migrants
Ordinarily I would not trouble to respond to inaccurate stories in the press; however, on this occasion you have unfairly maligned the staff of the Commissions Secretariat and undermined the work of the Commission. The record should be set straight.
LETTER – Human Rights Commission: Our efforts to help Cuban migrants
Ordinarily I would not trouble to respond to inaccurate stories in the press; however, on this occasion you have unfairly maligned the staff of the Commissions Secretariat and undermined the work of the Commission. The record should be set straight.
EDITORIAL – Cuban migration: Cayman’s conundrum
At its most basic, Cayman’s Cuban migrant problem is this: Our tiny territory does not have the resources, population or infrastructure to accommodate hundreds of political refugees.
With titles like ‘Leg Show,’ ‘Spicy Detective,’ book ban labeled irrational
The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission is calling for the repeal of a lengthy list of legally banned publications – ranging from defunct communist periodicals to Madonna’s best-selling book of erotic photographs. Hundreds of books are still banned in the Cayman Islands.
Lawyer: Northward prison conditions are ‘cage-like’
Speaking on behalf of his client on Friday, attorney James Austin-Smith said the conditions at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward are “hardly fit for human habitation” and could make for a “very good case” if challenged under U.K. or European human rights laws.
Accountant enters jail ‘early’
Although he has not formally pleaded guilty, Cayman Islands accountant Rob Aspinall agreed to be remanded to Northward Prison on Friday to begin serving time on theft and fraud-related charges.
