Topic: Katherine Ebanks-Wilks
BritCay plans 25% hike in SHIC policy premiums
Insurance company CG BritCay plans to increase premiums for its Standard Health Insurance Contract plan by 25%, a move that has prompted a review by regulators.
Government prioritising sustainability and resilience over reaction
Cayman must stop waiting for crises to emerge before taking action, and instead begin designing policy around resilience says Minister of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks.
Questions raised over staffing shortfall at female addiction programme
The government has come under fire from opposition members over the temporary closure of Cayman's only residential facility for female addicts.
Interim lined landfill could extend dump’s life to 2036
A new interim lined landfill to be created while a long-term waste management solution is found could extend the life of the George Town landfill to 2036, the environment minister has said.
New childhood and maternal immunisation schedule launched
The Cayman Islands has introduced a new national immunisation framework extending protection from pregnancy through adolescence.
Newly launched ‘Move it Cayman’ aims to promote movement
Move it Cayman, the national movement challenge, officially launched during the 2026 Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge on Sunday, 29 March.
Phased approach to transplants could start with live organ donors
Officials say several more requirements need to be met before Cayman medical facilities can carry out organ transplants on island.
From pregnancy to menopause: Women’s health in focus at conference
Women's reproductive health was at the centre of a conference that drew hundreds of members of the public and medical professionals.
Government exploring proactive strategies to tackle sargassum
Government has not yet finalised a national plan to manage sargassum in the Cayman Islands, but Environment Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks says work is underway on a more proactive strategy that could include measures to intercept the seaweed before it reaches shore.
Caymanian surgeon appointed CMO for North Carolina hospital
Caymanian surgeon and healthcare professional Dr. Joel Rose has been appointed chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at UNC Health Wayne...
Government working on national cancer policy
The government is drawing up a national cancer policy to help tackle the disease which is the second leading cause of death in Cayman.
New HSA board named as government tightens oversight
After weeks of public concern over governance at the HSA, government has appointed a new board and ordered an independent governance review.
Integrated paediatric therapy centre opens in Camana Bay
Cayman has introduced its first fully integrated paediatric speech, occupational and sensory therapy offering.
Government to raise healthcare funds through new charitable foundation
Government is moving ahead with setting up a Cayman Islands Health Foundation, a charitable entity that will fundraise for public healthcare services, 15 years after it was legally established.
Government to clarify speargun licensing after Cabinet discussion
Government has promised to look into the issue of speargun licences “as soon as possible” after the issue was debated in Parliament’s Finance Committee.
Nothing in government budget to address Seven Mile Beach erosion
Chances of a beach replenishment project on the severely eroded Seven Mile stretch appear to hinge on private landowners driving the plan.
High-powered air rifles used in Little Cayman feral cat cull
More than 250 feral cats in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have been culled since the official culling programme began on the Sister Islands, according to official figures, with a new tactic being the use of high-powered air rifles to euthanise cats in Little Cayman.
Solid waste plan: More recycling and diverting from landfill
Government is exploring new collection sites across Grand Cayman as part of its strategy to tackle the problem of what to do with the island’s waste.
Government budgets for new mosquito plane
Government has earmarked $1.8 million for a new aircraft for the Mosquito Research and Control Unit which monitors and controls the mosquito population in the Cayman Islands.
Mental health and high blood pressure priorities in new national health plan
Health minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks announced details of a new National Health Policy and Strategic Plan for the Cayman Islands, saying it was “a comprehensive roadmap for a healthcare system that is inclusive, resilient and responsive to the needs of every Caymanian.”
Community meeting set to discuss mental health
The Mental Health Commission and the Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council will hold a public meeting on Thursday, 13 Nov.
Residents will have the opportunity...
Government bodies still disagree on East-West Arterial project
The Ministry of Planning and the National Roads Authority are standing by government’s decision to extend the East–West Arterial along Route B3, rejecting calls from the National Conservation Council to reconsider in favour of Route B2.
Ebanks-Wilks planning to take East-West Arterial issue to caucus
Minister for Environment Katherine Ebanks-Wilks says she plans to raise concerns about the East-West Arterial extension with government caucus, following a letter from the National Conservation Council urging Cabinet to reconsider the road’s controversial route.
New committee established to support National Energy Policy
Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new Energy Policy Implementation Committee that replaces the now dissolved Energy Policy Council.
HSA-board reforms include flat fees, annual evaluations
The Health Services Authority board, which has come under fire for its many meetings and associated attendance fees, is getting an overhaul, Premier André Ebanks has confirmed to lawmakers.
Mental health advisory council meets for first time
The advisory council for Cayman's new in-patient mental health treatment centre has met for the first time. A government minister described the meeting as a step towards the destigmatisation of psychiatric problems and the reintegration of patients into society.
After first 100 days, government touts ambitious vision
The coalition government celebrated its first 100 days in power with an open air event in George Town on Friday, but said that the hard work is only just beginning.
New Kiddiwinks playschool in West Bay ready for pupils
Kiddiwinks Garden Playschool in West Bay is set to welcome its first pupils in a few weeks’ time after it was officially opened by Premier André Ebanks on Friday.
Government establishes Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council
Government has approved the establishment of the Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council to help enhance governance, accountability and community responsiveness at the residential rehabilitation facility in East End.
Police investigate sex crime on child at mental health ward
The government will no longer house adult and child patients at the public hospital's mental health following a report of gross indecency towards a young female patient.
George Town landfill ‘urgent national priority’, says environment minister
Environment Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks says the George Town landfill poses a threat to the environment, health and the economy.
Government building programme awarded for energy efficiency
A Cayman government building programme has been named best energy-efficiency project by the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum.
New government called a ‘turning point’ for environmental protection
Environmental campaigners are hailing the election of newly formed National Coalition for Caymanians as a watershed moment for sustainability, signaling promise in how the islands balance development and environmental protection.
Key takeaways from West Bay Central candidates’ forum
Date: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Candidates
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks (TCCP)*
Jewel Hydes (IND)
*incumbent
The forum
A two-way race is underway in West Bay Central between defending candidate Katherine...
Former premier: Conservation law changes are ‘totally unjustified’
Planned changes to the National Conservation Act will strip it of its power and tilt the balance of Cayman's future towards unchecked development, two former sustainability ministers have claimed.
Former minister alludes to $38M closing cost to exit ReGen project
In addition to the already significant costs associated with the ReGen project it appears that government is also facing a $38 million price tag to be able to exit the contract that was entered into with the Dart-led consortium.
Politicians urge action on domestic abuse after Silent Witness March
The Silent Witness March came amid questions over whether legislation on sexual harassment would finally make its way through Parliament.
Divisions over conservation law and conduct in Cabinet led to government split
Division over the handling of a number of key policy priorities including the National Conservation Act, beach erosion, the Cayman Brac high school project and the landfill deal contributed to the collapse of the UPM coalition this week, the Compass understands.
Government in crisis as deputy premier and three MPs quit
The Cayman Islands government is on the brink of collapse today after three Cabinet ministers and a parliamentary secretary quit, plunging Parliament into new chaos and leaving the ruling coalition without a working majority.
Politicians still reviewing delayed Sexual Harassment Bill
For the second time this year, Wayne Panton has asked government through parliamentary questions for an update on the Sexual Harassment Bill he piloted when he was premier.
Civil servants to get increased parental leave entitlements
Civil servants will soon benefit from increased parental leave and additional financial support from government, however there has been no word on whether local legislation will be updated so similar benefits can be applied to the private sector.
Solar-energy retrofitting project begins for housing trust homes
The Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency is moving forward with plans to conduct energy-efficiency retrofits and rooftop solar on 10 pre-selected National Housing Development Trust homes.
ReGen timeline still unknown as project drags on
Government has yet to provide a set timetable for concluding the ReGen project financial close even as negotiations enter a third year, after missing several deadlines and hard stop dates.
Ebanks-Wilks: ‘We can no longer be quiet about sustainability’
Residents of the Cayman Islands need to be more vocal about their work and successes in building a sustainable environment, according to Katherine Ebanks-Wilks.
Women’s rights activist and Caymanian icon Georgette Ebanks passes
Georgette Ebanks, one of the last living signatories of the 1948 petition demanding women's right to vote in Cayman, passed away at her home on Tuesday after a brief illness. She was 96.
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks makes history as youngest House Speaker
West Bay Central MP Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, 43, has become Cayman's youngest Speaker of the House after being elected to the post by her government peers in Parliament on Friday.
Bush resigns as Speaker effective immediately
West Bay West MP McKeeva Bush has resigned as House Speaker with immediate effect.
Parliamentary secretaries receive instruments of office
Government’s three parliamentary secretaries received their instruments of office for their appointment on Tuesday, from Governor Martyn Roper at his office in the Government Administration Building (GAB).
Five female candidates head to Parliament
Five female representatives, two more than that of last legislature, will be taking their seats in Parliament.
Crosstalk debate: West Bay Central
West Bay Central candidate Katherine Ebanks-Wilks joins Crosstalk host Barrie Quappe to discus the issues she is campaigning for in her district.
Candidates demand more influence for National Security Council
West Bay candidates in the May 24 election demanded more influence for the National Security Council and oversight of police activities.
Unemployment, drugs hot topics in West Bay Central debate
More training opportunities for Caymanians and a community-based approach to helping drug addicts were two of the issues raised by political candidates in West Bay Central in a debate on Wednesday.
