Topic: Legislative Assembly
Minister outlines education changes
During Monday’s session of the Legislative Assembly, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly focussed on overhauling school curriculum and re-outlined teacher salary changes that she first announced last August in her requests for supplemental funding.
Prison officer charged with assault, threatening to kill still on duty
A prison officer who was charged in connection to an alleged rape is still on active duty, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said on Friday in the Legislative Assembly.
Government to appeal same-sex marriage ruling
Government plans to appeal the chief justice’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Wednesday.
Lawmakers to debate amendments to Trusts Law and Bills of Exchange Law
A bill to clarify Cayman’s trusts law and a bill to facilitate the processing of cheques in the local banking system will go before legislators at the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, April 3.
Government to outline long-term budget plans
Government will present the broad strokes of its budget plan for 2020 and 2021 during the next session of the Legislative Assembly.
Bryan seeks full Caymanian leadership
Should all leadership positions in Cayman be reserved for sons of the soil? George Town Central legislator thinks so.
Youth Parliament takes center stage
The ideas are the same but delivered with the force of youthful exuberance.
Conservation council seeks $10 million to protect land
The National Conservation Council is seeking $10 million in new funding to help buy environmentally significant land to protect from development and other threats.
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.
Legislators approve new economic substance rules
Government pushed through new economic substance rules and other bills during a marathon Legislative Assembly session on Monday in a bid to avoid a European Union tax blacklisting.
UK agrees to new ministry
The U.K. government has formally agreed to Cayman’s plans of establishing a new Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, as well as a Cayman Islands Government Office in Hong Kong.
Legislative Assembly to debate economic substance bills on Monday
The Legislative Assembly is set to reconvene on Monday to pass three separate bills caused by the threat of a European Union tax blacklisting and global regulatory pressure.
Draft law requires offshore companies to have local offices and staff
Government has released draft legislation that will impact certain offshore companies that are tax resident in Cayman by demanding that they must have an adequate level of economic substance locally.
Plan to clamp down on numbers game shelved
Government has shelved plans to increase penalties for illegal gambling amid calls for a review of the prohibition of gambling in the Cayman Islands.
Premier: OfReg was headed toward insolvency
After losing some $300,000 by the end of March, the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as OfReg, was on track to be insolvent by July before government injected $1 million into the territory’s regulator, Premier Alden McLaughlin said on Thursday in the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Assembly adjourns with 17 bills passed
The latest session of the Legislative Assembly closed Thursday night, with politicians having passed some 17 bills in six days.
Law amended on validity of wills
Members of the Legislative Assembly have approved a bill that will amend the law governing the execution of a will left by someone who dies while residing outside of the Cayman Islands.
CIMA to supervise banking groups on a consolidated basis
The Legislative Assembly adopted the Banks and Trust Companies Bill 2018, which empowers the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority to supervise banking groups on a consolidated basis.
Bill eases way for long-term residents to apply for PR
The Immigration Transition Bill seeks to remove a restriction that prevents residents who have been in the Cayman Islands for more than nine years from applying for permanent residence.
Government to introduce digital assets framework
Minister of Financial Services Tara Rivers has announced that government favors a regulatory sandbox-type framework for digital assets. The minister outlined government’s approach to regulating digital assets in a statement in the Legislative Assembly on Nov. 14.
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.
Record tourist arrivals edge toward 2 million
Nearly 2 million tourists arrived in the Cayman Islands by air and sea in the first ten months of 2018 – the highest number in history.
Lawmakers amend evidence rules
Members of the Legislative Assembly voted to amend the Evidence Law on Friday, in an effort to modernize the rules for admitting hearsay evidence and witness statements at trial.
Government injects more capital into CINICO
Cabinet approved an equity investment of $4.53 million into Cayman Islands National Insurance Company to raise the public sector health insurer’s capital base above the minimum level prescribed by the regulator.
Legal amendments recognize Cayman’s new law association
The Legislative Assembly approved a bill that amended several laws as a result of the merger of the Caymanian Bar Association with the Cayman Islands Law Society.
Tourism minister quizzed over port campaign spending
Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell has denied that any public funds were spent on advertising that suggests signing the petition for a referendum on the cruise port amounts to a no-vote for the project.
Active agenda for Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly faces a packed agenda that includes 18 bills and several other legislative and regulatory amendments as the House prepares to resume on Wednesday.
Legislation to outlaw stalking
New legislation aims to make stalking a specific criminal offense in the Cayman Islands for the first time.
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?
Stamp duty change could impact development boom
Buying a new home in the Cayman Islands is about to get more expensive – at least for some.
Martyn Roper sworn in as Cayman’s 14th governor
There was a sense of deja vu around the Legislative Assembly Monday as a new governor was sworn in for the second time this year.
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.
New governor, Martyn Roper, arrives in Cayman Islands
Martyn Roper arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport Monday morning to take on his post as the 14th governor of the Cayman Islands.
Legislation aims to increase penalties for gambling
Lawmakers are set to consider major increases to penalties for running or participating in illegal gambling in the next Legislative Assembly meeting.
Bill calls for change to road naming process
A new bill proposed for debate before the Legislative Assembly seeks to amend the way in which government names and numbers roads.
Bills tabled on immigration reform, workforce development agency
Bills to establish a new workforce development agency, to create new concessions for first time Caymanian home buyers, and to increase penalties for illegal gambling are among those scheduled for debate at the next session of the Legislative Assembly.
PAC members attend public spending conference in London
Two members of the Public Accounts Committee, Bernie Bush and Austin Harris, are in London this week to attend a conference on public spending.
Opposition back in House after walkout
Opposition politicians were back in the Legislative Assembly Thursday after staging a one-day walkout on proceedings in protest over disciplinary action taken against Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo.
Finance minister lauds Cayman’s credit rating
Minister of Finance Roy McTaggart said the latest government credit rating of the Cayman Islands reflected “confidence in our country’s economic, fiscal and institutional strengths,” when he presented the assessment by rating agency Moody’s in the Legislative Assembly last week.
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.
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.
Cayman to create new trade ministry
Premier Alden McLaughlin revealed plans to create a new ministry to fight for Cayman’s interests overseas, saying the territory could no longer rely on the United Kingdom to defend the islands’ economic interests.
Premier defends cruise ship dock plan
Premier Alden McLaughlin reaffirmed his government’s commitment to press ahead with plans for a cruise berthing facility in George Town harbor in the face of increasingly vocal opposition to the project.
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.
New legislation targets child grooming
Sex offenders who target children via cellphones and social media face tough penalties under new legislation that goes to the Legislative Assembly next month.
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.
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.
Legislative Assembly meeting heads to Cayman Brac
Cayman Islands lawmakers will hold their next Legislative Assembly meeting at the Aston Rutty Centre on Cayman Brac, starting Sept. 5, Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed this week.
Penal code
Today's editorial cartoon
Suspicious finance reports skyrocket
An unusually large number of suspicious activity reports were filed with the Cayman Islands Financial Reporting Authority during the last half of 2017, according to records presented to the Legislative Assembly.
EDITORIAL – It’s time for government to take a ‘U-turn’ away from socialism
Over the past half-century, the Cayman Islands has forged an international identity as a pint-sized economic powerhouse and a dynamic laboratory of financial enterprise. That perception is approximately half-true. In reality, Cayman society is composed of two universes operating in parallel – the private sector and the public sector.
More money provided for poor relief
The Cayman Islands government is plugging an additional $2 million into the poor relief budget this year, fearing the current funding provided for some of the public welfare efforts will run out by next month if more money is not provided.
Minister: Beach access in every district
Cayman Islands lawmakers agreed this week to set aside $10 million to purchase land, including beachfront properties and beach access pathways, for future public use.
‘Indigent’ healthcare costs soar
The number of people receiving government assistance for overseas or local medical bills has increased by nearly 50 percent between late 2011 and this year, the Legislative Assembly’s Finance Committee was told Tuesday.
Cayman seeks to reduce governor’s power
Cayman Islands lawmakers want to take away the U.K.-appointed governor’s ability to disallow legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly in instances where the British Overseas Territory is not in breach of international legal and human rights standards.
‘Fair employment’ bill due in September
Cayman Islands lawmakers finished debating a raft of legal changes to immigration rules Wednesday night, but it appears that legislation is just the start of a major overhaul for the system that now allows the employment of nearly 26,000 foreign workers within the British Overseas Territory.
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.
Bill aims to streamline border control
A new system of vetting travelers before they come to the Cayman Islands aims to improve border security and speed up the flow of passengers arriving in the territory.
Youth parliamentarians debate pros and cons of Brexit
Jenae Whittaker shifted back and forth on her feet as she stood addressing 18 other Regional Youth Parliament members in the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly on Friday.
Lawmakers seek to reimpose stricter murder sentences
Cayman Islands lawmakers are seeking to reimpose automatic life sentences in particularly egregious murder cases, except in situations where a court considers there to have been “exceptional” extenuating circumstances in connection with a killing.
EDITORIAL – Protect the public, not members of public boards
To our minds, a far better way to minimize liability for negligent board action is to minimize the potential for error – to slash the number of boards and dramatically raise standards for qualifications and professionalism of board members.
Festivities scheduled to celebrate Queen’s Birthday
The Queen’s Official Birthday is on Saturday, and Cayman will be celebrating with a slate of events.
EDITORIAL – A ‘Trumpian move’ that Cayman should emulate
With a series of executive orders, U.S. President Donald Trump has cut the ropes that tied the hands of managers hoping to hold their government departments and agencies to appropriately high standards. Cayman Islands legislators should do the same.
Kirkland Nixon laid to rest in moving ceremony
Kirkland Nixon, Cayman’s first fire chief, was remembered Sunday as a family man, a voracious reader and a consummate public servant during a solemn memorial service held at the Lions Centre.
Home affairs: ‘Working fast’ to fix fire service
Some of the “significant uncertainty” referred to in a recent consultant study of the Cayman Islands Fire Service was on display during the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee hearings over the past two weeks, as committee members reviewed the findings from the $80,000 report.
Legislature pushed back to June 27
The Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly will reconvene at the end of June, about a month later than first planned.
OfReg seeks $1 million cash injection
Cayman’s recently formed utilities and commodities regulator, OfReg, has asked for a $1 million cash injection from government to make up a funding shortfall that the agency says was not addressed when the British Overseas Territory combined its various regulatory agencies last year.
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.
Private health costs, insurer earnings soar
Earnings for Cayman’s private sector health insurers nearly quadrupled in one year following changes made to the islands’ standard health insurance contract rules, members of the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee heard Wednesday.
EDITORIAL – Governor Choudhury steps up in Cayman’s battle against crime
The governor has a fresh perspective and appears to have a sturdy spine and willingness to take on difficult problems, all of which will serve him well in leading – and winning – the uphill battle against crime.
Security council to hold first meeting since last October
The Cayman Islands National Security Council, created under the territory’s 2009 Constitution Order, will meet Tuesday for the first time in about six months.
