Topic: Legislative Assembly
Governor approves medical cannabis oil
Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick has assented to changes to the Misuse of Drugs Law allowing for the importation of oil derived from the marijuana plant for medical purposes only.
New police commissioner heads to Brac
Cayman’s new Police Commissioner Derek Byrne heads to the Sister Islands on Friday for his first visit there since taking up the commissioner’s post on Nov. 7. The commissioner is expected to meet with police officers and community members during the two-day trip.
Premier hopes to pass lawyers bill in final legislative meeting
The Progressives-led government will try again to pass an updated Legal Practitioners Bill in what is likely to be the government’s final Legislative Assembly meeting of its current term, Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed last week.
Election information campaign launched
The Elections Office is launching an information campaign to help the public better understand changes to the voting system. Changes to the Elections Law this year implemented the principle of single-member constituencies, meaning voters in the larger multi-member districts will no longer be able to elect more than one representative to the LA.
Former Speaker Mary Lawrence awarded honorary doctorate
Mary Lawrence, former Speaker of the House, historian, educator, writer, mother of six and a native of Bodden Town, has received an honorary doctorate from the University College of the Cayman Islands for her contributions to the Cayman society.
EDITORIAL – Let the election campaign begin (not a typo)
As always, our news pages will remain neutral and objective, and our opinion pages will contain well-researched and strongly articulated viewpoints on matters we believe are important to our readers and our country. Overall, our coverage of the elections will be balanced, robust and focused on issues — not personalities.
HSA hiring debt collector to go after $58M from patients
The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority plans to hire a debt collector to go after $58 million in past-due accounts from patients. The debts range from those a couple of months old to some more than three years old, the latter involving some $32 million that has not been paid.
Gov’t to require jobs to be registered with NWDA
Employers will have to register job vacancies with the National Workforce Development Agency at least two weeks before applying for a work permit to hire a non-Caymanian following a vote last week in the Legislative Assembly.
School segregation set back Cayman Islands, premier says
Premier Alden McLaughlin says his government plans to desegregate the islands’ schools in the long term, allowing foreign students to sit in classrooms alongside Caymanians. He said the long-standing policy decision not to allow the children of expatriates to attend government schools was one of the most regressive decisions the country had ever taken.
Education Law approved, radically revising outdated legislation
A new Education Law radically revising the outdated legislation underpinning the island’s school system has been approved by lawmakers. The law was unanimously approved after an extended discussion in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lawmakers’ debate turns into political fight
A Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly debate this week over changes to the public bidding rules turned into a political fight ahead of the May 2017 general election. The Progressives-led government brought forward a long-recommended Procurement Bill, which was approved by lawmakers late Monday after some debate over what amounted to “political interference” in the public sector bidding process.
Connolly: Why I do not send my children to public school
Former education councilor Winston Connolly has acknowledged he does not send his own children to government schools because he does not believe standards are high enough. Mr. Connolly called for the “desegregation of schools” and the opening of new charter schools.
Minister: We won’t ‘nationalize’ law firms
The redrafted Legal Practitioners Bill will provide more and greater opportunities for Caymanian attorneys to get jobs and promotions in the legal profession than ever before, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said last week.
Legislative roundup: 22 bills pass in 7 days
Cayman Islands lawmakers have approved 22 pieces of legislation in just seven days of meetings over the past two weeks. Some of the more controversial items on government’s agenda are due to come before the Legislative Assembly this week. All of bills approved so far still need a third and final reading in the Assembly, but that is largely a formality, and it is expected that all previously approved legislation will pass with few amendments.
Government drops effort to cement political parties in Elections Bill
Facing pressure from one of its ministers, as well as from opposition politicians, the Progressives-led government on Friday appeared ready to abandon efforts to legally force the registration of groups believed to be operating as political parties before the May 2017 general election.
Planning law changes give ‘teeth’ to derelict property enforcement
Cayman Islands lawmakers are attempting to tackle the problems of derelict cars and properties, as well as property fences built too close to roads, in changes to the Development and Planning Law approved late Wednesday.
Cayman Development Bank holds $20 million in delinquent loans
A government-funded development bank held $19.9 million in delinquent loans as of last year, according to a report provided to the Legislative Assembly. The Cayman Islands Development Bank reported to the Legislative Assembly in its financial statements for June 30, 2015 that its delinquent loans had risen from $18.3 million to nearly $20 million in one year.
After vote legalizes medicinal cannabis oil, supply becomes the issue
A legislative vote Monday has cleared the way for cannabis oil to be prescribed in the Cayman Islands for cancer patients and other medical issues if the government can find a legal supplier. Lawmakers approved a key second reading of a bill that will amend the Misuse of Drugs Law to allow the substance, derived from the marijuana plant, to be prescribed by local doctors and carried by Cayman pharmacies.
Last-minute meeting called over lawyers bill
A snap public meeting has been called for Thursday night over the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill, just days before the legislation was expected to come before parliament for a vote. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said the Progressives-led government still expects to bring the amendment bill for a vote during the current meeting of the Legislative Assembly.
Cayman Water calls for utility law rewrite
Cayman Water has asked government to withdraw and rewrite a proposed bill investing a new utilities regulation office with broad unilateral powers to control the firm’s activities. The company says it was not consulted on the bill.
Same-sex marriage: In their own words
Lawmakers spent most of the day Oct. 6 debating whether the Cayman Islands should hold a public referendum on allowing same-sex marriage in the territory. The referendum motion failed by a 9-to-8 party line vote. Below are excerpts from the debate from each legislator who spoke in the debate.
Legislators reject motion on gay marriage referendum
The Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly voted along party lines Thursday night to oppose a motion that sought a referendum on whether the territory should accept same-sex marriages. All nine government members opposed the motion, while all opposition party and independent members supported it.
UPDATED: Agreement ‘in principle’ to buy Smith Cove land
Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Friday that government had reached an "agreement in principle" to buy land on the northern side of Smith Cove from the private owners of the parcel.
New rules for nonprofits approved, despite concerns
Cayman Islands lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday that will register and regulate nonprofit organizations, in a bid to prevent such groups potentially being used as cover for illegal activities such as money laundering or terrorist financing. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said there were no instances reported locally in which charities were used to such an end.
New laws ‘modernize’ trademark, design rights
New protections for trademarks, design rights and patents passed through second readings in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, part of the Commerce Ministry’s years-long push to modernize intellectual property protections in the Cayman Islands.
Expanded highway section costs US$5 million
It will cost the government US$5 million to expand a section of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway from two to four lanes at its southern end in George Town, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts confirmed Wednesday.
UK Overseas Territories Minister makes first trip to Cayman
U.K. Overseas Territories Minister, Baroness Joyce Anelay, made what is believed to be the first speech given by anyone in her position to the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly on Tuesday morning, during a whirlwind tour of all three Cayman islands. The baroness visited the Sister Islands Monday, stating she could not have “chosen a more beautiful starting point” for her first trip to a British Overseas Territory.
Bush: Caymanian attorneys afraid to speak out on lawyers bill
There is significant opposition to the government’s latest attempt to amend working rules for local lawyers, but it is being stifled due to fear, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said this week. Mr. Bush said a number of Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly members had received private communications from lawyers who oppose the 126-page amended draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill.
EDITORIAL – When having ‘stacks of bills’ isn’t desirable
We can’t help but empathize with the anxiety expressed by several elected members in today’s newspaper over the sheer quantity of legislation the Progressives administration has crammed into the agenda of the new parliamentary session.
Lawmakers: Mass of bills to change ‘lives of generations’
Cayman Islands lawmakers are set to review and approve an unprecedented number of bills in the Legislative Assembly meeting that begins Tuesday, some of which involve complex, long-standing issues that have been before parliament for more than a decade.
Attempt to regulate nonprofits a ‘disaster,’ MLA says
Legislation that would require any charitable organization taking in more than $250,000 per year to register with the government will be a “disaster,” local residents were told during a public meeting in East End district Monday night.
New UK overseas territories minister to visit Cayman
Britain’s new overseas territories minister plans to visit all three Cayman Islands in the first week of October.
Independent LA members to host district meetings
The five independent members of the Legislative Assembly will begin hosting a series oftown hall-style meetings this week aimed at bringing voters up to speed on a number of issues parliament will consider when it meets next month.
EDITORIAL – Gay marriage: A motion or a diversion?
Why have a referendum on support for same-sex marriage? There is no doubt that the answer from the voting public will be “No.”
Planning changes clarify rules for 10-story buildings
Amendments to the Cayman Islands Development and Planning Law and regulations will allow for 10-story structures to be built in hotel/tourism zones in the islands without the need for greater property setbacks from the sea or the road.
EDITORIAL – Politics and religion: Foreshadowing our upcoming elections
Inside the Lions Centre on Sunday, thousands of residents rallied for the preservation of traditional “family values.” The huge gathering, impressive by any measure, was testimony to the fact that the collective character of the Caymanian people is rooted deeply in conservative religious values and beliefs.
Government seeks to give CIMA’s enforcement teeth with new fines
Government is proposing to give the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority new enforcement powers by introducing administrative fines that range from $5,000 for minor breaches by individuals to $1 million for very serious offenses by corporate entities.
Cayman Airways climbing out of $50 million debt
Once saddled with burgeoning “historical debts” of around $50 million, it appears Cayman’s national airline may finally be climbing out of a debt spiral that had threatened its operations in 2009/10.
Government $1.2 billion healthcare liability figure may be low
The Cayman Islands government’s $1.18 billion figure for estimated healthcare liabilities due over the next two decades may be a bit low.
Government says it won’t get into ‘medical tourism’
Although it has been granted the legal designation to participate in “medical tourism,” the government has no intention of going into that business, public health officials said Wednesday.
Bill aims to update intellectual property rights
With an updated law governing copyright that came into force earlier this year, government published a suite of new laws and amendments last week to update trademark, design rights and patent rules.
Bill seeks to place layers between politicians, project bids
Five years after an audit revealed Cayman was “wasting millions of dollars” each year on the purchase of goods and services, the territory has rewritten its rules for public procurement in a bill that could come before the Legislative Assembly this month.
Cayman Airways board members fly for free
Around 100 former Cayman Airways board members and their dependents were awarded unlimited free flights for life as compensation for their services, Chief Financial Officer Paul Tibbetts told a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee.
Funding approved for 50 new public school positions
Cabinet has approved additional funding for 50 new posts across the public school system, Education Minister Tara Rivers announced Wednesday.
Cayman tightens terrorism financing rules
“Terrorist financing” is now specifically defined as a criminal act in revised legislation due to be considered this fall by Cayman Islands lawmakers.
New anti-corruption commissioners appointed
Four new members of Cayman’s Anti-Corruption Commission were announced Friday, following changes approved to the local Anti-Corruption Law earlier in the year.
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.
Full National Conservation Law now in force
The final sections of the National Conservation Law, including a legal requirement for threats to the environment to be considered in planning decisions, came into force Monday.
Overhaul of health system for seamen, indigents planned
Following a highly critical report from the Office of the Auditor General last year and more criticism this year from some members of the Legislative Assembly, government plans to overhaul the system of benefits and healthcare for seamen and veterans and medical care for indigents.
Civil service retirement age raised to 65
Government formally enacted new changes Friday to the Public Service Pension Plan, most notably raising the retirement age from 60 to 65.
Cline Glidden Sr. remembered for service and faith
Cline Glidden Sr., a merchant marine and a boat captain for more than 40 years and who served as Serjeant at Arms of the Legislative Assembly for 15 years, passed away Monday at his home in West Bay. He was 91.
Six years after critical report, minister says pension system finally in compliance
A 2010 report from the Office of the Complaints Commissioner criticized government and the National Pensions Office, calling Cayman’s pension system a “ticking time-bomb,” ignored by many employers and neglected by politicians.
Regulators could gain power to set fuel prices
Government could get new powers to control fuel prices and prevent “collusive practices” in the industry under planned new legislation.
EDITORIAL – The budget: Plenty of funds, little flexibility
One key theme that should be highlighted is how “inflexible” the Cayman Islands government’s budget actually is – despite core government expecting $908 million in revenue in the next 18 months.
Legislative Assembly approves $862.4 million budget
Members of the Legislative Assembly Friday approved an $862.4 million budget for government over the next 18 months.
EDITORIAL – The necessary wall between MLAs and civil servants
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson etched a definitive and necessary line in the floor of the House, demarcating where the remit of lawmakers ends — and where the apolitical civil service begins.
31 civil servants on paid leave
Thirty-one Cayman Islands civil servants are on suspension with pay over various issues, including criminal allegations, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson confirmed Wednesday.
Some garages suspended from doing vehicle inspections
The Department of Vehicle and Drivers Licensing has suspended some garages from doing inspections in the wake of claims they were passing non-roadworthy vehicles, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said Tuesday.
Government using less fuel, minister says
Since changes were made to its fuel distribution system in the wake of an 2010 audit scandal, the Cayman Islands Department of Vehicle and Equipment Services fuel depot has been distributing about 15,000 to 16,000 fewer gallons of petrol annually to government vehicles.
Violators of minimum wage law investigated
Several firms are under investigation on suspicion of failing to pay employees the legal minimum wage, officials revealed this week.
Breaking down the budget
Government’s budget priorities for the year ahead include increased funding for schools, modest pay raises for civil servants, and more money for the country’s financial regulator and for public health to fight diseases such as the Zika virus.
Pensions law changes ‘within 18 months’
More than 50 changes to the Cayman Islands National Pensions Law will be brought into effect within the next 18 months, Legislative Assembly members heard Monday.
Budget will hamper monitoring offenders
A marginal spending increase for the Cayman Islands government department that monitors paroled criminal offenders will not allow the agency to implement the Conditional Release Law in the way it “would have liked to,” Premier Alden Mclaughlin said last week.
Government expects increase in work permits
The Cayman Islands Immigration Department is expecting an increase in temporary and full-time work permits for non-Caymanian employees over the next year, according to records for the upcoming 2016/17 budget.
Lawmakers, 911 argue CCTV effectiveness
To the 911 Emergency Communications Centre, an islandwide system of nearly 300 closed circuit monitoring cameras are an invaluable public safety resource.
Deadline for unlicensed vendors nears
Trade officers with the Department of Commerce and Investment have issued warnings to 36 unlicensed businesses who operate on public land.
$6 million allotted for land conservation
The National Conservation Council has welcomed the allocation of $6 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to buy up land to create protected areas.
Immigration: Work permits ‘mask’ gambling
Senior Cayman Islands Immigration officials confirmed Thursday that work permits had been granted that “masked” the illegal activities of some individuals employed in the Cayman Islands and indicated the department had investigated certain instances of that occurring.
Drowning of 14-year-old prompts new safety policy at CAYS Foundation
The CAYS Foundation has new water safety policies in place since the February drowning death of 14-year-old Risco Batten, the foundation’s general manager, Sydney Williams, told members of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
$13 million for seamen, veterans healthcare
The Cayman Islands government has budgeted to spend more than $13 million a year to cover 1,075 retired seamen, former veterans and their widows, according budget records.
