Topic: Moses Kirkconnell
CarePay trial: Contract was 'highway robbery,' witness says
Fees that were expected to generate more than US$2 million a year for a Jamaican company providing services to the Cayman Islands public hospital system under the CarePay contract were called “highway robbery” by a Crown witness who testified Thursday in an ongoing criminal trial.
Stay-over tourism numbers flat while region grows
More tourists are traveling to the Caribbean’s major vacation destinations this year, but stayover numbers for the first three quarters of 2015 show that Cayman’s numbers are flat following a record-breaking year in 2014.
Cayman Airways gets new boarding ramps
Cayman Airways has purchased six new boarding ramps for its planes.
Tourism officials launch food drive
Civil servants are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items to stock the Elmslie Memorial United Church’s pantry.
Eden's Progressives departure sets off political uproar
The departure of long-serving Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden from the Progressives-led government last week sparked a behind-the-scenes political scramble and was viewed by some Cayman politics insiders as a potential foreshadowing of others leaving the Progressives party.
Mr. Eden said he would sit on the other side of the Legislative Assembly when the House next meets in the new year.
Port politics: 'The Council' comes to life
Flexing its muscles against its creator, the National Conservation Council is attempting to impede the Progressives government’s pursuit of the cruise berthing project downtown.
Legal action possible over port decision
Cayman Islands Government has been served with notice that a judicial review could be filed with relation to Cabinet’s decision to proceed with the cruise port development.
Boarding bridges cost debated
An earlier plan for the expansion of the Owen Roberts International Airport included three passenger boarding bridges at an estimated cost of $4.65 million.
Cayman Brac employment: A Saab story
The 21 "additional" jobs connected with enhanced Cayman Brac air service are being created by government fiat, not market demand.
Brac airport, CAL to add 21 jobs
The airport expansion on Cayman Brac, along with a new plane and more flights in and out of Charles Kirkconnell International Airport, means 21 new jobs for the island, Tourism Minister and Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell said.
The minister said the airport has hired more firefighters and immigration and customs officers.
Inaugural flight for Brac plane
Cayman Airways christened its new plane to fly between the Brac and Grand Cayman. Officials say the plane will be phased into daily use this month.
Remembrance Sunday ceremonies honor our heroes
Veterans from two world wars and men who lost their lives at sea were honored Sunday in the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Veterans and Seafarers Association members attending included those who served in World War II as well as Home Guard who performed distinctive service at home during the war.
Slower summer affects tourism growth
After several years of steady improvement, the growth of Cayman’s tourism industry began to slow this year.
Tourism minister denies port conflict
Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell has refuted suggestions of a conflict of interest over Cayman’s cruise port project.
Cabinet approves cruise project
Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed Tuesday that Cabinet has formally approved the decision to move to the next phase of the proposed cruise pier development, which will involve discussions with cruise lines on a preferred financing model.
United Kingdom approval of the port development in George Town harbor will depend on the Cayman Islands government’s ability to show the project is self-funding.
Mr. McLaughlin acknowledged, “We are still a long way from saying this project is a go.”
Deep-water solution to port problem considered
The government has asked engineers to review the design of Cayman’s proposed cruise port and assess the possibility of moving the piers into deeper water to minimize destruction of coral reefs.
Cruise line mega-ships will not use tenders
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Carnival Corp. have confirmed they have no plans to use tenders to service the larger Oasis-style cruise ships.
Pilot's tests considered for boaters
Pleasure boaters could soon be required to take pilot’s tests before being allowed on the water.
Short-term thinking: Short runways, no jetways
When it comes to Owen Roberts International Airport, we are uncomfortable with an "economy-class renovation" in our "first-class destination."
Jetways off table for airport
Boarding ramps and portable “box tunnels” will be used at the Owen Roberts International Airport as an alternative to the passenger boarding bridges, left out of the $55 million redevelopment plan for Grand Cayman’s airport.
Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said Friday there were no immediate plans to add boarding bridges, known as jetways, which he said would cost an additional $20m.
New Brac commuter flights likely to start in November
A new 34-seat turboprop aircraft purchased for the Cayman Brac commuter route has yet to be put into service, more than two months after arriving on island.
Cayman Airways counts on Cuba connection
Flights between Cayman Brac and the coastal city of Holguin in eastern Cuba begin next month, with Cayman Airways officials confident the Cuba connection will continue to pay dividends.
Legislators approve ‘one man, one vote’ for 2017
Cayman Islands lawmakers have approved a long-debated change to ‘one
man, one vote’ for the British territory’s next general election cycle.
Cruise ship dock business case predicts up to US$439 million benefit
The final business case for the cruise pier project estimates a potential economic upside of some US$439 million over 20 years for the Cayman Islands.
Even if the worst economic impacts associated with the loss of reefs in George Town harbor were realized, consultant PwC concluded in its report that the project would still deliver a net benefit to the economy of US$112 million.
$40 million price tag to lessen port impact
The price tag for managing the environmental impact of building cruise piers in George Town harbor could rise to more than $40 million, depending on which options government decides to pursue.
Cruise berthing: A promise kept
The members of the Progressives administration like to style themselves as “a government that gets things done.” On the subject of the George Town cruise dock, they have lived up to that promise.
Students awarded in regional poster competition
Clifton Hunter High School student Anissa Hoyte and Cayman Prep and High School student Tijana Parker have been recognized for their entries in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Environmental Poster Competition.
Brac developments in the works
Expansions to two hotels and a new government-funded swimming pool are in the works for Cayman Brac.
The Brac Reef Beach Resort is midway through renovations including a new pool and multi-level bar, while Le Soleil D’Or has added a spa, fitness center and restaurants and is planning to add accommodations early next year.
Coral relocation possible, consultant says
Just under a third of the corals in the proposed construction site for a new cruise berthing facility in George Town harbor could be relocated, according to a marine consultant’s survey.
The survey, involving scientific divers and sonar imaging of the sea floor, was commissioned to get a more precise estimate of the number of corals that would be impacted by the project.
The report concludes that around 391,000 hard corals and 61,000 soft corals will be affected over 11 acres.
Government breaks ground on airport expansion
Officials broke ground Wednesday on the first phase of the $55-million airport expansion project.
Airport upgrade to break ground this week
The initial stage of Grand Cayman's airport redevelopment will see shovels in the ground this week.
Kimpton hotel aims for November 2016 opening
Building work on the Kimpton hotel on Seven Mile Beach is on schedule, project managers say, and the hotel is poised to open on Nov. 1, 2016.
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.
First hospitality graduates hired locally
School of Hospitality Studies graduates find jobs in the industry.
Cayman Airways claims $3.1 million profit
Cayman Airways bosses say the airline made a $3.1 million profit in the past year.
New plane sparks hope of Brac revival
Cayman Airways adds a new 34-seat turboprop plane to its fleet amid high hopes that it will help spark a tourism revival on Cayman Brac.
Growth slows in stay-over tourism
While Caribbean stay-over tourism increased more than 7 percent in the first six months of this year, the Cayman Islands has seen only a 1.5 percent rise, according to a new report on regional tourism. That’s down from a more than 10 percent increase in the first half of last year.
The new report from Integra Realty Resources found that all but one of the Caribbean’s 13 most popular vacation spots witnessed average stay-over growth. Cuba and Barbados grew by more than 14 percent in the first half of the year, and Aruba added more than 18 percent.
Tourism arrivals improve on 2014
Cayman's tourism numbers keep increasing in 2015, but for how long?
Cruise berthing in Cayman: A history of starts, stops and controversy
A historical look at more than 12 years of starts, stops, controversy and failure in the effort to build cruise berthing facilities on Grand Cayman
Cruise piers would trigger further spending
Building new cruise piers in George Town would mean significant further infrastructure investment would be required.
Most MLAs not ready to take sides
The members of the Legislative Assembly are not yet revealing where they stand on the issue of whether a cruise berthing facility should be built in George Town Harbour.
Port head taxes, berthing fees would fund dock
The exact cost and funding model of building new cruise piers in George Town will be determined through a competitive bidding process if the project gets given the green light.
Ministry of Tourism on the proposed cruise berthing facility
Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell outlines the proposed cruise berthing facility project.
School of Hospitality Studies holds awards ceremony for students
Students celebrate completing their course at the School of Hospitality Studies.
United adds Chicago, Washington flights
Starting in December, United Airlines will offer direct flights from Chicago to Grand Cayman and additional direct flights between Washington-Dulles and Grand Cayman.
Tourist arrivals dip slightly
Tourism arrivals dip slightly in May, but Cayman is still on track to surpass 2014's big jump in stay-over visitors.
Lifetime achievement award for hotel owner Kel Thompson
From flying tourists to the island as one of Cayman Airways’ youngest ever captains, to hosting them at his East End hotel, Kel Thompson was recognized for three decades of service to the island’s tourism industry.
Brac graduates 22 students
Twenty-two students graduating from Layman E. Scott Sr. High School saw a large turn out by residents at Aston Rutty Civic Centre on Saturday.
Petitioners oppose cruise pier
Protesters have gathered more than 1,000 signatures for a petition to prevent construction of a new $150 million cruise pier in George Town harbor.
Cayman Airways drops Panama route
Cayman Airways has dropped its seasonal flight to Panama, with government signaling a switch in policy from attempting to attract new tourists from South America.
Cruise piers: 'death sentence' for reefs
Plans for new cruise piers in George Town harbor met with strong opposition Tuesday as consultants laid out the environmental cost to coral reefs and the potential economic damage to the dive industry.
Tourism figures remain strong
Air arrivals into the Cayman Islands have surpassed 150,000 in the first four months of 2015, an increase of almost five percent over the same period last year.
Soccer tourney canceled
An international under-15 soccer tournament that was slated to be the biggest sporting event the Cayman Islands has hosted, has been postponed amid the continuing fall-out from allegations of corruption within the sport’s world governing body.
Tourism development boom highlighted
Citing seven new multi-million dollar hotel and tourism projects in the works, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell told legislators “investor confidence” is returning to the Cayman Islands.
U.S. News & World Report Seven Mile Beach 'No. 1' in the world
Seven Mile Beach has been voted the world's number one beach in a US News and World Report ranking.
Cayman Airways forecasting improvement in finances
Cayman Airways is projecting that it will end the current financial year without a net loss for the first time on record.
Cox Lumber opens in Bodden Town
After seven years in the works, Cox Lumber Ltd. opened its doors in Bodden Town Friday.
Powers of MLAs questioned
Premier Alden McLaughlin insists his backbench MLAs have far more influence on government policy than outside observers may realize.
Tourism arrivals break new records
Cayman needs more hotel beds to accommodate the growing number of tourists flocking to these shores, according to tourism chiefs.
Hydes re-elected tourism boss
Ken Hydes vowed to work to continue the upward momentum of the tourism industry after being re-elected as president of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association on Wednesday.
NRA pavers may remain in Brac
National Roads Authority paving equipment sent to Cayman Brac nearly five years ago may not ever return to Grand Cayman.
Cost of Brac flights 'commercially sensitive'
What Cayman Airways spends on operating new, larger planes to fly to Cayman Brac becomes a controversial subject with local lawmakers.
Brac's Divi Tiara awaits economic, tourism upturn
Cayman Brac’s Divi Tiara Beach Resort, closed for nearly a decade, continues to deteriorate while the Legal Department contemplates court action against the North Carolina owners who failed to comply with a 2014 abatement order.
Tourism marketing firms replaced
The Department of Tourism has replaced the two companies that market the island to tourists in the US.
Soccer events boost Cayman's economy, report says
Regional football governing body CONCACAF has generated more than US $30 million of economic activity in the Cayman Islands since Jeff Webb took over the presidency, according to a report produced by Maples FS for the organization.
Next port director faces big pay cut
The person chosen as Cayman's new port authority director will be taking a big pay cut.
Tourism chiefs huddle in Big Apple
Tourism officials met with journalists, advertising agencies and other industry partners in New York to discuss strategies for promoting the Cayman Islands.
Damaged coral: Volunteers step up, Carnival pitches in
Money talks. And Carnival's $100,000 donation is a declaration of the company's regard for the Cayman Islands' marine environment.
Cruise line pledges $100k to reef restoration
Carnival Cruise Lines has stepped up with a $100,000 donation to support the restoration of a section of coral reef that was severely damaged by one of its cruise ship anchors.
Treasure Island for sale for $15.4M
The 280-room Treasure Island resort has gone on the market in a forced sale for US$15.45 million.
Port Authority director put on ‘gardening leave’
Cayman's Port Authority director is sent home three months before his contract ends.
Four-masted tall ship will make cruise calls to cayman Brac through 2016
A four-masted tall ship, the MS Star Flyer, will continue to make regular cruise calls in Cayman Brac through 2016.
