Topic: Parliament
Six bills passed in first day of final session of Parliament
The final meeting of the 2025-2026 parliamentary session got under way on 29 April with the passing of six bills and the tabling of...
Funding for Opposition improves democracy, says premier
The official Opposition party is to receive funding for an office and staff following an amendment to legislation which came into force at the start of this year.
Youth parliamentarians debate mental health and employment
At a glance
The 19th Cayman Islands Youth Parliament met on 9 March, with young potential policymakers debating key community issues
Youth Parliament was...
MP warns about ‘unintended consequence’ of minimum wage
Bodden Town East MP Dwayne Seymour said that people are “suffering silently” with the “unintended consequence” of raising the minimum wage to $8.75.
Seymour,...
Cayman Craft Market facing relocation as Parliament expands
The Cayman Craft Market which sells local spices, snacks, jams, woodcarvings, jewellery and hats to visiting holidaymakers might be relocated for the second time in just a few years if plans to expand the Parliament site go ahead.
Parliament passes motion to ban face masks in public following robberies
Wearing face-coverings in public could become outlawed following a unanimous vote by MPs to consider legislation on the issue.
MPs vote to look at curbing social media access for under-16s
Cayman could follow Australia in banning social media for the under-16s following cross-party support on the issue in Parliament.
Immigration Act amendments get support across Parliament
Government’s plans for immigration reform moved a step closer with MPs from all political parties approving legislation as it made its way through Parliament.
Leaders unite at 26th National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast
The Parliament of the Cayman Islands hosted the 26th National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast on 22nd Jan. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, bringing together Members of Parliament, faith leaders and members of the wider community in a spirit of unity and reflection.
Major immigration reform passed by Parliament
The most significant changes to Cayman Islands immigration law in years have been passed by Parliament.
Opposition MPs raise concerns about impact of immigration bill
Opposition members and independent MPs raised concerns about “unintended consequences” of the reforms contained in the government’s Immigration Bill and warned that it could open the door to legal challenges as well as impacting Caymanian businesses.
Budget bill passes in Parliament with opposition party abstaining
Parliament has voted to pass the National Coalition for Caymanians first Budget, with the Bill passing in spite of four members of the Opposition choosing to abstain.
Shadow finance minister criticises ‘secrecy’ over stamp duty increase
Progressives MP Roy McTaggart questioned plans to raise stamp duty on ‘high end’ properties and challenged government to provide detail
Second chances as Expungement Board clears 23 criminal records
Almost half of those who requested that their criminal records be expunged had their applications approved last year, the Cayman Islands Expungement Board has reported.
Government reveals 2,200 Caymanians on housing waiting list
Parliament was told that as of 30 Sept. there were 1,152 active applications on the affordable housing waiting list of the National Housing Development Trust, representing 2,200 Caymanians.
Coalition government sets out its plans ahead of November budget
Premier André Ebanks introduced the first Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) of his coalition government in Parliament on Friday, 17 Oct., saying it set out the vision of the administration towards a 'stronger, fairer and braver country'.
In Parliament: Speed cameras to be rolled out once funding in place
Money to pay for long-awaited speed cameras is likely to be allocated in the 2026-2027 budget but government would not be drawn on a specific timetable for when they are going to be rolled out across Cayman’s road network.
Government’s plans include $209M in new revenue measures
Finance Minster Rolston Anglin presented government’s much-anticipated Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) to Parliament on Wednesday 16 Oct., saying it was built on a “solid foundation of common sense and pragmatism”.
Visiting UK minister tours Parliament
During his first official visit to the Cayman Islands from 21-23 Sept., UK Minister Stephen Doughty stopped by Parliament.
‘Boys’ club’ still a power in Parliament, female politicians say
A veteran female politician and a first-time candidate have united to call for more representation for women in Parliament.
Parliament passes civil service term limits for non-Caymanians
Government and opposition members both clashed and cooperated in a fiery final day in Parliament on Friday before breaking for the summer recess.
Opposition members raise questions over police funding
Opposition members questioned Acting Deputy Governor Gloria McField-Nixon on police funding in Parliament on Friday.
Government knocks down motion to extend NiCE programme
A plan to extend the National Community Enhancement programme, known as NiCE, to run year round was defeated in Parliament.
$8.75 minimum wage approved by government
The national minimum wage is going to be increased to $8.75 an hour on 1 Jan. 2026, government announced on Friday.
Parties clash over finances on Parliament’s opening day
The nation’s finances were at the forefront of the first day of the new Parliament, with the government being questioned over whether the Cayman Islands is still likely to end up in the red at the end of the year.
Governor outlines top priorities for new Parliament
The new coalition-led government laid out its plans for the new parliamentary session in the governor's address, delivered at the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
Youth Parliament shows elders how it’s done with a lively day of debate
The politicians looked a little younger than usual, but the debate was still passionate and parliamentary protocol strictly observed at the 18th session of the Cayman Islands Youth Parliament, held on Monday.
Premier to face weekly questions in Parliament
The premier of the Cayman Islands will in future be subjected to a weekly 30-minute grilling whenever Parliament is sitting, thanks to changes passed by MPs last week.
Seymour: I was ‘one inch from death’
Cabinet minister Dwayne Seymour has recounted for the first time the terrifying car accident that he says left him “one inch from death”.
Cayman passes law to clamp down on sexual harassment
A total of 15 MPs backed the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill at its third reading at Thursday's session of Parliament, with three members absent.
MP says ‘global reset’ means Cayman must marshal all its resources
Chris Saunders said that using the knowledge of Cayman's diverse populous would help the country find its way through a "global reset".
Caymanians will finally get their say on cruise berth question
Caymanians will finally vote in a referendum on the future of cruise shipping as MPs have voted in favour of the Referendum Bill.
Cruise referendum bill poised for approval in Parliament
Referendums on cruise shipping, gambling and cannabis look likely to take place on Election Day after opposition MPs indicated their support.
Controversial changes to National Conservation Act withdrawn ahead of debate
Controversial changes to the National Conservation Act were dramatically ditched at the last minute today as MPs voted to withdraw the National Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Premier pushes contentious bills onto parliamentary agenda
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has forced the inclusion of two controversial bills on the agenda for the Friday session of Parliament.
Sexual Harassment Bill published after 20 years of discussions
Fines for sexual harassment and a requirement by employers to have policies against sexual harassment could finally become enshrined in Cayman Islands law.
New bus routes for Cayman promised alongside more efficient network
Three long-awaited bus routes are to be introduced as part of government’s plans to improve public transport around Grand Cayman.
Cruise pier campaign group asks MPs to back referendum
A pressure group set up to promote cruise ship piers for Cayman appealed to politicians on Friday to stick to a plan to hold a referendum on the controversial proposal.
Drugs sentencing bias debate prompts top lawyer to weigh in
A top lawyer has backed a probe into whether foreigners convicted of possession for drugs get off more lightly than Caymanians.
Law change in memory of Shemaiah Grant means criminal drivers might be charged child...
Motorists who cause death by illegal driving could now be made to pay costs for the upbringing of the deceased person’s children.
MPs vote for stricter traffic rules and clampdown on phone use
MPs voted unanimously on Wednesday to improve Cayman's poor traffic safety record by passing a traffic bill to introduce a range of measures.
Premier’s minority government faces first Parliament meeting
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly and her minority government will face its first legislative challenge in Parliament on 9 Dec.
MPs back ‘minority government’ decision, call for early 2025 election
A spring 2025 general election now seems likely after four breakaway MPs backed a move to ensure the diminished UPM coalition can continue as a minority government on a temporary basis.
Failure to file caused house-building delays, says housing minister
Government house-building schedules were delayed for years due to the National Housing Development Trust's failure to file annual reports, the housing minister told Parliament last week.
Parliament green lights cruise berthing referendum
Parliament has unanimously voted to go ahead with the cruise ship referendum, which will be held during the general election next year.
Opinion: Cayman’s democratic deficit
Since the very dawn of democracy, threats to its continual survival have never been far below the surface. So how does Cayman’s democracy look?
Parliament suspended until start of new session
The Cayman Islands Parliament has been suspended until the opening of the new 2024-2025 session of the House which is expected to take place in early October.
‘We are one family’: UK speaker of House vows unity with Cayman
UK Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he wants to be "a champion" for the British Overseas Territories as he marked his inaugural visit to the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
UK Speaker of the House of Commons to visit Cayman
UK Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle will make his first official visit to the Cayman Islands next week which will include a special meeting of Parliament convened to mark the occasion.
Parliament to discuss transport and fuel costs but not conservation law
Cayman's Opposition legislators will be pressing government on its plans for a new public transport system for Grand Cayman and the country's third subsea cable among other issues when the latest session of Parliament gets under way today.
Cabinet rejects recommendation to redraw electoral map
Government has rejected the Electoral Boundary Commission's recommended changes to the local constituency boundary lines and will now be seeking a new commission to review the make-up of Cayman's parliamentary seats.
Next meeting of Parliament delayed until 5 July
The next meeting of Parliament is being delayed by nearly two weeks, and will now meet on Friday, 5 July.
Report on Cayman’s Parliament finds gaps in transparency, independence
A new report looking into Cayman's Parliamentary effectiveness has found several challenges to its success as a legislature ranging from transparency issues to the absence of a code for members' conduct and perceived hinderances to its independence.
Limits may be placed on MPs as justices of the peace
Members of Parliament could soon be restricted in their duties as justices of the peace under legislative changes aiming to protect the separation of powers between the elected government and the judiciary.
Lawmakers to investigate erratic fuel prices
A new bi-partisan committee of lawmakers has been tasked with getting to root of why local fuel prices have been fluctuating the way that they have been compounding the strain on the Cayman Islands community.
‘Archaic’ Parliament Standing Orders to be modernised in 2024
House Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin says he will be pressing forward with efforts to modernise the Parliamentary Standing Orders which were penned in 1976.
Panton nursing broken ribs after accident
Former Premier Wayne Panton has been injured in an accident, suffering several broken ribs, House Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin said in Parliament Friday morning.
Multi-storey hotels can now add rooftop pools and restaurants
Owners and developers of multi-storey hotels and apartment buildings in Cayman can now add pools, restaurants, gyms and green areas to their rooftops, thanks to an updated law.
McLaughlin tapped for Speaker, special meeting called
Former Premier Sir Alden McLaughlin has been tapped for the role of Speaker of the House and is expected to be elected unopposed at a special meeting of Parliament called for Thursday morning.
Ebanks-Wilks: ‘We must stop this instability’
As outgoing House Speaker Katherine Ebanks-Wilks publicly announced her resignation from her post she echoed her concerns on the need for the role to be autonomous in the face of political maneuvering.
No-confidence debate: What the MPs said
Tuesday’s lack of confidence motion in the Wayne Panton and his PACT government was defeated in the House after failing to reach a two-thirds majority. Here's what the members who spoke during the debate had to say.
Premier Panton holds his ground, insists PACT ‘has options’
Premier Wayne Panton today called on MPs to "respect democracy" and allow his PACT coalition to continue to "deliver for the people".
Special meeting of Parliament approved, no-confidence motion set
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has filed a motion of no confidence in the government and Premier Wayne Panton, and has summoned a special meeting of Parliament to debate it.
Bush: ‘PACT members asked premier to step down’
Former government backbencher McKeeva Bush laid bare the infighting among government members Friday morning, saying it got to a point where the PACT team had asked Premier Wayne Panton to resign and he refused.
Parliament undergoing assessment to see if it meets democratic standards
Assessors from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association are this week carrying out an exercise to determine if the Cayman Islands Parliament meets the recommended standards for democratic legislatures.
Premier predicts just $3M surplus for 2023
Government expenditure is expected to be just $3.3 million less than government revenue this financial year, Premier Wayne Panton has said.
Government silent over Seymour resignation amid leadership speculation
Following the sudden resignation of Minister of Border Control and Labour Dwayne Seymour on Friday, Premier Wayne Panton and his government remained silent over the weekend about the future of his administration.
Panton: ‘Cayman’s economy is strong and getting stronger’
Premier Wayne Panton told MPs this week that Cayman’s economy remains strong with more growth predicted over the coming years.
Beach vendor permits to be granted by end of October
Vendor permits for Caymanians selling goods and services on Seven Mile Public Beach are expected to be granted by the end of October, it was announced in Parliament this week.
Parliament resumes with annual reports, questions and bills
MPs gathered in the House of Parliament in George Town on Tuesday, 19 Sept., for the first meeting of the 2023-2024 session.
Opposition seeks support to legalise pepper spray and mace
The Opposition is bringing a private member's motion to the next sitting of Parliament asking for MPs to support the legalisation of pepper spray and mace for self-defence.
Lawmakers support motion to pause bank rate increases
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday evening for government to continue discussions with local banks for existing interest rates to be cut and pause further increases.
