Topic: Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly
Premier attends CARICOM heads of government meeting in Barbados
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has joined regional and global leaders in Barbados this week for a meeting of CARICOM heads of government to discuss key issues affecting the Caribbean, including food security, climate resilience and security.
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.
MPs reject 2% property tax proposed to pay healthcare costs
Parliament squashed plans on Thursday for a 2% property tax to be levied on overseas property owners as a measure to pay for healthcare for underinsured seniors and children.
Public service retirees to receive $500 bonus payments
Cayman's public service retirees will have $500 extra each in their bank accounts this Christmas, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has announced.
UPM minority government passes 14 bills in Parliament
Despite severely depleted numbers in the ruling government, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly piloted 13 financial services-related bills in the Parliament on Monday, leaning on the...
Cayman walks away with win from UK talks, Premier says
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has hailed as a success the recently concluded Joint Ministerial Council talks in London, saying the jurisdiction emerged in a better position than first anticipated going into the talks.
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.
‘Shocked’ premier won’t seek re-election after ‘political tsunami’
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly is not seeking re-election in her Cayman Brac seat in next year’s general election in the Cayman Islands.
Cayman should have more power over its finances, says premier
Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly has called for Cayman to break free of the "economic handcuffs" imposed by the UK and be given more control over its own finances.
Cayman’s premier holds talks with Samoa’s prime minister
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly spent the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in talks with Samoa's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, alongside other government officials.
Civil servants to get 5% pay increase
The government has announced a 5% cost of living adjustment for civil service salaries from 1 Jan. next year, as well as a review of wages for the lowest paid public servants.
Premier urges students to flee Florida ahead of Category 5 Hurricane Milton
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has urged Caymanian students in Florida to return to Cayman as soon as possible as Hurricane Milton, which is now a Category 5 storm.
Ebanks backs contentious fees proposal process
Financial Services Minister André Ebanks has come to the defence of the ongoing consultation process and proposed increased fee regime saying that his ministry was supporting Government’s budget policy statement.
Pay increases for principals, deputies and assistant teachers
Principals, deputy principals and assistant teachers at Cayman's public schools are finally getting the pay rises they have been repeatedly promised.
Emotional scenes as Cayman reacts to Jordan Crooks’ historic swim
Thunderous cheers and screams of delight echoed in Constitution Hall as Jordan Crooks competed in Cayman's first Olympic swimming final on Friday afternoon.
Speaker: MPs code of conduct needs ‘force of law’
Speaker of the House Sir Alden McLaughlin has called for a renewed push to get a proposed code of conduct put in place for parliamentarians, which should have the force of law behind it.
Cayman extends hurricane relief to Jamaica
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly delivered financial and humanitarian aid to Jamaica after the devastating impacts from Hurricane Beryl.
Cayman delivers aid to hurricane-hit islands
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly led a delegation to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday to deliver much-needed assistance to the islands devastated by the passage of Hurricane Beryl earlier this month.
$1 million in aid but no job offers for hurricane-hit Grenada
Cayman is pledging approximately CI$1 million in "financial and tangible aid" to regional neighbours impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
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.
Premier on Beryl devastation: ‘We are going to lend a helping hand’
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has vowed to help fellow Caribbean nations which have been devastated by Hurricane Beryl.
Conservation Council expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘ill advised’ proposed NCA changes
Cayman's National Conservation Council came out swinging in defence of the National Conservation Act on Wednesday as it raised objection to any amendments that would "dilute" its ability to "act effectively".
Cabinet divided over proposed conservation law changes
Former Premier Wayne Panton has railed against potential changes to the National Conservation Act, as government maintained total silence on amendments being proposed.
Weather radar back in action just ahead of hurricane season
The Kearney Gomez Doppler Radar is now fully operational, just in time for the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
British Overseas Territories strategy on hold until after UK election
Work on the UK/Overseas Territories Strategy has been halted following the surprise announcement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of a general election on 4 July.
Premier meets with UK minister amid beneficial ownership pressure
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly met with UK Minister David Rutley in London as pressure mounts for Britain to have its Overseas Territories implement a public beneficial ownership registry.
Premier focuses on Cayman’s hurricane readiness at US conference
With the kickoff of the 2024 hurricane season two months away, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly says she has prioritised the islands’ emergency readiness, increasing hurricane shelter space and improving support to vulnerable communities during disasters.
Work begins on new Pease Bay public beach
Construction work has commenced on the new Pease Bay public beach and park, with a projected completion date of August this year.
Sexual harassment bill delays dubbed ‘epic failure’
Despite the fanfare accompanying the debut of the long-awaited Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill last year, and two rounds of consultation, Cayman remains without any formal legislation.
Opposition Leader urges action on at-risk youth issues
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has called on government to prioritise at-risk youth issues and gang disruption in the country on the heels of the 25 Feb. "mass shooting".
CITA urges community cooperation in wake of stadium shooting
The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has called on anyone with information related to Sunday's multiple-victim shooting at Ed Bush Stadium to come forward.
Pease Bay beach revamp to include turtle-shaped roundabout
Government is set to commence major upgrades at Pease Bay Public Beach, one of almost 50 pieces of land purchased last year as part of its programme to create new public parks and beaches.
Plans for stamp duty hike shelved, says premier
Government is rethinking plans for a stamp duty hike on luxury property – less than two months after floating the plan.
Cost-of-living challenges top priority in 2024 for local leaders
The rising cost of living challenges faced by the Cayman Islands community will be a top agenda item for both Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly and Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart in 2024.
‘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.
Year in review: Cayman’s political scene shifts after ‘musical chairs’
Cayman's political landscape was marked by turmoil, twists and tactical manoeuvres in 2023, culminating in the replacement of a sitting premier and a rebranded coalition of independent MPs leading government.
Government budget gets green light
The United People's Movement government's two-year fiscal package has been approved in Parliament, after two days of scrutiny in Finance Committee.
Manderson: ‘File for divorce before we get you’
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has warned couples in sham marriages to "go to the court and file for divorce before we get you" as a crackdown on immigration-related marriages of convenience continues.
McTaggart knocks UPM government’s ‘spend, rather than save’ budget choices
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has called for a "shift in direction" of the United People's Movement government's expenditure plan saying that its "spend, rather than save" choices in the 2024-2025 budget will have serious economic implications for the Cayman Islands.
Premier signals changes coming for Caymanian status
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, in her first official statement on immigration reform, hinted that changes are on the horizon when it comes to obtaining citizenship in the Cayman Islands.
Cayman to sign ‘British family’ declaration
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has declared her government’s intention to join other overseas territories in signing a declaration of partnership with the United Kingdom.
Premier and deputy governor recognised as outstanding listeners
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has been recognised as one of the Global Listening Centre’s '25 Most Outstanding Women Listeners in the World' for 2023.
Long-awaited budget to take centre stage as Parliament set to reconvene
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly is set to deliver her inaugural budget address as finance minister next Friday, 8 Dec, following the ceremonial opening of Parliament.
Premier: ‘Unity has to be the operative word’
As she spoke from the Premier's chair for the first time in Parliament Cayman Brac East MP Juliana O'Connor-Connolly sounded that call for legislators to turn over a new page and work together for the good of the country.
Christmas bonuses for civil servants, public service pensioners
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly came bearing gifts for Cayman's public service pensioners and civil servants Thursday night as she announced increases in pension payments and a one-time bonus for government workers.
Wayne Panton declines Speaker’s post
Former Premier Wayne Panton has declined the Speaker of the House post, saying that it "is in the best interest of the people of my community of Newlands, my country and my family".
Premier discusses behind-the-scenes talks that led to UPM
Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly has given some behind-the-scenes insights into the late-night discussions that led to the formation last week of the United People's Movement.
Government yet to seal the deal on Speaker
Government is still waiting word from former Premier Wayne Panton on whether he will accept the role of the Speaker of the House, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly said.
