News

The Second Sitting of the Third Meeting of the 2024-2025 Session of Parliament continued on Monday, 3 February. Speaker of the Cayman Islands Parliament, Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin, announced the resumption of Parliament and invited the elected member for West Bay Central, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, to lead prayers.

The 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Standing Select Committee to oversee the performance of the Office of the Ombudsman was tabled by the elected member for West Bay North, Hon. Bernie Bush. Mr Bush commended the Ombudsman and her office, stating, "They have done a sterling job, and they must be commended."

Four ministerial statements were delivered during the sitting. Two were presented by the Minister for Border Control, Labour, and Culture, Hon. Dwayne Seymour, regarding Pirates Week 2024 and amendments to the Immigration Transition Act. The Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Ports, Social Development, and Innovation, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, spoke on developments at Central Scranton Park. The Minister of Youth, Sports, and Heritage, Hon. Isaac Rankine, addressed the payment of the five per cent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and an honorarium for the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.

In his statement on Pirates Week, Minister Seymour remarked, "Cabinet found it necessary to favourably consider the request for supplementary funding because it was agreed that this need facilitated an exceptional circumstance." He added, "Culture-related expenditures are pivotal in the government's strategy to promote national heritage and arts and culture activities in this critical time when national identity is often being watered down, overlooked, or outright forgotten."

Discussing Central Scranton Park, Deputy Premier Bryan explained that "EA 164 Central Scranton Park was increased by $1.5 million to assist with the construction of entrances, landscaping, a multipurpose court and bathroom block, fencing, a neighbourhood roadway, and a parking lot." He also noted that the appropriation for tourism scholarships had increased by $170,000, while the Miss Cayman scholarship had increased by $25,000 to fund awards in 2024.

On the five per cent COLA and honorarium, Minister Rankine affirmed, "It was crucial for this government to honour its commitment to the wider public service and support entities that contribute to the preservation and awareness of our arts and culture." He further stated, "As the country's leading public visual arts organisation, dedicated to collecting and exhibiting works of our local artisans, it was important to acknowledge the invaluable work of the National Gallery and its staff."

Minister Seymour also addressed immigration challenges, stating that "The Cayman Islands, like many other developed nations, faces a range of migration challenges." He emphasised the need for a responsive and adaptive immigration framework, noting that amendments to the Immigration Transition Act (2022 Revision) had been under review since Cabinet’s approval in May 2024.

The Second Reading of the Referendum (Cruise Berthing Infrastructure, Gambling, and Cannabis) Bill, 2024 was presented, with Minister Bryan, rising in support of the Bill. He outlined the three key referendum questions:

Should the Cayman Islands develop cruise berthing infrastructure? 

Do you support the introduction of a national lottery in the Islands? 

Do you support the decriminalisation of the consumption and possession of small amounts of cannabis?

Minister Bryan stressed that the referendum was about democratic participation, allowing the people to directly influence major policy decisions. He warned that Cayman’s cruise tourism industry is in decline and that failure to modernise could have severe economic consequences. He also highlighted shifting public attitudes towards gambling and cannabis, arguing that legalising a national lottery could redirect funds from the black market to national development, while decriminalising cannabis would address social justice concerns, particularly for young Caymanians. Minister Bryan insisted that denying the public a vote would be a “travesty.”

Leader of the Opposition, Joey Hew, supported the referendum and acknowledged the long history of discussions on cruise berthing facilities. He also noted that some newly registered voters may have registered specifically to participate in this referendum.

Several MPs voiced their support for the Bill, including Bernie Bush, McKeeva Bush, Minister Rankine and Minister Seymour. They expressed concern over the economic risks of losing cruise tourism and warned that many Caymanian-owned businesses could face closure.

However, members of the Opposition, MP for Prospect Sabrina Turner and Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, raised concerns about the need for a referendum on these issues. They questioned whether the process was necessary and criticised the phrasing of the questions as unclear. Both MPs argued that the public had not received sufficient education or information to make an informed decision. MP Ebanks-Wilks also warned that those dependent on cruise tourism could be disadvantaged if voters reject the project due to a lack of awareness.

MP for Newlands Wayne Panton, acknowledged the importance of economic growth but argued that the funds allocated for a large-scale development project such as a cruise pier could be better utilised elsewhere. He stated: "It is worth assessing very clearly the extent to which we can create the benefits for the people of West Bay Central, and for the people of West Bay South, and for the people of Prospect, and for the people of Savannah, and for the people of Newlands, and for the people of every single constituency represented in this House – all nineteen of us, Sir. We owe it to them."

As the hour reached 9:00 pm, the Premier moved a motion to adjourn the sitting, which was passed accordingly.

The House will return at 10:00 am on Wednesday, 5 February.