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The First Sitting of the Fourth Meeting of the 2023-2024 Session of Parliament began with apologies tendered on behalf of Premier Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who will be unable to attend this session due to illness. In her absence, Deputy Premier Hon. Andre Ebanks will be Acting Premier, and Minister for Tourism and Ports, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, will serve as Acting Deputy Premier.

A total of 19 Annual Reports and Papers were tabled by Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Commerce, and Investment, Innovation & Social Development, Hon. Andre Ebanks. During his presentation of the Ministry of Investment, Innovation & Social Development's Annual Report for 2023, Minister Ebanks noted that the Ministry had advanced their project for the National e-ID. Due to the work completed in 2023, they expect to roll out the project on a voluntary basis by the end of this year.

Two questions were asked to Ministers. The first question, regarding the implementation of an uplift to the minimum wage, was asked by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Roy McTaggart, and answered by the Minister for Border Control, Labour, and Culture, Hon. Dwayne Seymour. Minister Seymour noted that the Cabinet reviewed the original Minimum Wage Advisory Committee Report recommendations and determined that a new advisory committee would need to be formed to submit a new report with specific data per sector. He also stated that the Cabinet decided that, as of 1st July 2025, employees in the Hospitality and Service Industry would be the only sector to receive an increase in the minimum wage to CI$7 per hour. Furthermore, the current structure for this sector, whereby 25% of the minimum wage can be made up by gratuities, would be removed.

The second question, regarding the number of hospital beds in Grand Cayman, was asked by the Elected Member for George Town West, Mr. David Wight, and answered by the Minister of Health & Wellness, Hon. Sabrina Turner. Minister Turner noted that she understood the spirit of the question to be about the overall availability of health services in the Cayman Islands and emphasized that she was not aware of any instance when health services could not be provided due to a lack of beds. She stated that the current total hospital bed capacity of the Cayman Islands is 227 beds, not including the 53 beds that will be available at the newly opened Health City Cayman Islands’ Camana Bay location.

The Attorney General, Hon. Samuel Bulgin, presented the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Attorney General described the purpose of the Bill as to galvanize the provisions of the Firearms Act to ensure it is “fit for purpose in 2024 and deals with not just the existing problems but the emerging difficulties as it relates to the importation, possession, and use of firearms in these Islands, which threaten the peace and harmony, safety, and security that we have all come to cherish." The sitting was suspended for members to review the Bill and raise questions with the Attorney General and his team. Several members voiced their support for the Bill, and it was noted that amendments would be discussed once the House enters Committee.

Deputy Premier Ebanks moved that due to the importance of the legislation and the points raised during the discussion, the House should adjourn for the evening to allow Attorney General Bulgin and his team to compile the relevant information in relation to the Bill. The motion was carried.

The House will return at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 23 July.