News

The Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Meeting of the 2023-2024 Session of Parliament took place yesterday, Thursday 25 July. Beginning at 1pm, the session opened with prayer by Member for George Town South Mr. David Wight. The Speaker of the House, Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin began proceedings with an announcement that the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons will be visiting the Cayman Islands next week. As such, a Special Meeting of the House will take place on Thursday, 1 August 2024.

Multiple reports were tabled by the Acting Deputy Governor Mrs. Gloria McField Nixon, Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin and Acting Premier Hon. Andre Ebanks. Of these, noteworthy findings included 114 persons having been expunged per the 2021-2022 Cayman Islands Expungement Board Report. Also, the Acting Premier laid the 2023 Electoral Boundary Commission report before the House in accordance with the Cayman Islands Constitution. A motion to accept the Draft Order of the recommendations is expected to be brought forward during proceedings on Friday 26 July.

Minister for Planning, Agriculture, Housing, Infrastructure, Transport and Development Hon. Jay Ebanks answered four parliamentary questions concerning various responsibilities of his Ministry. The first, posed by Leader of the Opposition and Member for George Town East Hon. Roy McTaggart, asked about the progress towards designing and implementing a new public transport system for Grand Cayman. Minister Ebanks replied by saying that both short-term and long-term measures were approved by Cabinet. Some short-term measures included improving public bus information, enhancing the reliability of the existing bus system, upgrading the service in the eastern districts, rolling out of a taxi booking app and the purchase of new buses to support the existing system.

When asked by MP McTaggart about the implementation of a third undersea cable for the Cayman Islands, Minister Ebanks informed the House that a Cabinet paper was currently being drafted on the matter. MP McTaggart also asked about the status of reinstating the Government Guaranteed Home Assisted Mortgage Programme, to which Minister Ebanks said that the updated plan and policy are expected to be implemented later this year.

In his final question to Minister Ebanks, MP McTaggart asked him to advise what, if any, traffic calming measures are planned for the Spotts section of Shamrock Road, given the number of traffic accidents, including fatalities, that have happened there. Minister Ebanks responded noting that the National Road Safety Committee made several recommendations to increase the safety in the area including better lighting, automated speed check signage amongst others. The National Roads Authority and Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will monitor the effects of these measures. The National Road Safety Committee is also looking at reducing the speed limit in that area but those recommendations have not been finalised.

Member for Newlands Mr. Wayne Panton asked the Minister for Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Hon. Katherine Ebanks – Wilks (a) whether any decision has been made on the Regen Project; (b) what are the current project dates; and (c) what is the current longstop date?

Minister Ebanks-Wilks answered that Cabinet has decided to take the necessary steps required to exit the project agreement led by the Dart Consortium to find a more affordable solution as no such project dates have been laid out. She said a sustainable solution remains a key priority for the Ministry. She further outlined how Cabinet came to the decision in a statement to the House and emphasised the need for an affordable solution to the Cayman Islands’ current solid waste management challenges.

Minister for Health and Wellness, Hon. Sabrina Turner shared an update on appropriation changes that had been approved for her Ministry, including increases that fund increased critical care access, the Poinciana Rehabilitation facility and other initiatives.

The first Private Member's Motion was brought by MP for West Bay West, Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, which proposed an increase in traffic fines to support road safety. The motion was met with great support from the House, with multiple members from both the Government and Opposition rising to share their concerns on the safety of Cayman's roads. It was duly passed with no opposition.
MP Bush also moved to amend the Trade and Business Act to mandate 100% Caymanian ownership of certain businesses, valued at a defined amount, including real estate and property management, construction and water sports. This motion was also widely supported and passed.

MP McTaggart brought a motion to temporarily reduce duties charged by Government on imports of fuels purchased by utility providers, fuels for cooking gas, and automotive fuels, including diesel to zero for 12 months. It also asked for Government to consider implementing a summer Electricity Relief Programme, similar to that was which was implemented in July 2022. Debate ensued on the matter with responses both in favour and with concerns from Members of Parliament. However, the motion was duly passed without opposition.

The House will return at 10:00 AM today, Friday, 26 July.