Archive for October, 2015
Work permit system too complex to be efficient
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Department of Immigration collects more than 11% of the government’s entire revenue, well over $70 million per year, but the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised concerns that the overly-complex work permit fee system is undermining its ability to collect money owed. In the latest report from the OAG examining […]
Mac turning to courts to stop SMCs
(CNS): The opposition leader has said he wants a judicial review of the government’s decision to adopt the recommendations by the Electoral Boundary Commission (EBC) for electoral reform. In an impassioned speech on Friday during the debate on the government motion to accept the EBC’s report, which paves the way for ‘one man, one vote’ […]
Panton still concerned over cruise project
(CNS): The environment minister has said that after looking at the updated Outline Business Case for the cruise ship project, he still has some concerns over this proposed plan and the impact of the indirect damage from dredging to local reefs. Wayne Panton was overseas dealing with issues relating to his financial services portfolio when […]
Kirk’s close GT stores over staff fears
(CNS): Management at Kirk Freeport closed its downtown stores early on Saturday in response to the peaceful protest organized by the Save Cayman campaigners over the plans for cruise piers after staff reported concerns that they would be targeted by the demonstration. Chris Kirkconnell told CNS ahead of what turned out to be a very […]
Equipment failure blamed for 2.5 hour power loss in GT
(CNS): Large parts of the capital were without power again on Friday (16 October) as a result of equipment failure on a pole in Maclendon Drive near Foster’s Food Fair. Customers in various parts of George Town experienced power interruptions between 1:22pm and 3:48pm, Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) officials said in a release. Areas affected […]
Unemployment rate up almost 1%
(CNS): The local unemployment rate climbed up to 5.6% this spring, the government’s statistic office has confirmed in its latest labour force survey. The figure is almost a full percentage point higher than the official figure for the autumn of 2014, when the rate was 4.7%. The near 1% increase over six months saw another 389 people […]
Legal aid lawyers get pay rise in new law
(CNS): After “many false starts”, the long awaited legal aid bill passed through the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, paving the way for more means-testing of those who receive legal aid. It will also hand the decision to grant cover to a director of legal aid, meet the requirements of the Bill of Rights and cap […]
Cayman Airways to launch Brac-Cuba route
(CNS Business): The National Flag Carrier will be launching a new weekly flight to Cuba from Cayman Brac at the end of next month, the airline has announced. The new Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) service between the Sister Island and Holguin is the second Cayman to Cuba route and the first outbound international route launched […]
Over 50 kilos of drugs stolen in cop-locker burglary
(CNS): The deputy governor has revealed that a whopping 24 kilos of cocaine and 33 kilos of ganja were stolen during a break-in at the George Town Police Station earlier this year. Having already caused public controversy as the RCIPS initially denied that the thieves had managed to get into the container located in the station […]
Mac ousted from PAC
(CNS): The premier told the Legislative Assembly Thursday ahead of the vote to oust the opposition leader from the Public Accounts Committee that his decision in 2013 to nominate Bush for PAC showed poor judgment on his part. Accepting his fate, as government had the votes, McKeeva Bush said the premier was “desperate” to get him out of […]
Viewpoint: Open Letter to Marco Archer
A CNS reader writes: In January 2010 the government increased custom tariffs on all dutiable imports within the Cayman Islands by 2%. This increase was applicable to goods consumed by all residents of the Cayman Islands and was said to be compensating for the policy decision to discontinue the charging of garbage fees to residential […]
