Bryan increases welfare payments on last day in House
(CNS): People receiving long-term financial assistance from the Cayman Islands Government, ex gratia pensions or seafarers and veterans benefits will see an increase of CI$250 per month, as the CIG has upped the monthly payments to CI$1,500. Kenneth Bryan, who took on the social development ministry last October, said it was the subject of a PPM opposition motion that the government considered and has now decided to adopt.
Noting that inflation had eaten into welfare benefits, he said Cabinet had supported his request, and the increased benefits would be paid in February backdated to January. He said this was part of the government’s efforts to review the welfare safety net and help the most vulnerable.
“As we are well aware, the cost of living in the Cayman Islands continues to impact many Caymanians, particularly the most vulnerable in the population,” Bryan said, reminding MPs that at the last meeting, he had steered through changes to the Financial Assistance Department to help those in need access government help when they need it.
He said Cabinet had supported his request to increase the benefits and was being funded via a section 11 change to the appropriations for that ministry, though he did not make it clear how much the additional welfare spending would cost the public purse.
Bryan said that although he had only recently taken over the portfolio for social development, with just a few months to go before the elections, the increase reflected his and the UPM government’s commitment to supporting Caymanians and to “look out for the well-being of the most vulnerable members of society”.
In October 2023, when the PPM submitted a private member’s motion calling for the uplift, André Ebanks, the social development minister at the time, accepted the motion but warned that the CIG might not be able to afford the increase. The payments had already increased from $950 to $1,250 that summer, and he warned that it would add CI$6.3 million to the budget.
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Just in time for elections. Why didn’t this happen 4 years ago?
He had 8 years of crying in the house of parliament! Just in time I guess! lol
It shows the type of desperate politician he is and that we are tired of. Vote him out.
10:43 am very true, stop those that don’t qualify. If they don’t have their ships discharges, then they need to reapply and have 6 seamen swear that they know they went to sea for 3 or more years before 1984 and was living in these islands at the time of their seafarering. witness by a JP. And if the 6 seamen signing are caught telling lies then stop their benefits too.
That man is as see-through as cling film. Can’t stand him. He typifies the terrible standard of politician we have to deal with.
I know a woman in Cayman Brac receiving two seafarer pensions: from two husbands. Even though her first husband died and she remarried. She is still receiving his Seafarer pension plus the man that she remarried died and she is getting his too.
In the US every 2 years younger have to submit proof of life to continue to receive benefits. is something similar done here?
12;24 pm, we wonder who that women is that’s getting 2 seamen pension money, report her. if we knew who she is she be reported, that’s stealing.
If people who were thinking about themselves and not the rest of the island as they claim? We would not be in the mess we are in. Since not getting the piers started, we will probably need to double the price like everything that has happened since Covid. The previous government had a deal which would not have cost a red cent. But the peanut gallery had to complain about something they didnt research.
2 cruise lines offered to put the cash up for the construction and design. Since at the end of the day no one besides a marine engineer would have the knowledge. By stalling the eventual cruise ship facility we are adding more to the bill. We would have not needed a single penny to pay from our money. The cruise lines would have paid for it from port fees that would have gone to $20 per person. But the individuals who JUST didn’t want it, started a fear campaign to frighten people that we were going to have another bill. People started listening to “who”? People who claimed we couldn’t manage 20,000 people per day? How are we managing 85,000 people on this island? What about the cars? 60,000 and growing. What about the infrastructure for roads, electrical, water, schools, hospitals, more government staff? Afraid of development? Where is the money coming from to maintain the bills of the country?
If Trump drops the capital gains tax, money leaving and going back to the states in a heartbeat. They will take advantage of lower taxes and recoup losses of no interest in the banks. Money will go to tech and other stocks. So, what downsize the bank employees? What about licenses? Are we really thinking about our future? WE NEED TO BUILD THE PIERS. We can’t leave all our eggs in one basket.
PLEASE! When Covid hit and cruises stopped you think the payments for the pier would have been waived by the cruise lines? Ask Bermuda how their ‘free’ airport worked out. Government had to pay the guaranteed annual minimum. The cruise companies are not gifting the piers but underwriting the loans by getting the passenger taxes. No passengers does not mean the cruise companies waive the loan.
Economics. No such thing as a free ride.
12:15, Please tell us more about the free airport in Bermuda?
Think u been smokin again Bobo.
Aecon financed it.
And it certainly was not free with Canadian Government guarantees on the price and work qualities.
If you are naive enough to believe you get something for nothing you need to take economics again. We are not dependent on tourism. – Fact!
All world War Veterans are dead , and the other wars UK and Cayman had nothing to do with it, USA should be paying those Veterans mot Cayman. I know one man that’s gets the Seamen benefits says he getting it because he was in the USA reserves and another because he fought in the Korean war. People like that and the ones that never went to sea or only for a few weeks need to be weeded out and stopped getting the seamen benefits. The real seafarers are old and dying out,yet more and more younger ones are claiming the benefits that was never a seafarers
What about the new caymanians? They weren’t from here yet they can get NAU? Why is that not the same? Just because they qualify, is that not so? This country is not independent. It is part of the UK. We follow the free world.
Your country (UK) fought in those wars.
2:19 pm. UK fought in Both world wars. but not the Korean or Vietnam wars.
I retired in 2008 with a $425 monthly pension.In the year 2018 I was 60yrs old. Sir Alden who was Premier at the time gave Pensioners an upliftment from $425 to $950. This $950 was further uplifted to $1250 under this Govt with Ms Julie at the helm. Now this $1250 is further uplifted to $1500 effective Feb 2025. I can’t see how this could be deemed Vote buying. You must realize that pensioners, veterans and seamen are truly deserving of this as we were all at the bottom of the scale. So as an ex gratia Pensioner I will thank Sir Alden , Ms Julie and Minister Bryan for the upliftments which we are truly deserving of. God bless them all and we are all grateful for their input. THANK YOU
I retired in the private sector. No uplift for me. I’m Caymanian. Anyone want to buy my vote?
They are deserving of much more. Work all your life paying into pension that pays so little because the funds are mismanaged. They have done you no favours. They passed laws that control YOUR money. You should be on 3k a month and have free healthcare.
Government need to made it public what qualifies one to be a seaman/seafarer. lots of them on the benefit list does NOT qualify, weed then out because are NOT ex seamen.or Veterans.
A seaman is one who signed on a ship as part of the crew or officer taking the ship from one international port to another, for a minimum of 3 years before 1984. He had to be living in the Cayman Islands at the time of his seafaring days. be 60 years of age or more. also his wife had to be married to himi and living in the Cayman Islands during his time at sea and also be 60 years old. Remember the monies that they sent home keep these islands going in those days.That was the rules when it all started.
3;37 pm, why u retired in 2008 at age 50 ? why u didn’t work until u was 60 in 2018 ? your pension would have been more at your retirement.
The SHAME is that the many local ec Wives of seamen, who equally built Cayman in the time of suffocating mosquitoes and no electricity etc, get Zero!!
SHAME
That law was intended to help them too!!
A veteran is anyone who has been in the military. A person who gave his life to service for the ungrateful people commenting agains them. It takes a special person to join the military. Don’t think so? Then join? One day you may not be able to run away. The law could change? The world could be creating a new way of life while you all are still playing video games.
“I’m sure you’ve heard that if you boil a pot of water and throw in a live frog that frog will hop right out, saving his life to croak another day. If, on the other hand, you place a frog in a pot of cold water and turn the heat up slowly, that frog will stay in the pot. The frog will not jump out but slowly get used to the increasingly hot water until it boils to death.”
Dave Miller
Veterans who served for other countries for their qualifying number of years get a pension from them. Why is Cayman paying an additional pension ?
Needed to provide that final sugar high for the upcoming elections! 😂😂😂
Classic bread and circuses act.
$6Millioon could build 30 affordable homes.
$6Million could build a trade school.
Instead it’s bring spent keeping Kenny’s snout in the trough at our expense.
Look at the clueless Attorney General in the background: the Dwayne Seymour of law.
He is a buddy appointee who should be put out to pasture. Does absolutely nothing but collect a big fat paycheck.
To 7:21 and 9:03am: Wow. The lack of understanding knocks the socks off! The Attorney General’s work involves anything to do with introducing laws or amending laws. He has nothing to do with decisions like this. Please, please, who does what in your own government structure. It is really embarrassing.
OK 10:42, just what does this man do to justify his well paid position? This seems like more of the “not me” syndrome that is rampant in the government. I personally feel he is past his prime and should retire.
To 8:31am: He has to advise all the Ministers when they are bringing new laws or amendments to laws. He has to attend meetings with the financial services minister whenever the FATF or other such agencies require changes, or have to come here to do inspections. He has to meet with the Human Rights commission to make sure that our laws are not infringing on the bill of rights. He also has to travel when needed, to make sure that Cayman reps do not make decisions that are in breach of the Privy Council or any other courts that the UK is a part of. Any of us here can do the same, for as long as he has been doing it?
Come on, guys; we are voters. We need to understand how our government structure works, and who does what and what is their boundary. We have to grow up. It cannot be about whether “I like or dislike so and so individual”.
Does he advise CPA to violate laws and then get to sue the government? Does he have anything to do with the screwed up court cases? Sure seems like this is a cover up so the AG can slide on bye.
Another Mac status gift .
They waste tens of millions, and think they can placate us with hundreds. Those little dollars are meant to control the masses, the elderly voters, not help them. You want to help the Seamen, the Vets and their families? Fix the horrific cost of health care!!
The private sector pays for civil service, and civil service employees retire with a decent pension and forever health care, and that won’t ever change, because the government isn’t really concerned with favoring the citizens, but with favoring their income. So the private sector and the elderly struggle, but no worries, soon we’ll all be dead. Thanks for nothing MPs. You all suck.
You all want a cruise port because of the vast head count dollars, regardless of the pain inflicted upon the rest of the island because of the masses. You pander to the Cruise companies, but it is they who are dependent upon US as a waypoint. You all want expats, you NEED expats, because you are addicted to the income of the work permits, but meanwhile those Caymanians who would otherwise fill hospitality and bartender and clerk jobs are left behind, because they can’t live on $ 6.00 per hour.
This model is broken. We need a return to the standard of 30 years ago, before Mac got his fingers in things.
We need politicians who actually care about the welfare of their constituents, who remember what it means to be Caymanian.
6% of the Caymanian workforce works in the cruise industry..
100% of Caymanians will bear the financial and environmental risks a cruise port idea will bring for decades to come.
Well said A.
The pro pier shop owner tour operator lobby are crying that their businesses will suffer.
Not one of them mentions the hundreds of millions of debt we will ALL have to carry to pay for the cruise piers.
Tail wagging the dog here not to mention the overcrowded roads and infrastructure, added to the destruction of the public beach.
That is the cost to Cayman so a few more cakes and T shirts can be sold.
By “Caymanian” you include the thousands of imported low wage economic dependents ..?
Yes. There are very few generational Caymanians directly benefiting from the cruise industry. Ask ACT to break the numbers down, but they won’t.
Sigh. I can understand why many would only look at the money side but to be honest, all of us who earn steady wages or a salary know, that one visit to the grocery store can easily set you back $200; imagine being 70 years old and unable to get employment due to age or health? What about the CUC bill?
Boy, am on the fence about this one.
I get it, but the timing of this is definitely suspect!
When would have been an acceptable time for him to implement this, so that he would have received no criticism?
KB is a grifter and a terrible representative of our islands, but I’m not going to run him down for helping those amongst the most vulnerable of our islands. Now if you want to discuss how so many people are taking advantage of the veterans stipends (through sham marriages, adoptions, etc etc), I’m with you, but the actual Caymanians that benefit from this should absolutely be helped.
12:42 pm. Good to give to the really seamen. but not to those that never was a sea farer or only went to sea for a few weeks. those need to be weeded out
Sadly we are not likely to be rid of this man of suspicious intent, as he is now playing kissy kissy with PPM to give himself some hope of a Ministry in the next government.
He will join with Saunders to continue the Jamaicanisation/destruction of Cayman.
So what is being reduced to supply the 6M+ dollars needed?
Must be election season.
Using public funds to buy votes. Aren’t the welfare clients already getting all services they need? Creating a welfare state. How about providing opportunities for people to earn an income to help support their elderly family members. Hope the pensioners also getting this uplift! As the “father of the house” is famous for saying behind his constituents backs, “keep them dumb and under your thumb”! Cayman needs better leadership!
We seem to get more and more “seafarers and veterans” despite the passage of time and the fact that Caymanians haven’t gone to sea since the 1970s (and very few even then) and Caymanians haven’t been to war for a long long long time! So what’s going on? Shouldn’t we be seeing a steady decrease in these numbers or are we paying for the young Filipina wives…….?
and a fridge too maybe, or is that for your wote?
They have until 30th April to bankrupt Cayman, and they’re in a hurry to do that it seems.
The people of GT Central, aka “My People”, know that once every 4 years Kenny will be thinking of them.
If, after the election, the newly elected government determines that the increase cannot be sustained and withdraw it, the so be it. Kenny can say he tried.
Another vote buying expense with Our money
#leggewasright
i have a dream,,,that one day cig will implement just one recommendation of miller shaw or e&y reports.
i have a dream….that one day cig will announce plans curb uncontrolled spending and expansion of the civil service.
i have a dream…..that one day cig will take measure to stop welfare fraud in these islands
i have a dream…..that one day cig will prosecute those who commit welfare fraud in these islands
shameless vote buying till the bitter end.
never has a government spent so much and yet achieved so little.
If this is not vote buying, then what is
You are my hero Mr Kenny, when I grow up I want to be like you and Honorable Seymour.
What about increasing minimum wage already? Note that Bermuda’s minimum wage is now USD$ 16.40 per hour.
Oh, I forgot. Still “studying” it.
Come now – not going to increase Dwayne wage bill.
You better head off to Bermuda then as the rich people here do not want to pay the slaves anything!
Jamaica minimum wages is 4:50 US p h
Jamaica mininium wages are 4.5 US. $ per hour
I have never seen such blatant vote buying in my many years.
Vote buying!!
Well, duhh!!!
Can we get a legal definition of what constitutes a qualifying ‘seaman’ or ‘veteran’ please. I’ve head of astronomical amounts being paid out under these benefits but its difficult to understand how many people can legitimately be receiving it now.
The Health Insurance Act defines those terms quite nicely. Check it out online if you are so inclined. Not sure if the same definitions follow through to other Acts that affect this part of the population.
VETERANS?! What veterans??
An 18 year-old in 1945 would now be 98 years old. There can’t be many such people anywhere, much less in Cayman.
What is this garbage?
George Town Central please do the right thing and vote him out
He is going to bankrupt this country.
Hand out, sell out, my beloved Cayman has gone 😢
What is the threshold for being eligible for this?
Damn. Vote buying at its finest. Please stop these Seafarers & Veterans payments! They are mainly being paid to the marriage of convenience wives. The recent commutations showed most war veterans deceased. What exactly did these people supposedly do?
How about the retirees in the private sector scraping by on their $1200 per month, until their pension pot runs out? Mines got about 7 years left! I’m 71 & Caymanian.
Sorry to hear that. What other countries do is give you a certain amount for the rest of your life, not when a fixed amount runs out. So you don’t have to worry about it and have that lingering thought, when I am 78 what am I going to do? Of course in the meantime you’ll do something about it but that’s not what retirement is supposed to be about.
Thanks very much Minister Bryan. This pension upliftment is really deserving for Pensioners trying to cope with the high cost of living. Also for Veterans and Seamen.
Kenny cracks me up.
🚨 OFFICIAL DISPATCH FROM THE MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS 🚨
RE: BRYAN’S LAST-DAY WELFARE PAYOUTS – A MASTERCLASS IN POLITICAL ACROBATICS!
Esteemed Citizens and Fellow Practitioners of the Art of Absurdity,
It is with great admiration and sheer disbelief that we, the esteemed Ministry of Silly Walks, recognize Minister Kenneth Bryan’s final act of financial gymnastics before Parliament dissolved. In a dazzling display of pre-election generosity, he has increased welfare payments—right as he pirouettes out of the House.
🕺 The “Vote-for-Me Two-Step” – A Classic Performance
✔ Step 1: Ignore rising costs, housing issues, and economic strain for as long as possible.
✔ Step 2: Just before an election, magically find the funds to throw money around like confetti at a circus!
✔ Step 3: Take a victory lap, pretending this wasn’t an obvious and well-timed political maneuver.
💰 WHERE DID THIS MONEY COME FROM? (A Fun Mystery!)
✔ From a financially stable, well-planned budget? NO.
✔ From the mysterious, bottomless pit of government spending? MAYBE.
✔ From a last-minute scramble to look good before an election? DING DING DING!
🦵OFFICIAL MINISTRY ANALYSIS: A HIGHLY SKILLED SILLY WALK!
Minister Bryan has executed a textbook example of the “Pre-Election High Kick”, a maneuver in which a politician dramatically announces benefits to the public mere seconds before sprinting off-stage.
✔ This technique is best performed when polling numbers are uncertain,
✔ It is often followed by statements of deep concern for the people,
✔ And never includes a plan for where the money will come from long-term.
🚨 CAUTION: THE CONSEQUENCES OF SILLY POLICIES
While this maneuver is dazzling in its political finesse, its long-term effects are less glamorous:
❌ No actual plan for sustainable social programs.
❌ No discussion of how to address the root causes of economic struggles.
❌ A guaranteed post-election budget crisis, when the next government inherits a fiscal disaster.
🔥 FINAL VERDICT – ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DISPLAY OF POLITICAL ACROBATICS!
✔ A classic election stunt dressed up as compassion.
✔ A financial time bomb disguised as “support for the people.”
✔ A perfectly executed Silly Walk, just before Parliament disappears into the void.
🚨 FINAL WARNING FROM THE MINISTRY: This is not a drill—this is pure, unfiltered Absurdistani governance in action!
Breaking news: no one cares about your long and tiresome comments. I come here to read the news and honest, original comments, not your ChatGTP soap operas.
If you add in assistance with food and housing allowance NAU recipients now earn in excess of the minimum wage. Where is the incentive to move off social benefits and work?
There is no incentive. We need to make the minimum wage a figure that people are inspired to work toward. CIG needs to learn how to survive with half of the anticipated work permit fees.
Curious that this is done along with COLA raises for civil servants while claiming the 6 dollar minimum wage is fine
Nothing to see here folks
Raising the minimum wage might help foreigners, we can’t have that
A rising tide lifts all ships.
Last ditch cards played lmao
What are the requirements for ‘long term’ assistance? The system is so abused it should be used for people in specific situations and not laziness.
It’s fun spending other people’s money
We say again stop giving to those that are not Seafarers and not world War Veterans, according to the rules. a Searfarer
is one that had 3 years or more at sea going from one international
port to another and living in these islands before 1984 and a veteran is one that served in the 2 world wars. some are claiming to be Seamen and
never went out the sight of land and are too young to have 3 years before 1984. World war 2 ended in 1945, so most if not all of the veterans are dead. So why getting more and more Seamen and Veterans on the list for benefits