Business
7MB vendors due to get licences in October
(CNS): People who have applied to trade on the Seven Mile Public Beach, one of a dwindling number of places where visitors and residents are still able to access the famous beach, can expect to receive their licences to set up shop officially next month. The minister responsible for public lands, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, told parliament […]
DoT drip feed disclosure unacceptable, says Ombudsman
(CNS): The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered the Department of Tourism to release details of the partnerships and sponsorship agreements it made with various overseas entities to promote the Cayman Islands to potential visitors between 2020 and 2022. More than 18 months after a local reporter made an FOI request for the records, […]
Thompson to retain staff in acquisition of Cox
(CNS): A.L. Thompson Building Supplies Ltd, the largest hardware merchant in the Cayman Islands, got even bigger last week with the purchase of Cox Lumber Ltd. The new owners have said that all staff at the Cox store in Bodden Town and the merchant yard in George Town will be retained in the merger of […]
CUC still planning to burn natural gas
(CNS): CUC has announced that it is looking for qualification submissions from prospective natural gas suppliers as part of its effort to reduce the cost of energy production and carbon emissions. But the decision comes in the wake of the government’s revised National Energy Policy (NEP), which now calls for a 100% transition to green […]
Minister ‘monitoring’ labour investigation at hotel
(CNS): Labour Minister Dwayne Seymour has confirmed that his ministry cannot discuss the specifics of an investigation regarding a local hotel by WORC and the Department of Labour and Pensions (DLP). However, he said that officials are committed to ensuring that all relevant regulations and laws are upheld and all necessary steps are taken to […]
Final FATF onsite visit key to Cayman’s ‘de-listing’
(CNS): Local officials remain hopeful that the Cayman Islands will be removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list during the upcoming FATF Plenary in October after a final visit by FATF officials last week. The onsite visit by a delegation from the Americas Joint Group, a sub-working group of the FATF’s International Co-Operation […]
BO access won’t be public yet under new bill
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has rolled out another piece of legislation to enhance its anti-money laundering regime. However, the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Bill only improves access for law enforcement and relevant agencies, not the public. While the bill has provisions to allow public access in future, officials said that will not happen before Cayman […]
WORC investigates HR complaints at hotel
(CNS): The Palm Heights hotel, which has become popular with celebrities visiting the Cayman Islands, is under investigation by Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC) after the government agency received information “about possible infractions of the Immigration Transition Act” at the Seven Mile Beach resort. Officials at WORC told CNS they were looking at allegations […]
Tough road ahead for switch to electric cars
(CNS): The government’s aim, set out in the revised National Energy Policy, to transition all new vehicles in the Cayman Islands to electric by 2045 will not be easy, as there are a number of hurdles in the way. Officials told CNS they believe the goal is attainable because of the significant changes in the […]
Telecom provider fined $400k over rate hike
(CNS): Regional telecommunications company Flow has been fined $400,000 by the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) after breaching its licence. Flow increased its business customer rates from $30 to $34.99 from January 2019 to April 2022 without approval. OfReg also said the firm failed to comply with its obligation to provide the regulator with […]
Tip system raises concern for basic wage earners
(CNS): Some of Cayman’s lowest-paid workers have complained that employers using gratuities to top up wages to conform with the national minimum wage of $6 per hour are misusing the system. Hospitality employers, such as hotels and restaurants, are allowed to pay workers $4.50 per hour if they also receive at least $1.50 per hour […]
