Health
Hospital secures international seal of approval
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority has received hospital accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI) following what HSA officials said was a “rigorous onsite review of its facilities” across the islands earlier this month. While local laboratories have been accredited for several years, until now neither of the HSA hospitals, its clinics or […]
PACT commits to free health cover for kids and elders
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has committed to introducing free healthcare provision for both children and the elderly as soon as it can afford to do so, though it has not given a timeline for when this will happen. In parliament last month, during a debate on a private member’s motion, the government said that […]
Record high tide releases dormant mosquitoes
(CNS): The community has been battling with another surge in mosquitoes this month caused by a record-breaking high tide, the Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU) has said. According to NOAA, high tide flooding is increasingly common due to rising sea levels and the loss of natural barriers. Tides in the Cayman Islands rose as high […]
ReGen row rolls on in the absence of a final deal
(CNS): The row between the PACT government and the PPM opposition over the long-delayed waste-management project, ReGen, rolled on in parliament this week. In his Strategic Policy Statement, Premier Wayne Panton said that, given the circumstances created by the previous government, the government had little option but to pursue the negotiations with Dart, while the […]
Public health conducts major vaccine drive
(CNS): The Public Health Department is marking the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) 21st annual Vaccination Week with a national vaccination drive. This year’s theme is “Get up-to-date #EachVaccineCounts”. Parents with children who need vaccinations, including missed or outstanding doses, are urged to attend the events over the next two weekends or make an appointment with their […]
COVID numbers increase among hospital patients
(CNS): There was a slight uptick in the number of individuals admitted to hospital who tested positive for COVID-19 in March over February, and there was one “COVID-19 death”, according to the latest issue of Public Health Spotlight. Twenty people admitted to hospital tested positive, up from 17 in February, an increase of 18%.
PPM Cabinet waived planning process for ReGen in 2021
(CNS) UPDATED: The Dart consortium that will eventually be taking on the waste management project, now known as ReGen, has been given an exemption from the planning application process. Since posting this report, CNS has learned from government officials that the waiver was given to Dart by the previous administration just before the 2021 General […]
Bulk clean-up shifts to pre-storm season
(CNS): The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is moving up the free annual bulk waste collection service from later in the year to May to encourage residents to clear up their yards and land ahead of the hurricane season. Officials said this would reduce the department’s high workload around Christmas time and allow crews to […]
Gov’t still talking with Dart over dump costs
(CNS): Technocrats from the climate ministry have said that there is “almost continuous dialogue” between the Cayman Islands Government and the Dart-led consortium on the dump project. But the ReGen deal has still not concluded, and while the CIG refutes claims made by former deputy premier Chris Saunders that it will cost $2 billion, no […]
Campers squeezed on limited accessible beach
(CNS): The local tradition of camping on the beach for the Easter holiday got underway this week, but with dwindling access to beaches on Grand Cayman, people are pitching tents toe-to-toe in the remaining accessible places. The Public Lands Commission is encouraging campers to check the guidelines and information on its website to ensure safe […]
ReGen dump project still poses multiple challenges
(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton has said negotiations surrounding the ReGen waste management project have presented serious difficulties, not least of which has been the challenge of securing value for money. Over the 25-year lifetime of the proposed project, it is expected to cost the public purse at least $1.5 billion, but Cayman will still need […]
