Laws
Law reformers open discussion on legal abortion
(CNS): The Law Reform Commission has opened a public consultation on reforming the prohibition in the Cayman Islands on almost all abortions and ending the criminalisation of women who want to terminate their pregnancies when their lives are not necessarily at risk. A new discussion paper released by the LRC in December proposes the first […]
André promises radical change for those in need
(CNS): Social Development Minister André Ebanks has promised “transformative change” across the social services landscape of the Cayman Islands, which includes repealing and replacing the “horribly titled” Poor People’s Relief Act in the first quarter of next year and a significant increase in investment in what will become the Financial Assistance Department. According to the […]
Anglin to ‘chip in’ on costs for same-sex unions JR
(CNS): The Grand Court has upheld a decision by the legal aid director requiring Kattina Anglin to contribute towards the cost of the judicial review, which she successfully secured, of the governor’s use of his powers to implement legislation providing for same-sex civil unions. Because Anglin is soliciting funds for the legal fight through the […]
LGBT advocates will have voice in JR of civil unions
(CNS): The Grand Court has ruled that Colours Caribbean, a local LGBTQIA+ advocacy group, has the expertise to intervene in a judicial review brought by a conservative Christian group challenging the way the law that provides for same-sex civil unions was rolled out. Justice Richard Williams said that Colours is not only well aware of […]
Lawyer drafts bill, begins campaign for ganja vote
(CNS): Local lawyer Orrie Merren and businessman Prentice Panton have joined forces to spearhead a campaign for government to decriminalise the private possession and recreational use of ganja. Having already written draft legislation and contacted government about their proposal, Merren and Panton hope they can persuade PACT to move towards a sustainable cannabis policy for […]
Legal changes made to attract insolvency work
(CNS): A number of amendments are being made to the Companies Act that officials from the financial services ministry say will retain and attract more restructuring and insolvency business for firms based in the Cayman Islands. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2021 is expected to be presented to Parliament at the next, as yet unfixed, meeting […]
Coastguard’s independence set in law
(CNS): The independence of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard has now been formalised after the legislation to create the country’s newest law enforcement and rescue agency passed through Parliament with full support on both sides of the House. The debate on the bill was sandwiched between legislation for the work permit vaccine mandate, so the […]
WP vaccine mandate passes with no PPM votes
(CNS): Government has passed the necessary bills required to mandate vaccinations for work permit holders without any support from the opposition PPM members. The vote fell straight down political lines, with all members of PACT supporting the additional condition on foreign workers and the opposition voting against, following the PPM’s new found skepticism about the […]
WP vaccine bills are constitutional, says AG
(CNS): Amendments to immigration and border control legislation passing through Parliament, which will add the COVID-19 vaccination to the conditions for work permit holders and some categories of residents, are constitutional and will withstand legal challenges, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin told Parliament Monday evening. He said that government is able to do things that could […]
Saunders signals significant immigration changes
(CNS): Changes are coming to the point system and other parts of the immigration law to “make sure that Caymanians return to their rightful place”, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders told Parliament Monday, as he urged the opposition to “save their fighting”. Heralding policy changes that would put local people ahead of guest workers and responding […]
Alden: Vaccine mandate targets Jamaicans
(CNS): Former premier Alden McLaughlin has accused government of targeting poor, mostly Jamaican work permit holders with the amendment bills for the mandatory vaccination against COVID-19. When he spoke during the parliamentary debate Monday, he queried why the government was pursuing such “draconian measures”, given the high vaccination rate and the divisive nature of the […]
