Government oversight
Doctor queries purpose of Shetty hospital
(CNS): The idea that the hospital in East End, founded by world-famous Indian physician Dr Devi Shetty, was really intended to be a medical tourism facility has been questioned by a local doctor. Giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee, Dr Darley Solomon said that he felt that from the beginning, medical tourism was an […]
Local doctors criticise health system
(CNS): Two local senior physicians slammed the Cayman Islands government health system and its management in Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, pointing to a catalogue of problems. One doctor said Cayman had blindly followed the American system and another warned of problems in regulation and standards. The doctors complained of the health ministry’s disrespect of […]
CJ denies ICO access to Ritch report
(CNS): The chief justice has ruled that the premier does not have to show the controversial Ritch report on the immigration law to the information commissioner because of legal privilege. In a 44-page decision, the country’s top judge accepted the public interest in and the problems with immigration legislation but nevertheless found that the premier could […]
Bill outlaws CIG board conflicts
(CNS): The Public Authorities Bill, 2016, which is expected to go before legislators over the next few weeks when parliament meets for the last time before the General Election, will, if passed, outlaw conflicts of interest for board members. The new legislation will standardise statutory authorities and government companies (SAGCs), create a level playing field […]
Ombudsman to focus on cop complaints
(CNS): Two pieces of legislation published on the government gazette this month will pave the way for the creation of an Ombudsman’s office that will take over the functions of the existing Office of the Complaints Commissioner and Information Commissioner’s Office. But the primary role of the new turbo-civil servant, which will be held for […]
ICO passes PR report case to courts
(CNS): The legal challenges are mounting for government over the permanent residency controversy generated by the point system for occupations in the new law. As well as the action requesting a judicial review on the applicant’s 29-month wait for a decision, the premier is about to face another legal battle. On Tuesday Acting Information Commissioner […]
ICO warns of ‘weaknesses’ with CIG websites
(CNS): The Information Commissioner’s Office has warned that “serious problems remain” across government as departments are still not updating or properly utilizing their websites to allow the public access to information. In its most recent review of 89 public authorities, the ICO found significant improvements on the results of its assessment in 2011 but found […]
CIG picked wrong bidder in scrap metal tender
(CNS): The government ended up awarding a scrap metal contract to the wrong bidder because it focused purely on the price offered by one contractor rather than on experience and ability. The Office of the Auditor General has highlighted that the price tag can sometimes disguise other problems and that getting value for money for […]
Rivers takes aim at Anglin over contracts
(CNS): The education minister slipped into campaign mode on the floor of the Legislative Assembly Monday, as she launched an attack on her predecessor in the education ministry, Rolston Anglin. During the debate on the Procurement Bill, Tara Rivers made thinly veiled allegations of corruption and accused him of direct inappropriate political interference in the contracts […]
MLAs back bill to tighten public procurement
(CNS): A bill designed to remove political interference, create transparency, improve efficiency, get better value for money and generally tighten up the entire process around government procurement was backed by the parliament Monday, with no opposition, following its second reading. Government hopes that the legislation, which has been a long time coming and inspired by […]
Holes remain in FOI tracking for public authorities
(CNS): Ten public entities out of ninety (11%) are not using the central government tracking system for freedom of information requests because they cannot access it or because of insufficient training for their information managers, which means the government is still not able to keep track of all the FOI requests being made. But there have […]
