Laws
Parliament to debate car imports, tall buildings
(CNS): Two private members’ motions set to be presented in parliament next week will see MPs debate the issue of increasing the current building height limits to 20 or even 30 storeys, and restricting car imports to alleviate traffic congestion. Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has filed a motion calling on the government to “consider as […]
ID register will be optional in face of backlash
(CNS): The minister responsible for innovation, André Ebanks, has said that following feedback and concerns in the community about the new legislation supporting the long-awaited national identification programme, changes are now being made to the bills due to go before parliament next week. The most significant is a decision to make the population register optional. […]
Critically endangered plant protection approved
(CNS): Cabinet has approved a species protection plan for the critically endangered Aegiphila caymanensis, an endemic plant that is unique to Grand Cayman, now only found in three known locations across the island with just fourteen confirmed surviving specimens. Also known as the spirit vine, it is a woody, clambering shrub with soft, downy leaves […]
Privy Council’s stranglehold Caribbean LGBTQIA+ people
(Colours Caribbean): The UK Privy Council, comprising judges of the UK Supreme Court, continues to enable the oppression of LGBTQIA+ people in the Caribbean by reversing progressive lower court decisions and upholding the enforceability and constitutionality of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in those states (most of which were themselves introduced by the UK).
Fines and jail time soar for illegal gambling
(CNS): Anyone convicted of illegal gambling could face a fine of up to $10,000 or four years behind bars as a result of an amendment bill that overhauls the current law, which dates back to the 1960s. The Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2022, which will be added to a long list of legislation the PACT Government […]
Bill paves way for immunity deals for crown witnesses
(CNS): The government is expected to pass a piece of legislation next month that will enable the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to cut deals with important witnesses who are implicated in a crime and provide immunity from prosecution or a commitment to a reduced sentence on a guilty plea. Currently, the […]
Commission publishes Constitution Comic Book
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Constitutional Commission has published a comic book that breaks down Cayman’s most important legally binding document to help young people understand and teachers explain the constitution and how it affects everyone. A release from the commission said the book presented the important information contained in the nine parts of the 2009 […]
First steps made for controversial lawyers law
(CNS): Cabinet has approved the first steps in the rollout of the still controversial Legal Services Act (LSA), which was passed over two years ago but has not been implemented. Cabinet’s decision to implement just two parts in full and two sections of another part will pave the way for the formation of the Cayman […]
Gov’t races through legislation at short meeting
(CNS): A mandatory anti-bullying policy for schools, stricter drinking and driving laws and a historic overhaul of the poor law were just some of the pieces of legislation the PACT Government raced through before adjourning the latest parliamentary meeting in the absence of the opposition. The controversial sitting, which began Friday, wrapped up on Monday […]