Laws
CPA makes terse response to Boggy Sand ruling
(CNS): Central Planning Authority Chairman Ian Pairaudeau issued a terse statement on Thursday about the Grand Court ruling in the judicial review of the ‘Boggy Sand ‘case indicating that the board’s lawyers are reviewing the judgment but made no comment on the findings. The ruling found that the CPA had acted unlawfully when it ignored […]
Drinking and driving limit cut in change to traffic law
(CNS): An amendment to section 2 of the Traffic Act will, if passed by Parliament, reduce by around one-third the amount of alcohol people are allowed to consume before getting behind the wheel. The bill, which was published on Thursday, is expected to go before Parliament next month. Right now, drivers in the Cayman Islands […]
New bill to overhaul future of welfare support
(CNS): Less than sixteen months after taking office, the minister responsible for social welfare has presented a new bill to overhaul the public assistance regime and create a new system to help the most vulnerable in the community. The Financial Assistance Bill, which repeals the existing Poor Persons (Relief) Law, is now open for public […]
Panton inclines towards access to legal abortion
(CNS): The lack of legal access to abortion in the Cayman Islands is currently under review by the Law Reform Commission as part of its work modernising the Penal Code. However, Premier Wayne Paton has made his first public declaration of his inclination to support at least limited access. Indicating that he understood the position […]
UK peer’s bill seeks gay marriage law for BOTs
(CNS): Lord Michael Cashman has introduced a private member’s bill in the UK House of Lords to make same-sex marriage lawful in all British Overseas Territories that don’t have marriage equality, including the Cayman Islands. If it passes, it would require the Caribbean territories to legalise same-sex marriage and empower the governors to roll out […]
Local bars get raw deal in Sunday music law
(CNS): Former premier Alden McLaughlin (RED) has urged government to amend the Music and Dance Law to level the playing field for local bars because, unlike restaurants and bars in hotels, they are not permitted to play any music on Sundays. Speaking in Parliament last week, McLaughlin said many stand-alone bars that are Caymanian-owned are […]
Gov’t whips through work in first Parliament of year
(CNS): The government whipped through its business Wednesday, as Parliament met for only the third meeting of the 2021-2022 session and the first time members have attended the House this year. Dealing largely with amendment bills to address problems with some laws and additions to others, the most notable change was to the new Parliament […]
Ruling shows Parliament must act when rights are breached
(CNS): Justice Richard Williams’ ruling on the judicial review over how the governor passed the Civil Partnership Act goes far beyond protecting the rights of same-sex couples to marriage equivalency. The ruling reveals that the Cayman Islands Parliament does not have a choice when it comes to complying with the human rights enshrined in the […]
Court upholds Roper’s use of power on civil unions
(CNS): Governor Martyn Roper did not act unlawfully when he used his power under section 81 of the Constitution to implement the Civil Partnership Act, the Grand Court has ruled. Justice Richard Williams presided over a judicial review last year that called the governor’s actions into question. However, in a judgment published Monday, the court […]
Challenges to Constitution are welcome, says AG
(CNS): Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden-Bush “are to be commended for their determination to litigate the issues in their case”, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin said in the wake of last week’s Privy Council ruling that upheld the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal ruling that the Constitution does not give same-sex couples the right to marry.
Roper: CIG can choose to implement gay marriage
(CNS): Following the judgment delivered Monday by the Privy Council in London on a Cayman Islands same-sex marriage case, Governor Martyn Roper has said that the ruling clarifies a point of law regarding Cayman’s Constitution, which is “that it cannot be construed as including a right for same-sex couples to marry”. But he said this […]
