Tag: Alden McLaughlin
Sir Alden calls for political reset after ‘trying a t’ing’
(CNS): Sir Alden McLaughlin called for “a reset” in parliament as he assumed the role of House Speaker Thursday following a unanimous vote by MPs. The member for Red Bay said the current parliament had “seen an unprecedented level of political turmoil”, but after the voters and MPs had “tried a t’ing”, there was now […]
Sir Alden to be nominated speaker at special meeting
(CNS): Parliament is set to meet on Thursday to enable members to nominate and elect a new speaker and steer through an amendment to the pensions law to allow Caymanians in the private sector access to the funds to pay off mortgages or purchase property. An official release about the first meeting called by the […]
Panton fails to explain PACT’s numbers problem
(CNS): The opposition’s no-confidence motion in the government narrowly failed to pass Tuesday night after two members of the PACT front bench and an opposition member abstained. But Premier Wayne Panton also missed the opportunity to explain how he will deal with the hung parliament he still faces, which is increasingly untenable.
Budget under pressure from those in need
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has agreed to look at increasing the ex gratia pension paid to retired civil servants, though Social Development Minister André Ebanks warned that this might be very difficult, given the budget constraints caused by the recent increase in long-term financial assistance payments. These stipends were recently increased from CI$950 to […]
Notorious healthcare bills climb to new high
(CNS): The public purse will be picking up a record-breaking tab by the end of this year to cover the hospital bills both at home and abroad for people who are either under- or uninsured. Although the 2021 Census suggested that 93% of Cayman Islands residents have health insurance, in 2023 the government is expecting […]
Surplus expectations fall to low of CI$3.3M
(CNS): Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson admitted to parliament on Tuesday that the government might be sailing very close to the wind with the revised expectations on this year’s budget. Spending by the end of this year is expected to reach over CI$1.03 billion, an unprecedented amount, leaving the government with a surplus of just $3.3 […]
Premier breaks ranks, votes no to pepper spray
(CNS): In yet another demonstration of the political differences on the government benches, Premier Wayne Panton was the only MP in parliament Thursday night who voted against a private member’s motion to legalise pepper spray. Hours before one of his frontbench members resigned, Panton voted no to the proposal, which was supported by all other […]
7MB vendors due to get licences in October
(CNS): People who have applied to trade on the Seven Mile Public Beach, one of a dwindling number of places where visitors and residents are still able to access the famous beach, can expect to receive their licences to set up shop officially next month. The minister responsible for public lands, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, told parliament […]
Opposition asking ministers key policy questions
(CNS): Members of the PPM have filed eleven parliamentary questions for ministers to answer during next week’s meeting on a number of key policy issues that the government has failed to address for many months. Many of the questions reflect topics regularly queried by the public, such as the outcome of the consultant’s report on […]
NRA makes U-turn on roundabout restriction
(CNS): The National Roads Authority has made a U-turn on the decision to impose a left-turn-only restriction on drivers leaving Grand Harbour at the northern exit of the Hurley’s roundabout. In a press release Friday, the authority’s board announced that, in agreement with the minister responsible for roads, a re-assessment of all available options would […]
Residents give thumbs down to roundabout change
(CNS): Sir Alden McLaughlin MP has asked the National Roads Authority Board to rethink its decision to restrict drivers exiting the Grand Harbour commercial complex to a left turn only. At a packed public meeting at the Seafarers Hall in Red Bay Thursday night, residents gave the change an overwhelming thumbs down. Officials claimed it […]
