Tag: Chris Saunders
Minister: We must enforce immigration laws
(CNS): Labour Minister Christopher Saunders has commended staff from his key department, Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC), for the work they are doing enforcing the immigration laws. Over the nine months from the start of the year through September WORC issued fines totalling CI$273,000 to rogue employers and people working illegally after several workplace […]
Housing crisis leaves workers in costly, cramped conditions
(CNS): The housing crisis in the Cayman Islands is leading to overseas low-paid workers living in costly but nevertheless unacceptable slum conditions, with some paying as much as $400 per month for a bunkbed in tiny apartments where even kitchens have been converted into bedrooms. CNS has received several reports about the cramped conditions some […]
CIG still working on automation of work permits
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government is still working on developing a secure online automated system that will speed up the process of work permit applications, through WORC, and allow officials to focus on fraudulent or unnecessary applications, as well as cutting mistakes and bias in the decision-making process. Over the last twelve months, despite delays […]
Labour minister denies formal freeze on PR grants
(CNS): The minister responsible for labour has denied allegations by a local law firm that a moratorium on permanent residency grants is in place, even though no applications for residency appear to have been approved by the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board based on points for more than a year. Chris Saunders told CNS […]
DP calls for 30-storey buildings away from beach
(CNS): Deputy Premier Chris Saunders has called for a conversation about a policy change that would allow for much taller buildings on Grand Cayman that are well away from the beach. Saunders has suggested this as a solution to the housing crisis that the country is now facing and to enable an increase in room […]
Public spending must start falling, says Saunders
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government expects to collect more than CI$1 billion in revenue by the end of 2022 but also to spend close to one billion for the first time in its history, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Chris Saunders said Wednesday, stating that public expenditure must begin to come down. He said the […]
Two workers arrested for permit violations
(CNS): Two people have been arrested on suspicion of working outside the limitations of their work permits, and investigations are continuing with their employers. The arrests and an ongoing inquiry by the Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman and police are part of the goal to tackle illegal employment and breaches of the Immigration Law.
PACT MPs accept Bush’s resignation on his terms
(CNS): With the entire opposition boycotting the current session of parliament, the PACT Government voted to accept the resignation of Speaker McKeeva Bush on Friday without any debate or discussion. The resolution confirms the government’s support for the terms Bush set out in his resignation letter, paving the way for him to remain in the […]
Gov’t coffers overflow with budget surplus
(CNS): At the end of the first seven months of 2022, the Entire Public Sector (EPS) had a surplus of $129.6 million, some $25.2 million more than the projected year-to-date operating surplus of $104.4 million, the finance ministry confirmed Monday. As of 31 July, the government was still collecting much more revenue than it had […]
Plans afoot for phased increase to pension contributions
(CNS): Employees in the private sector will need to increase the amount of money they pay into their pension funds because of the inadequacy of the current amounts set out in law, as well as the withdrawals made from the schemes during the COVID-19 lockdown and the freeze on mandatory payments for the last two […]
Panton ‘steps on toes’ over mangrove development
(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton will not support development in the Central Mangrove Wetlands, he stated on Friday in the wake of comments made by two Cabinet colleagues that building the East-West Arterial extension would offer opportunities for lower-cost homes in the interior. Deputy Premier Chris Saunders and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan publicly backed the idea […]
