Tag: Juliana O’Connor-Connolly
Christmas bonus and pension rise cleared for payment
(CNS): Cabinet has approved a $250 Christmas bonus for those who receive long-term financial assistance through the Needs Assessment Unit (NAU) and recipients of the Seafarers and Veterans Ex-Gratia Benefit. Officials have also confirmed that the increase from $950 to $1,250 for former public sector workers receiving the ex gratia pension, promised by Premier Juliana […]
UPM increasing range of fees in 2024/25 budget
(CNS): Premier and Finance Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said her government would increase some taxes or fees over the 2024-25 budget period, such as a rise in duty on electric cars, stamp duty in high-end locations, work permit applications and some General Registry fees. In the Budget Address delivered on Friday afternoon, she outlined an increase […]
Cabinet rubber-stamps OBC for Brac school
(CNS): Cabinet has approved the education ministry’s outline business case proposing a new high school on Cayman Brac, according to the most recent release of Cabinet meeting notes. The government’s inner circle apparently rubber-stamped the proposal at the 23 November meeting, the first since former premier Wayne Panton was kicked out of the job. The […]
Mac’s back in official role as PS to two ministers
(CNS): Just days before McKeeva Bush MP (WBW) was supposed to face trial, accused of indecently assaulting two female civil servants, he was given an official role in the new UPM Government. According to a press release from the CIG communications department, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has appointed Bush as parliamentary secretary to Border Control and […]
New government won’t meet the press in 2023
(CNS): Government officials confirmed Monday that the United People’s Movement and its new leader, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, will not be holding a press conference before the end of 2023. In an unprecedented move, the new administration, which formed after an internal Cabinet coup ousted Wayne Panton from the position of premier, will not face the […]
Parliament meeting set to deliver UPM budget
(CNS): The United People’s Movement government will bring the 2024/25 budget to parliament on 8 December. In a press release from the House, the Speaker, Sir Alden McLaughlin called for the second meeting and official state opening of the 2023-24 session of the parliament to begin next Friday at 10am. It will include the governor’s […]
Civil servants getting one-off payment of $1,500
(CNS): Core government workers will be getting an additional CI$1,500 in their December pay packets to help with the cost of living and to reward their contributions. Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the cash payments were being funded by the efficiencies and savings made this year in public spending. The new leader told parliament that the […]
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 […]
JOCC: Parliament was under external ‘remote control’
(CNS): The new premier, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, has said that parliament has been under external “remote control” from those with economic and financial influence and that it was “time for change” under the newly formed United People’s Movement. Implying that previous leaders were being controlled by external forces, the premier said she expected to be bullied […]
Panton declines speaker’s job to speak
(CNS): Wayne Panton MP will not take up the position of the speaker of parliament but will instead take a seat on the back-bench, where he will better serve his constituents of Newlands, he has said. Panton resigned from the role of premier last week but had been offered the job of speaker by the […]
CIG still running big surplus despite spending worries
(CNS): Even though former premier Wayne Panton recently urged the civil service to help cut public spending, the government is still running a healthy surplus so far this year. According to the third quarter unaudited financial report on public finances, published last week, the surplus for the Entire Public Sector stands at $116.6 million, some […]
