Tag: United People’s Movement
Gutting the NCA: Why no consultation?
Wayne Panton MP writes: It appears the UPM government is determined to undermine the National Conservation Act (NCA), Cayman’s most important piece of environmental legislation. What’s more, the government intends to gut the NCA with no mandate to do so by the people of these islands and, in fact, without any public consultation whatsoever. Why […]
Cabinet seeks FOI extension for housing report request
(CNS): As the current government’s poor transparency record continues to worsen, the Cabinet Office has asked for another 30 days before releasing any part of a key report and other related documents on the issue of housing. After the government refused to respond to a media request for a copy of the report generated by […]
UPM issues policy priority document up to 2026
(CNS): With a year to go before Cayman Islands voters go to the polls, the United People’s Movement Government has released a new document to cover its strategic priorities between now and 2026, which appears to be based on the broad outcome in the budget and strategic policy statement delivered by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly last […]
Opposition unaware of surprise port fee hikes
(CNS): The UPM Government did not share with all MPs its plans to increase fees charged by the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) at the start of the New Year. The opposition, like the broader community, was surprised by the fee hikes approved by Cabinet, which Progressives Leader Roy McTaggart has said will […]
McTaggart warns of decline, division and debt in 2024
(CNS): Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart took aim at the UPM Government in his New Year’s message, accusing the new administration of poor fiscal management, spending more than it earns, and even after raising new taxes, creating a budget that will add to the Cayman Islands’ debt burden this year. With CI$120 million in new taxes […]
JOCC says UPM has much work to do in 2024
(CNS): The United People’s Movement “cannot and will not slow our pace, as much yet remains to be done”, Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly said in her New Year’s message to the country. Promising affordable, high-quality healthcare, a world-class education system and ample job opportunities, and ensuring “a sustainable path to hope and prosperity”, the new premier […]
UPM not prioritising economic decline, says McTaggart
(CNS): In his response to the United People’s Movement budget, delivered on Friday, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart accused Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and her new team of continuing to ignore the Cayman Islands’ broader economic decline and growing inequality gap, which he implied had emerged during the past two years. He accused the premier of failing […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
