Mr. Speaker, it is almost impossible to turn on our computers or televisions these days without seeing some news story regarding immigration, including anti-immigrant sentiments, expressed by politicians, nationalists and people worried about job losses around the world. Cayman is no different in that respect and increasingly anti-immigrant sentiments are seen and heard on the talk-shows, television, social media and wherever Caymanians gather.

Mr. Speaker, as I wound up the budget debate in this Honourable House in November, I spoke about the benefit of immigration and the need for us to protect the rights of Caymanians but I also warned against falling into the trap of xenophobia. I noted that Cayman owes much of what we have in development and opportunity to immigration. It was immigration and inward investment that allowed these Islands, and all of us, to progress as we have done these past 50 years.

I also noted that immigration, like fire, is a good servant but a bad master. We must ensure that businesses have the workers they need to grow and prosper, and in so doing help Cayman and Caymanians prosper and thrive. But while we appreciate the benefits of immigration we cannot ignore the local concerns regarding immigration; concerns that have challenged government after government ever since the Cayman Islands population first started to really grow. In the main those concerns have been about jobs. In the early stages those who inhabited these hallowed halls responded to the need for control of immigration and the economy by passing the Work Permit Law in 1969.  But as the number of work permits grew, so did the concerns and by 1971 it was thought necessary to pass the Caymanian Protection Law and other related legislation. Following numerous amendments over the next 2 decades the legislation was revised and modernised and in 1992 the Immigration Law was passed. In the ensuing years there has probably been no other law that has been amended more times than the Immigration Law – mostly seeking to get a fair balance between employers having access to needed workers from overseas and ensuring that Caymanians are treated fairly and have opportunities for employment. 

But despite all these measures, complaints of discrimination against Caymanians in the labour force remain widespread.  As I have said, these are not new; however, the complaints and resentment are growing, and to date no amount of change to the Immigration Law has alleviated the concerns. The stories about Caymanians being treated unfairly in the labour market are legion. Personally, hardly a day passes that I do not hear an anecdote of a Caymanian being discriminated against or treated unfairly with respect to employment. By being treated unfairly I am talking about qualified Caymanians who are able to do a particular job being unjustifiably refused an opportunity to work or being passed over for a training opportunity or promotion. Indeed, at times they may not even have received an opportunity for an interview for a job. In some cases we know the stories first hand, either through constituents, family or friends and so know them to be true. That having been said, I acknowledge that not every complaint is valid – we also know the stories of the people that we have helped acquire a job, with employers giving them a chance, sometimes a second chance, only to find ourselves feeling disappointed when the individual leaves the employment without good reason – expecting the country or an elected member to bear the burden of their living costs.

I mention this Mr. Speaker because we have to be honest with each other as Caymanians. But I want to focus today on those Caymanians who try hard to find and keep employment. And who come to us feeling let down because despite their experience and their qualifications they feel shut out of the job market. 

Mr. Speaker, besides complaining about this issue publicly all that successive generations of legislators have done is to keep tweaking the Immigration Law to fix one loophole or another so as to try to ensure fair opportunities for Caymanians. It is time that we cease tinkering at the edges and accept that a fundamental change is necessary if we are to address this longstanding and growing issue of discrimination against Caymanians in the job market. In an economy that is expanding and that has as many work permits as ours does, it is simply unacceptable that a qualified and experienced Caymanian should not be able to find employment. My Government is determined to fix this issue, which is threatening to undermine the social fabric of these beloved Islands we call home.

Mr. Speaker, one of the key measures we are taking is development of a Human Resources Department, whose remit will be to better regulate the labour market, including access to work permits. But this will not be enough, so we are also proposing to change the laws regarding the advertising of jobs as well as implement a National Jobs Clearinghouse to improve the transparency and fairness of the labour market. 

But this too will not be enough - and I know that we will still hear complaints about discrimination. And when we do hear them, what are we as elected members able to do? Should we simply resort to tweaking the Immigration Law and Regulations yet again?  

No, Mr. Speaker successive governments have tried this approach over the last 45 years and it has only led to an Immigration Law that has become even more complex and burdensome to manage. 

And even more attempts at increased enforcement of the Immigration Law will have limited success in alleviating the concerns of discrimination in the minds of Caymanians. There is a fine line between ensuring companies follow the law regarding the hiring of Caymanians, and having an over-bearing enforcement approach that discourages business. Incentivising businesses to hire Caymanians has also been discussed for some time but has never really gotten off the ground. However, we do intend during this year to dust off and implement plans for what has been called the accreditation system that will seek to reward those businesses that do the right thing regarding the hiring and training of Caymanians. But this too will not resolve concerns of fair treatment. There is a need for an avenue for Caymanians to go when they have concerns regarding hiring practices. My Government will address this vacuum by establishing Cayman’s first Fair Employment Opportunities Commission.

Employers and immigrants have access to an Immigration Appeals Tribunal if they believe that a work permit or permanent residency application has been incorrectly refused. If you are employed and have a complaint against your employer you have access to the Labour Appeals Tribunal. But if you are a Caymanian jobseeker and believe that you were incorrectly treated when applying for a job or bypassed for a promotion, you have nowhere to go.  The practice of writing a letter to the Immigration Board may sometimes result in the work permit application for a non- Caymanian being refused, but it rarely results in the complainant being given the job in question.

Ironically, while many Caymanians look to the Immigration Law & Department for protection against discrimination, the Immigration Law does not in fact specifically address discrimination against Caymanians  - there are no references to “discrimination” in the Immigration Law (2015 Revision). Due to the lack of a legislative mandate for the Immigration Department, there is no official process for handling complaints of discrimination from job-seekers or those seeking promotion. Hence the department is frequently criticised for “failing to protect Caymanians” and for “failing to enforce the law”. 

The Fair Employment Opportunities Commission, which we propose, with its legislated framework would fill a gap that now exists. 

It is not just the Immigration Law that is inadequate with regard to anti-discrimination provisions.

Section 80 (1) of the Labour Law (2011 Revision) states that “no person (whether an employee or employer) may discriminate against another by reason of race, colour, creed, sex, pregnancy or any reason connected with pregnancy, age, mental or physical disability.” Penalty for doing so is a maximum of 12 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Section 80, which consists of 135 words, does not apply to Caymanians per se and applies only to “employees and employers”, i.e. it excludes job applicants.

Women, by contrast, have had extensive protection against workplace discrimination since the Gender Equality Law was passed in 2011.

Neither does the Labour Relations Bill in its current form significantly enhance protection against workplace discrimination for Caymanians

Finally, while the Bill of Rights contains protection against discrimination this only applies “vertically”, that is between individuals and government. Specific laws are required to apply the rights “horizontally”, between individuals and other parties.

In summary there is no current law to protect Caymanians from discrimination by employers and no process by which Caymanians can officially complain or seek redress against instances of discrimination.

The Fair Employment Opportunities Commission would supplement other tools for ensuring the hiring of Caymanians while also providing Caymanians with the assurance that Government and law abiding employers do care about Caymanian employment. 

It would also have the ability to sanction. Exactly what those sanctions involve will need to be decided but would likely include administrative fines on businesses that are deemed to have hiring practices that are unfair to Caymanians.

The Commission will be independent to avoid possible perceptions of bias toward business and must be able to maintain a balance and to apply the relevant aspects of the law. As such it would be headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor in a manner similar to the appointment of the Auditor General and Ombudsman. It is envisaged that the Commissioner would be an experienced attorney or retired judge and the office would be staffed by individuals with legal and investigative skills. 

 I hasten to say this will not be some form of affirmative action commission. But it will be a commission that will consider the law and determine whether the complaint of unfair treatment is valid. It will be important that the business community and public do not believe that this body is subject to political interference but instead operates independently and in accordance with the rule of law.  

In addition to providing Caymanians with an avenue to seek redress when they believe they have been treated unfairly, a Fair Employment Opportunity Commission will provide other benefits. Whilst there are  Caymanians who believe that Caymanian job-seekers are frequently discriminated against by employers, there is no data by which the government or the general public can correctly gauge the real extent of the problem, the effectiveness of existing legislative and enforcement efforts or the impact of new measures to reduce this discrimination. The work of a Fair Employment Opportunity Commission would, over time, provide data regarding the occurrence of such incidents and what segments of the job market are more impacted by incidents of real or perceived discrimination.

There are also no proactive measures to prevent workplace discrimination against Caymanians. There is also no campaign to educate Caymanians as to their employment rights and/or what to do if they believe their rights have been violated. A Fair Employment Opportunities Commission would also perform these duties.

Such a commission as we propose is not a unique idea Mr. Speaker. Indeed many countries have similar commissions under names such as Equal Opportunity Commissions and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. So we are not proposing to implement something entirely novel. 

Mr. Speaker, it is our intention to consult widely with the business community with regards to the proposed Fair Employment Opportunity Commission. We also intend, as part of the exercise regarding the creation of a new Human Resources Department that a new work permit regime operates efficiently and effectively without undue delays, providing a high level of service.

As I said at the start, this Government recognises the importance of businesses having access to quality, necessary personnel but we also recognise that we need to do something new to ensure that Caymanians not only believe that they will be treated fairly in the job market but where they do not so believe, that they have an avenue to take their grievances. If we do nothing and allow the current beliefs of unfairness to fester and grow, we may well end up where the Bahamas was in the 1970s with an unsettled business climate and great resentment amongst local people and with business leaving our shores.

If properly set up, Mr. Speaker, within a legal framework and operated in an independent and fair manner, a Fair Employment Opportunity Commission can only be considered as something positive by Caymanians and by the business community.

If a business is operating as the law requires and is treating Caymanian job applicants fairly then they will have nothing to fear regarding the implementation of such a commission.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important initiative and one I wanted to share with the Honourable House and the public at the earliest stage possible. We will move the initiative through the machinations of the Government process including consultations with stakeholders. The House can expect to hear more about this in the coming months.

Mr. Speaker, the events of the past week have once again heightened the public discourse around crime, particularly gun related crimes. The report from the RCIPS of two robberies and a subsequent murder and that they were looking for an individual who was armed and dangerous, and presumably willing to shoot if he felt at risk, caused alarm throughout these Islands, but especially in the Red Bay constituency, which I represent, and the Prospect constituency where I live. And rightly so – to be afraid to walk from your car at night to your front door or to visit an entertainment establishment at night for fear of being robbed,  or worse, is not the Caymanian way of life. And even if these incidents are not everyday occurrences but are only spikes in crime they must never come to be accepted as the norm.

I can say Mr. Speaker, that every single member of my Government - whether a Progressives candidate, a CDP candidate or an Independent candidate - campaigned and promised to work with the RCIPS to tackle crime, particularly gun related crimes. We take these promises seriously and during the recent budget session Government committed to various strategies to combat crime and keep our communities safe. Indeed some $270 million has been allocated to National security over this budget cycle, which is two years. 

We committed to putting in place a dedicated Community Policing Programme and voted funds to provide the RCIPS with 75 new police officers over the next three years to help accomplish this. I am pleased to say, as everyone in this House and the wider public would be aware, that Community Policing has become a reality and is being welcomed by the public as well as by those on the opposition benches.

As of February, 26 Community Police officers have been placed in East End, North Side, Prospect, South Sound, George Town, at the Waterfront, Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. Officers stationed on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were already considered community officers. They are all working on differing shifts, depending on the demands of each area. These officers are embedded in the communities and there is a genuine commitment to make sure those officers are maintained in those areas for at least two years.

Mr. Speaker, community policing is still in its fledgling stages but I am certain that it will play a key role in not only keeping communities safer but also helping rebuild public trust in the RCIPS and thus peoples’ willingness to ‘say something when they see something’.

I have also advised the Commissioner of Police that the Government will consider providing additional resources, such as more CCTV cameras in order to deter crime and improve detection. We just need a proper plan.

I have asked the Deputy Governor to review the salaries of police officers (as well as other underpaid departments of government) with a view to making the RCIPS a more attractive employer. This will enable the Commissioner to attract and retain more qualified persons to the Police service.

So we are doing as a Government what we need to financially support the RCIPS and I am satisfied that under the leadership of the current Commissioner  and his senior team the RCIPS has taken seriously this Government’s commitment to keeping our communities safe and reducing gun crime in the Cayman Islands.

Increasing Neighbourhood Watch programmes is another commitment that is being met and the RCIPS, through the Community Policing Programme, will assist communities to put these in place. Neighbours know when something looks wrong and when someone looks out of place in a community and can help raise an alarm if needed. 

We also committed to improving border security and to merging the Customs and Immigration agencies into a single border force. The work on this has started and we have secured the assistance of Mr. Colin Brown who is head of the UK’s Border Force National Targeting Centre to move this project forward as a matter of urgency. Mr. Brown arrived in January and has been working with the steering committee charged with the planning and eventual implementation of the merger. So again, this commitment is being met and when complete we will have a single border force agency with staff trained to better protect our seaports and airports, focussed on preventing illicit drugs, guns and people landing illegally in the Cayman Islands.

Modern law enforcement and border protection agencies do not focus on searching suitcases and containers, instead they rely on intelligence as well as on modern investigative and targeting practices that are more successful than searches alone. This is where we are going, Mr. Speaker. Currently Immigration and Customs staff are undergoing cross training as well as participating in joint operations. Over the next six months we will start seeing a single uniform for some staff and a fully joined up Cayman Border Force should be in place for the start of the 2019 financial year, which is January. I will continue to provide this Honourable House with progress reports on the work being done in this area.  But again, the commitment has been made and work is ongoing and will become reality.

Another key element in border protection is our commitment to create a modern Cayman Islands Coast Guard with a multifaceted role, including search and rescue, patrolling our seas and helping keep illegal guns, people, and drugs from being smuggled into our Islands. The Coast Guard will have the ability to board and search vessels in our waters and make arrests if needed. We have obtained the services of Mr. Phil Bostock, who is a commander in the UK’s Maritime and Coast Guard Agency who has also been on the ground from January to assist in the development of the Coast Guard.

Neither the Coast Guard nor the border protection agents can be everywhere, so we will utilise technology to assist in the detection of boats entering our waters. It will be important Mr. Speaker, and I will ensure, that the Coast Guard will be as independent as possible with a local commander – who we are hoping will be a Caymanian. It will be properly resourced and we will ensure that it will be structured in such a way so as not to have its resources poached for other law enforcement work.

Staff has already begun specialist joint operations and are undergoing training in enhanced search and rescue capabilities.  We have the services of the consultant to the end of this year and we intend to put in place operational policies as well as any necessary legislation by year end.  Major assets will be budgeted for in the 2020 budget cycle. This is a major undertaking but we are moving as swiftly as we can and with God’s grace this too will be achieved.

But Mr. Speaker, there are other things that we are looking at to battle crime, including initiatives to prevent youngsters from entering lives of crime as well as more effective rehabilitation programmes – both for incarcerated prisoners and those who have served their time. If we can prevent re-offending and help people lead more productive lives then that is part of the battle won. 

Improved policing is about dealing with crime now. In the longer term, the answer lies in stopping our people turning to crime in the first place. I believe the most significant contribution to long term crime reduction, besides a good education, will come from the early identification of young people at risk of offending behaviour, and implementing programmes to help them make better life choices – choices that will benefit them, their families and their communities.

As I reported during the Budget session, work on this commenced during the last administration and an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Youth Affairs has been established to serve as the coordinating and advisory body to implement plans in this area. The Department of Children and Family Services is playing an important role in the overall solution through social workers who specialize in family crises resolution and trauma. But they cannot do it alone. This requires work and cooperation across many ministries for there to be real success. Mr. Speaker, a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub Team, or MASH, was created in 2016 where the Ministry of Community Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services, works with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Education Department and Health Services to enhance the safety of our children.

These are important and part of a longer term solution that addresses the causes of crimes.  

But there is another issue that needs to be addressed; one that I believe needs our utmost attention. That Mr. Speaker is the need for the elected government to be allowed a greater role in national security matters. Our role needs to extend beyond merely voting funds for the police. The elected government needs a significant voice in strategic decision-making relating to national security matters. That was what was contemplated by the constitutional provision that created the National Security Council in the 2009 constitution, but that is not what has occurred in practice. For national security to succeed it needs to become a shared responsibility of the Governor and the elected Government. It is too big and too important an issue to be the Governor’s alone. The National Security Council needs to function in the way it was contemplated – as the National Security Cabinet of the Cayman Islands – and not merely as a talk-shop. Earlier Mr. Speaker I mentioned that Government is providing funding for resources to combat crime. All of us in this House are held accountable by the public for reducing crime, even though our main opportunities to do so rely on our control of the budget and on the views of the Commissioner at the time, and the Governor at the time who has constitutional responsibility for all aspects of internal security, including the RCIPS. We get to vote money but we do not have real control of national security issues.

Mr. Speaker you may recall that during the Constitutional talks a decade ago that I raised this issue with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was a battle. As a compromise the UK agreed to create the National Security Council a body that is charged under Section 58.4 of the Constitution with responsibility as follows:

“The National Security Council shall advise the Governor on matters relating to internal security, with the exception of operational and staffing matters, and the Governor shall be obliged to act in accordance with the advice of the Council, unless he or she considers that giving effect to the advice would adversely affect Her Majesty’s interest (whether in respect of the United Kingdom or the Cayman Islands); and where the Governor has acted otherwise than in accordance with the advice of the Council, he or she shall report to the Council at its next meeting.”

Mr. Speaker  every Governor since 2009 when the Constitution came into effect, presumably under the directions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has never accepted that the advice, by way of decisions  given by the National Security Council  are really intended to be advice that was to be followed, but merely as  ‘suggestions’ to be considered.

Because of this Mr. Speaker, you and the wider public would have heard me mention on several occasions that the UK Government needed to rethink the position of the Governor having full responsibility for the RCIPS and to consider a Police Authority whose role would be to allow for the sharing of authority between the Governor and elected members regarding strategic police matters. 

During the Strategic Policy Statement last year I said the following:  “in line with my earlier point on creating a culture of delivery, we will not only provide additional resources to the RCIPS but we will also insist that resources are used as agreed and will hold the Commissioner to account for the results. This will mean creating new approaches that foster accountability and enhance the responsiveness of the RCIPS to the people’s concerns. Our proposal to accomplish this is the establishment of a Cayman Islands Police Authority and we will discuss with Her Excellency, the Governor, how we can establish such a mechanism quickly”.

During the Budget process in August last year I again noted:  “As we provide additional resources to the RCIPS we will insist that resources are used as agreed and hold the Commissioner to account for the results of those expenditures. We also intend to discuss with the UK Government the establishment of a Police Authority to help create new approaches in fostering accountability and enhance the responsiveness of the RCIPS to the people’s concerns.”

And I was pleased that the Governor during her Throne speech noted the following: “The Government has also indicated its eagerness to discuss the creation of a Police Authority with me and with Her Majesty’s Government. A Police Authority that would be devolved some authority for policing. Whilst no outcome to these discussions can be pre-determined, I welcome the conversation.”

Mr. Speaker, I mention this to provide some background and to remind the public and this House that this has been an issue for some time.

Mr. Speaker, we are at a critical juncture, where national security issues are increasingly a concern to the people of this country and those that visit. If we are to succeed in addressing these matters, the National Security Council, which is made up of the Governor, the Premier, the Deputy Governor, two ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and two private sector representatives, must be permitted to function as the Constitution contemplated. Mr. Speaker, I can advise that in my recent conversations with the Office of the Governor I have urged that going forward the National Security Council be operated as was envisaged when the Constitution was written. That is, as a decision making body whose decisions or ‘advice’ on ‘non-operational or staffing’ matters regarding the RCIPS the Governor would be obligated to take. Where this advice is not followed then the Governor will be obliged to report this back to the NSC at the next meeting. 

I also discussed with the Office of the Governor the need to formalise the proceedings of the NSC with regular monthly meetings and with papers submitted by members for consideration, similar to the process followed in Cabinet. I would expect that the NSC agenda would be agreed jointly between me as Premier and the Governor. This should help the NSC become more focused on strategic and policy matters and take meaningful decisions. It will also provide elected members - I and the Leader of the Opposition as well as two Government ministers - with some real say into non-operational policing matters. It is through us the elected members and the private sector representatives on the NSC that the security concerns of the everyday man, woman and business owner in this country will be taken to the NSC meeting table for consideration and decision.

Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that we may get to a point swiftly to where these discussions become reality. I certainly am hopeful Mr. Speaker and I pray that nothing comes along to derail these considerations.  With a new Governor arriving this is certainly an opportune time for a reset regarding the NSC and for the UK’s representative and the elected members of the Legislative Assembly to share authority for internal security.

So Mr. Speaker I will close by saying to this honourable House that the Government’s commitment to creating safer communities and tackling crime is not just talk – they are happening. These strategies will take time to work, but with the RCIPS properly resourced and trained, and with elected members having a say regarding policing strategies, and with much improved border security and a new Coast Guard service, I believe we will win the battle with crime. The social issues are also important and these too are being tackled. Sadly we will not ever eliminate crime, but we can and must drastically reduce it and prevent its further escalation in these Islands.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

As I ran for election at the beginning of 2017, everywhere I went and everyone I spoke to talked about crime and the fear of crime in our communities. 

People were, and still are, concerned about the increase, in what they often term, nuisance crimes – everything from petty theft, illegal motorcycles and speeding vehicles.  But of greater concern are the incidents of robberies and violent crimes.  These too often involve guns and arise out of gangs and drug use.

When we sat last year and debated the budget, my government agreed to the request from the Police Commissioner for new resources to tackle crime on our streets.  Of the 75 new officer positions approved in the budget over the next three years, (at 25 a year), it was agreed almost one-third will be dedicated to community policing.

I campaigned for safer communities and said it would be achieved by making our border control more effective - at our airports and around our waters.  A Coast Guard to assist with search and rescue as well as the detection and interdiction of boats arriving with illegal cargo.  And by supporting the use of community policing as an effective tool to make communities safe and I was heartened that the Police Commissioner is of the same view and this is one of his priority areas. 

So I was very pleased to hear that twenty-six Royal Cayman Islands Police officers have now been assigned to full-time neighborhood policing duties around Grand Cayman, as the department attempts to expand its visible presence within our communities.

Four officers and one supervising police sergeant have been placed in North Side and East End, 10 officers and a sergeant are in George Town, three officers and a sergeant will staff areas of Bodden Town and four officers plus a sergeant will staff West Bay.

RCIPS Inspector Courtney Myles will oversee the entire unit that will see beat officers on foot and on bicycles.  They will be expected to engage directly with the people living and working in their beat area and will be operating in that area for a minimum of two years.

This is good news, and I encourage everyone to get involved, meet your community police officer, ask about setting up a neighborhood watch area and let’s all work together to make our communities safe.

Ato Modibo Stephens left the Cayman Islands on Sunday 11 March, 2018, travelling to Miami in the United States.

Mr. Stephens is now a prohibited immigrant to the Cayman Islands. Under Section 82(h) of the Immigration Law, a prohibited immigrant is “a person who, not having received a free pardon, has been convicted in any country of an offence for which a sentence of imprisonment of or exceeding 12 months has been passed otherwise than for non-payment of a fine”.

Mr. Stephens was sentenced to 18 months in prison on 4 August, 2017, and the Court recommended his deportation following completion of his sentence. Mr. Stephens’ sentence resulted from a guilty verdict on one charge of using an information and communication technology network to annoy, harass or abuse an underage female. At the time of his sentencing the court recommended deportation.

The Cabinet of the Cayman Islands approved the issuance of a Deportation Order for Mr. Stephens for 16 March, 2018, or as soon thereafter as could be arranged by the Department of Immigration.

It’s hard to believe that it’s only sixty years since the passing of a bill in the Cayman Islands that allowed women to vote and stand for election.  My own mother was 33 years old before she had the right to vote, today that seems impossible to conceive. 

It is 9 months ago that the country went to the polls and it’s interesting to note that just over a quarter of the candidates nominated for the 2017 General Election were women. 

This is a step in the right direction on the road to political equality, however, when you realize that women make up more than half of our population, they are still under-represented in the Legislative Assembly.  I encourage more women to stand for public office and to step forward into the political arena to become involved in the decision making and bring women and family issues to the fore. 

No-one can deny the role that women have played in the development of these islands.  Caymanian women took over in family, business, and government when the men went to sea and women played a more active role in social and economic life.  However it wasn’t until after World War II that women were accepted as partners in the political process.

I come from a line of very strong women who worked in the community at a time when most women stayed home. My paternal grandmother, Ethel Connor, was a school teacher. My maternal grandmother, Lizzy Bodden, worked as a seamstress and on her own raised two children after her husband died when my mother was five years old.

My mother, Althea, worked as a dispenser, nurse, pharmacist and sometimes doctor for 36 years at the Government hospital. It was really the only job she ever had. I know from her experiences the difficulties and discrimination that women in the workplace encountered. 

I’m happy to say I’m still surrounded by strong women, my wife Kim and my sisters Debbie and Elizabeth. 

 As we celebrate International Women’s Month we celebrate women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality. 

In addition to the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Law on December 8, 1958 (which allowed women the right to vote), other milestones include the Gender Equality Law 2011 and the extension of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women). 

Whilst we have made great strides, there is still much to be done. With the advancement of technology and social media, the power of corporate, social and grassroots initiatives, and the voices of supportive men and women willing to speak out on issues concerning gender equality, everyone can be an advocate for change.  We must ensure that girls and women are treated fairly in the workplace, and in society generally.

I also want to draw attention to domestic abuse and highlight the great work that the Family Resource Centre, as well as the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, are doing by providing safe shelter to victims, support and counselling, as well as educating the community on what family violence is and what healthy relationships are.

Recent global prevalence figures indicate that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.  That’s pretty deplorable. 

When people talk about domestic abuse, they often focus on domestic violence. But domestic abuse occurs whenever one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person.  Domestic violence and abuse are used to gain and maintain total control over you. Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you.

Domestic violence and abuse do not discriminate. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are more commonly victimized, men are also abused.

Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women is still worse than that of men.  International Women’s Day, which is part of Honouring Women’s Month, is a day when men and women across the world come together to recognize these inequalities whilst celebrating the achievements of women.

Show your support for Honouring Women’s month by participating in the following events:

■ Thursday, 8 March - International Women’s Day – Canvas and Mocktails at Art Nest, 7.30 p.m. – 9 p.m., $38 incl. refreshments

■ Friday, 17 (Kaibo) and Saturday, 18 March (Smiths Cove, South Sound) - Colour Me Purple 5K Run/Walk., Cost $25. Fundraiser for local youth and women’s initiatives

■ Sunday, 25 March - Honouring Women Month church service, John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 10 a.m.

For registration and more information, call the FRC on 949-0006 or email Family Resource Centre

Senior officers from the UK’s Border Force and Maritime and Coastguard Agency are being seconded to the Cayman Islands to oversee changes in the way in which Cayman’s borders are protected and its search and rescue services provided.

Colin Brown, who is currently Head of Border Force’s UK National Targeting Centre, will arrive in early January for an initial period of six months to oversee the modernisation of immigration and customs procedures at Cayman’s borders and to advise on the transformation of elements of both departments into an integrated “Cayman Islands Border Protection Service”.

On Sunday The Progressives gathered for the Annual Seniors Christmas Party.

The Cayman Islands is not on the EU’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

The list is the outcome of the EU’s screening process to identify countries that it considers to be non-cooperative in working with EU Member States to combat tax fraud, evasion and avoidance, which erodes the tax bases of EU Member States.

The EU announced the list of 17 non-cooperative jurisdictions today. It also announced a list of 47 countries that it considers cooperative, but that it says can make further enhancements to prevent misuse of their jurisdictions. The Cayman Islands is included among these 47 countries.
In developing its lists, the EU assessed jurisdictions against three criteria. The EU had no concern with Cayman’s position on two of these criteria: tax transparency, in relation to our exchange of tax information with other countries; and implementation of the OECD’s base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) programme, which addresses multinational companies' tax avoidance strategies.

For the criterion on fair taxation, the EU noted positively that Cayman’s system does not charge different tax rates to persons based on any factor, including whether the person resides in Cayman or not. As part of this particular criterion, the EU also wants to ensure that jurisdictions do not facilitate ‘letterbox companies’. These companies, which are set up to circumvent tax obligations, do not actually have physical presence, and therefore do not perform tangible economic activities, in the country in which they are established.

‘The majority of Cayman’s companies are not bricks and mortar, but they also are not letterbox companies’, explained the country’s Premier, the Hon. Alden McLaughlin. ‘Rather, they are financial instruments that pool investment capital and facilitate international transactions.

‘In addition, our transparency aids foreign tax authorities with their tax assessments.

We provide taxpayer information to more than 100 countries, including all EU Member States and G20 countries. Thus there is no interest in setting up these companies to circumvent tax obligations’.

In cooperation with the EU, the Cayman Islands Government is further assessing the fair taxation criterion, and will work with EU Council officials to address this issue by December 2018.

‘This is in line with the Cayman Islands’ longstanding commitment to international cooperation, which has been recognised by international organisations such as the OECD, the Financial Stability Board, and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions’, said the Minister of Financial Services, the Hon. Tara Rivers.
The EU began its process of developing its non-cooperative tax jurisdictions list in fall 2016, by inviting 92 jurisdictions to participate in the assessment. The Cayman Islands Government has continuously cooperated in this process by responding to multiple requests for written information, phone calls, and face-to-face dialogue.

On Wednesday Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Financial Services and Home Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers and the Cayman delegation attended the second day of the Joint Ministerial Council meeting at Lancaster House in London.

In the morning session the Rt. Hon. Mel Stride, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, led the discussion on tax transparency and beneficial ownership.

A highlight from the session was United Kingdom officials acknowledging that the European Union process to determine non-cooperative jurisdictions has been challenging for the territories involved.  It was again confirmed that the UK has been and continues to work on behalf of the British Overseas Territories to ensure that the EU process is fair and balanced.

Several leaders spoke about the EU process with Premier McLaughlin noting that the process was indeed challenging but the Cayman Islands Government had worked diligently to provide EU officials with information to assist in their deliberations. He thanked the UK for the work being done to assist OTs and again pressed them to continue to lobby the EU on behalf of Cayman and the OTs.

It was also noted by UK Government officials that the UK could assist the territories in educating the public about how far the Overseas Territories have come in the fight against financial crimes, tax evasion and the issue of beneficial ownership. UK officials also acknowledged that it needs to help educate the public that overseas financial centres play an important role in facilitating global finance. However, it was also noted that OTs with financial services businesses also needed to tell their story and help educate people and change perceptions to help shift attitudes. 

Territories provided updates on the progress made in implementing commitments made last year in the Exchange of Notes on Beneficial Ownership. ‘Minister Rivers provided an update on the work that has been done to implement those commitments. Minister Rivers also indicated that Cayman had submitted comments which highlighted a few concerns for further discussion as part of the planned 6 month review.’

Premier McLaughlin said Cayman and other OTs have been requesting that the UK Government extend the UN Convention against Corruption to the OTs for several years, which has presented a problem when the Cayman Islands is under review. UK officials agreed to see what could be done.

Lord Ahmad also updated the OT leaders and their delegations about the Commonwealth Heads of Government to be held in April 2018. Lord Ahmad said the UK intends to ensure that Overseas Territories have an opportunity to be more involved in these meetings going forward. The Overseas Territories already participated in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as well as in the Commonwealth Games, and so it is right that they have the opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings as well, he said.

The remainder of the morning session included conversations about health, including the UK assisting OTs to improve their health systems. Steve Brine, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Health led the session. Topics included an update on the work done by the UK’s Department of Health as well as collaboration between the UK and the OTs on mental health and obesity.  

Lord Ahmad led the session on Child Safeguarding, and Claire Perry, Minister for Climate Change, led the session on the UN Framework on Climate Change. It was noted that the recent hurricanes in the Caribbean highlighted that small islands like the British OTs are badly impacted by rising temperatures. It was highlighted that the UK should ensure that OTs had the ability to lend their voice directly in debates about setting climate change standards.

The afternoon session included an update by Robin Walker, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Department for Exiting the EU, on the Brexit negotiation. The future of the relations hip between OTs and the EU was discussed with several OT leaders again noting concerns about losing EU financing and grant options as well as maintaining trade to EU countries. OT leaders pressed UK officials to ensure that they are not disenfranchised once the UK leaves the EU.

They say that art decorates space and music decorates time - well the best of both worlds came together on Wednesday night for the annual Progressives' Fundraiser!

Have a look through our photos:

The project will cover repairs and maintenance, gardening, cleaning parks, beaches, beach access and roadside verges. A similar project will also be undertaken in the Sister Islands under the supervision of District Administration. The dates of the programme are from Monday, 4 December - Friday, 15 December 2017 and from Monday, 8 January - Friday, 12 January 2018.

The project is only open to unemployed Caymanians, 18 years and older, and unemployed spouses of Caymanians who have the right to work. Rigorous vetting will take place to ensure that only those who are eligible are accepted into the programme. Contracted workers will be paid $10 per hour, foremen will receive $12 per hour.

Application forms can be picked up at all district libraries in Grand Cayman, as well as from District MLA Offices, the Needs Assessment Unit, the National Workforce Development Agency and at the Government Administration Building’s reception area in George Town.

Mandatory registration and training will take place at the Lions Centre on Tuesday, 28 November 2017 at 9 a.m. Applicants will need to bring a completed application form and supporting documentation with them to prove immigration status on registration day.

For further information, please call or send a WhatsApp/text to the NICE Hotline 917-0153, or email NCEP@gov.ky.

Older persons in the Cayman Islands now have a voice to represent them as Government continues to implement the Older Persons Law.

Cabinet has approved the appointment of members to the Council for Older Persons, naming six members from each district in the Cayman Islands, seven members from Government, along with an attorney and a medical doctor.

“Reaching this point has been a milestone and a major accomplishment for the Cayman Islands,” said Premier and Minister for Community Affairs Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “The appointment of this Council is a significant achievement.”

The council members will champion and monitor the promotion and development of programmes, projects and legislative measures as well as monitor and evaluate the implementation of the action plans for the Cayman Islands Older Persons’ Policy.

The government, under the previous Progressives-led Administration, approved the 2017 Older Persons Law in March this year. The law commenced in July.

Specifically the law seeks to promote access to services including their affordability, physical accessibility and acceptable maintenance; social inclusion so that our elderly feel valued, their opinions and differences are respected and their basic needs are met so they can live with dignity; anti-discriminatory practices; and improved care, including physical, psychological, social or material assistance and services aimed at promoting the quality of life and well-being of older persons.

“I commend all who had a part in helping develop the Older Persons Policy, getting it approved and enacting the Older Persons Law,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “And I deeply appreciate the members of the Council for agreeing to serve on this important board to protect and advance the well-being of our elders.”

The following members will serve for a term of not less than four years:

Mrs. Lucille Seymour - Chair & Member for the district of George Town
Mrs. Sarah Alice Mae Coe - Deputy Chair & Member for the district of West Bay
Mr. Reginald Nixon - Member for the district of Bodden Town
Mrs. Barbara Gee - Member for the district of East End
Ms. Esther Patricia Ebanks - Member for the district of North Side
Ms. Lana Poldavaart - Member for the Sister Islands
Mr. Mark Beckford - Member, Attorney-at-law
Dr. Eryka Simmons - Member, Medical Doctor
Chief Officer or designate - Ex-officio Member (representing the Ministry responsible for Community Affairs)
Chief Officer or designate - Ex-officio Member (representing the Ministry responsible for Health)
Chief Officer or designate - Ex officio Member (representing the Ministry responsible for Education)
Chief Officer or designate - Ex-officio Member (representing the Ministry responsible for Employment)
Chief Officer or designate - Ex-officio Member (representing the Ministry responsible for Gender Affairs)
Director of Policy Coordination Unit or designate - Executive Secretary (representing the Cabinet Office)
Mrs. Tempora Wesley - Representing the Department of Children & Family Services

A Cayman delegation led by The Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin will be heading to Miami for a pre-meeting of the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) on 28^th October. 

This meeting is specifically for Caribbean British Overseas Territories giving them the opportunity to discuss the needs of the islands impacted by the recent hurricanes, prior to the JMC meeting that will be held at the end of November in London.

The goal being to ensure that the needs of those territories impacted by the storms are a key part of the agenda for talks in London.

During the recent trip to Manchester and London, the Premier and his team were lobbying hard on behalf of the British Overseas Territories that had been affected by the recent hurricanes.

Mr. McLaughlin said “The UK government had indicated a commitment of up to £62 million, according to Lord Ahmed, Minister for Overseas Territories, to help rebuild the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Anguilla and Turks and Caicos (TCI).  However due to the damage inflicted on these islands, they will need to access significantly more in reconstruction funds.” 

“The devastation is such that their economies are in danger of long-term damage unless they receive financial assistance - in the short term for disaster relief - but in the medium to long term to rebuild infrastructure and to enable them to maintain their economic base.  This includes the financial services in BVI and TCI as well as tourism for all three countries.  If the hotels and airports are not ready to receive tourists this winter it will be another blow to their economies.”

The request by the UK to obtain funds from the international aid budget managed by the EU International Development and Cooperation Directorate, (IDCD) has been denied.   The reason given is that the GDP of the islands is too high and the budget is designed to relieve poverty.    However, Priti Patel, the Secretary of State for International Development, one of the senior UK government officials that Mr. McLaughlin met and lobbied whilst in Manchester, responded to the IDCD asking it to “urgently” review the rules relating to countries hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria saying that the international rules should take into account the vulnerabilities of small island states. 

For example 36% of Anguilla’s capital budget in 2016 according to Bloomberg News, came from EU funding and normally this funding would be used to build or repair infrastructure such as roads, ports, government buildings etc.  There is no indication at the moment, how this funding is going to be impacted by BREXIT – it may continue, it may not.  However, what is clear is that a lot more capital funding is going to be required by the islands affected by these major hurricanes to get them back on their feet.

Mr. McLaughlin continued “I lobbied all the Ministers, Parliamentarians and Officials that I met in Manchester and London regarding UK support for these islands.  It is important to remind the UK that the Overseas Territories are part of the British Family and deserving of assistance when impacted by natural disasters.  In fact I feel that the UK has an obligation to assist the Caribbean British Overseas territories, in the same way it supports Gibraltar and the Falklands. 

I feel obligated to join my fellow Premiers and Chief Ministers in lobbying the UK because I’m conscious that this will also benefit the Cayman Islands.  If one OT is floundering, that puts a question mark around all of us; I want to make sure that UK aid is available.  Today it is TCI, BVI and Anguilla but tomorrow it could be the Cayman Islands impacted and needing help.”

The Premier added “We are happy to play our part and we are in a fortunate position to be able to do so.  The assistance we’ve provided so far, from the RCIPS officers that we sent to BVI, the helicopter and RCIPS team we sent to Turks and Caicos and the medical and humanitarian support we provided to Anguilla benefits those Islands but it also highlights our relationship, shared histories, and circumstances. 

“We are all Caribbean people but we’re also British and we’re obligated to support our Caribbean Overseas Territories brothers and sisters in their time of need.  The importance of our relationship has been recognized at the highest levels of the UK government, on many occasions over the last few weeks it’s been said how grateful the UK government is for the assistance that the government and the people of the Cayman Islands have provided.  I would go so far as to say that this recognition has raised the profile and esteem of the Cayman Islands with many in the UK government.”

The annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) brings together political leaders from the Overseas Territories (OT’s) and UK Ministers.  It will meet this year in London from 27^th – 28^th November and will be hosted by FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories Lord Ahmed.

Following on from the successful meetings in Brussels with key EU decision makers, the Cayman delegation led by Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, travelled to Manchester to the Conservative Party Conference.  The aim was to utilise the conference to continue engagement with elected members of the UK government to help them better understand Cayman’s Financial Services business and the important role we play to the UK and world business.

The team attended various events in Manchester including the Gibraltar Reception where they met several key individuals including James Cleverly MP, and Andrew Rosindell MP; both are members of Cayman’s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) – which aims to support and increase awareness of the Cayman Islands in Westminster.

Mr. McLaughlin said “it was good to catch up with James and Andrew and to update them on the needs of our fellow Overseas Territories (OT’s) devastated by the recent hurricanes as well as to bring them up to date with what’s happening in Cayman.”   The reception was hosted by a long-time friend of Mr. McLaughlin’s, the Hon. Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

On Monday Premier McLaughlin, Hon. Tara Rivers, Minister for Financial Services and Home Affairs along with Councillor Austin Harris met Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs where the Premier presented Mr. Johnson with a gift from the Cayman Islands.  Mr. McLaughlin said, “Whilst Mr. Johnson had seen first-hand much of the devastation caused by the recent hurricanes, I continued to make a case for continued support from the UK.”

Prior to the meeting with Mr. Johnson, Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Rivers met with Sir Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence where humanitarian aid, the need for a coordinated effort on disaster preparedness and recovery for the OT’s going forward was again the topic for discussion.

On Monday evening members of the delegation attended the Conservative Party Conference business dinner.  Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond was the key note speaker and the dinner was attended by the majority of the UK Government’s Cabinet Ministers as well as key UK business leaders.

Mr. McLaughlin took the opportunity to speak with Hon. Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development.  Mr. McLaughlin continued to lobby for financial support for the OT’s impacted by these two major storms, again stating that the Cayman Islands had been quickly able to offer humanitarian aid as Cayman had not been affected.

For the final leg of the mission the group travelled down to London.

Ms. Rivers met with City UK, a group which promotes policies that drive competitiveness, support job creation and ensure long-term economic growth in the UK.  She also attended the 100 Women in Finance Breakfast event at Bloomberg and met with Baroness Evans who currently serves as the Leader of the House of Lords.

Ms. Rivers said “this has been a very successful trip; I had the opportunity to speak with many key influencers to educate them on Cayman’s role as a Financial Services Centre and all the work we have been doing around implementing and shaping international transparency standards.   I was fortunate to speak at the British Overseas Territories (BOT’s) reception in Manchester about the inter-connectedness between the UK and the Cayman Islands, as well as the humanitarian relief we’ve been providing to those affected by the recent storms.  This was very well received by everyone in attendance.” 

Councillor Austin Harris also spoke about Cayman at the BOT’s reception.

Mr. McLaughlin’s and Ms. Rivers final meeting was with Lord Ahmed, the Overseas Territories Minister.

Mr. McLaughlin said, “I provided a general update on what was happening in the Cayman Islands and we again discussed Caymans’ humanitarian assistance efforts to our OT neighbours.  We talked about the need for the UK to commit, not just short term financial help with the devastation, but long term to help their economies get back on their feet.”

Lord Ahmed again expressed his thanks, as had everyone the delegation met over the course of the trip, for the assistance that the Government and the people of the Cayman Islands are providing to those islands affected.  He reiterated how grateful the UK government is for the help.

The final event on the itinerary was the Conservatives Abroad dinner which was attended by Mr. McLaughlin, Ms. Rivers and Mr. Harris along with other members of the delegation.  Mr. McLaughlin was a guest of honour and was invited, during dinner, to say a few words about the Cayman Islands.  Sir Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defense was also in attendance as the guest speaker.

Mr. McLaughlin added “Everyone involved agreed that this trip accomplished what we set out to do.  We were able to renew and build relationships with not just senior Civil Servants but also senior members of the UK government and business leaders and to continue to spread the story of Cayman’s success.  This is important for us as a country, to ensure the people we meet understand the issues that the Cayman Islands face and the contributions that we make.”

Premier Alden McLaughlin, Hon. Tara Rivers, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin had unprecedented access Monday evening to the most senior of United Kingdom government officials and business people when he and the Cayman delegation attended a dinner hosted by The Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

During the dinner Mr. McLaughlin spoke with Hon. Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, about the Cayman Islands’ rapid response with humanitarian assistance to Caribbean British Overseas Territories that were ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Last month the Cayman Islands Government sent medical teams, equipment and supplies to Anguilla, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service helicopter to Turks and Caicos and armed police to Tortola, British Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma. More relief was sent to the islands following damage from Hurricane Maria. The Cayman Islands was the only British Overseas Territory that did not suffer from either storm.

“I told Ms Patel that it was our duty and privilege to help our sister British Overseas Territories,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “All of the BOTs have forged a strong bond over the years and it is incumbent that we take care of one another when we are in a position to offer any kind of assistance.”

Mr. McLaughlin, Minister of Financial Services and Home Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers and Councillor Austin Harris are in Manchester attending the Conservative Party Conference 2017. Attendance gives the Premier and the delegation an opportunity to meet with high-ranking UK politicians and business people to keep them updated on the strength and stability of the Cayman Islands.

“This Government, like the previous Progressives-led Administration, will take every opportunity to continue to build relationships and spread the story of success that is the Cayman Islands,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

Prior to the dinner the Premier, Ms Rivers and Mr. Harris met with Hon. Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, where the Premier presented Mr. Johnson with a gift from the Cayman Islands.

The Manchester visit follows a trip to Brussels where the Cayman delegation met with key EU decision makers from 28-29 September to assist EU ministers of finance in their understanding of Cayman’s financial regulatory compliance. The EU is slated in December 2017 to name the jurisdictions it considers to be noncompliant with global tax good governance standards.

The Cayman delegation returns home on Sunday, 8 October.

We’ve already seen and heard some early indications of the devastation that Hurricane Maria has caused to the island of Dominica.   This is a very dangerous storm which will later today pass through our Overseas Territory neighbours. 

Premier Alden McLaughlin said “we’ve been carefully watching Maria’s progress and have been in constant communication with both teams in BVI and Anguilla.  It’s a credit to the bravery and commitment of our teams that they desire to remain in the islands in order to continue the tremendous work they have been doing.”

He continued “Their well-being and safety is of paramount concern and we are assured that every possible precaution has been taken in light of Maria’s rapid development into a category 5 storm.”

BVI is still recovering from the devastating blow that Hurricane Irma delivered, debris litters the islands and hurricane force winds will turn that debris into projectiles.  The recovery teams on the ground are racing to help people prepare for the passage of Maria.

Matthew Forbes, Head of the Governors Office said "the RCIPS Officers in BVI are continuing to do a fantastic job and are a credit to Cayman.  They will be based in a secure location with the Governors staff, Bermuda police and the UK military for the passage of Hurricane Maria.  They will then be ready to deploy as soon as the storm has passed. "

In Anguilla the medical team that travelled down on last week’s relief flight have volunteered to remain during the passing of the storm.  The team has assessed the situation and have been given the assurance that the facilities, supplies and conditions in Anguilla are at levels that will not compromise their safety, security and well-being.   

Chief Executive Officer of the Health Services Authority Ms. Lizzette Yearwood said “we have maintained hourly contact with the team and the Anguillan authorities and they have reassured us that all precautionary measures have been implemented to ensure their safety and well-being.” Additionally Ms. Yearwood emphasized that, “Should conditions deteriorate after the passing of Hurricane Maria, the HSA along with the Government have established arrangements for their evacuation if necessary.”

McCleary Frederick, Director of HMCI  added “the medical teams are going to shelter at the hospital where they can best be positioned to provide any services that may be needed afterwards.  We’re expecting tropical storm force winds later on today at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and I will remain here for the passing of the storm.  We’re all okay and doing as much as we can and I think it’s making a big impact at the hospital and with patients that are being seen and with the response from the EOC.”

The public are reminded that, whilst Hurricane Maria is not a threat to the Cayman Islands, everyone is encouraged to prepare for this very active Hurricane season.   For further information on how to get ready, visit www.caymanprepared.ky.

The Cayman Islands Government’s work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to help provide needed security and humanitarian assistance to sister British Overseas Territories is paying off.

United Kingdom Foreign Minister Boris Johnson landed on Anguilla Tuesday  afternoon as a Cayman Islands Government chartered Cayman Airways jet was leaving the island after delivering medical teams, medicines and other needed supplies.

Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos, all British Overseas Territories, were ravaged by Hurricane Irma this past week. The Cayman Islands was the only British OT that did not suffer from the storm. Anguilla suffered extensive damage, and at least one person there has been confirmed dead.

Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin applauded the arrival of Mr. Johnson, saying the urgency shone by the Foreign Minister’s visit to Anguilla demonstrates a new commitment to the Overseas Territories.

“The UK has responded this time in a way that I haven’t known them to respond in the years since I have been in government,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “The fact that they sent the Foreign Minister out to the Overseas Territories is intended as a clear signal of their commitment in assisting with the recovery effort.”

The Cayman Airways 737-300 jet left Cayman Tuesday afternoon loaded with two doctors, six nurses, one paramedic, and almost 16,000 pounds of needed medicines and medical supplies and other critical donations to make the two-and-a-half hour trip to Anguilla.

The medical staff will stay on Anguilla for two weeks before being retrieved and replaced via another Government chartered Cayman Airways flight.

Health Services Authority Director Lizette Yearwood said the medical staff will deal with normal maladies that come from rebuilding after a storm, such as lacerations, puncture wounds and trauma.

“We sent about 15 pallets of medical supplies that were donated by the HSA, Health City and CTMH Doctors Hospital,” she said.

The Cayman Airways flight also returned with a person that was in dire need of medical assistance that could not be provided in Anguilla.

Deputy Premier and Minister with responsibility for Cayman Airways Hon. Moses Kirkconnell said the humanitarian mission shows once more the importance of Cayman’s national airline.

“Cayman Airways is not only important to us as our national carrier, but it is also an asset to the region, especially in times like these when our neighbours need help in any form,” said Mr. Kirkconnell. “The airline has been used many times for charity work and we will continue to celebrate Cayman Airways as a major contributor to our economy, our country and our region.”

Anguilla Governor HE Tim Foy said the aid from the Cayman Islands Government is important because his island was badly damaged in Irma.

“The aid shows fellowship and support of fellow overseas territories. This very big gift has a real value when it comes to those close to you,” Mr. Foy said.

Chief Minister of Anguilla Hon. Victor Banks echoed the Governor’s sentiments, saying it is important for the British Overseas Territories to show solidarity.

Mr. McLaughlin said the bond formed with fellow Overseas Territories government officials through Joint Ministerial Council meetings was instrumental in allowing the aid package from Cayman be assembled and delivered so quickly.

“I have said it before and it bears repeating; we and our sister British Overseas Territories are British people,” he said. “We are not residing in some foreign land. The British Overseas Territories have been owned by Britain for hundreds of years.”

“We who went through Hurricane Ivan some 13 years ago and then Hurricane Paloma nine years ago know well the feeling of absolute despair and isolation that follows a major destructive event like the passage of Hurricane Irma,” he said. “Cayman is in a wonderful place to be able to assist our brothers and sisters in the British Overseas Territories and I am delighted we have risen to that cause.”

Cayman Airways has lowered its fares for Caymanians and travelers in south Florida so they can come home or avoid the ravages of Hurricane Irma.

One way fares to Cayman have been reduced to $69 with no change fee and no baggage fee.

“As a government we need to make every effort to get people home and safe from harm’s way,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “It is our obligation and our mission.”

The flights will be Friday, 8 September, 2017. There will be one flight from Tampa and two from Miami. There will be additional flights added if needed. The Miami airport will remain operational until winds reach 35mph.

“We expect the Miami airport will be closed on Saturday, so we need to get our people home tomorrow,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for District Administration, Tourism and Transportation Hon. Moses Kirkconnell. “There are already mandatory evacuation orders in place in South Florida, so we need to do all we can to help.”

Hurricane Irma is on a path to slam Miami as a Category 4 storm late Saturday or Sunday.

Irma has already battered the tiny island of Barbuda and left thousands homeless on the island territories of St. Bart and St. Martin, where local officials said about 95 per cent of the island was completely demolished after Wednesday's thrashing by the Category 5 storm.

"If you're told to evacuate, get out quickly," Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned Thursday. "Based on what we now know, Miami-Dade will have major hurricane impacts with deadly storm surge, deadly storm surge and life-threatening winds. Look at the size of this storm. It's huge. It's wider than our entire state and could cause major and life-threatening impacts on both costs; coast to coast."

Cayman Airways will honour the low-cost fare to get people back to South Florida and Tampa once the all-clear is given following the hurricane’s landfall.

While the Cayman Islands so far remain spared by the wrath of the storms raging around the region, we watch with anguish the unfolding scenes of devastation being wrought by Hurricane Irma in the eastern and northern Caribbean.

This is one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic and, at a Category 5, smashed into the Leeward Islands last night (Tuesday, 5 September 2017). Irma barrelled past the Virgin Islands and pummelled Puerto Rico today, and is projected to head north of Hispaniola. The storm then looks set to go over Turks and Caicos, and hit The Bahamas before possibly making landfall in Florida at the weekend.

In its wake, the storm is leaving a path of destruction and damage that will likely rack into billions of dollars.

While some islands now begin to pick up the pieces after the storm moves west, others are hunkering down to brace for the worst. Our hearts go out to those who have already been affected by Irma and we pray for those who are waiting for the worst.

Of course, we must not forget all the people in Texas who are still reeling from Hurricane Harvey which hit the state less than two weeks ago. The Cayman Islands has strong links with that area, many people have family in cities such as Port Arthur, which was badly affected by the storm.

Earlier today, I met Her Excellency the Governor and her staff, the Deputy Governor, Hazard Management and other government officials to discuss and assess the situation regarding Hurricane Irma. The Governor’s Office is in regular contact with the crisis command centre in London and we are being updated as the situation unfolds. We will issue details of how people can help once conditions on the ground become clearer.

I’ve also spoken to some of my fellow Overseas Territory Heads of Government and assured them of our thoughts and prayers, as well as our commitment to supporting them in the aftermath.

In the meantime, I am pleased to say that the British naval ship RFA Mounts Bay is in the region and on its way to assist UK Overseas Territories in need. The ship was in the Cayman islands only a matter of weeks ago conducting hurricane-relief exercises, so the scenarios that they played out on Seven Mile Beach will now play an essential part in relief efforts

Having experienced Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Paloma in 2008, we in the Cayman Islands know only too well the horror of a major storm and its aftermath. And although it looks as though we may be spared the impact of Irma, we must remain vigilant and be prepared at all times during hurricane season. Please, make your hurricane plan and preparations, if you have not already done so. If you need further information on how to get ready, visit www.caymanprepared.ky.

We continue to pray for God’s blessings on our regional neighbours and our beloved Cayman Islands during the remaining hurricane season.

Novelist and visiting journalist Stanley Johnson made a courtesy call to Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin at the Premier’s office in the Government Administration Building Thursday.

Mr. Johnson, father of former London Mayor Boris Johnson, presented Mr. McLaughlin with a copy of his book Kompromat, a political thriller about the “skullduggery” that might have gone on behind the scenes in the run up to the European Union referendum in June 2016.

The Premier gifted Mr. Johnson with a copy of Michael Craton’s book Founded upon the Seas, a history of the Cayman Islands and Their People.

Mr. Johnson arrived in Cayman on 5 August and left 10 August. While here he toured Pedro Saint James, the Mission House, the National Trust, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park the Mastic Trail and Cayman Crystal Caves.

Talks continued in London Thursday with Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Finance and Economic Development Minister Hon. Roy McTaggart and Minister for Financial Services and Home Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers meeting with Miriam Sachak, head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Economics and Financial team.

Minister McTaggart provided an update of the Cayman Islands Government’s financial position through to June 2017 as well as projections for the remainder of the financial year. Other matters discussed were Cayman’s plans to continue paying down debt and Government’s commitment to continue the policy of the last Progressives-led Administration of no new borrowing during the term. Ms Rivers provided an update on Financial Services matters.

Also discussed were Government’s infrastructure development plans, including progress and challenges, as well as the process for the upcoming Strategic Policy Statement and budget preparation. This next budget will be the first two-year financial plan under revisions to the Public Management and Finance Law.

Minister McTaggart noted that United Kingdom officials continue to applaud the ongoing management of Government’s finances and government’s conduct of the country’s financial affairs.

In the afternoon Premier McLaughlin, Minister McTaggart, and Minister Rivers had a bilateral meeting with Lord Ahmad, Minister for the overseas Territories at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Matters discussed included national security, in particular Government’s plans to create a national border protection agency with the UK’s assistance. Financial service matters discussed included the exchange of Beneficial Ownership information with the United Kingdom and the EU’s screening process for non-cooperative jurisdictions.

The recent Cayman Islands election was discussed as were the challenges and opportunities of operating a coalition government. The Premier highlighted the importance of the UK’s continuing support of the Cayman Islands and all Overseas Territories now and post-Brexit. This was also highlighted separately at the special Joint Ministerial Council for Exiting the European Union meeting on Wednesday.

It is expected that Premier McLaughlin will meet with Lord Ahmad again in November when OT leaders meet in London for the Joint Ministerial Conference and ongoing discussions about Brexit.

Throughout the day Minister Rivers and Chief Officer Dr. Dax Basdeo had other meetings with business entities in London; details of which will be provided through the Ministry of Financial services.

Also travelling with the Premier are Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Roy Tatum and Jason Webster, Policy Analyst in the Cabinet Office.

They return to the Cayman Islands on Sunday, 16 July, 2017.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin is in London this week, along with the Minister of Financial Services and Home Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers and the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Roy McTaggart for series of meetings, including a special meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council to discuss Brexit.

On Monday the Premier hosted a lunch for Friends of Cayman at the Travellers Club off Pall Mall, which included key stakeholders in the UK.  Former Governor of the Cayman Islands and chair of the Friends of Cayman, Mr. John Owen, was in attendance as well as head of the Cayman office in London Mr. Eric Bush.

“It is always good to be with friends, especially the Friends of Cayman here in the UK who have a keen interest in the Cayman Islands and willing ambassadors to promote our various industries.” said Mr. McLaughlin.  As but one example, Mr. Owen recalled Friends of Cayman hosting an auction at the House of Commons which raised over £50,000 for the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme during its inception in 2003. 

Through the Friends of Cayman, Stanley Johnson, renowned conservationist, writer and father of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, is coming to the Cayman Islands in August to write about the success of the Blue Iguana Programme. 

During the lunch the Premier spoke to the election results and the new coalition government.  He also discussed Cayman’s good economic position and the need during this administration to focus on social and other issues facing Cayman.
“We have a government of unity that will aim to address the interests of the Cayman Islands and our people for the next four years,” he said.

In the afternoon, Minister Rivers and Minister McTaggart, along with Chief Officer Dr. Dax Basdeo met with a delegation from the Isle of Man led by Chief Minister Howard Quayle. Matters of mutual interest, including financial services, were discussed.

Monday evening Mr. McLaughlin hosted a dinner at the House of Commons for more than 30 Members of Parliament and Peers from across all parties, including members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Cayman Islands with the chair, Graham Brady MP, who is also chairman of the influential Conservative Party 1922 Committee.

Also in attendance was Her Excellency the Governor Helen Kilpatrick.

During the dinner the Premier spoke about Cayman and reminded those present that our ties to the United Kingdom go back centuries with our earliest settlers being British. He recounted our country’s decision in the 1960s to remain British and discussed our constitutional history.

He also reminded those in attendance that the Cayman Islands operates its financial services industry in the highest ethical standards; always transparent in the way we perform an all-important role for business not only in London, but around the globe.

Meetings continued today with a pre-Joint Ministerial Council gathering with leaders or representatives from the Overseas Territories, including Bermuda, Gibraltar, BVI, Montserrat, Anguilla, Falkland Islands, St. Helena, TCI, Tristan da Cunha and Pitcairn.

Also travelling with the Premier are Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Roy Tatum and Jason Webster, Policy Analyst in the Cabinet Office.

They return to the Cayman Islands on Sunday, 16 July, 2017.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin with former Cayman Islands Governor and head of Friends of Cayman Mr. John Owen at the Friends of Cayman luncheon on Monday.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin welcomed Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Mr. Bernardo Guanche Hernandez to the Cayman Islands on Friday, 23 June, 2017.

Mr. Hernandez was visiting on Grand Cayman and had a brief friendly visit with the Premier in his office.

Mr. Hernandez began his diplomatic career in 1984 and has enjoyed many overseas postings, including high level appointments in his home country. He assumed the role of Cuban Ambassador in Jamaica on 3 October, 2013.

Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Mr. Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, left, and Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin met at the Premier’s office Friday afternoon.

Remarks on Manchester terrorist Attack

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the senseless terrorist attack on concert-goers in Manchester, England on Monday night.

As of this morning it is being reported that 22 people were killed and 59 injured. There were many more still unaccounted for as parents and guardians frantically searched for their children and others who attended the Ariana Grande concert.

Flags in the Cayman Islands were ordered to be flown at half-mast on Tuesday.

Our prayers, thoughts and sympathy go out to the people of Manchester and England as they pull together in the aftermath of this act of terrorism.

Come see YOUR Progressives Team for the last time before the election!

Where: Kirk Supermarket Parking Lot

When: Tuesday, 23 May, 7:00 P.M. 

#CAYMANSTRONG 

Juliana and Moses would like to invite YOU to a Public Meeting!

Where: Kirkconnell Supermarket, Stake Bay

When: Tuesday, 23 May, 7:00 P.M. 

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANISLANDSSTRONG

Meet YOUR Progressives candidate for West Bay West.

#CAYMANSTRONG #voteorrett 

Come meet YOUR candidate for Bodden Town West!

Where: Kurt Tibbetts Yard, 419 Northward Road

When: Monday, 22 May, 7:30 P.M.

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANSTRONG 

Don't miss your chance to meet Moses and Juliana!

Where: Mrs Ann Walton's Residence Spot Bay

When: Monday, 22 May, 7:00 P.M.

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANISLANDSSTRONG

Edward Chisholm wants to hear from you!

Where: Chisholms Supermarket Parking Lot

When: Monday, 22 May, 7:30 P.M.

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANSTRONG

Saturday 20th May

Progressives Motorcade

Meet Bobby Thompson Way 12 noon

Finish 7:00 pm Heather Bodden's yard, Savannah

http://caymannewsservice.com/elections2017/2017/05/18/the-battle-of-the-incumbents/ 

Theresa Green writes: Political geeks out there will have already spotted the rather unusual situation that has emerged in one of the 19 electoral districts in Cayman’s first election under the system of one person, one vote in single-member constituencies, but for those who haven’t noticed, there is just one race between incumbents. Newlands is the only constituency where two sitting MLAs are actually competing against each other. 

Given this is a transition election, it could have happened in a lot more of the districts that were previously part of the multi-jurisdictions, but the way the candidates have chosen their districts means there are no sitting CDP candidates up against either PPM or independent incumbents.

The only direct battle between serving representatives is in Newlands, where Alva Suckoo, as a result of his decision to resign from the PPM and become an independent, is facing off against the Progressives’ Wayne Panton. By all accounts, it’s going to be a very tough race between the two of them, with the independent candidate, Raul Gonzales, pushed well back into third place.

Panton may not have received any gongs for being the region’s best minister in his field like some of his Cabinet colleagues, but as the minister responsible for financial services, he has been arguably the most prolific minister when it comes to important legislation. Panton has steered through a swathe of laws to ensure that the Cayman Islands gets through its forthcoming critical task force financial industry review and a number of others that the industry has been wanting for years to help improve the offshore sector’s ability to compete on the global stage.

Panton also faced up to considerable controversy over the opposition to the much-needed Legal Practitioners Law, and when it comes to the environment, he managed to overcome decades of dispute when he navigated the National Conservation Law through the choppy waters of the LA with unanimous support.

Panton has also been the only minister in a massively hostile environment to offer support to the LGBT community and insist they should not be the subject to discrimination, although he fell short of calling for legislation to pave the way for same-sex unions. 

Meanwhile, Suckoo, since he crossed the floor at the end of November 2015 on the coattails of political veteran and his ally, Anthony Eden, has been diametrically opposed to Panton’s positions over the last year and a half, despite campaigning on the same policy platform as him four years ago in a campaign funded largely by Panton’s cash.

Even before Suckoo crossed the floor in the wake of the hateful vitriol spewed in the first anti-gay debate in the LA, he had already tried to sabotage Panton’s National Conservation Law. But always willing to compromise, Panton shaped the legislation to ensure all the parliamentarians could get behind it.

There are those that believed from early in this administration that one of Suckoo’s concerns about his political future was that once the PPM enacted the legislation to introduce one person, one vote, he would have a fight on his hands to be able to run in Newlands, the only seat he was confident of winning, and had always planned to jump ship when the time was right.

Suckoo said he left the Progressive because of the policy on gay rights, among other issues, but the Progressives don’t actually have any gay rights policies. They have not changed any laws to advance the rights of the LGBT community and have no plans to do so any time soon, much to the chagrin of activists. But Suckoo is apparently banging that drum on the campaign trail. Claiming to uphold Christian values as part of a loose alliance with Eden, Gilbert McLean, Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller, among others, he has pointed to Panton and his slightly liberal tendencies as the spawn of the devil.

Some say Suckoo also had his eye firmly on the fight for Newlands when he led the charge and took up against the Legal Practitioners Law and deliberately painted the legislation as anti-Caymanian. Whether this is just being politically astute or playing to win at all costs in a dirty game that marks tight election races remains to be seen. But this battle of the incumbents in Newlands could prove very decisive in shaping the next government.

The fact that two sitting MLAs are going up against each other makes the race tougher than any other for both incumbents. But this race could also make the difference between the PPM securing the numbers needed to lead a government or an unstable coalition of the largely incumbent independents, with a couple of the new faces expected to secure their seats, supported by the CDP.

Whatever voters think about the PPM, anyone with an interest in the environment has to be concerned about Panton not being returned to office next week, be it in government or even in opposition. The joke that he was the first environment minister who knew where the Department of Environment was when he took office would be very funny if it wasn’t a fact that he was the first one to ever visit the North Sound Road HQ.

Whatever people’s politics, we all have to breathe the same air and we are all vulnerable to rising sea levels and the damage caused by intense hurricanes. The impact of climate change in our region is expected to become increasingly apparent in the very near future — years not decades, experts now say — because of our geographical location, protecting our shorelines from over-development is going to be extremely important.

Given that the few candidates on the campaign trail who have made any serious commitment to real environmental protection are very unlikely to win, Panton remains the only experienced politician on the ballot that actually cares. He can at the very least act as a restraint on those, even in his own party, who will continue to put the environment at risk and sacrifice our natural resources in the name of development which remains the holy grail to so many would-be and existing politicians.

During the next administration, it is essential that Cayman deals with its marine park enhancement to protect not only its tourism product but to mitigate against climate change and to preserve the dwindling reefs and fish for future generations. Yet with a handful of vocal and determined fisherman and developers still opposing the much-needed expansion, it is almost impossible to imagine another minister managing to deal with this issue other than Panton.

The environment has been given very little attention during this election because, as Panton noted recently, it is often seen as “a tomorrow problem”, but in reality, it is much more important than almost any other issue for low-lying islands. It is hard for those of us who are concerned about the dangers of climate change to understand the indifference most politicians have for what we are doing to the planet.

Cayman alone cannot stop what is happening to planet Earth. But given that we are on the front line of the rising seas, we can stave off the impending doom and coastal erosion by enhancing our reef and mangrove protection and stopping coastal development as soon as possible. Having a minister with no real interest or, worse, no understanding of the realities of Cayman’s precarious position is a real concern. While the arguments continue about education, immigration, unemployment and crime, none of that will matter if Cayman is underwater before 2040. 

Never mind the white goods or lavish spreads, when it comes to treating by the 2021 election I want free snorkels and fins for my vote.

http://www.caymanreporter.com/2017/05/18/premier-says-hes-shy-not-arrogant/ 

By Paul Kennedy

paul@caymanreporter.com

Premier Alden McLaughlin has revealed he was a very shy child – and his demur demeanor wrongly paints him as arrogant.

Cayman’s leader was speaking in a professionally produced video which went online this week in the run up to the country going to the polls.

Made by Cayman Spaces, the video shows the premier relaxing on his farm in East End and cycling around the country.

But it’s at the very beginning he made the revelation about his childhood.

“I was a painfully shy child,” he said. “I’ve had to work through that all my life. Unfortunately a lot of people interpret my shyness as being aloofness or being standoffish or even arrogant at times.

“It’s none of those things. It’s just the way that I am that I’ve battled with my entire life.”

The three minute clip which has appeared on YouTube also contains testimonies from fellow Progressives – who say the premier is more comfortable wearing his cycling outfit than he is in a suit.

Joey Hew, tourism councillor  said: “The Premier you see in a suit at the cocktail parties is a very uncomfortable guy.

“If you take that jacket off and you take that tie off and get an opportunity to walk around the farm with him or go for a bike ride, then you meet the real person.”

The premier also described his farm as his “happy place,” and revealed when the pressure of running the country is getting to him, that’s the place he goes to unwind.

“Whenever pressures really reaches me, I’ll just disappear from the office, put on my work clothes, come up here and fall in with whatever my guys are doing, whether they are weeding or planting, fertilising or spraying,” McLaughlin said.

“After four or five hours of that it clears my mind and I get back into the harness again and continue with the business of running the country.”

To watch the video in full, click here.

Meet YOUR Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin!

Where: The Sailing Club, 320 Spinnaker Road, Red Bay

When: Friday, 19 May, 7:00 P.M.

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANSTRONG 

Join Moses and Juliana for a Public Meeting!

Where: Mrs. Meriel Ritch Store, Spot Bay

When: Thursday, 18 May, 7:00 P.M.

Refreshments served!

#CAYMANISLANDSSTRONG 

Wednesday 17th May

Joseph Hew & Marco Archer Area Meeting

George Town North and Central

Kirk Home Centre Parking Lot - Eastern Avenue

7:30 pm

Refreshments

Tuesday 16th May

Meet & Greet

Alden McLaughlin

Loretta Ramoon's house

284 Victory Avenue

7:00 pm

Refreshments

Please join George Town Progressives candidates Barbara Conolly, David Wight and Roy McTaggart to hear what they have planned for YOU in the next 4 years.

When: Tuesday, 16 May, 7:30 P.M.

Where: Outpost Street (Vacant Lot)

#CAYMANSTRONG #voteprogressives #voteconolly #votewight #votemctaggart

Alden would like to meet YOU!

When: Saturday, 13 May, 7:00 P.M.

Where: 348 Prospect Drive, Prospect Park

#CAYMANSTRONG #votemclaughlin

Ed would like to meet YOU!

When: Friday, 12 May, 7:30 P.M.

Where: Paul & Mary Ebanks House, 141 Hutland Road

#CAYMANSTRONG #votechisholm

Joey would like to meet YOU!

When: Friday, 12 May, 7:00 P.M.

Where: Washington Boulevard Park (End of Greenwood Drive)

#CAYMANSTRONG #votehew

Come out Wednesday, May 10th to the launch of The Progressives Manifesto!

Hear what plans The Progressives have for our country for the next four years!

#CAYMANSTRONG

The Progressives 2017 Manifesto Official Launch will take place Wednesday, 10th May at 7:00PM.

Location: Bimini Drive (behind Hurley's) Grand Harbour

Refreshments Served

#CAYMANSTRONG  

Join Progressives candidates Heather and Wayne Monday 8th May 7:30 pm Mrs Mary Bodden's yard, 423 Hirst Road, Newlands. Hear their plans for the districts of Newlands & Savannah.

Roy McTaggart YOUR Progressives candidate for GT East! #CAYMANSTRONG

Barbara Conolly YOUR Progressives candidate for GT South! #CAYMANSTRONG

David Wight YOUR Progressives candidate for GT West! #CAYMANSTRONG

#CAYMANSTRONG

Ed would like to meet YOU!

When: Friday 5th May, 7:30 PM

Where: 160 North Side Road (Whittakers Yard)

Refreshments to be served!

#CAYMANSTRONG 

David Wight has lived and worked in George Town West his entire life. He has excelled as an athlete and would like to channel those successes to help his people succeed.

#CAYMANSTRONG 

Heather Bodden is committed to her people and especially those in Savannah. She loves to help the needy and would like to encourage them to better themselves.

#CAYMANSTRONG

Barbara Conolly main interests are the elderly and the youth. She will also focus on unemployment and crime in the George Town South area! #CAYMANSTRONG

Lucille Dell Seymour is dedicated to uplifting her Caymanian people!

#CAYMANSTRONG

Maxine Bodden Robinson candidate for Bodden Town West invites YOU to a Community Meeting.

When: Thursday, May 4th, 7:30 PM

Where: Entrance to Northward

Refreshments will be served!

#CAYMANSTRONG 

David Wight, Barbara Connoly and Roy McTaggart will all be on hand to answer questions and discuss the issues important to the people of George Town.

Where: Opposite Rubis Gas Station, Walkers Road
When: Wednesday 3 May, 7:00 pm

Marco Archer Yard Meeting 

Date: 1 May 2017

Location: 196 School Road (Junction of Eastern Avenue and School Road)

Time: 7:30 PM

Due to the inclement weather, tonight's public meeting hosted by Edward "Ed" Chisholm is cancelled. The revised date will be made available on our website as soon as possible.

Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin and Ms. Lucille Seymour will be hosting a public meeting to discuss issues of importance to the people of the districts of Red Bay and Prospect.

Other speakers include:  Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, Hon. Marco Archer and Mr. Roy McTaggart.

Where:  Vacant lot next to the Seafarer's Hall, Prospect

When:  Saturday 29 April, 7:00 pm

or, watch us live on Facebook

Voter Registration Cards will be available for pick up from the following:

April 28 – May 19      Elections Office, Smith Road Centre             9am - 5pm

(Weekdays Only)

April 29 (Sat.)            Foster’s Food Fair – Airport                           9am - 3pm 

May 3 (Wed.)             Gov’t Admin Building                                    11am – 5.30pm

May 5 (Fri.)                Hurley’s Supermarket                                   1pm - 7pm

May 6 (Sat.)               Foster’s Food Fair (Country Side)                9am - 3pm 

May 10 (Wed)            George Town Hospital                                  9.30am – 3.30pm

May 12 (Fri)               East End Public Library                                 3pm – 6.30pm

May 13 (Sat)               North Side Clinic                                          9am - 12pm

Cayman Brac & Little Cayman:

May 9 (Tues)              District Administration Building                   10am - 4pm

Cayman News Service reports:

The political arm of government received a welcome boost yesterday after the pre-election economic and financial update published by the finance ministry revealed that the central government operating surplus is forecast to be $48.1 million by the end of this year, which is $1.5 million more than originally budgeted. Core government is expected to have a whopping $353.5 million in the bank by the end of the year, over $12 million than it expected for the 2017 budget. Debt has also been paid down, the workforce is growing, with employment on the increase, and the economy is set to grow by 2.5%.

See the full story here

YOUR Progressives Candidate for George Town South! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #voteconolly 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Newlands! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votepanton 

YOUR Progressive Candidate for George Town East! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votemctaggart 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Bodden Town West! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #voteboddenrobinson 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Prospect! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #voteseymour 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for George Town North! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votehew 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Bodden Town East! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votebodden 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Cayman Brac West & Little Cayman! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votekirkconnell

YOUR Progressives Candidate for George Town Central! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votearcher

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Cayman Brac East! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #voteconnollyoconnor 

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Red Bay! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votemclaughlin

YOUR Progressives Candidate for Savannah! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votebodden

YOUR Progressives Candidate for North Side #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votechisholm

YOUR Progressives Candidate for George Town West! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #votewight 

YOUR Progressives West Bay West Candidate! #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm #voteorrett

Enjoy the launch of YOUR Team, The Progressives! Hear their plans for the next four years. #CAYMANSTRONG #voteppm

On the heels of a well received Conference two Saturdays ago, The Progressives shifts gears this week with the official launch of its #CAYMANISLANDSSTRONG campaign in Cayman Brac on Thursday.

“This is a significant and historic event for the Progressives and falls squarely within the One Cayman Islands ethos of the Party,’ said Political Leader Alden McLaughlin. “Traditionally, we have launched our platform in George Town, but as an innovative political organization, we have decided for many reasons that the Brac is the best place for our first public meeting of the 2017 campaign.”

The Progressives are set to officially launch their 2017 election campaign at their conference, which is scheduled for Saturday 8^th April 2017. 

The conference will comprise two parts:  a members session where Party officials will be elected, amendments to their constitution will be adopted and other administrative functions will be addressed; and an open session where the public is invited to attend, to be formally introduced to the candidates and learn about their vision going forward for an even stronger Cayman.

The keynote speaker this year is local businessman Don Seymour, who will be delivering his presentation on the importance of strong governance, a strong economy and a strong business environment for further job creation.

The Hon Alden McLaughlin, leader of the Progressives Team, will also deliver his speech on the successes of the team in its last administration and how that work can be built upon in the next four years to fulfill The Progressives vision for a Cayman Islands that is fully employed, competitive and socially responsible.

The members’ session will run from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.  The open session will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner.

For those who cannot attend, the conference will be broadcast live on Facebook and will feature at a later date on Cayman27.

Registration in advance is recommended.  Email to info@ppm.ky or call 945 1776.

Moody’s, the international credit rating agency, has maintained Cayman’s Aa3 rating for Government’s bonds issued in a foreign currency, and an Aa2 rating for long-term foreign currency ceiling bonds and notes.

The Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Marco Archer stated that “the high rating and stable outlook for the Cayman Islands is attributed primarily to a very high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, high levels of economic development and the Government’s commitment to reducing debt.”

Moody’s reported that Cayman’s GDP per capita is estimated at US$57,936 for 2017, amongst the highest in Moody’s rating universe.  Strong revenues and budget surpluses, since 2013, have reduced Cayman’s debt burden where debt-to-GDP is expected to fall to 17% in 2017.  Debt is expected to fall further in 2019 when the Government plans to pay most of a single large bullet bond payment, equivalent to 7% of GDP, from its cash reserves.

Moody’s rating action and credit opinion reports are dated 17 February 2017 and 19 February 2017, respectively. The 17^th February 2017 rating action report by Moody’s can be found, in full, on the following websites: www.gov.ky and www.mof.gov.ky. The 19^th February 2017 credit opinion can be purchased from Moody’s.

Premier promotes Cayman at London Law Conference

LONDON – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin took a room filled with leaders of law firms, financial institutions, government departments and journalists on the journey of how the Cayman Islands developed from the ‘Islands Time Forgot’ to the financial services powerhouse it is today.

Throughout his narrative Friday afternoon he touched on how the decision to remain with the United Kingdom as a crown colony rather than going with Jamaica into independence was key to helping lead the country forward.  With this decision, the UK agreed to Cayman’s first Constitution that, along with early companies and banking laws, became the legal foundation for Cayman’s Financial Services Industry and, consequently, its strong economic and financial position of today.  

“What might be described, albeit with a touch of artistic license, as Cayman’s Brexit moment – the point at which regional integration fell apart and the Cayman Islands opted to forge a future that bucked the prevailing trend – was in fact therefore more of a “Br-entry” than a Brexit,” he said.

Mr. McLaughlin was the keynote speaker at a Blackstone Chambers Conference in London titled “Current Issues in Rule of Law and International Trade and Development”.

Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barristers chambers that offers a variety of practices including commercial and public law as well as human rights, employment, EU law and financial services.

“With our own constitution in place, and the stability of our new Crown Colony status, the Cayman Islands set about to construct a financial services regulatory system that enabled the territory to achieve more economic development and diversification than its peers,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “Between 1960 and 1980, both legally and economically, the Cayman Islands went from being one of the least developed jurisdictions in the region to surpassing the United Kingdom in GDP per capita terms and, during that same time, affecting a sophisticated body of financial law.

“As a jurisdiction, Cayman has always ensured that it kept, and keeps, up-to-date with emerging trends, reacting swiftly to ensure that the legal framework evolves accordingly and institutional confidence is preserved and always operating based on ethical principles,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Throughout my presentation I sought to demonstrate the symbiotic nature of our constitutional and economic development and the importance of the rule of law to Cayman’s success as a country.”

At the end of the conference Mr. McLaughlin appeared on a panel to discuss “Brexit: Constitutional and Economic Consequences”. He said the loss of the UK’s moderating voice around the EU table is a matter of considerable concern to the Cayman Islands and other Overseas Territories, especially as it relates to financial services matters.

Consequently, he said, the Cayman Islands will have to seek even greater engagement in international discussions relating to issues that affect its most important industry. Joining him on the panel were Sir Jeffrey Jowell, Lord Pannick – both of Blackstone Chambers - and Michael Llamas, Attorney General of Gibraltar.

On Monday Mr. McLaughlin will meet again with Baroness Anelay and FCO Officials to provide an update on Cayman’s progress with respect to implementation of the necessary supporting legislation underpinning the searchable register for the enhanced exchange of beneficial ownership information with UK law enforcement authorities. 

He will also attend the first meeting of the Cayman Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, which will be hosted by MP Graham Brady.  Members of the APPG help champion Cayman’s cause in the halls of Westminster.

Traveling with the Premier are Attorney General Sam Bulgin, Senior Political Advisor Roy Tatum, Senior Legislative Policy Advisor in the Department of Financial Services Policy and Legislation Andre Ebanks and Press Secretary Tammie C. Chisholm.

They return to Grand Cayman on Tuesday, 8 March, 2017.

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin will meet with leaders of law firms, financial institutions, government departments and Members of Parliament in London over the next few days in his continuing zeal to promote the interests of the Cayman Islands.

On Friday, 3 March, 2017, he is the keynote speaker at A Blackstone Chambers Conference in London. Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barristers chambers that offers a variety of practices including commercial and public law as well as human rights, employment, EU law and financial services.

Mr. McLaughlin leaves Wednesday, 1 March, 2017, to address the conference, “Current Issues in Rule of Law and International Trade and Development”.

“This will give me an opportunity to say what the Cayman Islands has done in respect of having an advanced bill of rights, an independent judiciary, anti-corruption provisions and how our Government has worked to enact and enforce laws against money-laundering and tax evasion,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “The trip will also give us another opportunity to reaffirm our stable, diversified and growing economy and the great opportunities that exist to invest and live in the Cayman Islands.”   

The conference will be chaired by Blackstone Chambers’ Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC.

Other guest speakers include Michael Llamas, Attorney General of Gibraltar; Justice Angelica Nussberger, Section President and German Judge on the European Court of Human Rights; and Justice Catherine O’Regan, former member of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Director of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at Oxford.

Topics to be discussed include Brexit and international trade, tax, cross-border crimes and combating corruption. Members of the UK press have been invited to attend.

The Premier will also meet again with Baroness Anelay to provide her with an update on Cayman’s progress with respect to implementation of the necessary supporting legislation underpinning the centralised platform for the sharing of beneficial ownership information with UK law enforcement authorities.

On Monday Mr. McLaughlin will attend the first meeting of the Cayman Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, which will be hosted by MP Graham Brady.

By better understanding Cayman’s business regime members of the APPG can help champion Cayman’s cause in the halls of Westminster.

The Premier met with Mr. Brady and other MPs when he was in London for the November session of the Joint Ministerial Council to try to re-establish the APPG.

“This is one more opportunity to tell the good story that is Cayman’s to MPs and Peers,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “Our economy continues to improve with the private sector continuing to invest in the Cayman Islands. That new investment is a direct result of the confidence of business in our country.”

Traveling with the Premier will be Attorney General Sam Bulgin, Senior Political Advisor Roy Tatum, Senior Legislative Policy Advisor in the Department of Financial Services Policy and Legislation Andre Ebanks and Press Secretary Tammie C. Chisholm.

They return to Grand Cayman on Tuesday, 8 March, 2017.

Remarks to RICS Conference

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

8:30 a.m., Friday, 24 February, 2017

Marriot Beach Resort

Good morning and welcome to the 2017 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Cayman Islands Property and Construction Conference.

This is the third such conference and I understand it is another sell-out event.

I am pleased to have been invited to speak in support of what is the Third Pillar of our Cayman Islands economy, the Construction and Real Estate industry.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Global Real Estate and its impact on the Cayman Islands”.

In the International arena, the focus for the Cayman Islands is usually on the performance of our Financial and Tourism industries. But underpinning both of these is the quality of the infrastructure that supports them, and that comes straight down to the standards and professionalism of those who represent our Construction and Real Estate Industry.

Indeed at a conference similar to this Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was reported to have said that “You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel by infrastructure”.

As a small tri-island country, we are proud of our broad horizons and forward thinking.  We listen, and we look to see the best ways of doing things, adapting them from around the world to suit our local environment. Otherwise we risk losing our edge and falling behind our many international competitors.

From the moment we disembark our flights at the airport; the infrastructure we travel along, the quality of the hotels our visitors stay at, the standard of office buildings our world-leading financial and legal services operate from and the availability of good standard residential accommodation, which is compliant with world leading safety and energy efficient regulations.

These all represent the product of this ‘Third Pillar’ of the Cayman economy of which we are proud.

As there are no direct taxes in Cayman, a buoyant construction and real estate market provides a key source of income to our local economy, from the duty levied on building materials, the fees levied on work permit fees, right through to all the wages that buy local goods and services.

And the stronger the property market, of course, the more stamp duty is received. It is from that and our indirect taxation model that we have our income streams so that we are able to invest in our Islands’ future.

When I was addressing the Conference here two years ago, my Government was beginning to roll out our plans to develop the public infrastructure essential for encouraging and supporting new private investment.

We have embarked on that journey, and are delivering the promised infrastructure improvements, which are key to promoting and sustaining our Island’s future: 

• The Owen Roberts Terminal expansion is well under way.
• Cayman Brac Airport Terminal has been upgraded.
• Widening the Esterley Tibbetts and Linford Pearson highways in to four-lane carriageways is under way and will improve local transportation links.
• The widening of Godfrey Nixon Way and Smith Road in George Town is complete and we are looking at pedestrianizing parts of the waterfront.
• Developing a modern Integrated Solid Waste Management System is critical for the Cayman Islands and is currently out to procurement. This will include composting and recycling components as well as a waste to energy plant.

This Government is committed to investing in these infrastructure improvements and through these we are seeing corresponding investment from the private sector:

• Leading the way, Dart is constructing, in partnership with Government, the new section of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, including the upgrade to two lanes each way. The Kimpton Seafire Hotel has opened and the Dart organization has exciting new hotel plans, including niche ‘eco-friendly’ hotels that will help differentiate the Cayman Islands from many of our Caribbean competitors.
• Cayman Enterprise City has secured a large South Sound site for building its permanent base.
• Health City Hospital is set to expand.
• Of course property on the 7 Mile strip remains in high demand, but we have major schemes like Vela on South Sound working on Phase 2, the Beach Bay and the Ironwood development proposal coming nearer to fruition. On South Church Street luxury condominiums Tides and Fin-Cayman are going up.
• And Cricket Square in George Town has broken ground on a new phase of commercial development

So we understand full well the necessity for upgrading our infrastructure. Both for the public and private sector. And we also understand that these projects create needed jobs for Caymanians and help grow the economy. 

I was pleased to also hear President Donald Trump highlight a similar belief as he articulated his own thoughts on infrastructure improvements. A major project of his will apparently be a great wall that will be built along the Mexico / US border. I am not here to pass judgement on the merit or otherwise of a wall. Neither will I pass judgement on the potential effectiveness of such a wall.  But I understand that President Trump has taken note that over 2000 years ago China built a great border wall and as far anyone is aware to date no Mexicans have climbed over it!  So perhaps a wall will be built. We will see.

But let me return to the theme of this conference, “Global Real Estate and its impact on the Cayman Islands”.

For the Cayman Islands to be truly competitive we must look to the longer term, and to our continued sustainability.  We are working hard to provide a framework for this, encouraging developers to look beyond ‘making a quick buck’ and working to secure the longer-term future of our Islands.

There are three specific matters I want to touch upon:

We legislated to protect the parts of our Islands that actually make them special with the recent implementation of the final parts of the National Conservation Law.

A process is now in place for a National Conservation Council to review the impact of proposed schemes – whether by Government or the private sector – to ensure that what’s important to our heritage is not simply destroyed forever. Our Government has set aside funds to buy lands that are identified as being of critical importance so they can be protected.

We recently saved a piece of land adjacent to Smith’s Barcadere from development, ensuring that generations of Caymanians can continue to have access to that property and the beach.

Secondly, the Builders Law is being rolled out to regulate the industry. This dates back to Hurricane Ivan, which created vast amounts of work for builders, drawing in an unqualified and inexperienced workforce.

This new Law will ensure that all categories of builders are licensed as being suitably experienced and competent, and will also require them to operate within the wider framework of building codes and employee pensions and healthcare. It will provide a reviewing body for complaints. 

This will help ensure that standards of workmanship are maintained right across our construction industry so our buildings may last longer.

Thirdly, this Government is bringing forward legislative amendments in the current session of the Legislative Assembly that when implemented will facilitate the registration of Volumetric Parcels. These should be seen as three Dimensional land Parcels derived from a Base Parcel by way of subdivision, and possessing all the rights associated with absolute ownership of land in the Cayman Islands. This will facilitate significant structures that can be constructed to span public roads, and enable multiple storey construction in differing ownerships but outside the Strata Titles Registration Law. A key component of this legislation is the introduction of positive covenants that will run with the land and be enforceable. It is this Government’s view that the introduction of the Volumetric Parcel legal mechanism will provide the construction industry with the necessary framework from which it can commit further significant investment into imaginative modern real estate development projects in the Cayman Islands. By adopting these legislative proposals, the Cayman Islands shows itself to be forward thinking, competitive and willing to embrace new concepts and ideas.

The Cayman Islands may be three small dots in the vast Caribbean sea, but we attract property buyers and renters from around the globe, in both the commercial and residential sectors.  And when we are competing on this world-wide platform, we must be offering a high quality product, and we evidently are.

We recognize that the RICS members here in Cayman play an important part in the local industry, maintaining the latest standards and promoting best practice. And being a world-wide organization, the RICS members are ideally placed to observe and share this wherever they work.

This conference provides an opportunity to share knowledge and experience across the sector.

So again, thank you for allowing me to deliver these brief remarks and I hope you enjoy the conference.

LONDON, England - Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin hosted a lunch for Members of the House of Parliament Wednesday in London to discuss matters of importance to the Cayman Islands and our financial services sector.

It was an engaging conversation where Members of Parliament asked various questions on a variety of topics from financial services to public registers and immigration. They also provided their thoughts on ways to engage with UK Members of Parliament. 

“It is in the interest of the Cayman Islands to not only maintain good relations with the United Kingdom Government, but to also maintain a dialogue with UK MPs and continue to tell the good story of Cayman.” said Mr. McLaughlin.

Prior to the luncheon the Premier and Minister Wayne Panton attended Prime Minister’s question time in the House of Commons.
After the lunch, Premier McLaughlin attended 10 Downing Street for a brief visit with UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

Earlier in the day Minister Panton met with UK Security Minister Ben Wallace in regards to amendments to the Criminal Finance Bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament.

LONDON, England – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin hosted a reception Tuesday night in London for the Friends of Cayman, which is a group of individuals in the UK who do business with or have links to the Cayman Islands.

Also attending were former Cayman Islands Governors John Owen and Bruce Dinwiddy as well as businessmen from Cayman who are visiting London and Caymanian students attending University in the UK.

The reception was held at the Cayman Islands London office. Financial Services Minister Hon. Wayne Panton was also in attendance, as well as members of the Cayman delegation.

“I enjoy connecting with business leaders here as well as our students who are studying in London,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “It is important to me that we keep in touch.” 

The Premier discussed the work of the London Office and new connections being made with head of office Eric Bush in charge. 

The Premier also mentioned the resurrection of the Cayman Islands All Party Parliamentary Group.

“The Cayman Islands Government has re-established the Cayman Islands All Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster as a body of elected parliamentarians from across parties who can assist Cayman engage with the UK Parliament,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

He also updated those present with Brexit discussions that were held with the United Kingdom Government earlier in the day at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In 20 years 70 percent of electricity generated in the Cayman Islands could come from renewable sources states a new draft energy policy on which Government is seeking public feedback.

The Planning Ministry today (Tuesday 7 February 2017) launched a two week consultation period on the document, which is available from the publications section of www.plahi.gov.ky.

The vision outlined by the new document calls for a focus on “Enhancing and embracing a sustainable lifestyle through responsible and innovative energy supply and consumption.”

It proposes to achieve this through a number of goals that range from knowledge and education, to energy security, sustainability, and the Cayman Islands becoming a centre-of-excellence in renewable energy.

Policymakers believe that success will hinge in large part on the implementation of strategies relevant to the electricity sector.

Officials say the document updates the work of the 2010 National Energy Policy, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in March 2013. The new draft reflects developments such as the Paris Agreement by parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but also lower prices for oil and renewable energy.

A new committee appointed in 2016 included stakeholders from the public and private sector, including many who had served on the earlier group.

Interested persons may take the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/caymanenergypolicy. The deadline for feedback is Monday 20 February 2017 and the Ministry intends to table the final report in the Legislative Assembly shortly thereafter.

For more information, contact leah.watson@gov.ky or 244-2412.

LONDON, England - Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and other leaders from Overseas Territories met today to discuss the approach to the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.

Joining Mr. McLaughlin were the Minister of Financial Services the Hon. Wayne Panton and the Cayman Islands delegation.

They participated in the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations. 

The meeting was co-chaired by The Rt. Hon. Baroness Anelay, Minister for the Overseas Territories, and Robin Walker, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union. They were joined at intervals by Lord Price CVO, Minister of State for International Trade and The Rt. Hon. Lord Bates, Minister of State for International Development.

Other UK Officials in attendance at the meeting were Mark Doran, Home Office’s Deputy Director for EU Exit Immigration Policy and Alex Ellis, Director General at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Premier McLaughlin was joined by fellow OT leaders from Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena and Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Robin Walker opened the meeting by providing an overview, which included an update on the preparation ahead of the UK triggering Article 50 by the end of March as well as plans for future engagement between the Overseas Territories and the UK. 

The main items discussed during the meeting were international trade - including access to the EU single market and financial services - free movement within the EU by Overseas Territory citizens, and the future of the current EU funding available to OTs.  OT Leaders spoke candidly about their concerns, whether on issues important to all OTs or those specific to single jurisdictions.

During the meeting, Premier McLaughlin highlighted the need for the UK to continue to fulfil its commitment to represent and support the financial services industries within the OTs. Of particular concern was for the UK to ensure that it continued to maintain a voice within the EU as regards financial services matters until its exit.

The Premier noted that EU countries from time to time sought to place OTs with financial services businesses on ‘black or grey lists’ and it was important that the UK continues to be a moderating voice both before and after its exit from the EU when these conversations start up; particularly as Cayman and other OTs have done much to advance the cause of cooperation on matters dealing with tax avoidance and anti-money laundry initiatives.

 “This initial JMC on European negotiations was promising. The UK committed to taking under consideration the priority areas identified by the OTs during its ‘exit negotiations’ with the EU,” said Premier McLaughlin.

The Joint Ministerial Council committed to meet again in June to continue the dialogue on these and other areas of mutual interest as the UK begins to negotiate its exit from the European Union.

Tuesday’s meeting was preceded by a private dinner on Monday evening hosted by The Rt. Hon Baroness Anelay for the OT Heads of Government at Lancaster House.

Government’s Project Future portfolio aims to put the Cayman Islands on the knife’s edge of technology.

55 Caymanians have found their footing in the workforce through their participation in government’s upskilling programme, Ready2Work KY. Now, those behind the programme are dissecting its pilot year, with the aim of rolling out a refined version in February.

A media outlet erroneously reported, Wednesday, 1 February, that the Supplementary Appropriation Bill going to the Legislative Assembly next month regarding the 2015/16 Budget has taken more than $2.5 million from the Government’s social services, to increase other ministries’ funding.

The article said areas being cut were namely school lunches and uniform programmes, pre-school assistance, poor relief, housing assistance, ex-servicemen's benefits and veterans’ health insurance.

The Minister for Community Affairs, Youth & Sports, the Hon. Osbourne Bodden, refutes both this figure and the alleged rational given in last week’s inaccurate article.

He advises that during the 2015/16 financial year, his Ministry reshuffled its budget to increase funding to areas in welfare that were projected to be overspent off-setting this by decreasing funding in welfare areas that were not being fully utilised.

As a result of which, increased allocations totalling $1,386,513 (not the $2.5 million plus indicated by Cayman News Service) were given to:

• Poor Relief Vouchers (for persons in need of food) $150,000
• Rental Assistance $300,000
• Needs Assessment Support (utilities, medical equipment, medical travel, summer camp,exam fees, school shoes and supplies for persons in need)  $200,000
• Care for the Indigent, Elderly & Disabled Persons (Pines) $400,000
• The Children and Youth Services (CAYS) Foundation $336,513 (operating costs for the Phoenix House & Frances Bodden Expansion)

To facilitate the above, allocations decreases totalling $1,386,513 were made in the following areas:

• School Lunches and Uniforms $300,000
• Pre-school Assistance $100,000
• Poor Relief payments $375,000
• Housing Repairs $561,513
• Benefits to Ex-servicemen $50,000                                   

The Minister explains that the decreases in Government spending for school lunches is due to the diligent work of community organisations, such as Feed Our Future,  which are  assisting many families who have this specific need.  In addition, with the introduction of reception classes at Government primary schools, the demand for pre-school assistance has decreased.

Furthermore, a 1997 policy decision to have a cut-off point for new applications for ex-servicemen benefits and the ex-servicemen and/or their spouses passing away over the years has led to appropriation savings.

With regards to Poor Relief payments, or permanent financial assistance, the Needs Assessment Unit has a backlog of applications which it is currently processing.

Address to the Fidelity CEO Conference
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin
9 a.m., 2 February, 2017
Seafire Kimpton

Good Morning,

And a warm Caymanian welcome to you all, especially to our guest speakers who have come to share their views with us today. I look forward to your perspectives on this year’s topic; in particular your views on finding a path to economic growth.

I mentioned to a friend that I would be speaking here today and to my surprise rather than ask what I would be speaking about asked me what I was going to tweet. I confessed I had not given it any thought. He sent me his suggestion the next day:

“I will be performing live at the Fidelity CEO Conference on February 2nd and it is going to be amazing. So if you are not here, you are a loser. Sad, so sad.”

Naturally I declined his suggestion, but as Bob Dylan once famously sang: “The times they are a-changing.” So who knows, perhaps a post conference tweet is still a possibility.

In many ways we have seen revolutionary change over the last few years – 2016 in particular with the election of Donald Trump as the president of the United States and the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom. Much of this change has proved impossible for economists and financial planners to predict and therefore difficult to counter from a policy perspective.

Globalization with its promise of the free movement of people, goods, services and capital appears to have lost its lustre among ordinary folk and there are noises about trade protectionism and nationalism being made by politicians across the globe. As has been noted at previous CEO conferences, the wealth gap between those at the top and the bottom is powering much of this disenchantment.

The proverbial ‘man on the street’ is becoming both the driver and the focus of change, with populist politicians only too happy to gain a competitive edge by falling in step. But there are other factors at play as well including the ongoing impact of the 2008 recession that have caused the loss of some types of jobs as well as a slower growth in real income.

This certainly was the case in the Cayman context. This is why my administration has focused from the beginning on providing business with an environment to grow and create new jobs.

More and more unconventional politics - perhaps even bad politics - and not rational economics are driving change and policy making. Witness the influence of UKIP, a political party rejected at the polls in the UK, but still able to create the atmosphere for, and to influence the outcome of, the Brexit referendum. Whether this is good or bad remains to be seen, but as a politician I know that you ignore the concerns of the electorate at your peril. So whilst I do not condone the politics of fear I certainly understand the impact it has on those who vote.

Fair trade relationships between countries, along with the ability to grow or attract the best talent, will be even more critical in the present swirling political climate on both sides of the Pond and will remain a key aspect of the success of western nations as globalization continues to evolve, or some would argue, disintegrate.

For Cayman, regional relationships are important too, but so is our relationship with the United Kingdom. Under the previous administration this relationship had deteriorated. I hope you will allow me a small parochial indulgence by reminding voters that this is but one of the reasons they must be careful who they choose at the polls in May. This Government has worked hard to rebuild our relationship with the United Kingdom based on mutual trust and respect because we believe the importance of good relations with the UK cannot be overstated.

So today, our relationship with the United Kingdom is strong. Indeed tomorrow I leave to attend the Joint Ministerial Council meeting on Brexit in London, along with Minister Wayne Panton, to represent the interests of the Cayman Islands.

Our relationship with the UK is not the only thing that has seen improvement on our watch. During this term we have proven that we are a government that gets things done. Government finances are stabilized, tourism arrivals are at a high, our economy is growing again, necessary infrastructure development is under way and jobs and opportunities for Caymanians are better than they have been for almost a decade. And we are poised to do even better.

As long ago as 1830, the British Whig historian Thomas Macauley observed: “In every age, everybody knows that up to his own time, progressive improvement has been taking place; yet nobody seems to reckon on any improvement in the next generation. On what principle is it that with nothing but improvement behind us, we are to expect nothing but deterioration before us?”
With Macauley’s observation in mind let me mention where the Cayman Islands is today and consider what is before us; that is what the future holds for these Islands.

I can tell you that we have already bucked the trend of economic inertia, particularly in this region, through prudent fiscal management and sound policy initiatives. Even a cursory glance at other Caribbean economies shows that we have avoided the ravages of spiraling debt, unsustainable deficits, high unemployment and economic stagnation.

To the contrary, we have grown our economy, reduced unemployment, accumulated fiscal surpluses, paid down debt and indeed are seeking repay more debt early. So under this Government, Cayman has indeed found a path to growth.

Our Minister of Finance the Hon. Marco Archer is a man who spends the Government's money carefully. He is probably the most risk-averse man I have ever had the privilege of knowing, but his cautious and methodical approach, backed up by the support of his colleagues in our Caucus, provided precisely the stability that the country needed when we came to office in 2013.

The economy of these Islands has grown steadily annually over the last 4 years from 1.5% in 2013 to a forecast high of 3% last year. For comparison, real GDP growth in the USA last year is forecast at 1.6% and Cayman was bettered only by the Dominican Republic at 5.9%, which appears to be at the end of a growth spurt.

The increase in prices of goods and services in Cayman in 2016 is expected to be in negative territory at -0.5% compared to 2.1% when we came to office. Prices increased by 1.2% in the US last year, with Trinidad & Tobago topping the inflation charts at 4.8%.

While low energy prices and a soft commodities market have undoubtedly contributed to the low rate of inflation, this Government has also assisted by reducing taxation. We reduced the import duty on diesel used by our electricity provider from 75-cents per gallon to 25 cents per gallon, which has directly benefitted every business and household – leaving at least $17M in the pockets of families and businesses annually. Over the course of the past 3- and a-half years we have also reduced the duty paid by licensed traders from 22 per cent to 20 per cent. This cost Government about $5M annually in lost revenues but it has allowed businesses the ability to provide better pricing to local consumers.

Combined, these have had the effect of increasing disposable income, reducing business costs, and helping to keep the economy ticking over.

We also significantly reduced Government fees for small businesses and have forgiven those businesses that may have fallen behind on their fees, provided they pay the current fee to reinstate them. This has allowed many small businesses to once again operate legally and to be eligible to bid on government contracts.

We have worked diligently with businesses across all of our key sectors. Tourism has made an important contribution to our growth. Along with targeted marketing campaigns in our major source markets that have yielded record increases in both cruise and air arrivals over the last four years, we knew we would have to do more to grow the numbers of tourism arrivals and make them sustainable.

Our Minister of Tourism and Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell has focused on increasing airlift, expanding our room stock and improving the efficiency and comfort of our air and sea ports. Let me give you a quick synopsis of his stewardship.

First, take a look around you at the wonderful surroundings of this, the brand new Seafire Kimpton. You will see before you proof positive that Cayman has turned the corner as far as investment in hotel plant goes.

The Dart Group, owner of the Kimpton, is planning another five-star resort and residences on Seven Mile Beach.

A bit further along the beach, the opening of the refurbished Margaritaville is imminent and work will start this year on an Arnold Palmer Lodge and Golf Course in Frank Sound. And we are seeing other major properties such as the Westin being renewed. All across all three Islands we are seeing development projects of all sizes, including boutique hotels.

I am especially pleased that Caymanian investors are behind many of these projects.

Those of you who are visiting for this conference, or those of you who travel regularly, will have seen that the redevelopment of the Owen Roberts International Airport is well under way. The current airport was designed to accommodate passenger traffic of 500,000 per annum. The renovated airport, when complete in 2018, will be able to accommodate 2.5 million travelers a year. Importantly this renovation is being paid entirely with cash with no added taxes or debt.

The Charles Kirkconnell Airport on Cayman Brac has also benefited from refurbishment and was named best small Caribbean airport last year.

Airlift is a key component in the tourism cog and following some hard work on both sides over the last two years, Southwest Airlines will commence a scheduled service to Grand Cayman this summer. This will open new gateways in our chief source market to fortify the sustainability of the industry.

Cayman Airways has also commenced updating its fleet and introducing new routes including Roatan, Honduras.

The impact of all of this is that with a growing economy overall unemployment in Cayman fell from 6.3% in 2013 to 4.5% in 2016. This compares to 4.9% and 14.3% in the US and the Bahamas respectively at the end of 2016. Unemployment by Caymanians fell from just under 10.5% in 2012 to 5.6% in 2016. And in the medium to long term, more Caymanians will be employed as the economy continues to grow.

Planning for growth often calls for some out of the box thinking. I am pleased to announce today that Government is close to finalizing an agreement for immigration pre-clearance at Miami International Airport for eligible passengers traveling to Grand Cayman. This will enhance the experience of passengers arriving here by avoiding local immigration lines, allowing them to go straight through to Customs baggage claim.

This will also have the added benefit of improving strategic border control cooperation between the Cayman Islands and the United States.

I am also especially pleased to announce that we will be introducing an ambassadors’ programme in which retired Caymanians interested in working will be employed at the Owen Roberts International Airport to assist arriving passengers.

While we work to improve things for passengers arriving by air, we are also looking to improve facilities for arriving and departing cruise ships.

When we took office we knew that if Cayman was to remain a competitive, desirable port of call on the Western Caribbean cruise circuit, we would have to provide the type of facilities demanded by cruise passengers as well as accommodate the new Oasis class cruise liners. In addition, our cargo port is restrained by its inability to berth larger cargo vessels with the resulting inefficiency impacting the cost of landing goods associated with small manifests.

With the previous Government’s failed attempts to build a cruise dock still fresh in people’s minds, we knew we would have to get it right. Right from an environmental perspective; right in relation to the revitalisation of George Town, the right return on investment; the right business partners and the right financial structure.

We have issued a request for proposals to assist with the financial modelling, the review process is under way and a contract is expected to be awarded soon. The RFP inviting pre-qualified contractors to submit a bid is expected in June. We anticipate the contract for construction will be awarded later this year.

The cruise dock is likely to be the largest infrastructure project Cayman will see for decades and I am certain that voters will be cognisant to whom they entrust its execution.

I have given you a broad overview of our sectoral priorities and policy direction, without mentioning the main piston of our economic engine - financial services. Financial Services account for over half of our GDP and about 40% of government revenue. Clearly we must protect its viability at all costs.

This Government has also been alert and agile in responding to threats and perceived threats to our main breadwinner. We have defended the right of the Cayman Islands to operate a sound and well-regulated industry in the face of much hypocrisy by advanced economies whose “do as I say, not as I do” dictum are, quite frankly, no longer acceptable.

We have shown the willingness and ability to fight on the international stage to defend Cayman’s business model and reputation; whether at Chatham House in London, on BBC’s HardTalk, in Brussels at the European Parliament or at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London. We will go wherever needed to fight the case for Cayman.

But fighting the case for Cayman also means that we fight to improve business alliances within the region and globally. Because of this we have negotiated and signed tax information exchange agreements with 37 countries, 30 of which are in effect.

And more recently China has agreed to grant Most Favoured Nation Status for Cayman ships entering Chinese ports. This followed a recent visit to Cayman of the Chinese Ambassador to the UK. Cayman flagged vessels will benefit from this agreement, as it provides our ship owners and charterers a preferential rate on port tonnage fees when visiting ports in China. That translates into making our shipping registry more attractive in the global market.

We have good reason to believe that our relationship with China will improve further and that more Chinese nationals seeking a Caribbean vacation or place to invest will consider the Cayman Islands.

And so to help facilitate this, I am pleased to announce that Cabinet has agreed to amend the Immigration Regulations to exempt nationals of the People’s Republic of China from the requirement to possess a visitors’ visa for the Cayman Islands for a stay of up to 30 days. This will apply where the person possesses a valid unexpired visa for Canada, the United States or the United Kingdom and they arrive in the Cayman Islands directly from the country for which they hold the visa. The latter requirement is to ensure that their US, UK or Canadian visa is authentic.

I am also pleased to announce that this new exemption will also apply to Jamaican nationals. This will facilitate not only ease of travel for our visitors from Jamaica but also assist business between our islands. Jamaica and Cayman share historic, familial and cultural ties and I am very pleased that we have been able to make this change.

To help ease the travel of our own people between the Cayman Islands and the United States, my Government has pursued, and the US Government has agreed, that Cayman can join what is known as the exclusive “Six-month Club.” This means that holders of Cayman Islands passports will be able to enter the USA so long as their passport is valid for the period of their stay in the USA. Currently the passports have to be valid for 6 months to allow entry.

This is a tremendous achievement in these uncertain days and makes travel to the US more convenient for Caymanians. This should come into force before the end of March.

These various initiatives are part of this Government’s overall strategy to draw new business and traffic to Cayman and to promote growth in the economy as well as jobs and opportunities for Caymanians.

Given the firm footing on which this Government has placed the country, the mid-term projections over the next Parliamentary term indicate year-on-year economic growth averaging 2.5%. As a politician, I will tell you that is good, solid growth. And as an economist, Minister Archer will tell you I am right.

Economists like to tell us that all growth is cyclical and the goal is to avoid the boom and bust syndrome that has characterised so much of the last 100 years or more.

So what is the one untapped resource that can hedge against external shocks and ensure sustainable growth in these islands? My answer is our people!

This Government recognizes the absolute necessity of providing our people with the skills and education that will land them jobs for their entire productive years. It is a key component in our strategy for growth and led by Education Minister Hon. Tara Rivers.

The recent World Economic Forum in Davos threw up some interesting perspectives, as I am sure our discussions will here today. When asked to identify the things most likely to impact their businesses delegates listed among others: the irreplaceability of human creativity, leadership and emotional intelligence in the workforce.

Cayman is a service driven economy – whether that service is delivered in tourism, health, technology or financial services. We therefore have a duty to ensure that future generations of Caymanians are the first choice to fill jobs in these sectors and the industries that support them. Thus we are prepared to continue to make massive investments in our people, which we believe are essential to a secure future.

We passed a new Education Law last year as a first step to achieving this goal. The law guides education policy in six strategic areas:
(1) International Competitiveness and Raising Standards;
(2) Special Education Needs and Disabilities;
(3) Conflict Resolution Training and a Crime Reduction Strategy;
(4) Technical and Vocational Education and Training ;
(5) Information, Communication and Technology as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and
(6) Public-Private Partnerships in Education and Training.

We have also addressed the long-term issue of pay stagnation of experienced teachers and we are looking at what is needed to improve teaching and learning in general including facilities.

We have ambitious plans to continue the work of enhancing the education system. This includes completing the John Gray High School and further enhancing internship and apprenticeship programmes in partnership with the private sector using the Cayman Finance Internship Programme and the Hospitality School as models for success.

We also instituted a “Ready-to-Work” programme to upskill unemployed Caymanians and help them find and keep jobs. This pilot programme will be expanded over the next year to enable every person wishing to find employment to be able to do so.

We will also increase our support to the micro and small business sector and will work with the Small Business Association on how best to do this. We have other plans for the small business sector as well, but as we draw closer to the date of elections all I will say on this is - stay tuned.

Small business is a proven facilitator of employment and wealth accumulation and it is important that as the economy grows businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to share in that growth.

Of all of our achievements, there is one that is perhaps most satisfying to the business community. We have imposed no new fees or taxes 4 budgets in a row! There has never been another administration that has gone a full term without increasing fees and taxes but have instead has reduced them. But we have done so. And as the economy continues to improve we will look again at what taxes or fees can be further reduced. So, while I acknowledge concerns about the cost of doing business, I believe that everyone, if they are fair, will agree that this Administration has done a significant amount to address this issue.

I am proud of what we have achieved to restore confidence and provide an environment for business to flourish, which has allowed our economy to grow and provide more jobs and opportunities for Caymanians and those resident here.

But I am equally proud of what we have been able to do to help advance our social growth. This includes the introduction of a National Minimum wage as well as an increase in the retirement age to 65 to allow those who need or want to continue working past the age of 60 the opportunity to do so. And we intend in our next term to focus even more on ensuring that our social services regime is efficient and effective. The goal is to get the right people - the right help - at the right time as well as to move people from welfare back into work.

Concomitant with preparing our people for the growth and jobs of the future is a fair and transparent immigration process. As would any country that has experienced massive immigration over the past four decades, the Cayman Islands has had its share of challenges from issues with work permits to permanent residency. I have to confess that managing these issues is a task akin to walking the razor’s thin edge, but suffice it to say that we will manage it with the same resolve that has seen us rise to the top of the economic pyramid in the region.

While we prepare our people for the opportunities that await them, we will continue to protect and enhance the natural environment of these Islands for residents and visitors alike.

This includes the completion of a new, modern waste management facility, which involves composting, recycling, and a waste-to-energy component. We signed a contract last month for legal consultation and will announce the preferred bidder to deliver the project by the end of April. This is yet another major milestone for our country and further proof that we are a government that gets things done.

We are expanding our plans for the revitalisation of George Town to address issues of roads, drainage and recreational facilities. The Development and Planning law has already been amended to allow for mixed use zoning in central George Town.

More family-friendly, recreational green spaces and the protection of public beach accesses are some of our priorities. The South Sound Beach Park will be completed in the coming months and we will shortly commence enhancements to Smith’s Barcadere on the adjacent newly acquired property.

In the meantime existing Phase One road works continue at a good pace. The Esterly Tibbetts extension up to the Butterfield Roundabout is expected to be finished by the end of April. The first phase of the Linford Pierson Highway extension from Tropical Gardens down to Agnes Way will be completed by the end of May.

As you can see, and will have heard, this administration has done much and has much planned.
As we wind down this term and look to a second term in office, there are some principles that will remain constant in our administration.

Number 1 will be the continued prudent management of our financial affairs;
Other priorities will include the defence of our financial services sector;
The expansion of our hospitality industry;
Completion of key infrastructure projects such as a modern waste management facility, needed road improvements, airport and cruise and cargo facilities.

And there will be new investment in our human capital and our environment as we continue to grow our economy for the benefit of all. Benefits that must include good jobs for Caymanians, a healthy environment, first-class healthcare and safe communities,
Warren Buffett famously said that “In the business world the rear view mirror is always clearer than the windshield”. As Premier, I can tell you that the same is true in the world of politics.

But of this I am certain, we have come a long way in 3 ½ years because of the work of this Government. In the midst of political, social and economic turmoil globally, our three small Islands have performed remarkably well over the course of this political term. We have avoided the threat of economic stagnation and have found the path to sustainable growth. The best, the best, is yet to come.

One of the key projects under the portfolio creating the Office of Ombudsman is now gazetted and moving forward.

Project Future, a five-year plan to streamline the civil service, contains 53 individual projects.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work over the last year, and it’s gotten us to a really good place right now,” said Deputy Governor Franz Manderson.

44 of 53 Project Future initiatives are already underway.

Project Future, government’s five year programme to reform the public sector, enters 2017 with 44 of 53 projects in progress.

Improvements at Owen Roberts International Airport, the country’s first Integrated Solid Waste Management System, and a new cruise berthing facility in George Town. These are just three of the more than fifty projects that comprise the Project Future portfolio, based on more than 80 recommendations in 2014’s EY report.

From Cayman 27

On this episode of The Panel, we discuss the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill.  For years Caymanian lawyers have been complaining about being disadvantaged in the country and the lack of opportunities for equity partnership at local firms.  Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton joins Cayman27’s Tammi Sulliman to discuss the topic in more detail.

Click to watch video. 

From Cayman 27



Years of frustration for local attorneys clamouring for equity partnership in Cayman law firms will come to an end with the passage of the Legal Practitioners Bill.

That’s the firm belief of Financial Services Minister Hon Wayne Panton, one of the architects behind the long awaited Bill, as he spoke on Tuesday nights Big Story on Cayman 27.

Mr Panton, who is also an attorney, said contrary to comments from Independent MLA Winston Connolly on the bill he contended that Caymanian attorneys stand to benefit from the provisions in the legislation.

He pointed out that the law sets out in black and white what is expected from law firms operating here, especially as it relates to the treatment of Caymanian lawyers.

Proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management System

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A report commissioned by the Cayman Islands Government, which was prepared by environmental consultancy firm Amec Foster Wheeler, is now available to the public for review and comment. The draft outline business case can be read on www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky

Why is there an Outline Business Case (OBC)?

The OBC assesses the overall affordability, implementation and delivery options for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS)
project.The OBC was prepared in accordance with UK Treasury Green Book standards, which set out the guidelines by which outline business cases are compiled. The OBC builds upon the now-approved National Solid Waste Management Policy and the National Solid Waste Management Strategy (NSWMS) which were published over the last two years. This is an ongoing process in which the publication of the business case is the latest part. Inevitably, it draws heavily on the two preceding documents, as the business case represents the means by which the previously developed strategy will be delivered and implemented.

What are the recommendations of the OBC?

The OBC concludes that national solid waste management in the Cayman Islands would be best dealt with through a public private partnership (PPP) and that the PPP arrangement to “design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM) contract” offers the best value for money.

What exactly is an Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS)?

According to United Nations Environmental Programme, “Integrated Solid Waste Management refers to the strategic approach to sustainable solid wastes covering all sources and aspects, covering generation, transfer, sorting, treatment, recovery and disposal in an integrated manner, with an emphasis on maximising resource use efficiency”.

What is the main objective of the ISWMS?

The main objective is to have a national system in place that will incorporate the waste hierarchy as outlined below in the following diagram:

The waste hierarchy is at the heart of the modern approach to managing waste. The hierarchy firstly focuses on waste reduction, and then examines each
subsequent option before disposal as follows:

• Reduction: Using less material in design and manufacture, keeping products longer; re-using and using less hazardous materials;

• Re-use: Checking, cleaning, repairing, refurbishing, repair, whole items or spare parts;

• Recycling: Turning waste into a new substance or product, including composting;

• Recovery: Energy is recovered from waste through a variety of methods such as thermal treatment and gasification; and

• Disposal: Landfill

When will the George Town landfill reach maximum capacity and then, after that, will a new landfill need to be constructed elsewhere on Grand Cayman?

The existing George Town landfill is likely to run out of capacity in 5-6 years at current rates of infill. Implementing the proposed new arrangements will slow down current rates, whereby the life of the existing landfill can be extended through early implementation of recycling and composting initiatives. Thereafter, the waste-to-energy facility will reduce the landfill requirement still further as it is only necessary to landfill about 3% of the total waste it treats. Some on-going provision for landfill will still be required but the large reduction means no new site will be required and, instead, the landfill requirement will be met by the design of a new engineered landfill that can be accommodated within the present boundary of the George Town landfill.

Why was mining of waste at the George Town landfill not included in the future ISWMS project moving forward?

The potential of long-term nuisance conditions from mining waste, such as odours, outweigh the benefit of gaining back the small area of the existing landfill space.

Therefore a policy decision has been made to exclude mining of waste from the ISWMS project.

Is Government looking to partner with the private sector because it does not have the resources to pay for the construction or operation of the ISWMS project?

The OBC recommends that the project should be delivered through a partnership with the private sector and it has nothing to with whether or not the Government has the resources. Rather, it is because that approach gives better value for money than the Government seeking to deliver the project itself,
largely because it allows significant risk transfer to the private sector.

Why was this OBC report released? It seems as though it brings Cayman no nearer to solving our country’s waste management problems than we were three years ago?

The OBC report is the basis on which a permanent, sustainable solution can be procured. Following the consultation, an updated business case including proposed solutions to issues such as bridging the affordability gap will be presented to Cabinet. At that point, a request for proposals will be issued and procurement of the project will commence. The procurement process may take around a year to from commencement to ground-breaking. Three years ago, the country had no solution on the table except for a proposed new landfill site - something which was environmentally unsustainable and unacceptable to our communities. We now have a long-term, sustainable solution which has been assessed for feasibility using the UK Treasury 5-case model. This assessment has confirmed that the proposed solution is feasible,
addresses the guiding principles and goals identified in the National Solid Waste Management Policy, represents value for money, and can be delivered to
address the long-term needs of the country.

How can the ISWMS deliver up to a 95 percent diversion of waste from landfill?

With integrated waste management, recyclable and compostable materials will be treated first and then remaining waste materials will be treated at a waste to energy facility, where much of the ash left over after burning is inert and therefore can be utilised for activities such as road building. By treating waste in an integrated manner, following the approved waste hierarchy, Cayman can achieve diversion rates of up to 95 percent.

A questionnaire will be provided at the open house sessions. We invite the public to complete the questionnaire on or before 7 October 2016.

For more information visit www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky or call (345) 244-2369 or visit us on www.Faebook.com/MinistryHealthCultureCaymanIslands.

Join us for Open House sessions to learn more about the outline business case recommendations:

Tuesday, 4 October
Government Administration Building - 5p.m. to 7p.m.

Wednesday, 5 October

National Trust House - Little Cayman - 11.30a.m. to 1.30p.m.

Wednesday, 5 October
Aston Rutty Civic Centre - Cayman Brac 5p.m. to 7p.m.

Click here to view the PDF of these FAQs. 

Minister for Community Affairs, Youth & Sports

Hon. Osbourne Bodden, JP

Message - International Day of Older Persons

1st October 2016

The elderly are the nation’s conscience. They, more than any other part of the community, give us a sense of cultural continuity and self. How appropriate then for us to mark their sterling nation-building efforts by honouring them during International Day of Older Persons.

Those 60 and older have undoubtedly lived through the greatest era of change in our society. Their generation had to adapt the most rapidly to the advent of the modern world, which transformed the lives, livelihoods and physical environment of our island nation forever.

History shows that today’s senior citizen embraced this change and altered the course of the Cayman Islands forever. For this and all the many sacrifices they have made over the years, we give thanks.

The latest population statistics show that there are now 3,639 senior citizens, aged 65 and older in the Cayman Islands. Approximately 5,847 are between the ages of 55 and 64. These demographics follow an overall global trend of a growth in the elderly population. People are living longer mainly due to better healthcare, and living more of their lives in better health than before.

All of this has important implications for policymakers. The challenge is not only to maintain that trend of improvement but to spread these benefits to all our elderly regardless of gender, ethnicity or location.

The theme of International Day of Older Persons and local Older Persons Month invites us all to “Take a Stand Against Ageism”. For older people, ageism is an everyday reality. Often overlooked for employment and stereotyped in the media, ageism marginalises and excludes older people in their communities, at a time in their lives when comfort and ease should be paramount.

The Government is aware of just how prevalent ageism is and that such discrimination harms rather than helps society. My Ministry is dedicated to ensuring that older persons live with dignity, are respected and have the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of our society. We are focused on expanding our efforts to provide strategic guidance in the delivery of quality services for older persons.

To this end, therefore, my Ministry has established a Steering Committee which is currently developing a national policy for older persons which will go far to not only support this Government’s efforts to protect the rights of older persons, but also ensure that they can contribute fully to our families and communities for many years to come.

It is anticipated that the draft Policy will be finalised by the end of this month and, following this, we plan to roll-out a series of meetings and press briefings to inform the public of the policy’s findings and recommendations. In the meantime, I encourage you to support the month-long activities that have been planned for our older persons.

This Government is dedicated to exploring ways in which the country can extend and improve the quality of life for our older persons while protecting them against the impact of ageism. Rather than marginalising and excluding older people, let’s work together to ensure that they all live a dignified life.

The final countdown has begun as there are only 10 days left to recognise pioneering tourism leaders for National Heroes Day 2017. The nomination period will conclude at the end of this month. (30 September 2016).

Leaders from the Ministries of Culture and Tourism continue to encourage all community members to put forward names for consideration before next Friday’s deadline. This year’s tourism theme will encompass the development and/or delivery of tourism pioneers throughout the history of the Cayman Islands, up to present time.

“There are many people who are extremely accomplished in the field of tourism, and who have dedicated their time and lives to this important industry,” said Premier and Minister for Culture Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “Those are people who deserve to be recognised, so I strongly encourage everyone to continue to submit nomination forms to ensure our tourism pioneers get the recognition they deserve.”

Chief Officer for the Ministry of Culture and Chairperson for the National Heroes Day Committee, Jennifer Ahearn, said they have received many nomination forms for outstanding nominees thus far.

“We greatly appreciate the community’s help and would like to thank everyone who has gotten involved with the process,” she explained. “We look forward to receiving even more nominations before the end of this month.”

There are five nomination categories for outstanding contributions to the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands:

Early Pioneer: An individual, alive or deceased, who has made significant contributions to the early development and/or delivery of tourism throughout the Cayman Islands prior to 1960. A commemorative insignia and certificate will be awarded.

Pioneer: An individual, alive or deceased, who has made significant contributions to the development and/or delivery of tourism from 1961 to 2006. A commemorative insignia and certificate will be awarded.

Emerging Pioneer: An individual who has made significant contributions to the development and/or delivery of tourism from 2007 to present. A commemorative insignia and certificate will be awarded.

Memorial Scroll:  A deceased person who was a leader or notable contributor to the development and/or delivery of tourism. This individual will be recognised with a certificate but will not receive a commemorative insignia.

Long Service Award: A living individual who may not necessarily have been a leader, but is a long-standing contributor to the development and/or delivery of tourism for 10 years or more. This individual will be recognised with a certificate but will not receive a commemorative insignia.

The National Heroes Day 2017 tourism theme is defined as:

“Tourism is travel for holiday, leisure and recreation, business, health, education, sports and other purposes. Tourism services and products include the business of attracting, accommodating, transporting, entertaining and operating tours for visitors with the support of allied services. Tourism may be international or domestic.”

To submit the names of tourism pioneers and long service individuals for recognition before the deadline on 30 September 2016, complete the forms which are available at the reception desk of the Government Administration Building, or online at www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky. Completed nomination forms or inquires can be sent to nhd@gov.ky.

The annual National Heroes Day celebration is set to take place at Heroes Square, in the centre of George Town on Monday, 23 January 2017.

CIIPO (the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office) recently staged training sessions with three Government agencies regarding the enforcement of The Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015.
Staff members from Customs, the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI), and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) were educated on their powers under the law, which came into effect on 30 June.

‘The new law defines the extent of copyright protection in Cayman by stating the rights of persons who create original literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works. It also provides the framework for enforcement’, Minister for Commerce Wayne Panton said.

CIIPO was created in May 2016 to register intellectual property (IP), such as trade marks, that needs to be recorded as part of its legal protection. It will also provide information to the local and global public about IP protection in Cayman, in the form of copyrights, patents, trade marks, and design rights.

In regards to enforcement, the law gives DCI and the RCIPS robust enforcement capabilities.

‘Once probable cause has been established, DCI and the RCIPS will search businesses and seize products suspected of copyright infringement’, Minister Panton said.

A copyright holder also can facilitate Customs, DCI and RCIPS investigations, and possibly other enforcement actions, by issuing written notices to the aforementioned agencies alleging the presence of infringing goods and businesses.

In addition, a copyright holder can retain legal counsel and either use civil litigation tactics such as seizures and injunctions against the infringing party, or pursue a criminal case by issuing a formal complaint to DCI.

The training sessions, which wrapped up in early August at the Government Administration Building, were presented by Abraham Thoppil, who serves on multiple subcommittees that helped draft the copyright law and additional legislation covering other areas of IP.

For more information on copyrights and IP enforcement, visit www.ciipo.gov.ky or email info@ciipo.gov.ky.

The Rt. Hon Baroness Anelay of St. Johns DBE, the British Minister for the Overseas Territories, will visit the Cayman Islands in the first week of October.

The visit takes place a month ahead of the annual Joint Ministerial Council in London and will be the Minister’s first visit to an Overseas Territory since taking responsibility for the portfolio in July. 

The Minister will spend two full days in The Cayman Islands and will become the first serving British Minister to visit all 3 islands. Her programme will include a visit to the Legislative Assembly where she will meet MLAs. She will also attend a reception hosted by the Premier. Visits to the RCIPS Marine Unit, the new Kimpton Hotel Development and a meeting with disability policy officials and volunteers are also planned. The Minister will also meet members of the Cayman Islands’ financial services industry. 

Baroness Anelay’s programme in the Sister Islands will include key environmental sites, a visit to a local school and a sports centre and will give her a chance to meet local residents and civil servants. 

Ahead of the visit Baroness Anelay said:

“I am delighted to be making my first visit to the Cayman Islands. I hope that this will help to strengthen still further the relationship with the UK. I am particularly pleased to be able to visit the Sister Islands in addition to Grand Cayman and hope that this will increase my knowledge and understanding of the territory as a whole."

The Premier said:

“We consider it a privilege to be the first Overseas Territory to host the new Minister‎. I am especially pleased that Baroness Anelay will be visiting Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. I have no doubt that her visit will allow the Baroness to see and experience firsthand what the Cayman Islands and its people have to offer."

National solid waste management in the Cayman Islands would be best dealt with through a public private partnership (PPP), a draft outline business case has recommended.

Prepared for the Cayman Islands Government by environmental consultancy company Amec Foster Wheeler, the outline business case (OBC) is now available for public review and comment.

“I am very pleased that we have gotten to this point where we are publishing the draft outline business case for the very first integrated solid waste management plan for the Cayman Islands,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin.

“If you ask me do I wish we could have gotten to this phase sooner, the answer would be yes, but we have dutifully followed the steps required by the framework for fiscal responsibility, which mirrors the UK Treasury’s Green Book for managing projects such as this. The process may seem long, but it is sure and will ensure we have the best, most viable solution.

“For those who have been saying ‘fix the dump’ I will point out again that this is what this project is about. But it goes beyond fixing a dump to providing a long-term solution of waste management needs of all three Cayman Islands.

“In the interim, we have dramatically improved the operations at the current landfill by re-establishing proper practices and have spent millions of dollars on new equipment including a state-of-the-art compactor and garbage trucks. We have also increased our focus on recycling, including old tyres, and will soon be moving towards composting.”

The report assesses overall affordability and the implementation and delivery options of the proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS).

It concludes that a major “design, build, finance, operate and maintain contract” - for the PPP arrangement - offers the best value for money. This is based on the results from financial analysis by consultancy firm KPMG, with estimated operational costs of the new ISWMS expected to be approximately $538 million over the 25-year PPP arrangement.

In comparison, the operational costs of a status quo-type system of just landfilling waste on the islands, is expected to cost approximately $418 million over a 25-year period. For the extra investment required for the ISWMS project of around $4.8 million per year, the proposed solution will greatly reduce the landfilling of waste, as it will be either reduced, reused, recycled or recovered with the new system.

At the time the consultation draft OBC was being drawn up, and the financial models were being run by Amec Foster Wheeler and KPMG, the potential to mine waste at the George Town landfill was considered as a possible component of the future ISWMS project for the Cayman Islands.

Since that time, a policy decision has been made to exclude mining of waste from the ISWMS project, as the potential of long-term nuisance conditions from mining, such as odours, outweigh the benefit of gaining back the small area of landfill space. Therefore, while financial information regarding the mining of waste at the George Town landfill is addressed in the draft OBC document, it is no longer under consideration for inclusion in the ISWMS project, and the final OBC will reflect this.

According to the OBC report, a public private partnership is also more likely to attract competition by major overseas companies with a robust track record of building, implementing and operating integrated waste management system solutions.

“I’m very excited that we have reached this stage in the process and I invite members of the public to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this important project and the future of waste management in the Cayman Islands,” said Councillor for Health Roy McTaggart.

The ISWMS project includes the following system components, with the ultimate aim of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by up to 95 per cent from current landfill amounts. The ISWMS project also includes costing for the future remediation/closing of the three existing unlined landfills on the islands:

• Waste reduction measures – including waste education and pragmatic waste minimisation initiatives (e.g. home composting/material return schemes such as bottles, plastic bag charges).

• The reuse and refurbishment of bulky waste, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

• Community recycling depots and household waste recycling centre facilities.

• Transfer and bulking facilities (one per island).

• The windrow composting of yard/garden waste from landscapers and household waste recycling centres in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.

• The treatment of residual waste in a waste recovery plant (waste to energy facility).

• Closure of landfills on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, with waste sent to Grand Cayman for processing.

• The potential introduction of kerbside yard and garden waste collection (post 2020).

• The potential introduction of kerbside dry recyclable collections with a materials recovery facility (post 2020).

The public can learn more about the outline business case recommendations at open house sessions at the Government Administration Building on Grand Cayman on 4 October from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the National Trust House on Little Cayman on 5 October from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre on Cayman Brac on 5 October from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A questionnaire will be provided at the open house sessions and is being set up on the Ministry of Health website www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky. A copy of the consultation draft outline business case is also available on the website. Submissions should be made by 7 October, 2016.

Calling it an “immense improvement” that promotes and protects the interests of Caymanian lawyers while also addressing international compliance standards, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton highlighted today’s gazettal of the Legal Practitioners Bill, 2016, as a defining moment for the Cayman Islands.

“The bill has taken the better part of 15 years to accomplish,’ he said. ‘I thank and congratulate both the Caymanian Bar Association and the Cayman Islands Law Society for their stellar efforts in helping this important legislation to come closer to passage than ever before.”

Referred to as the LPB, the bill will be debated during the October session of the Legislative Assembly.

In addition to its importance for legal practitioners, Minister Panton explained that the regulation of lawyers who practice Cayman law is vital to our country’s reputation and ultimately, our economic success.

“The current 16-page law that regulates legal practitioners was enacted originally in 1969. Things have changed significantly since then,” he noted.

“Today, the practice of Cayman law has become increasingly more sophisticated, complex, and international and as such, the current law is woefully inadequate,” Minister Panton said. “The LPB represents an immense improvement and is appropriate for today’s reality.”

Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin said the bill has been an issue since he was president of the Caymanian Bar Association in 1999.

“At least four government administrations have tackled this legislation,” said Ms McLaughlin. “I know that the failure to pass this legislation has been damaging to us not only as a jurisdiction but also to the interests of Caymanian lawyers. I am therefore delighted that we will be able to present the bill to the Legislative Assembly at the upcoming meeting.”

The creation of the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA) is one of the bill’s key features. CILPA would be a self-regulatory body of eight attorneys-at-law who are ordinarily resident in Cayman, and who practice Cayman Islands law in Cayman. At least five of these must be Caymanian and of those five, at least three must have qualified locally.

Minister Panton stated that once the bill has been passed in the LA, CILPA would have the responsibility to promote the qualification, training and development of Caymanians as attorneys; and ensure that non-Caymanian persons with foreign qualifications are suitably qualified to practice Cayman Islands law.

CILPA also will have the authority to compel law firms to comply with strict business staffing plans, including provisions to ensure that qualified Caymanian attorneys are properly considered for promotion inside and outside of Cayman.

Besides addressing longstanding issues for Caymanians, the 126-page bill includes provisions to address the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations, which are part of the global regulatory standard for the financial services industry. In 2017, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) will assess Cayman on its adherence to the FATF Recommendations.

“Passing the bill into law during the October sitting will allow the legal profession to demonstrate adherence to the FATF Recommendations, in order for the jurisdiction to achieve a satisfactory assessment against the international standards,” Minister Panton said.

For the October LA sitting, the Ministry of Financial Services, the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s Chambers will all have bills before the Legislative Assembly that relate to the CFATF mutual evaluation process.

The complete list of CFATF-related bills, which are available at the Legislative Assembly and on the Cayman Islands Gazette website, is:

The Legal Practitioners Bill, 2016
Auditors Oversight (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Companies Management (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Monetary (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Non-Profit Organisations Bill, 2016
Police (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Proliferation Financing (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin ensured those gathered at a rally organised by the Cayman Ministers Association and the Seventh Day Adventist Church about family values on Sunday evening that his Government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage in the Cayman Islands.

Mr. McLaughlin spoke about government’s position with regard to the institution of marriage.

“The Marriage Law defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. That is the law of the Cayman Islands. And that is also what I and the Government I have the honour to lead believe and will defend.

“I have absolutely no intention, nor any desire, to make changes to the Constitution or the Marriage Law that would alter the definition of marriage or impinge on the Christian values upon which our nation was founded.“

Section 16 of the Cayman Islands Bill of Rights, which mirrors a similar provision in the European Convention on Human Rights, protects the basic human rights by prohibiting discrimination by Government against the individual on grounds ranging from race and gender to religion and nationality and yes, sexual orientation.

Mr. McLaughlin said concern had been expressed that the decision of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal could change either the Constitution or the Marriage Law with regards to same sex marriage.

“As your Premier and as an attorney I can say that this is not the case.  We still have the right of holding fast to the Christian precept of marriage being only between a man and a woman, while allowing our Immigration Law under very narrowly defined circumstances to accommodate the dependency of one person on another,” he said. “This adheres to our Bill of Rights and our treaty obligations under international human rights law without forcing us to legally recognize same-sex marriage. I assure you that the ruling of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal was based on law and not on any policy of this Government. We certainly have no policy to introduce same sex marriage anywhere, anytime.

“As Caymanians we expect those who come to live here to respect our laws, our customs and our cultural mores. But respect is not something we can demand.  We must command it by our example. Just as I will not allow same sex marriage to be forced upon us; neither will I allow hatred and bigotry to drive divisions between our own people or those who come to work and live here. It is wrong and is it un-Christian.”

Premier McLaughlin encouraged conversations about family values, but also encouraged the county to cherish the things we have in common and that unite us to build stronger community.

Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, and that is that in a country of laws such as the Cayman Islands we are all bound by the Rule of Law. The Marriage Law defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Not one man and another man or one woman and another woman; one man and one woman. That is the law of the Cayman Islands. And that is also what I and the government I have the honour to lead believe and will defend. Marriage is an institution ordained by God and is reserved only for persons of the opposite sex.  Whatever relationships exist between persons of the same sex, they are not and cannot be considered as marriages under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

In 2009 for the first time in its history the Cayman Islands obtained a Bill of Rights as part of a new Constitutional Order. That Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which it contains, was the work of eight years and three administrations.  It was also the work of civic society and importantly, the churches of these Islands represented then as now, by the Cayman Ministers’ Association and the Seventh Day Adventist Conference. As an elected member I was engaged in the constitutional discussions throughout those eight long years. As a government minister I led the talks for the final four difficult years until the Constitution was finally agreed to by the United Kingdom in February 2009 and approved by the people of these Islands by referendum in May that same year.  As a result, I know intimately how much work and agonizing went into crafting our current constitution and The Bill of Rights.

I therefore want to take a moment this evening to pay tribute to my dear friend and namesake the late Pastor Al Ebanks and my equally dear friend the current President of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference, Pastor Shian O’Connor, for the significant leadership roles they both played in creating our current constitutional document. Not only were they intimately involved in the constitutional discussions in Cayman, but they also sat around the negotiating table at Lancaster House in London. Both the Bill of Rights and the Preamble to the Constitution were significantly shaped by the representations made by these God-fearing men on behalf of their respective organisations and churches and the country owes them both an enduring debt of gratitude.

With regard to the institution of marriage, it is worth noting that at the urging and with the assistance of both the Cayman Ministers Association and the Seventh Day Adventist Conference, the Cayman Bill of Rights recognizes that the right to marry is reserved only to persons of opposite sex of marriageable age.  No such right is conferred on persons of the same sex.

Section 14 of the Constitution provides:

“Government shall respect the right of every unmarried man and woman of marriageable age (as determined by law) freely to marry a person of the opposite sex and found a family.”

Thus, to repeat what I said earlier, in Cayman marriage is the exclusive province of persons of marriageable age of the opposite sex. There is no right under the Constitution or otherwise for persons of the same-sex to marry.  Further, I can confirm that I have been given the assurance by the former UK Overseas Territories minister, Minister Schapps, and as recently as this past Friday, by Her Excellency the Governor, that the United Kingdom Government will not require the Cayman Islands to adopt same-sex marriage legislation, nor will it seek to impose such legislation on these Islands.

Although I have previously explained the Government’s position in writing to the Human Rights Commission and publicly, including on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, I want to repeat it here this evening and to continue to assure the country that the Government and the Party that I have the privilege to lead have absolutely no intention, nor any desire, to make changes to the Constitution or the Marriage Law that would alter the definition of marriage or impinge on the Christian values upon which our nation was founded.

I equally want to make it clear that no matter what my own religious beliefs, or indeed the beliefs of the other members of my Government, as your Premier I also have an obligation under the law and the Constitution, and indeed given my religious upbringing under the teachings of Christ, to ensure that all people, but especially any minority group, regardless of differences, receive fair treatment and respect under the law and constitution of our Islands.

Those of you who know my family, especially the Adventists among you, may know that my great-grandfather Gilbert Madgdaly McLaughlin was the founder of the Adventist faith here more than 125 years ago. Others of you will know that my dear, departed mother Althea was a devout Christian and an Elder of the United Church. l grew up in a Christian household.  So I am well aware how the Christian teachings of love, faith and charity have helped to build this nation.

But I also recall the stories of the challenges my great-grandfather and others faced when bringing the teachings of the Adventist movement to Cayman.  Challenges compounded because there were those of other faith communities back then who quite frankly did not want the Adventist movement to exist here.  But with the assistance of God and fair protection under the law the Adventist movement has thrived.  And today in our Islands we have an interfaith community where we respect one another -  both for the things we have in common as well as for our differences.  And because of this we are here today, people of differing faiths and from different lands, of differing ages and different perspectives – yet all are able to worship freely together and discuss our views peacefully.  We are able to exist respecting our basic humanity and the teachings of Christ to love each other as he has loved us.

Section 16 of the Cayman Islands Bill of Rights, which mirrors a similar provision in the European Convention on Human Rights, protects the basic human rights by prohibiting discrimination by Government against the individual on grounds ranging from race and gender to religion and nationality and yes, sexual orientation.

There has been concern expressed by some that the recent decision of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal will have the effect of somehow changing either the Constitution or the Marriage Law with regards to same sex marriage.  As your Premier and as an attorney I can say that this is not the case.  We still have the right of holding fast to the Christian precept of marriage being only between a man and a woman, while allowing our Immigration Law under very narrowly defined circumstances to accommodate the dependency of one person on another. This adheres to our Bill of Rights and our treaty obligations under international human rights law without forcing us to legally recognize same-sex marriage. I assure you that the ruling of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal was based on law and not on any policy of this Government. We certainly have no policy to introduce same sex marriage anywhere, anytime.

As a people we have to be careful of losing the very thing we cherish by being intolerant and inflexible. I am not here to try to change anybody’s beliefs – on either side of the issue.  What I would urge is that we consider Christ’s teachings of tolerance with regards to how we treat each other.

I believe that we have a great opportunity to unite the country as a result of this issue. Pause and take a step back and ask ourselves what would Jesus have done. I am no theologian, but some of the earliest lessons I learnt at Sunday School were of Jesus’ teaching of love, grace and acceptance.

As Caymanians we expect those who come to live here to respect our laws, our customs and our cultural mores. But respect is not something we can demand.  We must command it by our example. Just as I will not allow same sex marriage to be forced upon us; neither will I allow hatred and bigotry to drive divisions between our own people or those who come to work and live here. It is wrong and is it un-Christian.

So my message today is to cherish and build on the things that we have in common and that unite us – not divide us – for what unites us far outweighs our differences. I have every confidence that through gatherings such as this we will use the opportunity to build a stronger, more caring community. I ask you in turn to have confidence that your Government is not going to allow the rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution and our laws, to be undermined.

I will conclude with an excerpt from the opening words of the Preamble to the Constitution of the Cayman Islands, which was crafted in large part by the churches of these Islands:

“The people of the Cayman Islands, recalling the events that have shaped their history and made them what they are, and acknowledging their distinct history, culture and Christian heritage and its enduring influence and contribution in shaping the spiritual, moral and social values that have guided their development and brought peace, prosperity and stability to those Islands, through the vision, forbearance and leadership of their people, who are loyal to Her Majesty the Queen:

Affirm their intention to be-

• A God-fearing country based on traditional Christian values, tolerant of other religions and beliefs.
• A country in which religion finds its expression in moral living and social justice.
•  A caring community based on mutual respect for all individuals and their basic human rights.
• A country committed to the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
• A community that practices honest and open dialogue to ensure mutual understanding and social harmony.

The Constitution of these Islands was adopted by our people by an overwhelming majority in a referendum. There is therefore no doubt in my mind as to where the people of these Islands stand with respect to a bible based system of values and our acknowledgment as a community that such a system is entirely consistent with respect for the basic human rights of the individual. Long may it remain so.

I thank you again for the opportunity to address you on this important occasion.

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Government is pushing on in its efforts to legalise the importation and dispensing of cannabis oil for medical use but acknowledges that questions loom about how it would be sourced and dispensed.

Proposed legislation will be ready for debate when the Legislative Assembly reconvenes in late September or early October.

Cabinet has approved the most recent versions of amendments to the Customs Law, the Misuse of Drugs Law and Pharmacy Regulations, which will soon be published, and ready for debate in the Legislative Assembly. A multi-sectoral stakeholder committee has also reviewed the proposed Bills as part of the policy development process.

“We have moved swiftly from a policy decision in May to being able to publish the bills shortly and then taking them to the next meeting of the House,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “But there are still real and serious practical hurdles to obtaining and importing this drug because it remains illegal in many jurisdictions, including nearby Jamaica.”

With the passage of this law registered medical importers will be allowed to legally import cannabis oil, doctors will be able to prescribe and pharmacists will be able dispense the drug.

However, potential challenges remain as there is no agreed medical body of evidence that cannabis oil is curative for serious diseases such as cancer. There are also no agreed prescribed levels of the drug that can be used to treat such diseases.

It remains for local doctors and pharmacists to use their own medical experience, judgement and research on how best to prescribe and dispense cannabis oil.

Also given its continued illegality in both the United States and Jamaica, there are concerns around how cannabis oil would be sourced. On Thursday the Drug Enforcement Agency in the United States denied a bid to reconsider how it treats marijuana under federal drug control laws, keeping the drug in the most restrictive category for US law enforcement purposes.

Just last week the Jamaican Government reminded the public in that country that marijuana in any form remains illegal.

Despite the challenges, Government continues to believe, as the Premier stated in late May, that Government favours hope over fear and therefore is pressing ahead as fast as possible but in a responsible manner.

“In many respects we are a pioneer in this field,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “We have moved from investigation to policy approval to legislative amendments and will soon go to the Legislative Assembly over the course of a few short months. However, at all times we have appreciated that we must proceed responsibly ensuring that what is brought forward has the best possibility for effective outcomes without causing unexpected consequences.”

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA
9 August, 2016

Unfortunately, in addition to the imported six cases of Zika, the Acting Medical Officer has confirmed that there are at least two cases of locally transmitted Zika Virus.

However, what is fortunate is that Government and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit have been proactive with measures to counter the spread of the virus by killing the Aedes aegypti mosquito host.
In addition to enhanced spraying and inspection of yards and increased public education, Government and the MRCU contracted with Oxitec for the use of genetically modified non-biting male mosquitos.

On 28 July, 2016, Government and the MRCU released 20,000 genetically modified male Aedes aegypti mosquitos with a kick-off to a campaign to eradicate the dangerous mosquitos from Grand Cayman. This after a Grand Court Judge ruled against any further injunction to prevent the release of the genetically modified mosquitos.

To date approximately 300,000 modified mosquitoes have been released in West Bay as part of the long-term MRCU-Oxitec project.

It should be noted that the locally infected patients are residents of George Town and became ill days before the MRCU released genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitos on Grand Cayman. As such spraying efforts have been ramped up with even more sprayers going out as of Monday night on the streets of George Town.

It is regrettable that despite the very clear public health risks caused from Zika, some in the community chose to try and stop the release of the genetically modified mosquitos.

Their attempt to prevent the release of the modified mosquitos fortunately did not succeed but if it had would have put Caymanians, residents and our visitors at further risk of contracting the diseases carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito – chikungunya, dengue and now Zika.

This Government did not act out of ignorance when we approved the release of the modified mosquitos. We had the backing of the World Health Organisation, the MRCU and approval from the National Conservation Council.

Just yesterday we learned that the Food and Drug Administration in the United States determined that the modified mosquitos can be released in Florida where cases of locally transmitted Zika have occurred. That is just further evidence that we were right in our decision to allow the MRCU to take pre-emptory measures to help prevent the scourge of vector-borne diseases.

Many of those who opposed the release of the mosquitos here are already politicians or are political aspirants; people who should be taking public health seriously, not using it as a political platform to grandstand.
Anyone who has ambitions to be a community leader or a Member of the Legislative Assembly must be more objective and thoughtful regarding the stances they take.

They also need to adopt this Government’s mantra of transparency. The leader of the campaign to stop the release has yet to openly confirm who or what entity funded the campaign. The public deserves to know the full truth to understand the motives behind the ill-advised and dangerous campaign.

I am especially disappointed in the Leader of the Opposition Hon. McKeeva Bush who as a longstanding member of the Legislative Assembly, former Cabinet member and former Premier is all too familiar with the good work that the MRCU does and that it is the true expert in mosquito control. The MRCU is a major part of Cayman’s success story and I have no doubt in my mind that it would not do anything to endanger our people or our country; quite the contrary, as it has demonstrated over and over again.

Instead of continuing to support MRCU in its work to prevent several harmful vector-borne illnesses, the Opposition Leader chose to pull his party colleagues onto the alarmist train in an attempt to stop what may be the best hope for controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the dangerous diseases that the breed carries.

The increasing numbers of imported cases – six as of yesterday – combined with the locally transmitted cases are proof that the work MRCU, along with Oxitec and this Government are doing is important to the health and wellbeing of all in these Islands.

I want to reassure the public that MRCU, with the unflinching support of this Government, will continue its eradication efforts.

We are working at making it easy to get around Cayman, widening roads, eliminating congestion and reducing drive times.  We are also working hard to drive business back into George Town, with our Revitalisation Project. All of this means some temporary pain, but be patient – the results are going to make everyone’s lives easier.

This government has been able to accomplish this without any borrowing because we are responsible with finances and because we have been able to provide an economic environment that has brought back all the investor confidence that was lost.  Businesses are employing people and investing in the future and we are making sure that we have the infrastructure ready to support them.

The United Kingdom remains committed to the Cayman Islands and other Overseas Territories as the process for Britain to exit the European Union evolves.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin discussed the Brexit move with Overseas Territories Minister Mr. James Duddridge on 29 June, 2016.

In a letter dated 5 July, 2016, to Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Duddridge acknowledged the conversation and assured the Cayman Islands that the outcome of the referendum does not change the Constitutional relationship between the UK and the Territories.

“We will continue to closely follow the political and economic discussions and developments as the United Kingdom divorces itself from the European Union,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “We now have the verbal and written assurance Minister Duddridge that he will continue to actively represent the interests of the Overseas Territories across the UK Government and ensure they are fully considered.”

In his letter Mr. Duddridge wrote, “We will fully involve the Overseas Territories, the Devolved Administrations and the Crown Dependencies in accordance with their various constitutional relationships with the UK to ensure that all of their interests are taken properly into account”.

Mr. Duddridge also wrote that the process to exit the European Union presents several challenges, but those will take place against the background of a strong UK economy with the affirmed backing of the Bank of England.

Mr. McLaughlin said that the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom will continue to maintain the excellent relationship that has been forged between the two countries since the Progressives-led Government took office in 2013. It is because of that connection that he and Mr. Duddridge are able to have frank, honest discussions about Brexit.

“We will continue to have discussions with the United Kingdom as the leave progresses,” said Mr. McLaughlin.

He will also discuss the issue with other Overseas Territories leaders during the week of 19 July, 2016, at the pre Joint Ministerial Council Meeting in Turks and Caicos.

Letter to the Premier PDF.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA 24 June, 2016

Mister Speaker as you would be aware our friends in the United Kingdom have cast their votes to leave the European Union.

Mister Speaker, this referendum was a question for the United Kingdom and its voters but we all expected that the impact of a decision to leave would be felt far beyond the shores of the United Kingdom and would have had political consequences within the UK. It was also expected that there would be uncertainty within financial markets.

This has certainly proved to be the case with Prime Minister Cameron advising today that he will be stepping down as Prime Minister by October and a no confidence motion being brought against the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn.

And as we have seen, the world markets are now trying to come to grips with the implications of the referendum. There are also other ramifications that will continue to flow from this decision in the weeks and months ahead.

Mister Speaker, it is not clear whether the transition to a new Prime Minister will be an internal matter for the Conservative Party or whether the UK will face fresh elections in a few months.
There is the distinct likelihood of another Scottish independence referendum. Additionally, Northern Ireland, which voted to stay, will no doubt consider its options. These all point tothe possibility of a breakup of the United Kingdom.

Mister Speaker, Cayman has certainly benefited from the United Kingdom’s link to the European Union in tangible and intangible ways. For example we have been eligible for EU passports, which provided the ability to live, work and travel freely within the EU.

Cayman and all of the Overseas Territories will need to follow closely the political and economic discussions and developments over the course of the coming days, weeks and months.

Of immediate concern though is the question of how any new UK government will view the Overseas Territories, particularly in a new construct of a United Kingdom that is no longer united.

Over in the United States a presidential election looms with the possibility of a radically different kind of political figure becoming the leader of the most powerful nation on earth.  Without question, the world is in for a period of great uncertainty over the course of the next year and perhaps beyond.   

There will no doubt be some stormy waters to navigate before the new reality emerges and political and economic calm returns.

In this sea of uncertainty Cayman is an increasingly attractive place to live, work, invest and do business.

Mister Speaker, the sound financial position of the Cayman Islands Government and the growing strength of our economy make us an excellent option for businesses and investors looking for a safe haven amid the current political and economic turmoil.

Even as we watch carefully the developments, we intend to seize the opportunities created by the current uncertainties to build on the economic success this Government has already achieved.
I am confident in the continued success of Cayman’s economy.

We have for years engaged with the world on matters relating to our financial services industry and we will continue to do so. Our voice will be heard as we have strong links with many partner jurisdictions as well as international institutions.

Businesses based in the Cayman Islands will continue to benefit from that and they, like us, can remain confident in our future.

There will be much to be done as the UK and EU begin to determine a timeframe to unwind their existing relationship and work toward putting in place new arrangements for future cooperation, trade, migration and security.

Some have said this process could take as much as two years to complete and so for us in the Cayman Islands the full impact of the leave decision will not be immediately known, as much will depend on what new arrangements will be made between the UK and EU.  I expect to speak to the Minister for Overseas Territories, James Duddridge, early next week to get an indication on the  immediate way forward and the perceived impact the decision will have on the Overseas Territories.

In addition, I will attend the pre-JMC meeting in TCI next month with the Overseas Territories to discuss this issue in detail.

Mister Speaker, it is too early to make predictions or to be able to say what the full impact of the leave decision will be. But certainly it will be profound. It will impact not just the UK and its citizens resident there, but the Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and indeed the wider world.

I will continue to monitor developments and engage with the UK Government over the coming days and as soon as the way ahead becomes clear, I will make a further statement.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA
8 June, 2016

Madam Speaker, I wish to lay a copy of the third amendment to the agreement between Dart Realty, the National Roads Authority and Government, as well as provide the House with a report on the main improvements to the original agreement.

Madam Speaker, the original NRA Agreement was executed in December 2011 under the UDP administration led by the now Leader of the Opposition and in the main included the extension of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway to West Bay, the development of Kimpton’s Seafire Resort and Spa on the property of the former Courtyard Marriott, which had been closed since 2008, as well as various other developments by Dart Realty and the closure of a section of West Bay Road, as well as the realignment of the old Barkers Road. It also included various concessions for the development of new hotels as well as amenities for government and Cayman residents. And lastly it included the 50 per cent of the hotel room tax concession with all Dart hotels. This final aspect of the agreement was contentious.

A subsequent amendment in April 2012, which was termed the first amendment, extended the period for the completion of an independent value for money review of the agreement, which was required under the law.

A second amendment was executed in July 2012 and did the following things:

• It brought in the concept of a new public beach in place of future public rights of way through Dart properties to the beach, such rights arising by law upon the grant of Planning consent. This will ensure that Dart can develop its beachfront land without having to facilitate providing public beach access from the public road.

• It removed from the agreement the realignment of the gazetted corridor from Pappagallo to the head of Barkers, which was included in the original agreement. This has been deferred until and if Dart gains consent to develop its land in Barkers, should it wish to.

• It set aside three acres for the future development of a new Sunrise Adult Training Centre and 20 acres in West Bay for educational and community use.

To meet the legal requirements under the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility, Price Waterhouse Coopers was selected through tendering as the independent consultant to conduct a value for money review on the original agreement and the second amendment. This review concluded that value for money in the agreement was a mixed bag and specifically pointed out that while it did provide some value for money, it also proposed several concessions, especially the sharing of the hotel room tax, which could lead to significant competitive disadvantages for others in the local hotel and tourism market.

Before going further, it is important to note that however bad a deal we and others may believe the original agreement was, it and the two subsequent amendments to the agreement were legally binding and committed the UDP government of the day and all future governments to its terms.

Madam Speaker, I want the country to understand that this was the starting point when this Government took office.

Be that as it may, we campaigned on re-negotiating certain aspects of the agreement and we also advised Dart of this in meetings with them prior to the elections. In particular we were unhappy with the 50 per cent hotel tax concession aspect of the agreement. The PWC value for money report indicated that we were right to be concerned.

We understood then and indeed still do understand the value and importance to the Cayman Islands of the development done by Dart. However, we could not allow the 50 per cent tourism tax and various other aspects of the agreement to remain because of the harm to government revenues and distortions it created in the market.

We explained this to Dart Realty and invited them to sit down with us to negotiate a third amendment. They were agreeable because they, like us, appreciated that the relationship between Dart and Government had to be mutually beneficial and congenial. Ours is a relationship for the long term and compromise was important as it is in all relationships.
The broad goals we were determined to achieve with a third amendment were to:

• Remove the 50 per cent hotel tax sharing concession;
• For Dart to provide alternative access through Dart property in the event of the closure of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway for any emergency;
• Maintain the future public rights of way access to the sea along developed Dart properties. This also left control of such public rights of way with the CPA rather than allowing Cabinet to make these changes.

The following were also considered desirable to encourage Dart to complete its development sooner rather than later:

• Allow Dart Realty to do its development over a shorter time frame than the original 30 years;
• Allow Dart to construct different types of development beyond hotels and tourism related businesses.

In 2014 Government contracted with PwC to provide consulting services during the negotiation period. Negotiations were carried out with the benefit of their advice and guidance and technocrats in government managed the process.

The National Roads Authority Board of Directors was kept apprised during the negotiation period and provided its feedback to the process – and it has reviewed and accepted the final amendment. Indeed, the board was a signatory to this third amendment.

The improvements that comprise this third amendment are in the main aspects the following:

1. The removal of the sharing of Hotel Room Tax concession is one of the major achievements of the third amendment.

2. Broadens the development mechanism to include residential and commercial developments. The original agreement focused predominantly on hotel and tourism development; however, broadening the mechanism had several advantages:

      a. Incentivize and focus development for the first 10 years;

      b. Potentially utilize the concessions more effectively and efficiently;

      c. Of note: the divestiture of the freehold of the Dragon Bay lands for potential residential development was seen as part-and-parcel of this objective, as this property, which was formerly known asSafehaven, had over the past 25 years proven unattractive to residential developers and purchasers because it was leasehold.

     d. Redefined the Net Present Value Abatement to include the value of the Hotel Tourism tax for the Kimpton. This is part of the revised arrangement to have Dart Realty agree to remove the hotel concession   tax from the agreement.

I must note, Madam Speaker, that the sale of the freehold interest in the Dragon Bay lands will be done in accordance with the Governor (Vesting of Lands) Law (2005 Revision). This is the law that governs the sale of Crown property.

The law calls for three valuations to be done on the property including two independent evaluations and one by Lands and Survey. These came in between US$12.448 million dollars at the low end and US$16.686 million dollars on the high end. Negotiations were carried out on the sale by senior ministry and department staff and the final agreed price was US$14.574 million dollars. In determining the sale price a number of factors were taken into consideration

Dart already owned the leasehold on the property parallel to a 99 year lease, which still had about 75 years to run. There were no other parties that would have been able to develop the property unless Dart wanted to sell. Further, it needs to be appreciated that few buyers were attracted to the already developed condominiums or to build houses on the lands for at least the last 25 years because the property was leasehold. Why should they buy leasehold when a stone’s throw away there are many options that are freehold?

At the end of the day the value of any property is what a willing buyer and a willing seller agree.

So the sale of the Dragon Bay lands will be carried out according to law and a price was obtained that was within the expectations of the various evaluations.

In exchange for the freehold interest in these lands Government will receive US$14.574 million dollars, and as Dart develops and sells the property, Government will receive millions of dollars in stamp duty and development fees and jobs will be created for our people during the development phase.

So the sale of the Dragon Bay lands is a win-win for Dart and Cayman and Cayman will continue to receive benefits for decades to come.

I would add that as we negotiated the sale, we ensured that the rights of all stakeholders were considered, including those who now own leasehold rights to condominiums on the property, as well as access to waterways passing through the property. Sorting through these types of issues is another reason the third amendment took all this time to complete.

Continuing with the main improvements to the agreement:

3. The third amendment commits Dart to US$400 million dollars of development (excluding the Kimpton and infrastructure costs) over 10 years versus the original agreement that spread the development over 30 years. This change recognised the preference by Government to have Dart start and complete development projects sooner rather than later. This also recognised that it was difficult to predict or truly commit to the magnitude of development over several decades as called for in the original agreement.

4. It should be noted that the current works on the Kimpton and infrastructure will on completion be worth at least an additional US$400 million dollars. Thus, all combined over the 10 years, Dart will have spent around US$800 million dollars.

5. It was thought that the original agreement was too wide reaching with regard to waivers and allowed Dart to receive concessions on new infrastructure works or development. Therefore this third amendment does not allow for much of the infrastructure costs being undertaken by Dart Realty to be included in the US$400 million dollars. Of particular importance, the realignment and upgrading of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway from a new roundabout just south of Camana Bay (ACR1) to the Century 21 Roundabout is not included in the US$400 million dollar investment package.

6. In fact, these road works are being undertaken and paid for at significant costs by Dart Realty after being approved by and through the National Roads Authority. They will benefit Dart properties but will also benefit the Cayman Islands as it will allow for the creation of an additional two lanes in either direction. This is work the Government would not have been able to afford and that Dart is doing out if its own pocket. It is also work they have in fact already commenced on their own land.

7. These roads built by Dart will be gazetted as a public road. This gives the added assurance that:

     a. This portion of the road, which is paid for privately by Dart Realty will become a public road, or Crown Property; and

     b. Costs associated with the expansion can receive a waiver under the existing agreement, which again assists in utilizing the concession quicker. Dart has agreed to waive rights to compensation under the Roads Law in respect of its land required for the new corridor.

8. Government has agreed to sell Dart the remaining property known as part of ‘the Soto Land’, comprising approximately 4.2 acres of undeveloped Crown land located east of the car park at Seven Mile Public Beach. Dart holds the remaining term of a 99 year lease of most of this land from the Crown, Dart having acquired the lease from the Sotos. The sale will be carried out in accordance with the Governor (Vesting of Lands) Law and will be sold for a price still to be negotiated, but based on market value, in the same fashion as the Dragon Bay lands. Dart will also surrender the remainder portion of this lease of the Soto lands, being the area on which is located the children’s play area, public beach car park, beach football pitch and beach volleyball courts, collectively known now as the Public Beach Park.

9. Dart agreed to remove the provision in the second amendment that allowed them to relocate future public rights of access to the sea into a new public beach. This means that whilst there may be no new public beach, the public will maintain future rights of access to the sea through Dart beach front lands that are developed in the future, and importantly, the CPA will maintain control over such public rights of way, and not Cabinet.

10. Madam Speaker, for the benefit of the House and the listening public, let me try to explain briefly the purpose of the Net Present Value and the change introduced by the third amendment. The original NRA Agreement sought to recognize that Dart would be making significant investment in the Islands with the building of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension, as well the monies extended to the UDP Government to be used for community purposes – such as the Save the Mortgage scheme. In other words, it recognized the value of money spent now verses what is spent later by way of a discount rate – in this case 10 per cent, compounded annually. It is regrettable that the original agreement had such a high discount rate. But that is the rate we were bound by.

11. Madam Speaker, we recognized from the outset as did PwC, that Dart Realty would be looking to replace any value lost when giving up a concession in this third amendment. This included the hotel room tax rebate for the Kimpton Hotel, which had an estimated value of US$13.1 million dollars. It should be noted that Government sought hard to reduce the discount rate of 10 per cent agreed by the previous Government in the original agreement, but was not successful in doing so. Therefore, we sought to widen and encourage Dart to greater development so as to utilize this abatement as quickly and effectively as possible. And Madam Speaker, this inclusion of US$13.1 million dollars to the NPV cap, in place of the hotel tax rebate, is certainly more preferable than leaving the status quo as this would have cost Government much more over the long term. PwC in its original value for money review noted that the hotel tax rebate could potentially provide Dart Realty with a tax rebate until 2052 under the terms of the second amendment agreement. It also estimated that a total rebate given to Dart on their developments proposed at the time could amount to as much as US$62.3 million. Compared to this amount, the US$13.1 million included for the Kimpton alone under the third amendment is a huge win.

12. Government has the option to accept three acres of lands to build a new Sunrise Adult Training Centre or accept US$1.35 million dollars as a cash payment. In addition Government also has the option to accept 20 acres of land for education and community purposes in West Bay or receive US$1.85 million dollars as a cash payment. Government has up to six months following the signing this agreement on the 30th of May to decide on an option.

13. Dart Realty will construct the expansion of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway between ACR1 and the Butterfield Roundabout at a cost to the Government that has been negotiated by the National Roads Authority and which has been deemed to be commercially competitive.

14. Government will enact new legislation that covers volumetric parcels as well as the concept of positive covenants. The work on this is ongoing and when complete will benefit Dart as well as all developers, facilitate new types of land development above public roads and make the development of land more efficient.

15. The Government has also been cognizant of the procedures for negotiation and Ministry staff and relevant Government technocrats have endeavoured to participate fully in the process. All meetings were held at the Government Administration Building with senior Ministry staff present.

16. The Ministry of Planning is liaising with the Planning Department and the Financial Secretary’s Office to track development spend and concession waivers by and for Dart to inform Cabinet of Dart’s spend within the $400 million dollars 10 years commitment.

Prior to signing this third amendment, the Ministry requested that PWC review the third amendment and compare it to the earlier amendments that were the focus of their value for money review. They were asked to give an assessment as to whether this third amendment provided improvements over the earlier versions. They concluded in the following terms follows:

“In general, the provisions of the draft third amendment reflect the goals of CIG and perhaps most importantly the removal of the hotel tax rebate.”

The letter went on to recognise that even with the third amendment the deal remains imperfect but it recognised the benefits brought in by the third amendment coupled with the substantial investment undertaken by Dart, which was not included in the original value for money review.

PWC noted, “In light of the above, CIG can have some confidence that the objectives of supporting economic growth through encouraging significant private sector investment will be achieved through this draft third amendment.”

It concluded, “We believe that it would be to CIG’s advantage to conclude negotiations of the NRA Agreement and not seek further changes than those foreseen by the draft third amendment. Future development agreements or other transactions with Dart Realty should be negotiated on their own merits and without reference to the NRA Agreement, as amended.”

That is sound advice indeed.

The third agreement was signed on the 30th May, 2016. Government will now move forward and request that Cabinet consider the closure of the remainder of part of the West Bay Road so as to complete our obligation in that regard.

We also wish to recognise the ongoing commitment to the Cayman Islands shown by Dart and I extend our appreciation to Dart for working with this Government and for having the confidence to start the agreed works even though we have only now been able to complete the signing.

I thank this Honourable House.

By the Mosquito Research and Control Unit and Oxitec

A local group opposed to the Friendly Aedes aegypti Project have made a series of public statements. Many of these assertions are false or misleading. This briefing is designed to facilitate accurate information.

The project is being carried out by the Cayman Islands Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) in collaboration with biotechnology company Oxitec.

The first section of this document addresses some common questions about the project. The second part addresses points from an advert published in the Cayman Compass on Friday June 3, 2016. At the end are MRCU and Oxitec contact details.

Responses to common questions:

Q. Why is this project being done? What is the need/benefit?
A. The aim of the project is to better control Aedes aegypti in an area of West Bay in Grand Cayman. This mosquito is able to transmit dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and potentially additional viral diseases, so an improved method of control is in the public health interest as existing methods are not effective enough.

Q. How long will the project last?
A. The first phase has 9 months of releases after a period of community engagement.

Q. Why was West Bay chosen for the project?
A. It is a ‘hot spot’ for Aedes aegypti. It may subsequently be expanded to other areas, subject to regulatory approval.

Q. Has there been a proper approval process in Cayman?
A. Yes. The project was firstly approved by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment. Following the implementation of the National Conservation Law, the project then was also approved by the National Conservation Council.

Q. Was the public consulted?
A. The choice of mosquito suppression tool is a matter for government and has been made in the public health interest, based on the most appropriate interventions available. The regulatory process is transparent and included public sessions. We are actively engaging in education of the public.

Q. Is this a tested technology?
A. Yes. The project in Cayman comes after several successful trials of the technology in Cayman and elsewhere, such as deployment in Brazil. Furthermore it is consistent with the World Health Organization’s recent recommendation for operational use of Oxitec’s mosquitoes in response to the international emergency related to Zika virus.

Q. Is microcephaly caused by Oxitec mosquitoes?
A. No. Microcephaly is related to Zika virus, not mosquitoes. Clusters of microcephaly occurred in French Polynesia in 2007 where there were never any genetically modified mosquitoes. The World Health Organization has confirmed there is no evidence that Zika virus disease or microcephaly in Brazil is caused by genetically modified mosquitoes.

Responses to points raised by the advert

The ad says: “Oxitec obtained approval from FDA in South Florida. Why has the FDA now rescinded that approval and stopped the release pending further assessment and a country-wide vote?”

In fact: The FDA published in March 2016 a preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, which concluded that the planned Florida trial would not have a negative impact on human health or the environment. The public consultation phase on this preliminary finding has recently finished and the final position of US FDA will be issued in due course. Nothing has been rescinded; the FDA does not put their decisions to a vote. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has decided to conduct a non-binding poll of its residents regarding their support for use of the Oxitec solution under the FDA approval.

The ad says: “Do you know over 3 million GM Mosquitoes were released in the Cayman Islands in 2009 & 2010 with no widespread public awareness?”

In fact: There were community engagement activities in East End before releasing mosquitoes in the area in 2009 and 2010. Oxitec and MRCU are engaged in a full communication programme to ensure the public is aware of the control programme, the technology, and the goal.

The ad says: “What is the current prevalence of the Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus in the Cayman Islands and what are the risks of those virus types manifesting in the Cayman Islands in the future?”

In fact: Dengue and chikungunya have previously appeared in Cayman at low levels. The first Zika case was recently confirmed in a visitor from Amsterdam and is presumed to have been sexually transmitted, while the visitor was in the Cayman Islands, from her boyfriend who resides in St. Maarten where the Zika virus is prevalent and who had joined her on vacation. The control of Aedes aegypti is the primary way to prevent transmission of these diseases.

The ad says: “What are the risks of spreading diseases by biting females?”

In fact: Oxitec’s protocols are designed to minimize the likelihood of female release. In the event female mosquitos were released, it is extremely unlikely that a released female of the Oxitec GM mosquitoes could survive long enough in the environment to spread disease because they only live 2-4 days and it takes 5-10 days to contract these viruses.

The ad says: “What are the risks of releasing 22 million genetically modified, non-native strain mosquitoes?”

In fact: The Cayman Islands National Conservation Commission (NCC) has reached the conclusion that the risks are insignificant. The expected outcome is a reduction in the wild, non-native strain mosquitoes, which can transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya.

The ad says: “What is the risk that wild type Aedes aegypti mosquitoes migrate to surrounding areas in response to the releases?”

In fact: This has not been observed in any previous projects and is highly improbable as mosquitoes travel less than 200 yards on average in their lifetime.

The ad says: “What are the risks of increasing other mosquito strains if the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are suppressed?”

In fact: This has not been observed in any previous project. Even if it did occur, the other mosquitoes are far less dangerous than Aedes aegypti which is the primary vector for a number of dangerous arboviruses including Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya.

The ad says: “What is the potential impact on the Cayman Islands ecosystem and what independent assessments have been conducted?”

In fact: Suppressing or even eradicating the non-native species Aedes aegypti will not have a harmful impact on the Cayman Islands ecosystem. In Cayman, assessments were conducted by the Departments of Agriculture and Environment. Since the implementation of the National Conservation Law it has been further reviewed by the National Conservation Council.

The ad says: “What would be the impact in the event of the failure of the killing mechanism due to tetracycline in the environment and/or evolution of resistance or other reasons as yet undiscovered.”

In fact: There is not enough tetracycline in the environment to inhibit the killing mechanism of the self-limiting gene. Any hypothetical localized contamination would mean diminished efficacy of this tool just in that local area. There is no evidence to date of resistance; if this arose the releases would have diminishing efficacy. Whether for these reasons or the hypothetical undiscovered reasons for reduced efficacy, the releases would still be safe, the field monitoring would detect the problem and if releases stopped, the GM mosquitoes would disappear from the environment.

Further information

Diseases spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito

 Dengue fever infects an estimated 400 million people globally every year with about half of the world’s population at risk.

 Chikungunya swept into Central America and the Caribbean in 2014 with an epidemic spiking to over a million cases within only a year.

 Zika virus is rapidly spreading into new countries and has caused a state of emergency in Brazil where it has been linked to a sudden increase in birth defects (microcephaly) and nervous system disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome).

 Yellow fever remains a major health threat. Globally, there are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths each year, with 90% cases occurring in Africa.
About MRCU

The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) was established in 1965 to suppress mosquito populations so as to minimize discomfort from mosquito biting, to protect residents and visitors from mosquito-borne disease, and thereby enhance the quality of life and promote the economy of the Cayman Islands. The department has many years’ experience in utilizing integrated control to reduce the risk of local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.

About Oxitec
Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

Contacts:
For more information:
MRCU:
Dr. Bill Petrie
MRCU Director
Site: www.mrcu.ky
+1 345 949 2557

Oxitec:
Dr. Renaud Lacroix
Oxitec Project Manager
renaud.lacroix@oxitec.com
+1 345 925 8728
Site: www.oxitec.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oxitec
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oxitec

By Hon. Marco S. Archer, JP, MLA
Minister for Finance and Economic Development

Madam Speaker, I thank God for the privilege to rise today to speak to The Appropriation (July 2016 to December 2017) Bill, 2016 and for the success that He has bestowed upon us.

The 2016/17 Budget is my fourth Budget as Minister for Finance and Economic Development and represents yet another steady step in our progress toward long term fiscal stability, economic growth and ensuring a sound financial future for our Islands.Madam Speaker when I presented this Administration’s first Budget on 7th October 2013 my Budget Address was entitled “Economic Growth through Fiscal Prudence” and I put forward the sound reasoning that if the Government would practice fiscal prudence, economic growth would follow due to investors’ and business entities’ having increased confidence in the Cayman Islands.

Over the past three fiscal years this Government has worked to do just that, improving the state of public sector finances, restoring investor confidence, lowering the cost of doing business, lowering the cost of living in certain circumstances, and bringing back national pride and optimism for our people. 

View the complete address here. 

By Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, JP

Madam Speaker, I rise to offer my contribution to the 2016-2017 Budget. Before I begin, I would like to congratulate the Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs. Helen Kilpatrick, CB, on her Throne Speech; the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, on his Budget Policy Statement, “Delivering on Our Promises”; and the Minister of Finance, Hon. Marco Archer, on his Budget Address, “Securing Cayman’s Future.”

View the complete address here. 

Highlighting Cayman’s ‘lead on global transparency as a cooperative jurisdiction’, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has written to the Minister of Financial Services, Wayne Panton, welcoming Cayman’s participation in the discussion for the development and subsequent implementation of a global standard for  the sharing of beneficial ownership information.

‘Cayman has taken a lead on global transparency as a cooperative jurisdiction, including through your early commitment to the Common Reporting Standard, your joining the Multilateral Convention and the important role that you have played and continue to play in the Global Forum for Tax Transparency’, Mr Osborne wrote in his letter, which was dated 10 May and received by the Ministry today (Wednesday, 18 May).

‘This has been influential in helping achieve rapid global uptake of these standards and a step- change in global tax transparency’.

Mr Osborne also wrote that he has asked officials to ensure that arrangements are put in place so that the Cayman Islands, along with other committed jurisdictions, will be able to participate in discussions as the global standard is developed.

‘It will be important, as you say, to ensure that the new standard respects the confidentiality and security of data and that appropriate legal gateways are in place. I also very much agree with your comments about the importance of a level playing field and hope that we can work together to convince all countries and jurisdictions to join this important initiative’, he wrote.

On behalf of Government, Minister Panton wrote to Mr Osborne on 6 May in order to agree to participate in the discussions. In addition to raising the points regarding confidentiality and data security, in his letter he noted that having a level playing field is vitally important in order for global mechanisms to be effective and that as such, he looked forward to other jurisdictions making similar commitments to the initiative.

Chancellor to Hon. Wayne Panton

Cayman's letter to UK regarding Beneficial Ownership initiative - 6 May 2016

Good morning,

Honourable Speaker, Premier, Honourable Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be with you in this honourable House to outline the Government’s plans for the 2016-2017 budget year.

I congratulate this Government on its careful stewardship and adherence to the principles of good governance. Much has happened since I delivered my first Throne Speech in 2013.

Since then, I have developed a strong affection for the people of the Cayman Islands.  As you know, I hope to continue to serve as Governor until September 2017. I look forward to what the next year holds.

As I said in my first address, good governance, which I am charged to promote, involves the careful and planned management of resources, so that we all benefit in a sustainable way. This Government has worked hard to achieve the goals it set at the beginning of its term – to strengthen the economy, improve government finances, and enhance the lives of those who live on these islands.

Because of this hard work, the initiatives set out in last year’s Throne Speech are either under way or have been accomplished.

In addition, with this budget, the Government will have met all the targets required by the Public Management and Finance Law and the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility and thus within the time span agreed with the United Kingdom Government.  This budget should, therefore, be the last that requires advance approval from the United Kingdom.

This achievement is the result of a disciplined approach to governance that has created a substantial surplus. It has helped boost business confidence and investment. The surplus has allowed the Government to reduce import duties and fees, as well as to continue addressing the problem of civil service pay stagnation.

Individuals and businesses have felt the benefits of both this increased economic activity, and of lower taxes across the economy.

We have seen the average prices of goods fall, helped by the reductions in import duty on most goods.  Electricity costs are also lower because of falling oil prices, but also because of the lowering of import duty on the diesel used to generate electricity.

Importantly, because of the growing economy, employment – particularly of Caymanians – has improved significantly. The past year has seen the best employment figures since 2007.

To help Caymanians who have challenges getting, and keeping employment, the Government has collaborated with the private sector in the “Ready 2 Work” programme.  This important initiative seeks to give individuals the dignity of work as well as to provide economic benefits for employees and employers.

The Government is also continuing with major capital works that will enhance air and cruise tourism, modernise waste management, improve roads and revitalise George Town. Work has begun on a new boardwalk and park in South Sound, and other new public parks are expected to be completed in the coming year.  Work will also continue to make a Long Term Residential Mental Health Facility for Caymanians a reality.

The National Solid Waste Management Strategy has been finalised, and work is progressing on the Integrated Solid Waste Management System.  The Government will be making announcements about recycling, and the removal of old tyres at the landfill, soon.

The Government maintains a strong and clear determination to meet international standards across its wide range of operations. I refer not only to regulation of the Cayman Islands international financial services sector, but also to procurement standards, gender equality, and improvements to intellectual property and copyright laws.

All of these matter to Cayman’s economy and to providing for a fairer society for all.  The introduction of a National Minimum Wage, just two months ago, along with pending amendments to the Labour Law, will contribute to this aim.

The Government’s commitment to international standards was evident from the Cayman Islands participation at the recent anti-corruption summit in London. At the summit, the Government stated, and the UK Government agreed, that the Cayman Islands has proven its commitment to transparency and should have a seat at the table when decisions are made. The relationship between the United Kingdom and Cayman Islands governments remains strong, and both are committed to working together for the good of the global community.

In addition to new initiatives around beneficial ownership, the Ministry of Financial Services is preparing for several important international assessments in the year ahead.

The Ministry is also prioritising enhancements to mechanisms for the exchange of beneficial ownership information, ahead of the June 2017 deadline agreed with the UK.  The Government will also enact and amend legislation dealing with financial services and data protection.

Importantly, the Ministry of Financial Services, and the financial services industry, continue to maintain a high level of cooperation and partnership. To highlight this, Cayman Finance supported the Government’s position, and assisted the Government’s efforts, at the conference in London.

The public sector is committed to providing a level of service that is on par with competing jurisdictions. The Deputy Governor is leading on the professionalisation and effectiveness of the civil service. The first item from the Project Future programme that Cabinet has approved, is the creation of an Office of the Ombudsman.  This will combine the functions of the Complaints and Information commissions, as well as the new Police Complaints Commission.  This should be in place by the end of this calendar year. Other projects are in development and the Government will speak to these in due course.

In addition, the Public Authorities Bill will be introduced in the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year, and will aim to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector more widely.

To facilitate a more modern approach to doing business, the Cabinet Office will coordinate public sector efforts to make improvements in cyber security and strategic communications during the next financial year. There will be continued focus on the use of technology to deliver and improve services.

The Government knows that innovation is necessary to ensure a vibrant public sector, as well as a thriving and sustainable economy. It continues to encourage and support businesses of all sizes.

Economic sustainability is, of course, a particular concern to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.  The Ministry of District Administration has plans for projects that will help to meet its goal of job creation.

The Ministry of Finance, meanwhile, is working to develop tools that will provide more up-to-date and detailed information about all areas of our economy. This kind of evidence based decision making will be a model for the public sector.

The Ministry of Health will continue its efforts to eradicate the aedes aegypti mosquito, and thus help keep residents safe from harmful mosquito borne illness such as the Zika virus.

This September, the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, will launch a second action plan focussing on targets for improvement in schools. Labour and pensions legislative reform will clarify the law and increase compliance. The Government is also working to improve the care for those most in need through better social policy, programmes and services. Work will continue on improvements to school infrastructure.

In addition to introducing a national policy for older people, the Ministry of Community Affairs will streamline the processing of applications from those most in need.

Caymanians, and residents of all ages, rightly place great importance on personal security. I will be asking the new Commissioner of Police to review the operations of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and to put forward recommendations for improvements.

In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs will develop interdisciplinary approaches to crime reduction and child protection between the agencies responsible for criminal justice, public safety and national security. Capacity-building, standard setting and, as elsewhere, the use of technology will be prioritised.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will upgrade its electronic case management system, in order to collect performance data more reliably and improve the link between the Police and Courts.

The Judicial Department will introduce mediation for family proceedings in both the Grand and Summary courts, to help parties reach settlements and avoid protracted legal proceedings.

We will also see change with the introduction of the new electoral system. The civil service will ensure that the electorate is educated about the new system, as well as ensuring that everything goes smoothly on Election Day.

Ladies and gentlemen, while the agenda that I have outlined today highlights the plans for the current political administration over the coming year, the civil service, oversight bodies, private sector and civil society all play important roles in supporting our thriving democracy.

As we address the demands of today, we must also consider the new opportunities and challenges of the future, and follow a course that will benefit future generations.

It will be important that all of us who are lucky enough to call the Cayman Islands home, work together to deliver a strong, safe and stable environment for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you for your attention.

much at stake to go any other way than forward. We are too strong in our hearts, too innovative in our minds and too firm in our beliefs to retreat from our goals”.

In closing it only remains for me to thank my team, Ministers and Councillors, for their commitment, dedication, and discipline in adhering to our philosophy of fiscal responsibility and caring government.

Thanks also to the team in the Office of the Premier that provides support to me and the Government Caucus.

I also wish to thank the Deputy Governor and the Attorney General as well as the Cabinet Secretary for all their hard work and support.

And I thank you, Madam Speaker, for your commitment and for the wisdom and patience you display as you chair meetings of this Honourable House.

As I did last year, I urge the House to remain focused on those things that are good, those things that are right, and those things that are in the best interest of the people of the Cayman Islands. After all, that is why they accorded us the great privilege of being here.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

From the beginning of June 2016, government will take over responsibility for the collection depots located at major supermarkets for the recycling of household and small business waste.

This service is currently provided by local company, Junk, through private contracts with the supermarkets, with no government involvement. Junk recently advised the supermarket management that its company will no longer provide the service and that it will close the recycling depots on 31 May for business reasons.

A request for proposals (RFP) for enhanced recycling was advertised earlier this year and there was only one bidder. The RFP covered a two-year interim period as there will be a subsequent RFP that covers the entire Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS), including recycling. The amount proposed by the bidder in its tender was considerably more than government thought reasonable at this juncture, and the bidder indicated that the price it offered was the best the company could do for a two-year contract. Consequently, the decision was made that the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) would temporarily take over the recycling programme until the new RFP is awarded.  It is projected that the costs of managing the programme will be less than those that were in the tender. Government stresses that this is a temporary fix based purely on costs, and that Junk, along with any other interested parties, will have an opportunity to bid on the larger contract, which should be advertised by year-end.

Director of DEH, Roydell Carter, commented: “The DEH will immediately step in to take over management of the various depots so customers can continue to deliver their recyclable materials to bins located at Foster’s Food Fair stores by the Airport, Strand, Countryside, and Republix as well as to Kirk Market, Hurley’s supermarket, and Chisholm’s Supermarket in North Side.”

At each depot location, there will also be some changes to the programme. There will be new, separate bins in these locations for clean paper (including shredded paper, newspapers and magazines, boxboard and old corrugated cardboard), aluminum cans, and totes for glass/ceramics. Metal cans, such as food and pet food containers, can now be recycled at all of these locations. The expanded recycling programme will no longer accept all plastics as the higher number plastics are not viable; it will continue to accept #1 PET plastics (such as plastic beverage and water containers) and #2 HDPE plastics (such as milk jugs and detergent containers) in separate bins as part of the programme. These plastics can easily be identified by the above numbers that are stamped onto the bottom of the plastic containers.

“Taking household and small business waste to be recycled helps divert waste out of the landfill,” said Jim Schubert, Senior Project Manager for ISWMS. “It helps us all to play our part in the management of an ever-increasing amount of waste materials on the island.”

The government’s recycling project will be spearheaded by the DEH’s Assistant Director of Solid Waste, Mark Rowlands, who asks that everyone please respect the depots by removing plastic bags, ensuring the recyclables are clean, and avoiding contaminating the bins with garbage or containers not currently being recycled.  “If everyone does their part, the costs for running the system will be minimised with a more efficient system,” he said.

DEH will also be developing further educational and promotional programmes to help customers understand the new system and to encourage the public to engage in recycling.

For more information, please contact the DEH’s office at 949-6696 or 949-8796 or dehcustomerservice@gov.ky.

The National Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was tabled last week in the Legislative Assembly by Minister for Employment Hon. Tara Rivers, received unanimous approval by all elected representatives that were present for the vote.   This is the first time the National Pensions Law (“NPL”) has been substantively reviewed and modified since it was enacted and came into effect in 1998.

Over 50 amendments have been made to the Law, including increasing the age at which persons become entitled to access their pension (formerly known as the ‘normal retirement age’), how often members receive statements about the performance of their pensions, when non-Caymanian employees become pensionable, when pensioners can transfer their pensions to an overseas pensions plan, and when pension administrators should notify employees that their employer is in arrears.

“Given the multitude of issues which have plagued the system since inception, this is an important piece of legislation which aims to address to a large extent some of the long standing concerns such as a culture of non-compliance and a limited attention to the regulation of pension plans and plan providers,” said Minister Rivers.  “Even though this is the first major review of and amendments to the National Pensions Law in roughly 20 years, this by no means represents the ‘end’ of the journey to improve the pensions regime for the benefit of pensioners, the hard working men and women of this country.  Progress has certainly been made with the adoption of this Bill, but we all recognise that more work needs to be done, and the Ministry is already working on amending key supporting pension regulations which are also outdated.”  Once complete, those Regulations will also be tabled in the Legislative Assembly for affirmative resolution.

In her presentation Minister Rivers explained that the key objectives of the proposed amendments to the National Pensions Law are:

• To remove the notion of a ‘normal retirement age’ and to increase the age (from 60 to 65) at which persons become entitled to access their pension, recognizing the longevity of people in today’s society and, in many instances, their willingness and ability to work longer to contribute to their own independence;
  
  
• To introduce more requirements for pension plans to educate and inform members including the requirement for annual general meetings and an increase in the availability of pension statements as well as notification from the administrator if their employer becomes delinquent;
  
  
• To introduce new and enhanced mechanisms to improve compliance with the National Pensions Law,  especially the strengthening and broadening of the Department of Labour & Pensions (“DLP”) powers and the introduction of a administrative fine regime as well as a verification of compliance provision; and
  
  
• To align the National Pensions Law with the re-organisation of Labour and Pensions Services in the Cayman Islands, by including in legislation the establishment of the DLP.

Of the 50-plus changes made to the law, many of which were based on recommendations from reports produced by Mercer Human Resources Consulting in 2007 (“Mercer Report”) and the Office of the Complaints Commissioner in 2010 (“OCC Report”), the most notable include:

• Changing the definition from ‘normal retirement age’ to ‘normal age of pension entitlement’ and increasing the normal age of pension entitlement from 60 to 65.  This age is simply the time when a member may access their pension benefits under the NPL. It is not the age at which employees must retire. The Law does retain the ability to access pensions earlier under certain conditions.
  
  
• Changing the eligibility of who is mandated to contribute to a pension plan. Employers will be required to pay pensions for non-Caymanian employees who have continuously worked in the Islands for more than six months instead of nine months as it currently stands.  This 6 month threshold is in line with the immigration policy that temporary work permits are not normally granted for more than 6 months; thus, the change in eligibility continues to provide administrative ease for employers who are hiring truly temporary employees.  Additionally, there will be new exemptions for Caymanians who are under the age of twenty-three and pursuing full time education.  In an effort to decrease any potential barriers to employment for young Caymanians, employers will not be mandated to pay pension contributions for those who are pursuing full time education. Currently non-Caymanians and non-permanent residents who are employed to do housework in private residences are not pensionable.  However, the Law did not contain a clear definition as to who falls into that category. In order to align the National Pensions Law with the current definition of “household domestic” in the Labour Law, the term household domestic has been incorporated into the Pensions Law which means that non-Caymanians and  persons who do not have permanent residence employed in a private home as a maid or a gardener are not required to pay pensions.   
  
  
• Changing the requirements for pensioners transferring their pensions overseas.  Under the National Pensions Law (2012 Revision), the only requirement for a transfer is the termination of employment. The new Law mandates that the member’s employment must be terminated, there must be no contributions to his/her pension account for two years and the member must be absent from the Islands for two years before he/she can transfer pension funds overseas.  This change was made to ensure that persons who leave the Islands can transfer their funds to another pensions related fund, while making provisions for those who leave but may return after a short period of time (e.g. at the end of their ‘Roll Over’ period) to resume working in the country.
  
  
• Changing the requirements for refunds. Under the National Pensions Law (2012 Revision), refunds are permitted once the member meets the requirements of terminated employment; no contribution for two years; and ceasing to be resident for 6 months. The new Law allows for Cabinet to determine a date at which pension plan members will no longer be allowed to obtain a refund. Following that date (which is to be determined), refunds will only be available under two circumstances: at the administrators discretion for commuted values of less than CI$5,000 and where a member reaches age 65 and wants to but is unable to transfer their pension benefit to an approved pension plan, retirement savings account or similar arrangement, or a life annuity. This policy shift was deemed necessary in order to minimize the possibility of persons accessing and depleting their pension benefits prior to retirement, and then subsequently  becoming wards of the country later in life.
  
  
• Increasing the year’s maximum pensionable earnings from the current amount of CI$60,000 to CI$87,000.  This figure represents the inflation adjusted amount recommended in the Mercer Report.  It also represents the maximum amount that employees and employers are statutorily required to pay in pension contributions annually.  However, there is nothing in the Law to prohibit the payment of contributions on earnings above this amount, known as Additional Voluntary Contributions.
  
  
• Increasing the flexibility of accessing Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC).  In an effort to encourage members to build additional savings in their pension plans, the amended Law allows members to access AVCs if they are needed prior to reaching the normal age of pension entitlement. Members are permitted, within defined criteria, to access their AVCs in the following four categories: housing, medical, temporary unemployment and educational needs.
  
  
• Increasing the level of fines under the NPL as well as adding new fines.  The fines currently in the NPL have not been amended since its implementation in 1998.  The new fines give the NPL more teeth and are another step in the process of building the culture of compliance.  Some of the fines will also now include the possibility of imprisonment periods. 
  
  
• Expanding the duties and functions of the pensions administrators to include providing members with semi-annual statements as opposed to only annual statements; submitting evidence of yearly administrator training to the Director of the DLP; holding annual general meetings for members which create an opportunity for members to hear directly from their pension plan administrator and key service providers about the activities of the pension plan; and publishing investment returns and expense ratios of their pension plans to ensure the general public is aware of these key performance figures of each pension plan and to enable the public to equitably compare pension plans.
  
  
• Legally requiring employers to keep proper books and comprehensive records in relation to their pensionable employees, and making those documents available for employees to obtain information.  The DLP will continue to conduct inspections of employers to monitor compliance with the Law and to act accordingly..

Although the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has passed in the LA, for the changes to take effect the Law must first be assented to by the Governor and then Cabinet must issue an Order to bring each section into force. It is anticipated that several of the sections will come into effect together, whereas other sections will require a longer transition phase to allow for public education, and for the administrators and the DLP to amend their systems or procedures.

Minister Rivers stated, “There is much that these amendments to the NPL achieve by way of improvements to the current system. However, given the feedback received during the highly participatory and consultative legislative reform process undertaken over the past year, it is clear that there is still much to be addressed and that the refinement of the pensions regime must be a regular work in progress.”  She went on to say that, “It is unfortunate that almost 20 years have elapsed since the private sector pensions legislation has been revised in earnest to address the long standing issues. Nonetheless, as promised, this Government is committed to tackling the tough issues facing the country in an attempt to do more than just talk about them.  This is one major step forward in this regard.”  Rivers says that an education campaign will be developed to help increase the public’s knowledge of the private sector pension regime.

The Cayman Islands has confirmed to the UK that it will join the initiative for the development of a global standard for the sharing of beneficial ownership information.

Furthermore, Cayman has informed HM Treasury that, in order to foster greater collaboration between law enforcement and tax authorities in the fight against corruption and tax evasion, it is welcoming jurisdictions that are participating in the initiative for the exchange of beneficial ownership information to enter agreements with Cayman that are similar to the Exchange of Notes currently in place with the UK.

The Premier, the Hon. Alden McLaughlin, said Cayman’s invitation to participating jurisdictions is one of a number of current, significant measures that it is taking to promote global tax compliance, and also to collaborate with other countries that are engaged in global anti-corruption initiatives.

‘For many years Cayman has had in place a strong anti-corruption framework, as evidenced by the extension in 2010 of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention; and the expected extension of the UN Convention against Corruption, for which Cayman was favourably assessed in 2014’, he said.

Cayman’s measures include the repeal, by this September, of The Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law, which often has been misrepresented as Cayman’s ‘secrecy law’. It will be replaced with The Confidential Information Disclosure Law, which will better clarify the mechanisms through which confidential information may be shared with appropriate authorities. Furthermore, acknowledging privacy as a basic human right, in September new data protection legislation will also be introduced that is on par with what is in place in the European Union.

While bearer shares in the Cayman Islands have been immobilised since April 2000, Cayman recently passed legislation to completely abolish bearer shares by 13 July this year.

Cayman’s commitment to global transparency is well documented, through the range of instruments and protocols that already are in effect. These include tax information exchange agreements with 36 jurisdictions; the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, which allows tax information exchange with more than 90 countries; automatic data exchange as part of the European Union Savings Directive; and legislation relating to US FATCA, UK FATCA and the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard.

Cayman operates under a system of indirect taxation. This, however, has no bearing on the taxation that is due, or that is collected, by the home jurisdictions of foreign investors. Investors are responsible for tax liabilities in accordance with the laws of their home jurisdictions. Cayman’s transparency supports the efforts to ensure tax compliance with other countries’ tax authorities.

Minister of Financial Services Wayne Panton said that for nearly 20 years, Cayman’s system has helped to fight serious crimes globally, including money laundering, tax evasion and illicit finance; and that the current initiatives are reinforcing that foundation.

"We recognise the need for closer collaboration, in line with international standards.  We support current initiatives in this regard, and will do our part to promote transparency in order to encourage global tax compliance," he said.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA
Thursday, 5 May, 2016
Legislative Assembly

Madam Speaker,

I am pleased to announce today that the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) has partnered with United Kingdom (UK)-based biotechnology company Oxitec to undertake new mosquito control measures.

Using pioneering science, the project is designed to fight the dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika, dengue and chikungunya.

Oxitec is a world-leader in the fight against this breed of mosquito and is currently implementing its control solution in Brazil which is, of course, at the epicentre of the present Zika outbreak.

I am very proud to say that the Cayman Islands is the only other country in the world where this programme will be taking place outside of Brazil, and we are once again leading the way in the advancement of mosquito control measures.

While we are no strangers to the occasional case of dengue, and last year we had a few imported cases of chikungunya, we so far remain free of Zika,
Nonetheless, our Public Health Department continues to be vigilant, monitoring the situation regarding Zika and all other infectious diseases.

Zika is of particular concern because of its links to birth defects, including microcephaly, and other medical conditions that are currently being monitored and researched.

Zika has spread rapidly across the Americas and is now in many of our neighbouring countries. On 1st February, the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency.

Then in March, it recommended the implementation of Oxitec’s solution to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito, as part of the global response to the Zika crisis.

We have had an ongoing relationship with Oxitec since 2010 as MRCU has been at the forefront of mosquito-control research. Trials successfully reduced the Aedes aegypti by 96 percent in an area of the island where the study was taking place, so we are happy to have now signed an agreement with Oxitec for a new project, which we envisage being the first step in a multi-phase roll-out across Grand Cayman. The timing could not be better as the world faces the Zika epidemic and continued outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya.

Oxitec’s pioneering technology produces a genetically engineered non-biting male mosquito that breeds with the disease-transmitting Aedes aegypti females. This, in turn, means that offspring inherit a gene which causes them to die before reaching adulthood, ensuring that they do not reproduce.

This is an environmentally friendly approach to curtailing the breed, as no insecticides are necessary.

The control progamme will begin in West Bay before being expanded throughout the island, subject to the appropriate approvals and funding.

As part of public education about this important project, staff from MRCU and Oxitec will have an information booth at West Bay dock from now until Saturday, as well as an information desk at a location in West Bay to be announced. Staff will also conduct house-to-house visits in West Bay to inform residents about what is happening. Updated information will be available to residents in the coming weeks.

Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the continued efforts of the team at MRCU. They sometimes have to work in very difficult conditions but they do an amazing and very important job in helping to control all mosquito species, including our main disease vector, the Aedes aegypti.

I also recognise and applaud the teamwork that takes place between MRCU and Public Health at the Health Services Authority.
As a result of the long-standing pioneering work by MRCU, the Cayman Islands has benefitted from outstanding mosquito control, and the MRCU has a well-deserved reputation of excellence in mosquito control throughout the region.

As we head into CARPHA Mosquito Awareness Week from 9th -15th May, it is a good time for us all to remember to play our part, too, by ensuring that we do not leave any standing water in our yards. It is very important that we empty buckets and drums and clean our gutters to eliminate possible breeding areas for mosquitoes.

It is our collective responsibility to unite in the fight against this dangerous insect, which for so many generations past, was the scourge of these islands.

I end by thanking Oxitec for partnering with MRCU on this exciting development in mosquito control which has the potential for far-reaching and long-lasting consquences for world health.

Advertisements are to appear in local and international media on Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, seeking proposals for civil engineering design works of the proposed cruise berthing facility.

Successful tenders will pre-qualify with the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport to take part in the full tender process scheduled next month.

The Ministry is continuing to act on orders from Cabinet to move forward with discussions on the strategy with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, engage cruise lines on the commercial terms regarding the proposed cruise berthing facility and review plans for the least possible environmental impact of the facility including repositioning of the piers. Cabinet has already accepted the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

In order to negotiate with the cruise lines for a financing model, the Ministry must obtain detailed civil engineering designs that include costs to construct the cruise berthing facility.

“My Ministry continues to have productive discussions with cruise lines in relation to their involvement in the berthing facility and contact has been made with the FCO,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Hon. Moses Kirkconnell. “This next step of civil engineering design works represents significant progress and is needed for the financing model of the cruise lines.

“The construction of a cruise berthing facility is a project that the Progressives campaigned on and pledged in our election manifesto to deliver for the people of the Cayman Islands,” said Mr. Kirkconnell. “Government believes it has the mandate of the people to deliver on that pledge and this project is considered a priority.”

The Ministry remains committed to keeping the country informed as the cruise berthing project progresses.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Section 8 (a) of the Mental Health Commission Law, 2013, I am pleased today to place before this Honourable House the Annual Report of the Mental Health Commission for the calendar year 2015.

Madam Speaker, the Mental Health Commission was established in January 2014 under the Mental Health Commission Law, 2013.  Madam Speaker, the members of the Mental Health Commission are as follows:

Dr Marc Lockhart, Chair

Dr Taylor Burrowes, Deputy Chair

Olivaire Watler, Deputy Chair

Julene Banks, Member

Kimberly Voaden, Member

Faylene Ebanks-Suckoo, Member

Pastor Dale Forbes, Member

Dr Enoka Richens, Member

Vanessa Gilman, Member

Madam Speaker, the members are stakeholders from various sectors representing legal, health care practitioners with training in mental health, and advocates/laypersons.

Madam Speaker, the functions of the Mental Health Commission are divided into three sections

The quasi-judicial section is set up to hear and determine appeals under various sections of the Law and conduct reviews where a patient has been detained and released under an emergency detention order three or more times in 30 days.

The recommendations to the Health Practice Commission and Councils section includes submitting an annual report to the Minister with responsibility for health, reviewing and advising on scopes of practice and codes of ethics for practitioners, providing policy advice to the relevant registering Councils and advising the Health Practice Commission regarding mental health facilities, medical research, and clinical trials in mental health.

The general functions section includes the following:

• Obtain and compile statistics on mental health
• Oversee and deliver mental health training for constables, prison officers and any other persons expected to deal with mental health patients in the performance of their functions
• Approve a list of overseas mental health facilities
• Research and establish protocols and guidelines for mental health advocacy and approve persons to act as advocates
• Establish and maintain a programme that provides information to the general public concerning mental illness and co-occurring disorders and related conditions
• Review the progress of patients transferred overseas
• Review every six months the progress of remand prisoners deemed unfit to plead and submit it to the Chief Officer, Judicial Administration
• Give policy advice to the Minister responsible for health on any aspect of the local mental health system

Madam Speaker, I will now speak to the contents of the report:

Mental health services are delivered through the Health Services Authority, local private facilities, and mental health care facilities located overseas.

The Behavioural Health and Psychiatric Unit, which was formerly Mental Health Unit, at the Health Services Authority is an eight bed unit that was designed as an adult facility for acute care of patients suffering from serious mental illnesses. There is also a facility providing treatment for patients suffering from alcohol and substance abuse, while Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service accommodates mentally ill persons who have been incarcerated.

There is no inpatient facility for children and adolescents, but if necessary they are admitted to the unit, where they are treated.  Madam Speaker, as stated in the first report of the Mental Health Commission last year, there is an adequate number of mental health practitioners employed in public and private sectors; however, the distribution of practitioners among the three Islands is disproportionate as there is no psychiatrist, psychologist or occupational therapist present on the Sister Islands. Madam Speaker, we are committed to improving our outpatient services so that the care that is needed is accessible in a timely manner to all.

Madam Speaker, as you may be aware in February 2015, Cabinet granted approval of the Policy Guidance for the development of a Long-Term Residential Mental Health Facility. This document outlines the broad policy direction to be followed by the steering committee, which was charged with the procurement process for the development of the facility.

Subsequently, the Strategic Outline Case was finalised and a request for proposals was advertised. Madam Speaker, the successful bidder was KPMG, which was awarded the contract in October 2015 to prepare an Outline Business Case for a proposed Long-Term Residential Mental Health Facility.

Madam Speaker, the training on the mental health legislation provided by the Mental Health Commission has been in high demand. Madam Speaker, you may recall that in 2014 the Mental Health Commission provided two training sessions; in 2015 Madam Speaker, the Mental Health Commission conducted six training sessions – to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Department of Community Rehabilitation, Prison Services, staff of the Health Services Authority including members of the support group and the community, and the Department of Education Services allied health professionals/specialists teachers. Madam Speaker, training sessions will continue on a regular basis in 2016.

Madam Speaker, it is a requirement under the Mental Health Law, 2013, for all detention forms to be sent to the Secretary of the Mental Health Commission for storage and filing.  The forms are reviewed by the secretary to determine whether the members of the Mental Health Commission need to be notified of any outstanding issues or observations. Madam Speaker, for the year 2015 there were 43 patients admitted for various types and degrees of mental illness, with over 75 detention forms received. During this period no request for an appeal was received by the Commission.

Madam Speaker, in order to assist the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service with understanding their roles and responsibilities under the mental health legislation, the Mental Health Commission developed a one page flyer that can be distributed among the three Islands. Madam Speaker, the flyer was officially hander over by the Chief Officer and the Chair of the Mental Health Commission to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Madam Speaker, in November 2015, the Chair of the Mental Health Commission presented at the annual health care conference on the topic “Bridging the Gap: The State of Mental Health in theCayman Islands”. There were more than 700 participants in attendance. As well, a workshop was held focusing on “Mental health – Let’s talk about it”. Madam Speaker, the annual health care conference has helped to highlight the importance of mental illness and health within the community among friends, families and caregivers. It has given new meaning to mental health as people have become more knowledgeable, acceptable and tolerant to those persons who suffer from a mental illness.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry with technical and financial assistance provided by the Pan American Health Organization convened a stakeholder meeting for one and a half days to develop a National Mental Health Policy. Consultant Psychiatrist Professor Wendel Abel from Jamaica facilitated the meetings. The Ministry is awaiting the final draft of the policy.

Madam Speaker, other work of the Mental Health Commission during 2015  involved participation in World Mental Health Day activities celebrated each year on 10^th October; participation at the second Caribbean Regional Symposium on Suicide Prevention hosted in the Cayman Islands; collaborating with the Health Services Authority Ethics Committee to ensure that persons conducting research on mental health fulfill established criteria; and working with the Councils for Professions Allied with Medicine to develop scopes of practice for mental health practitioners registered under Councils for Professions Allied with Medicine.

Madam Speaker, before I take my seat I would like to acknowledge the work of Deputy Chair Dr. Taylor Burrowes who was accepted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency to present the findings of her doctoral research in a poster presentation at the annual scientific conference held in June 2015. I would like to congratulate her on being selected and to encourage her to continue to raise the awareness on mental health in the wider community.

Madam Speaker, in order to mitigate many of the problems in our society that we currently face, I believe we must facilitate early recognition and treatment of common mental illnesses by enhancing access to mental health care through an integrated approach. The Mental Health Commission will continue to educate, inform and empower those individuals who require our assistance.

Madam Speaker, we have a Mental Health Commission that is committed and has been working diligently since its formation, and the MHC continues to advocate and promote mental wellness for all in the community. We are one step closer since our last report in addressing the need for a long-term residential mental health facility for our chronically ill mental health patients.

Madam Speaker, in closing I would like to thank my Chief Officer and Ministry staff, and the members of the Mental Health Commission for their hard work, dedication and commitment to a subject that affects all of us. Indeed, the World Health Organization notes: “there is no health without mental health."

Thank you Madam Speaker.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker, I would like to move the proposed amendments to the Health Insurance Regulations. As is outlined in the motion, section 25(2) of the Health Insurance Law (2013 Revision) provides that regulations made under the Law are subject to affirmative resolution by the Legislative Assembly.  Madam Speaker, I am therefore tabling the proposed Health Insurance (Amendment) Regulations, 2016, to be affirmed by this honourable House.

The proposed amendments are made up of two clauses, Madam Speaker.  Clause 1 on page 3 provides the citation and the commencement. Members will note that the proposed commencement of the amended regulations is after the Health Insurance (Amendment) Law, 2016, comes into force. I have spoken / will be speaking to these amendments to the Health Insurance Law when we deal with bills later today.

Madam Speaker, Clause 2 on page 3 repeals sub-regulation (1) of regulation 5 and substitutes a new sub-regulation. Under the new provision, the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company will pay $10 dollars per month of each premium charged under each standard health insurance contract in respect of an insured person with no dependents, and $20 dollars per month of each premium charged under each standard health insurance contract in respect of an insured person with dependents. However, Madam Speaker, with these amendments this contribution to the contributions outlined above will not apply to persons in the following categories for whom Government affects a contract of health insurance:

• Each officer in a pensionable office or on probation to such an office;
• Each officer serving under a local or an overseas contract;
• Each officer in a  temporary office;
• Each public office pensioner;
• Each indigent person;
• Each elected member of the Legislated Assembly and, where the Speaker is not a member of the LA, the Speaker;
• Each past elected member of the Legislative Assembly who is a public office pensioner;
• The dependents of any persons specified above;
• A seaman 55 years of age or older and his dependents;
• A widow of a seaman;
• A veteran and his dependents;
• A widow of a veteran;
• Any other person approved by Cabinet;

All other approved health insurance providers will continue to pay $10 dollars per month of each premium charged under each standard health insurance contract for individual policy holders with no dependents, and $20 dollars per month of each premium charged under each standard health insurance contract for individual policy holders with dependents. Members of this Honourable House are likely aware that these funds are collected into the Segregated Insurance Fund, and that fund is used by the Government towards the cost of healthcare for indigent persons.

Madam Speaker during the preparation of the 2014/15 budget it was necessary for the Government to reduce operating expenditure in order to meet the operating expenditure targets mandated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Officer. In light of this, the Honourable Minister for Finance and Economic Development decided that CINICO should be exempt from paying the Segregated Insurance Fund fees for Civil Servants, Retired Civil Servants, Seafarers and Veterans retroactive to 1^st July, 2014. However, CINICO will continue to pay the Segregated Insurance Fund fees for members, or policy holders, under the Standard Health Insurance Contract plans and for members employed with Statutory Authorities and Government Companies.

This policy decision was made to eliminate the “right pocket to left pocket” transfer of funds back and forth between the Government and CINICO – Government would pay the premiums for civil servants, pensioners, and seafarers and veterans inclusive of the Segregated Insurance Fund contribution over to CINICO, and CINICO would remit the Government’s Segregated Insurance Fund contributions to the Ministry of Health. The effect was to “artificially” inflate Government’s expenditure, even though the funds were re-collected and reflected in revenue.  When the funds collected were then spent on indigent health care they were effectively “double counted” in the expenditure.

Removing this contribution for which the individuals that Government pays health insurance premiums will result in a more accurate reflection of expenditure, only counting the funds once – when they are spent on indigent care.

Madam Speaker, as every member sitting here will be aware, with this change, the revenue for the Segregated Insurance Fund will decrease with no guarantee of a corresponding decrease in premiums paid by the Government to CINICO on behalf of its members. However, I want to re-emphasize, Madam Speaker that CINICO will continue to collect and remit the Segregated Insurance Fund contributions for its “non-government” clients, including the elderly, health-impaired, and lower-income insured groups.

Madam Speaker, these amendments   are the results of consultation with the Superintendent of Health Insurance, the Ministry of Finance and CINICO. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Health and Culture staff and the staff of the Legislative Drafting Department for their dedication and support.

I look forward to receiving the support of my colleagues in this Honourable House so that the amendments can be brought into effect.

“I and my Government, and in particular the Minister of Financial Services, continue to engage in constructive discussions with the United Kingdom Government regarding the effective and efficient provision of beneficial ownership information to the United Kingdom law enforcement and tax regulatory authorities in furtherance of the Cayman Islands’ commitment to fighting serious crime and tax fraud,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

“I am confident from those discussions, as recently as today, that the UK Government does not share Mr. Corbyn’s misconceived views,” he said. “However, I wish to be very clear that the Government of the Cayman Islands takes the threat of ‘direct rule’ carried by Mr.

Corbyn’s words most seriously. Indeed we have engaged top constitutional counsel in the United Kingdom to defend the interests of these Islands through legal challenge and representations to the United Nations, should that become necessary.”

The Government will not agree to the “Emergency Meeting” called by the Opposition on 13 April to discuss two Private Members’ Motions, one of which seeks that the House declares a lack of confidence in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and in its governance and the other seeking an inquiry into the handling of the recent tragic case of five Caymanians, including two children, being lost at sea. While both motions raise very serious issues, neither is so urgent that they cannot wait until the

Meeting of the House scheduled for 25th April is held.

“Instead of the Opposition Leader and other opposition members accusing the Government Members of dereliction of duty if we do not attend the “Emergency Meeting” on 13th April, they should be pledging their solidarity with the government and agreeing to work with the government as we navigate the present challenges,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “To do otherwise – to disrupt and distract the government at this critical point – is the very thing that constitutes dereliction of duty. There is just too much at stake for opposition politics to be played at this point.”

Press Conference

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

11 AM, Monday 11 April, 2016

Good morning and thank you for joining us today.

Before we begin, on behalf of the entire Government and the Progressives I offer condolences to the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. McKeeva Bush and his family on the passing of his mother Ms Faith after a long illness. The loss of one’s mother is certainly profound and something with which many of us, including myself, are regrettably familiar. Our thoughts, prayers and considerations are with Mr. Bush and his family during this very difficult time.

This morning I must also make apologies for Financial Services Minister Hon. Wayne Panton who is out of the country attending the RIMS Conference with the Insurance Managers Association of Cayman.

We are here today to update you regarding the results of discussions concerning beneficial ownership between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom. I want to thank the Minister for Financial Services, his Chief Officer and Ministry staff for all the hard work they have committed to this effort. I also wish to thank the UK Government officials and the UK Government for their work and for acknowledging what the Cayman Islands has done regarding beneficial ownership and our consistent cooperation in the fight against serious crime.

Today I am pleased to announce that following months of discussions the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement on the enhanced sharing of beneficial ownership information – an agreement that the UK Prime Minister announced minutes ago in the House of Commons.

This agreement adds to the number of commitments that Cayman has made previously, all of which build on our capacity to engage in the global fight against serious crimes. This agreement is reciprocal and holds the UK to the same standards in cases where our law enforcement officials may need information on companies incorporated in the UK.

This agreement confirms that the Cayman Islands will implement, as we have said for some time, a central platform that will allow designated Cayman Islands officials to directly obtain and provide details of beneficial ownership of companies incorporated in Cayman to the UK, as required by law and treaty.    As previously indicated this is not a central registry as beneficial ownership details will remain with the service providers managing them, but rather information will be accessed via a central technical platform. And it certainly will not be available publically or available directly by any UK or non-Cayman Islands agency.

I must tell you that these matters have occupied the Government for some time. It is part of the reason we cannot spend time in the Legislative Assembly this week.

Before I speak to this latest agreement, allow me to give you the background to our ongoing efforts and demonstrate that from the very beginning of this process we have remained clear, consistent, cooperative and committed:

Since 2013 – the year this Government took office – Cayman and the UK have been discussing the form in which the sharing of beneficial ownership information could take between our respective law enforcement and tax authorities. And from the moment the UK’s plans for a publicly accessible central register of beneficial ownership was raised during the run-up to the G8 summit in June of that year, we have been absolutely clear that we support the global fight against serious crimes, including tax evasion and corruption.

We have also been very clear and consistent in emphasising that we already have a robust system for sharing beneficial ownership information, which has been in place for more than 15 years – far longer than that of many countries, including many of the G20 economies and that of the UK.

As we have explained previously, Cayman’s laws require our corporate service providers to verify the beneficial owners of corporate and legal entities incorporated in the Cayman Islands. And perhaps there is no greater example of our consistency in maintaining the highest standards, cooperation with international partners and commitment to upholding global standards than the decades of engagement with international initiatives against serious crimes, including anti money-laundering and tax evasion, through our multiple mechanisms for exchanges of information on tax and beneficial ownership information.

While they have not received as much media attention in comparison with the cases of criminality, these mechanisms include tax information exchange agreements, the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard, the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the European Union Savings Directive, US FATCA and specifically with the UK, a double tax arrangement and UK FATCA. In all, these mechanisms allow for the sharing of information with more than 90 jurisdictions, including the majority of the G20 countries.

These multiple mechanisms assist other countries with whom we partner in realising the full amount of taxes where they are due. Cayman takes these steps, which are wholly in support of other jurisdictions’ law enforcement and tax regimes, in order to ensure that criminals are not attracted to use our financial services system for illicit means. In other words, we don’t just acknowledge that there is a morality element in fighting global crime. We have been acting on it for years, before it became a global rallying cry.

Rather than allowing illegal activity to take place, then, Cayman’s record on transparency and global law enforcement cooperation is clear to anyone who is willing to recognise our efforts to collaborate globally with law enforcement and tax authorities in the fight against serious crime.

Speaking now of today’s announcement: Cayman’s beneficial ownership regime initially was not understood by our colleagues in the United Kingdom, particularly in light of their preference that we adopt a public, central register. While we always remained clear and consistent in our position during the ongoing discussions, and especially during meetings of the Joint Ministerial Council, it was not until there were several visits to Cayman by UK Ministers and Officials – some at our own request – that they appreciated that our regime already did what they are trying to do.

This all came to a head during the Joint Ministerial Council in December 2015, when it was finally acknowledged that beneficial ownership could be held in our respective jurisdictions via central registers or similarly effective systems such as Cayman’s proposed Central Platform.  This marked a significant development in the discussions.  It was during these discussions that we invited a visit by the Foreign Commonwealth Office and the National Crimes Agency to Cayman to meet with technocrats and industry and to obtain a fuller understanding of the business that we do.

We know that our planned enhancements to our beneficial ownership information regime are both appropriate for our jurisdiction and moreover – and please allow me to underscore this, because I don’t want it to be overlooked – our enhancements are in line with global standards and the UK’s own position. This is why throughout these discussions we have remained consistent in pointing out that there is no need to adopt any other system. I am glad and proud that our perseverance has finally paid off.

Following the visit at our invitation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and National Crime Agency in late February, the Ministry of Financial Services has been negotiating an Exchange of Notes with the UK. This document, along with a Technical Protocol, reaffirms the mutual collaboration between law enforcement and tax authorities in the UK and the Cayman islands; and outlines several operational parameters to this cooperation that will improve the relationship between the relevant authorities.

I acknowledge that these negotiations and indeed the entire process, which began in 2013 has been difficult and complex, but again, it’s the outcome that’s important: The UK has recognised that our system of enhancements meets their criteria for the sharing of information; meets global standards; and is best for this jurisdiction.

It is somewhat ironic that last week’s Panama Papers leak has brought into focus the importance of a global standard in addressing matters of serious crime and tax evasion.  Our record shows that Cayman has consistently been cooperative and committed to supporting the implementation of international standards.

Regrettably, despite Cayman’s efforts and clear record, there are those who will look to lump us into the same bucket as places that do not do what we do.  Political pressure, combined with influence from some NGOs and the media, continue to wrongly brand Cayman as uncooperative and a part of the problem.

This negative context, however, underscores the significance of today’s announcement of a mutually beneficial agreement with the United Kingdom on the enhanced sharing of beneficial ownership information. In his announcement today of this agreement, PM Cameron said that the Cayman Islands, and our fellow Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, are now ahead of many other jurisdictions in relation to the sharing of beneficial ownership information among law enforcement and tax authorities.

To emphasise, the Exchange of Notes and Technical Protocol outline our partnership in the global fight against serious crimes.  Importantly, they also recognise that Cayman does not have to go the route of creating a central register.  It is a fact that the majority of jurisdictions around the world do not have central registers, and some of these jurisdictions have recently been assessed as compliant with international standards.

The global standard will be ever evolving, as it should be.  Some things that may have been acceptable in days gone by are no longer so; and as should be anticipated in matters of serious crime, criminals will always seek to keep one step ahead of the game. For our part, the Cayman Islands will continue to be clear, consistent, cooperative and committed in being part of the solution.

View the the press conference here

last week, the UK has negotiated similar Exchanges of Notes and Technical Protocols with each Overseas Territory and Crown Dependency.

Now that Cayman and the UK have signed our agreement, the working group’s main task is to complete the design of the enhancements. We expect that the final report of the group will be ready in the next two to three weeks, and it is the Ministry’s intention to solicit the wider views of our industry on the proposed enhancements.

It’s been three years since the G8 Summit, and during this time Cayman, the UK, the CDs and our fellow OTs have invested significant time, energy and effort on this subject. Far from a delayed response, the time spent was necessary to reach understanding. For our part, once we had developed our proposals and demonstrated our system to the UK; and once they recognised that it met their criteria, the remaining negotiations happened rather quickly. The main complexity that we faced was the UK’s desire to have similarities in the agreement among the OTs and CDs.

Regarding the design of our centralised platform, we have been assured by several IT professionals that the concept can be made reality. Not only can we design and build the system, it is likely to be a key competitive advantage for our jurisdiction, as part of an e-business solution that will provide significant value to our clients in terms of convenience and responsiveness to their needs.

The Exchange of Notes and Technical Protocol recognise that Cayman’s proposals are both viable and effective. As the UK has given its support for our enhanced system, this should be taken as a positive signal by our international stakeholders, including media and NGOs, that the Cayman Islands is maintaining its commitment to international standards and to combatting serious crime through the exchange of information between law enforcement and tax authorities.

Remarks to IMPACT16

1 PM, Wednesday, 6 April, 2016

Ritz-Carlton

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good afternoon,

For those of you experiencing your first time in the Cayman Islands I welcome you.  For those of you who were here with us last year welcome back.  We are certainly pleased that you are all here and I trust that you will enjoy our unique Caymanian hospitality and our beautiful sunsets and beaches while you are here.

I had the privilege of meeting Chairman Sinan and Vice Chair Matt in 2014 when I was invited by the IMA and Charlie Kirkconnell, of Cayman Enterprise City, to attend and participate in the IMPACT14 conference in Las Vegas.   The scale of that conference and the energy it generated was certainly impressive.  It was also a very good venue for Charlie and me to tell the Cayman story and explain what a fantastic place the Cayman Islands is to do business and indeed to live.

I have to add that a highlight of that conference for me was learning that the IMA and Cayman Enterprise City were in discussions regarding hosting an annual IMA conference in the Cayman Islands.   True to their word in April 2015 the IMA and CEC brought IMA leaders and members to the Cayman Islands for a very successful familiarisation visit.  This paved the way for this impressive IMPACT16 Conference here today.  And I gather plans are already afoot for an even larger conference next year.

For those of you who are new to Cayman, I don’t think it will take long for you to figure out why so many businesses choose to set up in Cayman.

On one hand, we’re everything you think of when you conjure an image of a tropical paradise – year-round sunshine, friendly people, sugar-white beaches, and hammocks gently blowing in the breeze, cool island drinks and a generally slower pace to life.

But there is also a business side to the Cayman Islands.  We are after all a world-class financial centre that offers an energetic and dynamic environment in which to do business.  This coupled with a tourism product that is second-to-none has helped fuel good economic growth and confidence in Cayman. We also boast a stable government, superb infrastructure and an educated and motivated workforce, including quality legal and accounting firms.

Our diverse population of about 60,000 people, hailing from more than 130 countries, along with the 2 million plus visitors who arrive on our shores annually  and thousands of businesses that operate from here all help to keep Cayman flourishing.  And so we are able to mesh the world of the idyllic with the real working world of high finance, cruise and stayover tourism and technology.

But I assure you, it didn’t happen by accident or overnight. Hard work and a dogged determination coupled with innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit over the past 40 years have brought the Cayman Islands to where we are today as a world class financial centre and tourist destination.

Indeed our financial services business has been performing well and tourist arrivals for cruise and stayover have been breaking records.  And Cayman tourism is set to grow even more with the addition of several new properties over the next few years, from the Kimpton Seafire hotel, which will open in November, to the development of a new Arnold Palmer lodge and golf course, which is expected to break ground later this year.  There are also other exciting plans for other hotel and condo properties along the Seven Mile Beach stretch as well as in Bodden Town.

As a Government we are also working hard to diversify our economy.  To that end we have moved to modernise our copyright and intellectual property legislation to ensure that Cayman can attract new businesses, particularly those in tech. Government’s partnership with CEC, our first Special Economic Zone is important in helping businesses to move or set up in Cayman – helping to create jobs and knowledge transfer to Caymanians.  And I have to say that the growing relationship between the IMA and CEC, and by extension to the Cayman Islands, is certainly welcome. And I am sure it will be a mutually beneficial one in the coming years.

And this Government is doing its part to support business and residents with necessary infrastructure projects, two of which include the already started airport renovation and expansion project as well as major improvements to our road networks. And these are being done from cash and with no new borrowing.

Certainly we understand that governments do not create growth or wealth, but they can and should create the conditions for the business sector to do so. This Government’s record in working with business to promote growth is one we can be rightly proud of.  By the end of 2016, if current forecasts hold true, under this Government the economy will have grown annually by an average of about 2 per cent during the three years following our election. Contrast this to an average increase of 0.81 per cent in GDP for the preceding three years. Government finances have also been stabilized under our watch and we continue to operate and produce surplus budgets year on year. Because of this we have not just been able to improve our key infrastructure as mentioned earlier, but we have also been able to reduce taxes over the past two years as well as pay down debt.  Indeed we have put some $70 million dollars back into the pockets of families and businesses with our tax reductions.  And our debt to GDP is relatively low and trending down.

Moody’s recently again confirmed Cayman’s Aa3 rating and stable outlook. This is superb for a country of our size and is an indication of our economic strength.  Indeed, the World Bank governance indicators for Cayman are the highest in the region and among the highest of all sovereigns rated by Moody’s, including some highly developed countries.

We also have a strong stable of professional service providers that are more than capable and willing to assist in setting up and managing legal structures.  As a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, Cayman’s Laws are based on English law and are a combination of common law and modern statutes.  These include stringent laws around Anti-Money Laundering and tax evasion.

Indeed despite the picture that some may paint, Cayman has decades of engagement with international initiatives around Anti-Money Laundering and tax evasion, and we have in place mechanisms for exchanges of information on tax and beneficial ownership information.  Mechanisms such as tax information exchange agreements, the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and the double tax arrangement with the UK allow for the sharing of information with more than 90 jurisdictions.

Additionally, Cayman automatically shares information with the US and UK, for FATCA purposes and is committed to the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard along with 95 other jurisdictions, including the majority of G20 countries.  And we consistently seek to enhance our regulatory framework in order to more effectively collaborate globally with law enforcement and tax authorities in the fight against serious crime.

I am sure that you may have heard that credible international organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recognize the leading role that Cayman plays in the prevention of anti-money laundering, tax evasion and serious crime. Criminals looking to set up illicit shell companies that serve to hide ill-begotten gains or usurp the laws of another country will not readily find a home here.

Currently the news media is full of stories with regard to the “Panama Papers” leak and there are some in the media, and indeed some misinformed politicians in the United Kingdom who try to lump the Cayman Islands in to the so-called tax haven bucket and ignore the words of Prime Minister David Cameron who was quoted as saying “I do not think it is fair any longer to refer to any of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies as tax havens. They have taken action to make sure that they have fair and open tax systems”. Needless to say, we agree with him particularly as regards the Cayman Islands. Our point all along has been that while the world’s attention has been on places like the Cayman Islands, which does uphold necessary international standards, and which does collaborate with all countries that adhere to global standards for the sharing of information, insufficient attention and effort has been focused on where the real problems are; those places that do not adhere to the strict standards that we follow. Criminals are much less likely to operate in well-regulated jurisdictions, like the Cayman Islands, where the spotlight is brightest and the attention is greatest. They will simply migrate to where there is less sunshine.

In February 2014 I was invited to Chatham House in London to give a key note address at a conference with the theme of combatting global corruption. I said “I will be forthright. No stronger interface exists between corruption and international financial centres than exists between corruption and every single country in this world. Finance is both global and digital. Therefore, corruption is global and digital; it does not solely reside in any particular geographic region or in a particular grouping of countries or peoples”.

I also said “This truth is so simple, but it is inconvenient to acknowledge it – inconvenient for political candidates who are looking for a scapegoat for mismanaged public finances and inconvenient for some of the news media that operate more as entertainers than purveyors of the truth. It is inconvenient for many Non-Governmental Organisations – although I do believe many of them have the public interest at heart, at times their passion overrides their analysis”.

I mention this because there will be some of you in this room considering doing business in Cayman and will read and see what some in the press are saying. It is important to me, and indeed my Government, that you know the full truth. The Cayman Islands is not Panama and our anti-money laundering regime has been in effect for over 15 years. We continue to enhance it. Indeed it surpasses what can be found in onshore jurisdictions like the United Kingdom and the United States.

So in summary, we are not just a wonderful place to visit and live but also a good place for business and we are a jurisdiction that meets its international obligations in the fight against serious crime.

In closing I once again thank Sinan and Matt for bringing us the full impact of IMPACT16 this year.  I have heard first-hand how much effort has gone into making this event a reality and that you have worked tirelessly for months promoting Cayman and generating interest internationally for the event and Cayman as the ideal jurisdiction. For that I am grateful. I am also grateful to Charlie and the team at CEC for your hard work.

‘Success’ like ‘Hard Work’ is to be celebrated and recognised. Few understood this better than US President Abraham Lincoln. There is a story that when critics of Gen Ulysses S. Grant – one of Lincoln’s most successful, hardworking, and trusted generals – complained to the President that Gen. Grant was seen frequently imbibing whisky in his tent that Lincoln responded – “I wish you would tell me the brand of whisky – I would send a barrel to all of my other generals.”

Sinan, Matt, and Charlie – I cannot promise you each a barrel of the finest whisky but I look forward to joining you in a drink when we meet again tonight to toast your hard work, and to toast the IMA and CEC for hosting this conference in Cayman. I look forward to the one next year.

I trust you will enjoy your stay in the Cayman Islands and take your stories of your amazing time in paradise back home with you when you go. As you will see from IMPACT16, Cayman is an outstanding place to hold strategic retreats or board meetings. And it’s an excellent place to call home.

Enjoy the rest of the day and I look forward to seeing you again and speaking with you one-on-one tonight.

Thank you and enjoy.

World Health Day Message

Minister of Home Affairs, Health and Culture,

Hon. Alden McLaughlin, JP

It is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on the 7^th April; the birth date of the World Health Organization.

For over six decades the WHO has seized the opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.

In 2008, a global estimation of 347 million people in the world had diabetes and in 2012, the disease was the direct cause of approximately 1.5 million deaths. The incidence of the diabetes epidemic continues to rapidly increase in many countries and the WHO projects that diabetes will become the world’s 7^th leading cause of death by 2030. It is fitting then that the theme selected by the WHO to be observed this year is “Halt the Rise: Beat Diabetes”.

It is noteworthy that diabetes is a topic that many people in the Cayman Islands are unfortunately familiar with as our population has recorded increasing numbers of people with diabetes. As many of you know, diabetes is a lifestyle disease; in some cases it is preventable. Simple lifestyle changes have been shown to be effective in preventing or reducing the risk of diabetes or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. These include maintaining normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity and eating a healthy and balanced diet.  Mindful of this fact, we all have a personal responsibility to play a part in halting the rise of the diabetic epidemic.

As Premier and Minister of Health, I am proud of the on-the-ground, proactive and preventive measures in place throughout these Islands by the Public Health Department, the Heath Services Authority, the Cayman Islands Diabetes Association and the Cayman Islands Diabetes Charitable Trust. Through educational classes, various ongoing onsite screenings, counselling and awareness sharing activities, help is offered to people to determine their level of risk for diabetes and in tackling the disease.

The Public Health Department will shortly have regular Public Service Announcements on our air waves across the Islands with a focus on preventable diseases, conditions and situations that can cause ill health.

While the Health Services Authority and the Public Health Department continue to provide medical support, care and treatment of those dealing with diabetes, we must also thank the organisations and service clubs that help in screening people at no cost, most recently the Cayman Heart Foundation’s Heart Smart Health Fair held last month.

On this World Health Day 2016, I encourage you to join in the global fight against diabetes by learning how each of you can personally practice healthy eating and active living as a means of preventing the onset of diabetes.

For those who are diabetic – stand strong in your fight to manage your diabetes. These measures will help us to help you in ensuring the health and wellness of the people in the beloved Cayman Islands.

Thank You.

‘Beneficial ownership is a major initiative for the UK Prime Minister, and we support him in the efforts to combat serious crime’, he said. Minister Panton also noted in February this year, the UK accepted Cayman’s invitation to visit and discuss Cayman’s system of sharing beneficial ownership information with law enforcement. This led to Cayman and the UK working together on a joint commitment, which outlines the agreement between the two governments regarding the enhanced sharing of beneficial ownership information.

‘We are pleased that the proposed joint commitment recognises that Cayman’s proposed enhancements to our current beneficial ownership regime represent a viable alternative to the UK’s approach of a central register. This affirms our longstanding adherence to implementing international standards in a way that is effective and appropriate for our jurisdiction’, he said.

Minister Panton thanked Cayman’s financial services industry for supporting Government’s efforts to further strengthen its system, saying it demonstrates industry’s willingness to comply with globally accepted and practiced regulatory standards.

‘With our decades of engagement with international initiatives, and our current programme for further enhancements, Cayman clearly is collaborating and cooperating with all countries that adhere to global standards for the sharing of information’.

A Cabinet-appointed steering committee of public and private sector stakeholders is working closely with the Ministry of Culture regarding all matters relating to the development of the first National Culture and Heritage Policy and Strategic Plan.

The policy will provide a documented framework for government to address the Cayman’s heritage and culture and the conservation, promotion and education on these fields. Members were provided with the committee’s Terms of Reference at the meeting.

The document will draw from existing instruments, strategies and policies, which comprise culture and heritage components including the C.I. Constitution, Vision 2008, and national, regional and international policies. It is expected the policy will be in place by the early 2017.

A cross-section of representatives from cultural entities including the Cayman Catboat Club, National Archive, Cayman National Cultural Foundation and the National Trust, National Museum and National Gallery make up the committee, which convened in February.

Welcoming the team to its first meeting, Premier and Minister for Culture, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA remarked, “I am pleased with the interest and enthusiasm of this committee, and Government enthusiastically awaits the results of your undertakings, which are vital to conserving our heritage and further developing our culture.”

Steering committee members will also formulate a strategic plan in which the policy will be rolled out over a 10-year period from 2016 to 2026.

“The Culture and Heritage Policy will assist when making decisions such as resource allocation for things such as educational and social programmes,” said Ministry of Culture Chief Officer, Jennifer Ahearn, the committee’s chairperson. “By having the steering committee in place and aiming for a broader public consultation, planned for later this year, we will ensure that the policy is responsive to the needs of the people of these Islands.”

Areas of focus for the steering committee, for which subcommittees acting as focus groups have been formed, include: land-based heritage; maritime heritage; subcultures, governance and legal aspects; literary arts; visual arts and crafts; performing arts and festivals and leisure, tourism and creative industry.

Members include Chairwoman, the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Culture Jennifer Ahearn; Deputy Chair and Deputy Chief Officer of the Ministry of Culture Nancy Barnard; Managing Director, Cayman National Cultural Foundation Marcia Muttoo; Director, National Gallery of the Cayman Islands Natalie Urquhart; Director, Cayman Islands National Museum Dr Peggy Leshikar-Denton; Cultural Animator Anita Ebanks; Cayman Islands National Archive representatives Tammi Selzer and Charisse Morrison; Director, National Trust for the Cayman Islands Christina McTaggart-Pineda; Chairperson, Tourism Attraction Board Carla Reid; Cultural Animator Chris Christian; Cayman Catboat Club representative Jerris Miller; Legal Department representative Tonicia Williams; Acting Policy Advisor,  Ministry of Culture Natasha Powell; Ministry of Education representative Kiva Powell; and Ministry of Tourism Deputy Chief Officer Dr Dalton Watler.

(GIS)

Photo Captions: taken by Mona Lisa Meade

1)    Minister of Culture Alden McLaughlin and Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn met with the   members of the Culture and Heritage Steering Committee for the first time.

2)    Premier and Minister for Culture Hon Alden McLaughlin addresses Culture & Heritage Steering Committee. Looking on are Ministerial Councillor for Culture Roy McTaggart and Chair of the Committee, Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn.

For the official Cayman Islands Government web portal, www.gov.ky:

The Cayman Islands Government’s request to have the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) extended to the Cayman Islands has been granted by the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Gender Affairs has announced.

The decision is the culmination of a 12-year quest to receive the treaty with the last application being made in 2013 to the UK Government Equalities Office via Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, CB, on the eve of Human Rights Day (10 December). Commitments have also been made at various Overseas Territories Consultative Council meetings by the Cayman Islands Government to continue to work towards the extension of CEDAW, and the passage of the Gender Equality Law, 2011, which came into effect on 31st January 2012 was a major step forward in the process of meeting the UK’s requirements for CEDAW extension. The Gender Equality Law, 2011 prohibits discrimination in employment and related matters and also serves as local “enabling legislation” that upholds the principles of CEDAW.

“This is a pivotal and historic step in the advancement of women and gender equality in the Cayman Islands, and as Minister and a woman, I am delighted to receive this news, especially during Honouring Women Month when we honour women for their valuable contributions to society, the workplace and our country,” said Hon. Tara Rivers, the Minister responsible for Gender Affairs. “To have CEDAW extended to the Cayman Islands has been an aspirational goal of the Government and we have now achieved it. The extension of this treaty validates the work that we have already been doing to ensure equality between women and men and promote a culture of human rights in the Cayman Islands through the enactment of the Gender Equality Law, 2011 and various other measures. CEDAW is a core international human rights treaty, and our desire to be a part of this treaty is a reflection of our mission to create a more positive and equitable future for our sons and daughters, and a healthier and more productive society. Congratulations to the team from the Gender Affairs Unit, Cabinet Office, and the Attorney Generals Chambers who over the years have tirelessly worked towards completing the necessary requirements of the UK’s Government Equalities Office in order to achieve the imminent extension of CEDAW.”

The only British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean to have CEDAW extended up until now were the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Extension occurred in 1986 in both Territories, when the UK ratified CEDAW. It is anticipated that the Cayman Islands will be granted the extension next week at the 60th Annual Committee on the Status of Women meeting at the United Nations in New York. Minister Rivers will be on hand when the UK delegation deposits the instrument which formally notifies the United Nations Secretary- General that the UK Government requests the extension of CEDAW. She will also be attending the Ministerial sessions and the UK led and other side events on topics such as girls and STEM and the gender pay gap.

Countries that have ratified CEDAW are legally obligated to work towards implementing its provisions and are also committed to monitoring and reporting on the measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

“Although we already have compliance with many of the obligations of CEDAW, the benefits of having CEDAW extended to the Cayman Islands are many, and include providing the Gender Affairs Unit with a useful framework for national action, easier access to technical resources, and also opportunities to build relationships and share best practices and policy recommendations with other countries,” explained Tammy Ebanks, Senior Policy Officer (Gender Affairs). “CEDAW will also provide a catalyst to examine lingering areas of discrimination and develop strategies for solutions to address inequality between women and men and boys and girls.”

Often described as an international Bill of Rights for women, CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and has been ratified by almost every single member of the United Nations.

For more information on CEDAW please click here.

The Cayman Islands Government has surpassed the Cash Reserves Ratio required by the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) during the current 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The Government has also met the Net Debt ratio, another FFR requirement, for the past two fiscal years, and will continue to do so for the current fiscal year ending 30 June 2016.

The Debt Service ratio, another FFR requirement, which is forecast to be in compliance, will be assessed after the 30 June 2016 fiscal year-end.

The FFR is a financial management regime that was devised by the UK Government for its Overseas Territories (OTs) to follow. The main objectives of the FFR are to strengthen the fiscal performance and position of OTs as well as enhance transparency in, and accountability for, financial decisions made by OTs.

The Cayman Islands Government has incorporated the FFR, in its entirety, in the Islands’ Public Management and Finance Law.

To strengthen the Islands’ fiscal performance and position, the FFR requires compliance, by 30 June 2016, with three ratios:

• the Net Debt ratio must not exceed 80% of Government’s Operating Revenues;
• the Cash Reserves (or Liquid Assets) ratio requires Government’s bank account balances, at their lowest level in a fiscal year, to be sufficient to cover 90 days of Operating Expenses; and
• the Debt Service ratio – which measures the Entire Public Sector’s Debt Service costs (both principal and interest payments), as a proportion of Central Government’s revenue – cannot exceed 10%.

On 5 February 2016, the Hon. Marco Archer, Minister for Finance and Economic Development, wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) seeking its acknowledgment that the Cash Reserves ratio had been satisfied in the Government’s current fiscal year. When bank account balances were at their lowest in the year, Government had 116 days of Cash Reserves which bettered the 90-day minimum level.

Minister James Duddridge, the UK Government Minister with responsibility for OTs, replied on 18 February 2016: “I am delighted that in addition to compliance with the Net Debt ratio, your government is comfortably on course to maintain compliance with the Cash Reserve Ratio as defined in the FFR for the remainder of the fiscal year. This is a welcome achievement and a credit to the hard work and professionalism of your government and the Civil Service.”

With respect to the FCO’s acknowledgement, the Hon. Marco Archer stated, “This is clear, independent evidence of the steady and consistent progress the Government has made to improve the economic and financial standing of these Islands.”

The last remaining ratio to be met, the Debt Service ratio, will be assessed after the 30 June 2016 fiscal year-end; it has been forecast to comply with the maximum 10% ceiling.

The significant effect of compliance with the FFR Ratios is that it will return sole control to Government over the preparation of its annual budgets.

Government will follow its usual criteria in evaluating and responding to a coastal works application from Crymble Landholding Ltd., a Dart company, for permission to conduct site investigation works in an area located north of the Kimpton Hotel construction site on Seven Mile Beach.

The site investigation works include removing samples of submerged beachrock at the shoreline and immediately offshore, via excavation if required; and a trial of construction methodologies.

Dart’s application, which was submitted to the Ministry today (Thursday, 3 March), states that Dart has identified the land north of the Kimpton as the selected site for a new five-start resort. The beachrock samples would inform a second application for the proposed main project execution, for the removal of the beachrock.

Noting the public interest in the application and proposed works, Environment Minister Wayne Panton said that all coastal works applications are subjected to a set evaluation process that begins with analysis by the Ministry’s technical experts, including persons in the Department of Environment (DoE).

‘Dart made a presentation to caucus on Monday, 22 February, to explain what they are seeking to do’, he said. ‘Now that the formal application has been received, it will be evaluated by the Ministry’s policy officer for completeness; and public notification will be ensured through the normal publication process for two consecutive weeks, and the requisite 21-day comment period.

‘In the meantime the Technical Review Committee, consisting of the DoE scientists and staff, will review the application and subsequently make their recommendations in a report to Cabinet’, Minister Panton said. ‘Only then will Cabinet make its decision on the application, based upon the merits of the application and the review process’.

Moody’s, the international credit rating agency, has maintained Cayman’s Aa3 rating for Government’s bonds issued in a foreign currency, and an Aa2 rating for long-term foreign currency ceiling bonds and notes.

The Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Marco Archer stated that “The Government is pleased with the high ratings for the Cayman Islands being maintained and that the credit ratings’ outlook, remains stable.” The Minister further stated that, “Moody’s concludes that there is a very low risk of Government imposing limits on its foreign currency debt repayments. Government’s repayment obligations will continue to be met which, undoubtedly, maintains investors’ confidence in these Islands. The sustained excellent ratings by Moody’s signify that public finances in the Cayman Islands have been managed prudently.”

Minister Archer continued: “The Government fosters a stable political environment and endeavours to implement prudent fiscal policies and strategies. Our fiscal stance has resulted in high credit ratings which allow these Islands to benefit from low-cost investment financing.”

Moody’s credit opinion outlines that the high ratings reflect a number of important considerations satisfied by the Cayman Islands. These include:

• a very high per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated at US$55,751 for 2015, the 13th highest in Moody’s rating universe;

• a comparatively low debt burden with a Debt-to-GDP ratio which continues to trend down, relative to other rated jurisdictions;

• fiscal and debt position is comparatively robust with fiscal surpluses, low levels of debt, high debt affordability, and easy access to finance;

• politically, there is very little risk of a destabilizing event, given strong institutions and the United Kingdom’s fiscal oversight; and

• a very low susceptibility to Event Risk.

Moody’s credit analysis and credit opinion dated 22nd April 2015 and 16th December 2015, respectively, can be found, in full, on the Features section of www.gov.ky.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) along with fellow members of the Traffic Management Panel (TMP) happily announce that the proposed speed limit changes will take effect on 7th March 2016.

Members of the TMP include the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, National Roads Authority (NRA), Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). Public engagement for input to the proposed changes took place in 2013, and the TMP has strongly considered all comments and concerns.

The proposed changes are as follows, which are highlighted in the below maps, which also can be found on the NRA website; all other speed limits will remain as is. Please take note of the new speed limit of 35MPH on North Sound Road in George Town, Seaview Road in East End and small sections of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway in West Bay.

Please take due care when traversing the roads and be mindful of these changes, which are,

1. Sections in West Bay from 25MPH to 30MPH.

2. Esterley Tibbetts Highway connection to Willie Farrington Drive from 25 MPH to 35 MPH.

3. West Bay Road from Central George Town to the Public Beach from 40MPH to 25MPH.

4. North Sound Road/Thomas Russell Way from Bobby Thompson to Butterfield Roundabout from 25MPH to 35MPH.

5. Crewe Road between the Silver Oaks and DMS Rdbt from 25MPH to 30 MPH

6. Shamrock Road near Prospect between Red Bay Roundabout and Dr. Tomlinson Roundabout from 25MPH to 30MPH

7. Hirst Road in Savannah from Countryside to the end from 25MPH to 30MPH.

8. Anton Bodden Road from 25MPH to 30MPH.

9. Austin Connolly Drive near the Morritz from 50MPH to 35MPH.

For more information on the proposed changes, please visit the NRA website at www.caymanroads.com, email speedlimits@nra.ky or contact Marion Pandohie at 946-7780.

Following an invitation from the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin at the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London last December, senior representatives from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) visited the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, 23 February, to discuss cooperation between both countries’ law enforcement agencies, as well as Cayman’s progress in enhancing its beneficial ownership information regime.

The UK delegation included Dr Peter Hayes, Director of the FCO’s Overseas Territories Directorate; Andy Lewis, the NCA’s Head of Bribery, Corruption and Sanctions; and Russell Phillips, the FCO’s Senior Policy Adviser, Economic and Financial Services.

In addition to the Premier, the delegation also spoke with the Minister of Financial Services, Wayne Panton; and other Government officials.

‘Government continues to maintain a position of zero tolerance on illicit activity and financial crime’, the Premier said. ‘Our commitment to the UK, and to other foreign authorities, is to collaborate and cooperate to ensure that those responsible for illicit activity can be prosecuted in the relevant jurisdictions’.

As part of discussions, the Ministry updated the UK delegation on progress to enhance Cayman’s current beneficial ownership information regime. This process is being facilitated through a working group established by the Ministry in September of last year. Comprising representatives from Government, Cayman Finance and other industry associations, this group has been working to ensure that Cayman’s regime will continue to meet internationally accepted standards.

Minister Panton said the day’s meetings further familiarised UK officials with the strengths of Cayman’s existing legislative and regulatory framework, and allowed the building of new relationships between Cayman and UK officials.

‘It was excellent to hear the UK’s support for how Cayman’s Government and industry work together, in order to tackle global problems such as money laundering and corruption’, he said.

‘We had an opportunity to explain, in more detail, the merits and potential mechanics of our proposed centralised platform, which would be locally accessed and non-public. This would be an additional enhancement to our current, strong anti money-laundering regime; and would be a similarly effective, viable alternative to the UK’s approach of a central register.’

Dr Hayes of the FCO said, ‘We agreed at the JMC that addressing this issue would be given the highest priority. We very much welcome the timely and constructive discussions’.

Department of Environment (DoE) staff commenced emergency salvage work yesterday (Wednesday, 17 February) on coral allegedly damaged by the M/V Tatoosh, after receiving an independent coral restoration expert’s report of a comprehensive assessment of the injury site.

‘We now are in the position to begin emergency caching of dislodged corals, whose survival is at immediate risk the longer they remain unattached’, said DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie.

‘This temporary stabilisation and removal of coral to a safe location (caching) is typically carried out following completion of an injury assessment, to minimise further impact to the living tissue of corals that are candidates for reattachment’.

Mrs Ebanks-Petrie said the final report from Mr William Precht of Dial Cordy and Associates was received on Tuesday, 16 February. The DoE began emergency salvage work the following day.

‘Given that Vulcan Inc., the owner of the M/V Tatoosh, disputes the DoE’s initial assessment of the scale of the damage, and furthermore questions whether the M/V Tatoosh is the source of the damage, the DoE contracted with Dial Cordy to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the injured site’, she said.

‘We took this action in order to have independent documentation and verification of the extent and degree of damage, and also of the timing of the injuries to the coral. Mr Precht’s findings support the DoE’s initial assessment as to the damaged area, and the cause of the damage’.

Mrs Ebanks-Petrie added that by commencing the salvage work in a timely manner, remaining living coral tissue could be saved. Furthermore, time to full recovery of the site may be reduced, and collateral injury from future storms may be minimised.

At approximately 10pm on Wednesday, 3 February, Vulcan Inc. sent its initial proposed remediation plan to the DoE; the department responded on 5 February. Subsequent drafts of the remediation plan have been exchanged and reviewed by both parties, Mrs Ebanks-Petrie said.

The DoE is now waiting for Vulcan to respond to the DoE’s requests for changes to the proposal relating to the scope and source of damage; the estimated length of the restoration period; and Vulcan’s funding of an independent agent to oversee and monitor the restoration work.

‘Because Vulcan continues to disagree with the scale and source of damage, as well as the length of time required for the restoration effort, details of the remediation plan have not been finalised’, she said.

She noted that Polaris Applied Sciences Inc., a coral reef restoration firm, was contracted by Vulcan to assess the damaged coral immediately after the alleged incident. Polaris representatives returned to Cayman on Sunday, 14 February, and notified the DoE of their interest in assisting with the emergency salvage work on the evening of Tuesday, 16 February.

The DoE allowed Polaris to observe and assist, in order to ensure that the emergency salvage works initiated by Government are compatible with the methodology Polaris intends to employ, such that Polaris can take over restoration work once remaining issues with the restoration plan are resolved with Vulcan, Mrs Ebanks- Petrie said.

In November 2014 the Legislative Assembly passed the Conditional Release Law, which replaces the parole provisions of the Prison Law. The law and regulations will come into effect on 15 February, 2016. This law is a part of this Government’s continued response to the National Security Council’s Crime Reduction Strategy – May 2011 “Reduce Re-Offending.”

“The objectives of the Conditional Release Scheme are to rehabilitate a prisoner to function in society and live a useful life, to protect society from the criminal acts of repeat offenders and to reduce costs of incarceration,” said Acting Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell.

The reoffending rate in the Cayman Islands is far higher than the rest of the Caribbean and Europe and this initiative aims to reduce the level of reoffending. In addition, the prison population in the Cayman Islands is twice the international average on a per capita basis.

The Conditional Release Scheme replaces the earliest date of release scheme, which releases prisoners based on the passage of time (two thirds of the sentence) regardless of the risk to the community they pose, with a scheme that is totally based on risk assessment and rehabilitation.

The new law and regulations will not apply to those currently serving determinate sentences; however, it will apply to those that are currently serving life sentences.

Prisoners sentenced after the law comes into force will have to serve a longer sentence than previously before they are eligible for conditional release, it will now be 60% as opposed to 50% of their sentence and all prisoners released from prison will be on a licence until the end of their sentence.

A prisoner will only be released after he or she is deemed to be a lower risk to the community and engaged in the rehabilitation process.

Every prisoner released from prison that has a sentence of more than a year will be on a license and under supervision of the Department of Community Rehabilitation and monitored by the Police/911 if an electronic tag is part of the license conditions. The level of risk will determine licence conditions.

In relation to life sentenced prisoners, the Governor has already released persons serving life imprisonment on licence in accordance with the Prison Law but the law doesn’t specify how long they should serve before being released.

For new lifers the new law states that the court will specify the period of incarceration the prisoner shall serve before they are eligible to be considered for conditional release on licence. The period being such as the court considers appropriate to satisfy requirements of retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. However, for murder, the period shall be thirty years before the prisoner is eligible unless there are extenuating circumstances, exceptional in nature, in which case the court may impose a lower period of incarceration; or aggravating circumstances, exceptional in nature, in which case the court may impose a longer period of incarceration.

If conditional release is granted to a prisoner sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life the licence will remain in force for life.

For existing lifers, as a transitional arrangement, within 24 months of the law coming into force the Grand Court will pronounce in open court a period of incarceration for existing life prisoner, as if it were sentencing an accused who has been convicted.

A new 9 member Board has been appointed by the Governor. The new Board will make decisions on the release of prisoners on licence, the conditions of a licence, including the variation and cancellation of conditions, the suspension of a licence and the revocation of a licence.

The new board has already been trained for its new responsibilities by overseas trainers that were funded by the Governor’s Office.

Local training has already taken place for the Police, Probation Officers, Prison Officers and Counselors.

This year’s Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge aims to raise $50,000 for Cayman Heart Fund to buy a new ambulance.

The funds will be a significant cash boost towards the $150,000 target needed to purchase the vehicle, which will replace one of the two existing back-up ambulances based in Grand Cayman.

Announcing this year’s chosen charity ahead of Valentine’s Day, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson appealed for companies to sponsor the event.

He also urged as many people as possible to help raise funds by taking part in the challenge, which is being held in April.

“It is a fantastic event for a great cause,” he said. “It encourages people to become more fit and healthy, but also will unite us around the common purpose of buying a new ambulance. One step at a time we all make a difference.”

Now in its third year, the annual event brings together civil servants, private sector employees and members of the public in a fitness and fundraising challenge. It is part of the Deputy Governor’s vision to have a healthier, more active and more socially engaged civil service, while benefitting charitable organisations and initiatives in the Cayman Islands.

The inaugural event in 2014 raised $12,500 for Cayman HospiceCare towards its new building that is due to break ground this spring, and last year raised $50,000 for Special Olympics Cayman Islands which helped fund their attendance at the Special Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Mr. Manderson believes that increased awareness and support generated by the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge will ensure $50,000 is raised for the ambulance appeal.

“I am urging all civil servants to take part, along with members of the wider community,” he said. “More than 1200 took part last year, but please make this challenge the most successful yet to ensure that the Cayman Heart Fund can buy the ambulance, which will be a vital resource for the Cayman Islands and could potentially benefit each of us.”

Cayman Heart Fund is a charity with a mission to improve the cardiovascular health of the population of the Cayman Islands.

Fundraising for the new ambulance, which will be operated by the Health Services Authority, began last summer and is the biggest initiative ever undertaken by Heart Fund organisers.

“We are delighted that the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge has chosen to support us this year in our bid to buy a new ambulance,” said Cayman Heart Fund Chairman David Dinner. “If we receive $50,000, it means that together with the money we’ve already raised, we will be two-thirds towards our $150,000 target. Along with one last push for the rest of the money, it would enable us to have the new ambulance in place for Christmas.”

The two existing spare ambulances, which are ageing and will soon need to be replaced, are used as back-up to the three primary care ambulances. The back-up ambulance, for which Cayman Heart Fund is raising cash, will ensure the emergency fleet has a reliable replacement option during routine maintenance, mechanical failure or in the need of a mass casualty response.

The cash raised by the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge is a combination of corporate sponsorship pledges and the registration fees of event participants.

Three of the four gold sponsorship slots for 2016, at $5,000 each, have already been taken up by EY, Butterfield Bank and Appleby Global, which, along with an anonymous donor, were also the main sponsors of last year’s event. There are still opportunities for a handful of silver sponsors and unlimited bronze sponsors to come on board.
In addition there is a prestigious new platinum sponsorship slot available this year for $15,000.

The platinum sponsor will receive pride of place as the top company to endorse the 5K Challenge, granting the business maximum exposure in all advertising and promotion of the event.

The Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge begins at 6.30am on Sunday, 17th April at Cayman Brac Museum, Stake Bay, and at 6.30am on Sunday, 24th April at the Government Administration Building, Elgin Avenue in Grand Cayman. The event, which participants can either walk or run, is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.

Registration fees for the event are $25 for ages 14 and older and $10 for 13 and younger. The dates for registration will be announced nearer the time.

Companies interested in sponsoring the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge, or anyone interested in making a donation, can contact Fundraising Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Barnard at SupportDG5k@gov.ky

The Mosquito and Research Control Unit (MRCU), beginning on Monday 1 February, 2016, commenced its plan of action in destroying the breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and preventing the potential threat of Zika virus to the Cayman Islands.

The Director of MRCU, Dr. William Petrie said his staff launched the first of two phases in combatting the mosquito population with aerial spraying and a full fleet of vehicle-mounted fogging machines at the ground level.

In explaining the two phases of the MRCU’s contingency plan, Dr. Petrie said that phase one will deal with the situation prior to the virus being introduced while phase two will be enacted only if Zika is detected locally.

“There will be twice-weekly aerial applications, mainly West Bay and George Town targeting South Sound and out to Red Bay because these are areas that we know have the highest concentrations of Aedes aegypti,” he said “We will treat the eastern districts as well but with less frequency.”

Phase two is essentially an intensified version of what is outlined in the first phase with the additional use of new laboratory equipment.

“The lab equipment will allow MRCU to determine in less than an hour whether or not a suspected patient tests positive for the virus. This in turn means we can immediately conduct spraying operations in the vicinity of the patient’s residence, rather than waiting for the return of results from overseas. This timing is critical as we need to disrupt the life cycle of the mosquito, which can be less than a week, in order to break the cycle of transmission. In addition, this equipment will enable us to look for presence of the virus in mosquito populations,” said Dr. Petrie.

Additionally, thermal fogging will be carried out on an individual basis and in more concentrated areas.

At a televised press conference on Tuesday, 2 February, Dr. Petrie acknowledged challenges in dealing with Aedes aegypti as it is a fast developing mosquito, “This is potentially a much more serious public health threat than we have seen previously but we do have the expertise and we have the necessary equipment and trained staff,” he said.

“The good news is that we have experience in dealing with this type of thing from the previous dengue and chikungunya outbreaks in the region.”

Dr. Petrie also thanked government for its pledge to provide additional funding needed to deal with any potential threat on a local level.

“We also have a commitment from government; from the Premier that we will be provided with the resources that we need,” he said.

Premier Alden McLaughlin offered his thanks to MRCU and the Public Health Department for the work that has been done over the course of several months since the virus’s presence was reported to have reached the Caribbean region.

“A tremendous amount of effort goes into getting us into a state of readiness in the event we face a situation like this,” the Hon Premier added.

MRCU and health authorities are urging the public to assist in combatting this disease by deterring any mosquito breeding sites. “Aedes aegypti only breeds around the home; around houses and yards,” said Dr. Petrie. “It does not breed in mangroves, swamps or bush; it likes fresh water. It’s a container breeder, so we are talking about buckets and drums, containers the size of a drinking water glass are favoured by Aedes aegypti. We are encouraging residents to have a look around your home twice a week, it just takes 10 minutes to go around your yard; turn up buckets, cover drums, fix your screens and drain water from plant pots and discarded tyres.”

Dr. Petrie also urged residents to check and clear roof guttering, and offered the help of MRCU staff to anyone who may need assistance in carrying out these relevant checks.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE, DL, Hon. DLitt Exeter paid a courtesy visit to Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin on Thursday, 4 February 2016.

The Baroness was in the Cayman Islands to deliver the address at the Commencement Ceremony of the International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI).

Originally from Trinidad, Baroness Benjamin is a motivational and inspirational speaker who lectures at schools, universities and organisations throughout the world.

Born in 1949, she moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 10, where she is an actress, presenter, writer, independent producer, working peer and an active advocate for the welfare, care and education of children across the globe.

For the past 10 years she has been the Chancellor of the University of Exeter. She was elevated to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2010, the first Trinidadian woman to be ennobled. In Parliament she leads on children’s issues as well as education, media and diversity matters.

Baroness Benjamin visited Mr. McLaughlin at the Government Administration Building in George Town on Thursday afternoon ahead of the ICCI Commencement Ceremony later that evening.

Work initiative Ready2Work KY launched on Monday and on Tuesday members of the Ready2Work KY Task Force that will ensure meaningful dialogue is held between the private sector and unemployed Caymanians had their inaugural meeting.

The task force is comprised of public and private sector members and is co-chaired by Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and Managing Director of Foster’s Food Fair IGA Woody Foster. Other members include Education and Employment Minister Hon. Tara Rivers, private sector members Chamber President Paul Pearson, Mark Vandevelde, Garth Arch, Mark McIntyre and Betty Baraud, Community Affairs, Youth and Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden and Deputy Chief Officer, Strategic Reforms Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia. Ex-officio members are Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Roy Tatum and Ready2Work KY Coordinator Tania Ebanks.

“Since taking office, this Government has strategically focused on addressing the issue of Caymanian unemployment through creating a stable environment for economic growth,” said Premier McLaughlin. “This has resulted in unemployment numbers for Caymanians being reduced from 9.4 per cent in 2013 to 7.9 per cent in 2014 and we are anticipating it will be even lower in a few weeks when the next semi-annual economic report comes out. However, there is a segment of our society for which more can be done to assist them in breaking through the barriers to meaningful full time employment. The Ready2Work KY initiative is the first of three approaches that Government is undertaking in this regard.”

Mr. Foster said, “I am am excited to work on this initiative and give it everything I have to assist in putting Caymanians to work in a sustainable way.”
A brief history of the Ready2Work KY initiative includes the following:

• In July 2014 Cabinet approved the creation of the Inter-Ministerial committee on Employment (IMCE) to promote better collaboration between the Cayman Islands Government agencies to address the needs of the country in relation to the unemployment of Caymanians.
• In June 2015 IMCE issued its report, Review of Employment Policy and Strategy in the Cayman Islands, which was a critical step in a larger plan to address unemployment because it gave Government the information it needed to make informed decisions on employment policy, programmes and projects.
• By July 2015 the NWDA was in a position to serve as a valued partner and facilitator in the training, development and employment of Caymanians. Government also developed a strategy that focuses on addressing unemployment today while keeping the long-term plan in site.
• The work of the IMCE became part of a Project Future initiative on unemployment among Caymanians and has culminated with plans around broad strategies to tackle unemployment. These were presented to Government Caucus and Cabinet late last year and received approval to proceed. Out of this was developed the Ready2Work KY initiative.
• In December 2015 and January 2016 the programme was presented to private sector businesses, which gave their approval and made suggested improvements. These have culminated in what has become the Ready2Work KY initiative.

Mr. McLaughlin said he was extremely pleased regarding the enthusiastic feedback from business leaders and their willingness to participate.

“As of today we have several quality business leaders coming forward to work with Government and to help lead the way with the Ready2Work KY programme,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

Ready2Work KY will bridge the gap between unemployed Caymanians and the labour market. It is a public/private sectors initiative that supports employers as they seek to make their best efforts to employ Caymanians and supports unemployed Caymanians as they seek to access employment.

The project delivers an employment and welfare-to-work initiative that connects unemployed Caymanians with short term employment opportunities in the private sector that are designed to lead to long term employment while providing support and training based on need in order to support Caymanians in accessing and maintaining employment.

The initiative is subsidized by the Cayman Islands Government and delivered in partnership with the private sector.

“This employment and welfare to work initiative lets Government address the issue of unemployment head on by matching private sector employers with unemployed Caymanians,” said Ms Rivers.

Over the course of the next few weeks the Ready2Work KY Task Force will work with interested businesses to roll out the programme to ensure individuals moving into potential jobs have been property vetted to better match employers to employees.

A press conference to further update the media and the public on the successes of Ready2Work KY will be held later this month.

“I thank Mr. Foster for joining me as co-chair of the task force as well as the private sector leaders who have stepped up to the plate and given advice and guidance on how to make the programme even more successful. Their input is greatly appreciated,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “I also thank Minister Rivers, Chief Officer Christen Suckoo and particularly Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia and their team for their hard work in putting the programme together. I must also acknowledge the cross-ministerial work done on this and thank Community Affairs Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden and his Ministry as well as the teams at the National Workforce Development Agency and Needs Assessment Unit for their work in making this successful.”

8:20 AM, 4 February, 2016
Ritz-Carlton
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good morning.

For those of you experiencing your first time in the Cayman Islands, welcome. For our returning visitors, welcome back. We are glad you are all here.

I thank Chris Duggan and Dart for inviting me to speak briefly with you this morning.

So, your theme of the next two days is “Supercharging Alternative Investments in an age of Uncertainty”. I cannot profess any expertise in how to supercharge alternative investments, but I certainly recognize the challenges of uncertainty.

While the challenges we face in politics can sometimes be described as “a little local difficulty”, we share your concerns over the current uncertainties in world markets and the impact of a slowdown in economic growth.

The business of alternative investment, and the theme of the conference, is to create opportunities from those uncertainties. As traditional markets have come under pressure, high net worth individuals and, increasingly, institutional investors have sought fresh approaches that deliver value and balance risk. Alternative investment, through constant innovation, has won business and, as the diverse range of participants here shows, moved into the mainstream.

I commend you for that approach. And I am delighted that Cayman is central to the story of some of your success.

It is a shame, then, that there are those who wish to shut us down.

You may have seen – and if not will probably be aware of – last month’s BBC documentary, “Britain’s Trillion Pound Island”, journalist Jacques Peretti’s investigative deep dive into this most secretive of societies.

What did he find?

Well, in a triumph of investigative journalism, Mr. Peretti revealed that there are some rich people living on the Island. Lots of them have boats. Some of them have expensive cars. Who knew? We thank him for that insight.

As the investigation moves into true Woodward and Bernstein territory, we “follow the money” and get to the big reveal. Apparently, much of the wealth here is fueled by the financial services industry because a lot of other rich people chose to put their assets here. The Pulitzer is in the bag.

No argument from me on the analysis so far. However, at this point, I am sad to say, Mr. Peretti and I begin to diverge. His main argument appeared to be that people should not have that choice to invest here. A successful and thriving financial services industry is apparently an affront to Mr. Peretti and his ilk and he questioned whether this was therefore something that the United Kingdom should in some way shut down.

Perhaps a better question for him to ask would have been why the industry is so successful and why people make the perfectly legitimate choice to invest here.

The answer to that question is in this room. It is because our small Islands possess some of the most innovative and creative individuals and businesses in the sector. It is also because those individuals and businesses enjoy the support of a government determined to help them succeed.

Rather than burden success with excessive taxation, this is a Government that has used its success in restoring stability in its own finances to cut duties for the benefit of businesses and households alike.

Here, I hope you will forgive a little bit of politics creeping into my speech this morning.

When this Government was elected in May 2013, Cayman was certainly in a challenging place; still reeling from the effects of the 2008 financial crisis but also facing a serious crisis in leadership and a crisis in confidence that exacerbated the impact of the Great Recession and left the economy stagnant. It was not a pretty picture.

I am pleased to say, and I believe virtually everyone here would agree, that the Cayman of February 2016 is a much better place than the Cayman of February 2013.

Let me give you a few examples of what I mean. By the end of 2016, if current forecasts hold true, the economy will have grown on average annually by 2 per cent over the three years following our election. Contrast this to an average increase of 0.81 per cent in GDP for the preceding three years. And there are a number of impressive major development projects under way or in the planning stages that will help bring more growth and employment opportunities.

We have had excellent budget surpluses created through economic growth and reduced expenditure and not via new taxes. And so Government finances have been stabilised; government debt is being greatly reduced, and business confidence is high.

And we have over the last two budgets also reduced various fees and import duties so as to help reduce the cost of doing business and the cost of living. Public sector workers have had wages frozen for years and this too created a drag on the economy – we have provided relief to families and to the economy by correcting this.

Mr. Peretti’s BBC documentary did profess to show another side of Cayman. He highlighted relative poverty in parts of our community.

I commend him for doing so but I for one need no reminder that times are still tough for some on our Islands. I know that because I see it every day and each day I use that to drive myself and my Government to do more.

Again, though Mr. Peretti and I diverge at this point. His contention was that this relative poverty for some is a price these Islands pay for having a thriving financial services industry and, it appeared, that in some way the Government is prepared to connive with business in a willingness to pay that price.

Mr. Peretti is not simply wrong. I believe he is willfully missing the point.

This Government believes that economic growth benefits everyone. We believe that a strong and thriving financial services sector in Cayman drives economic growth and therefore it deserves our support.

Consequently, in contrast with other jurisdictions, we believe in regulatory frameworks that provide necessary safeguards, yes, but that also support business rather than hampering innovation and growth.

We continue to be at the forefront of regulatory changes and in many instances ahead of G20 countries in drafting legislation and helping lead the way in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation. And we are still world leaders in developing useful financial services products that enable the transaction of global business.

Just this past December we introduced legislation for the formation of a new Cayman Islands vehicle: the limited liability company, or LLC. We did so in response to requests from the investment funds industry. The flexible nature of the vehicle means that it will be well-suited to a broad range of general corporate and commercial applications. We believe the introduction of the new LLC will further cement Cayman’s position as the domicile of choice for offshore investment funds and structuring vehicles. We expect the LLC will come into full force during the first half of this year.

At the same time, we will continue to support those individuals in our community who need our help.

Many of you were at the recent Cayman Economic Outlook event were I highlighted this Government’s record on tackling all forms of inequality. I will not repeat all that here but I will just say one thing.

This Government believes the key to tackling poverty is not giving handouts but creating employment. Growth delivered by the private sector is the most important determinant of employment but we as Government also have a direct role to play in helping Caymanians overcome important barriers to their getting jobs. That is why we have developed the Ready2Work KY programme, which will bring Government and business together to work with individuals to help create opportunities and pathways to employment. I thank those businesses who have already joined the programme and I urge those of you in this room that run businesses based here to do likewise.

I am grateful for the recognition in your programme for this conference of the role of business in delivering broader outcomes. It is great to see so many of the visiting speakers being involved with promoting humanitarian causes and social justice. I commend the organisers for including the perspective of these individuals at a business conference around alternative investments. Businesses can sometimes forget that social justice and opportunity can positively impact profitability. The organisers of this conference do not fall into that category and I congratulate them.

So, it is clear to you, I suspect, that I did not think much of Mr. Peretti’s BBC documentary. We should not, however, just dismiss it as trivial nonsense.

We must recognise it for what it is – part of a concerted campaign to undermine the financial services industry in these Islands.

It is a campaign taken up by politicians in the UK, the EU and the USA eager to deflect from their own failings. Why deal with long-standing structural problems in your own economy when you can simply cry foul at someone else’s economic achievements? Instead of looking at the need to reform your own over-taxed and bureaucratically regulated systems, why not try to wreck the success of another jurisdiction.

These are uncertain times. You are right to consider that as your conference theme.

But let me help by giving you at least some certainty to hold on to. This Government remains absolutely committed to supporting the success of the financial services industry. We will continue to fight for your right to do business in a jurisdiction that does not penalise success with excessive taxation and over-regulation.

These are not just the hollow words of a politician. Our willingness to back your success has been widely recognised. We remain the principal offshore jurisdiction for hedge funds and mutual funds. In fact, Hedgeweek Global Awards 2015 declared the Cayman Islands the best hedge fund services jurisdiction. Helping us maintain our status as a successful fund domicile is the presence of sophisticated and professional service providers whose knowledge of the nuances of the fund industry is vast and vastly appreciated.

Ours is a truly symbiotic relationship. You will succeed if Government ensures the environment is right for you. Your success drives economic growth and brings revenues to Government, both which allow Government to act in the interests of our wider community.

The Cayman Islands will be stronger, the more you in the Alternative Investments sector are able to continue to innovate, create wealth and drive growth. So I have one last message for you – go supercharge it!

The Cayman Islands Ministry of Health and related stakeholders have been meeting to update Government on efforts taken to prepare and respond to the possible introduction of the Zika Virus to the Cayman Islands.

“Research shows most cases of Zika Virus are reported to be non-symptomatic. Only 20% of persons with Zika Virus have shown symptoms while 80% of patients have no symptoms.  As such, we must be vigilant but remain calm,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams, noting the mild severity of patient symptoms.

The CI Public Health Department has been monitoring reports of the virus since 2013 and although there is a rising incidence of Zika Virus in the Caribbean and the Americas, the Cayman Islands have not had any cases to date.

On Friday, 29 January, 2016, representatives of the Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Mosquito Research and Control Unit, Department of Tourism, Health Services Authority, Airports Authority and other stakeholders met to discuss the country’s ability to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the possibility of the Zika Virus being introduced in Cayman.

That meeting was held just days ahead of international media reports on Monday that the World Health Organisation had declared the Zika outbreak a global emergency.

“We are aware of confirmed cases in the United States and Jamaica with relevant travel history. With the proximity and transient visiting population from the US and Jamaica to Cayman, all health services providers have been asked to remain on alert in identifying any symptoms presented by patients,” Dr. Williams said.

Symptoms of Zika Virus are similar to that of Dengue and Chikungunya and include fever, muscle and joint pain, conjunctivitis, headache, nausea and rash. There is no vaccine or treatment; however, symptoms (which last approximately four to seven days) are treatable.

The main area of concern with the Zika Virus is the affiliation with that of Microcephaly, a condition where the size of infant’s head is smaller than normal because of slowed or incomplete brain development.

Dr. Williams confirmed all stakeholders were taking seriously continued observance, including surveillance for neurological syndromes and congenital malformations as well as clinical management including follow up for pregnant women and newborns and prevention control measures.

“We are asking the public to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families. They can do this by wearing long sleeves and long pants when outside during times mosquitoes are abundant and by always using mosquito repellent containing DEET on the skin. We cannot stress the importance of preventive measures enough. While the Ministry and its affiliated departments will continue to do everything possible to minimise the impact, if the virus is introduced, it will also take personal responsibility from each and every member of the public to ensure the virus is contained,” urged Dr. Williams.

Director of the Mosquito Research Control Unit Dr. William Petrie said, “We encourage all individuals to keep their surroundings clean, ensuring that stagnant water is removed or drained on a weekly basis to prevent mosquito breeding sites.”

The vector mosquito for Zika Virus is the Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that breeds close to where humans live and work. Items such as tyres, trash, open containers and plastic bags can collect water in which the Aedes aegypti can breed.

“Cayman is no stranger to mosquito borne diseases. We were well prepared in combatting Dengue and Chikungunya and now we are confident we will have control of Zika if it reaches our shores. The public can be assured full and undivided support of the Ministry of Health,” said Premier and Minister for Health Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “The MRCU and members of the local health industry are trained and ready to put into action the procedures necessary to combat the Zika virus. I have no doubts in the level of expertise and attention given to this by all health services providers.”

The public will be provided with periodic updates on the Zika virus situation in relation to the Cayman Islands preparedness and any incidences reported.

For further information, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621 or MRCU on 949-2557.

To learn more about the Zika Virus, visit our fact sheet page.

The late Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart is the Cayman Islands’ newest national hero.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA. made the announcement during the National Heroes Day celebrations today (Monday, 25 January 2016).

Dr. Roy, who died in 1983, is the first national hero to have been named since 2012 and the ninth to receive the award.

Describing Dr. Roy as a politician of the finest calibre, Mr. McLaughlin lauded his many attributes and achievements.

“As one of the founding fathers of our nation, it is truly fitting that we have chosen to recognise the late Dr. Roy as the ninth national hero of the Cayman Islands,” he said. “We have all benefitted from his many good deeds, undertaken during a long life spent serving this country with diligence and dedication.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP, said: “It was a joy to see the honour of National Hero bestowed on Dr. Roy. I encourage everyone to get to know the contributions of this outstanding character from the history of our islands.”

Born in 1893, Roy was a pioneering politician, businessman, dentist, cultural guardian and philanthropist.

Yet he is perhaps best remembered as the man who ensured the Cayman Islands remained a British Crown Colony when Jamaica became independent in 1962.

At that time, Britain gave the Cayman Islands the choice to move to internal self-government under Jamaica or to remain as a colony. Totally opposed to aligning with Jamaica, Dr. Roy canvassed the Cayman Islands and received more than 3000 signatures in support of remaining with Britain. He was the only one of 18 members of the Legislative Assembly who favoured this route, but after he made a passionate speech, the house voted unanimously for these islands to remain a colony.

The last son of Frederick S. McTaggart and Antoinette Marie Eden, Dr. Roy attended Presbyterian School in the Cayman Islands, in those days the only school in Grand Cayman, and which his father was instrumental in establishing. He then studied at Morrison’s Collegiate School in Jamaica, followed by colleges in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Qualifying as a doctor of dental surgery, he graduated at the head of his class at the age of 22, and became the sole dentist in the Cayman Islands at that time.

He married his first wife Rhoda Virginia Bodden in 1916. After her death in 1965 and being widowed for many years, he married Emily May Bodden in 1972.

A legislator for more than 35 years, as the second elected member for George Town Dr. Roy helped bring free education to the Cayman Islands, introducing the Compulsory Free Education Bill, which passed in 1931. He was also the first chairman of the former Cayman Heritage Council.

Dr. Roy started his business career in 1917 when, with his brother Dr. Malcolm “Mallie” McTaggart, he purchased F.N. Lambert & Co, a firm that had vessels in the shipping and turtling industry. He was also the first and only chairman of the Cayman Islands Shipping Company Ltd. that owned and operated the M.V. Cimboco, a vessel that was a lifeline for Caymanians during the Second World War.

In 1947, Dr. Roy ventured into real estate when he built the Sea View Hotel in George Town. He and an American associate later constructed Coral Caymanian, which was the first rental homes development in the Cayman Islands.

He also built the original Barclay’s Bank building in George Town, which was the first four-storey building on the island. In addition, he was a founder and managing director of the Cayman Weekly newspaper which was a forerunner of today’s Cayman Compass.

A generous man, Dr. Roy gave large contributions to the Pines Retirement Home and Prospect Youth Centre, and often performed dental procedures for free.

Dr. Roy was also part of the Caymanian leadership which opposed joining the ill-fated West Indies Federation in 1957. This move triggered constitutional changes which came into effect in 1959.

His family home was on South Church Street, where Ugland House is now located. Dr. Roy’s Drive is named in his honour, and there is a plaque on the wall of Elmslie Memorial Church which also bears his name.

Dr. Roy now joins the ranks of national heroes Hon. William Warren Conolly, OBE, JP; Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden; Hon. Thomas William Farrington, CBE, JP; Hon. Sybil Joyce Hylton, MBE; Hon. Ormond L. Panton, OBE; Hon. Desmond V. Watler, CBE; Hon. Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon.; Hon. William Warren Connolly, OBE, JP; and Hon, Sybil McLaughlin MBE, JP who is only the living recipient of the award.

Salutations,

Good morning, and welcome to all – especially honourees and their families.

I am most pleased to be with you in Heroes Square on this beautiful day, to share in this august occasion.

The musical performances and the commemoration presented by the Youth Parliament members have been especially enjoyable. The involvement of our young people adds a special lustre to events like this, which celebrates our nation’s heritage.

It is a particular joy to see the honour of National Hero finally bestowed on Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart, the Cayman Islands’ ninth and newest national hero.

As the Premier has noted, Dr. Roy was a leader in areas ranging from medicine, education, shipping and the tourism industry, real estate, the media, culture, and services to youth and the elderly.

I congratulate his family on this well-deserved honour, posthumously bestowed on their great relative.

I also encourage everyone, from students to new residents, to get to know the contributions of this outstanding character from the history of our Islands.

Of course, agriculture is the theme of this Heroes Day celebration and our agricultural community stalwarts are equally worthy of mention.

My personal appreciation of our farmers is well-known. Their labours of love have brought us here today to celebrate their achievements, and we still have much to look forward to from this growing sector. I can only encourage our young people to follow in their footsteps – with what are sure to be rewarding results.

I would like to briefly reflect on our comparatively recent journey into agricultural production. Even as the rest of the world progressed into the 20th century, our three Islands were just emerging into the modern world.

When I was a child, a subsistence lifestyle was still the norm, with residents catching, growing, gathering, and making whatever we could to sustain life, and to forge ahead.

Agrarian societies have existed for thousands of years, and indeed, the wealth of many countries was founded on the success of their agricultural production systems.

Here in the Cayman Islands, the combination of our natural ingenuity and prowess on the seas, in addition to the impelling forces of the wartime era, resulted in us bridging a long gap, with God’s grace. We emerged, as we are today, major players in first-world finance and economics, as well as in hospitality services.

I must note that, even as we developed rapidly, we have somewhat side-stepped the industrialisation phase. That is the phase between agrarian life and the technology-focused industries of today.

I say this as, while we have largely adapted well, our people have not experienced many of the transformative processes and conditioning that have benefited our counterparts from around the world. This has shaped us somewhat uniquely.

It is also reflected in our agricultural community where our farmers’ unique approach to life combines applying a common-sense approach to the tasks at hand, while also embracing the benefits of science and technology.

While the methods and environment are quite different today than those of early settlers, the requisite effort and ingenuity remain the same for modern-day growers.

Inside the offices, conference rooms and research labs there is a dynamic collaborative process taking place. The Agricultural Society, the Department of Agriculture, as well as private agencies and universities strive to combine science, demographics and economic formulas to guide decisions on what animals and crops are best-suited to our environment.

The outcome of all of this data and hard work has filtered through to our daily lives, and has even influenced events such as the Taste of Cayman and Cayman Cookout. Fresh local produce is not only sought after in supermarkets, it is featured in event advertising, helping to attract world-class chefs and dedicated ‘foodies’.

Of course, ultimately it is the “needs and wants” at the dinner table, whether commercial or private, that inform the growth of the sector. After decades of planting various types of crops, and raising animals and poultry, our farmers are adept at knowing what works and what doesn’t.

But while efforts to guide and assist farmers will continue far into the future, we are far from becoming self-sufficient in the supply of local foods.

To stimulate growth in this area, Government, the Agricultural Society and the wider farming community continue to support venues such as the Market at Camana Bay and the Market at the Grounds; which is now supplemented by the recently opened Market at the Cricket Grounds. I would not be surprised if this also soon becomes a tourist attraction as visitors are keen to sample local foods as well as see arts and crafts portraying our heritage and culture.

That brings me to these pioneers who stand before us, and those who have passed on. Through the generations they have remained steadfast in their work. Government’s current focus on nutritional awareness and culinary-tourism has been made possible by their commitment to cultivation, animal husbandry, and to the health and safety of our food sources.

Their names reflect a broad scope of undertakings and careers, with one common denominator – a passion for harvesting fresh, bountiful crops for our enjoyment and sustenance. For this, we owe them a lasting debt of gratitude.

To cap off today’s celebrations, I invite you, at the conclusion of the ceremony, to sample a delightful menu. Traditional Caymanian dishes, prepared from fresh local produce, are waiting for you behind the library. I am sure you will also appreciate the accompanying entertainment and informative displays.

I trust that you will enjoy the remainder of our Heroes Day holiday. I look forward to seeing you and your families at the upcoming Agriculture shows which will be held in Grand Cayman on February 10th, in Cayman Brac on February 27th and in Little Cayman on March 19th.

Of course, this important day could not have taken place without the organising team led by the Protocol Office. Thank you everybody for all your hard work to make today such a memorable occasion.

Thank you for joining us today as we pay tribute to our heroes. May God Bless you and I wish you all a wonderful day.

Monday, 25 January, 2016
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure today to announce a new national hero – the late Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart.

Although he passed away in the 1980s, many of the older generation will remember Dr. Roy well, while the younger generation will certainly know his name. We have all benefitted from his many good deeds undertaken during a long life spent serving this country with diligence and dedication.

It is truly fitting that we have chosen to recognise one of the builders of a modern Cayman Islands, the late Dr. Roy as the ninth national hero of the Cayman Islands.

Dr. Roy was a pioneer in the development of a modern Cayman Islands, erecting the first four-storey building; he was the country’s first and only dentist at the time; a pioneer in tourism; founder of a newspaper; a staunch Member of the Legislative Assembly; a businessman, cultural guardian, philanthropist and former president of the Chamber of Commerce; all at a time when the Cayman Islands was at a crossroads.

Dr. Roy was born on 2 February, 1893, as the last son of Frederick S. McTaggart and Antoinette Marie nee Eden. He attended Presbyterian School in the Cayman Islands, then Morrison’s Collegiate School in Jamaica followed by colleges in the states of Philadelphia and Washington in the United States of America. He became qualified as a doctor of dental surgery, graduating at the head of his class at the age of 22 and became the only dentist in the Cayman Islands at the time.

Yet he is perhaps best remembered as the man who helped ensure the Cayman Islands remained a British Crown Colony when Jamaica chose independence in 1962.

At a time when Britain gave us the choice to go with Jamaica, Dr. Roy opposed the move and stood firm in the face of local opposition. It was a tense time in the Cayman Islands with the decision to stay with Jamaica or with Britain polarising Caymanian opinion, greatly raising the temperature of public debate and throwing party alignments into disarray. Added to that was the threat from residents of the Sister Islands that they would seek separate Crown Colony status under Britain if Grand Cayman went with Jamaica rule. Governor Kenneth Blackburne, after listening to the impassioned plea of Dr. Roy and the applause that followed, declared that the British case had clearly won. The next day the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to keep the Cayman Islands as a British colony.

Sometime later, Dr. Roy was at a function following Jamaica’s independence when he was approached by Jamaican Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster. The Prime Minister commented that Dr. Roy was “the devil who kept Jamaica from getting control of the Cayman Islands” to which Dr. Roy is said to have replied: “Thank God!”

Dr. Roy was a politician of the finest calibre and served as a legislator for more than 35 years as the second elected member for George Town.

One of his most significant achievements during that time was to help bring free education to the Cayman Islands by introducing the Compulsory Free Education Bill, which passed in 1921.

As a young man, he first ventured into business with his brother Dr. “Mallie” McTaggart in 1917 when he purchased F.N. Lambert and Company; a firm that had vessels in the shipping and turtling industry. He was also the first and only chairman of the Cayman Islands Shipping Company Ltd. that owned and operated the M.V. Cimboco, a vessel that was a lifeline for Caymanians during the Second World War.

It was Dr. Roy who built the Sea View Hotel on South Church Street on the site where Ugland House now stands and he was one of the first Caymanians to construct homes for rent, collaborating with an American associate to develop Coral Caymanian. He also built the By-Rite Supermarket on the site that still sits opposite the court house next to Butterfield Bank.

In 1953 Dr. Roy’s dental parlour on South Church Street became home to the first commercial bank in the Cayman Islands, Barclay’s DCO with a staff of two. In 1957, when Dr. Roy built the Rembro, short for R.E. McTaggart and Brother, Building on Cardinal Avenue, Barclay’s leased half of the ground floor. It was the first four-storey building on Grand Cayman and still stands today. Dr. Roy was also a founder and managing director of the Cayman Weekly newspaper and the first chairman of the Cayman Heritage Council.

Dr. Roy was a generous man and gave large contributions to the Pines Retirement Home and Prospect Youth Centre. He often performed dental procedures for free as well as helped fellow Caymanians in any way he could.

Although Dr. Roy was not blessed with children of his own, he became a father figure to many of his nephews, nieces and their descendants. So it is with great pleasure that I offer congratulations to his extended family today.

Dr. Roy passed away in 1983 but his legacy lives on. His name is already part of our cultural heritage with Dr. Roy’s Drive, which was dedicated to his memory, as well as a plaque in Elmslie Memorial Church. We now commit him to perpetuity as an official national hero of the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands farmers were honoured at the annual National Heroes Day celebrations in George Town today (Monday, 25 January 2016).

The focus of this year’s event was agriculture, with more than 320 farmers recognised for their stalwart efforts.

In addition to the farmers’ awards, a new national hero was announced by the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA.

The late Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart joins the eminent ranks of eight other national heroes, including the only living recipient, Hon. Sybil McLaughlin MBE, JP.

The Cayman Islands’ other national heroes – Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden; Hon. Thomas William Farrington, CBE, JP; Hon. Sybil Joyce Hylton, MBE; Hon. Ormond L. Panton, OBE, Hon. Desmond V. Watler, CBE; Hon. Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon. and Hon. William Warren Connolly, OBE, JP. – were also honoured by young people who take part in the annual youth parliament.

A colourful parade and awards ceremony, attended by Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, included contingents from various uniformed services and community organisations. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Band, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, the Prison Service, Cadet Corps, Girls’ Brigade, Scouts and Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders marched through the streets to Heroes Square where the event was held.

More than 300 farmers received awards, some posthumously, for their contributions to farming in the categories of early pioneer, pioneer, emerging pioneer, memorial scroll and long service award.

There were 142 long-service certificates, 109 placed on the memorial scroll, 38 in the Pioneer, and 19 in the Early Pioneer categories.

“Their labours of love are the reason we are here today to celebrate their achievements,” said Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP. “My personal appreciation of our farmers is well-known, and we still have many things to look forward to from this sector. I can only encourage our young people to follow in their footsteps – with what are sure to be equally rewarding results.”

Wreaths were laid in tribute to all of the Cayman Islands’ national heroes and nation builders, followed by a moment of silence. Pastor Robert James Arch, Cert. Hon., from Church of God Universal, said the prayer, while the national song Beloved Isle Cayman was performed by Rudy Myles and Lisa Scott. Mrs. Scott is the great-granddaughter of the song’s writer Leila Ross-Shier.

Cayman Arts Festival Primary String Players, comprised of children from George Town and Savannah Primary Schools, provided entertainment at the event.

The agriculture theme continued after the ceremony, as attendees and guests sampled fare from local cooks at food stalls in the George Town Public Library car park, while being entertained by the JR Douglas Band and the Back Beat Band.

Awardees also had the chance to have their photos taken along with the Hon. Premier and the Hon. Mr.Tibbetts in the George Town Town Hall.

Also inside the Town Hall, an agriculture display will run until Friday (29 January). It features photos from the National Archives, farming artefacts, plants traditionally farmed in the Cayman Islands and a dedicated walk down memory lane, courtesy of the Bodden Town Heritage Committee.

National Heroes Day is organised by the Protocol Office, For more information contact 244-2612 or email protocol@gov.ky

Monday, 25 January, 2016
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good morning,

Thank you for joining me as we commemorate National Heroes Day 2016 and honour the men and women who have made and continue to make contributions to the continuing development of local farming.

Today we will be honouring farmers in the categories of early pioneer, pioneer, emerging pioneer, memorial scroll and long service awards.

We chose agriculture as this year’s theme because of our country’s long-time focus on the local production of fruits, vegetables and animals as well as the public’s increasing appreciation of organic produce.

It is because of that growing appreciation and this Government’s commitment to agriculture that in 2014 Government partnered with the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute with an eye to growing our agriculture sector by assisting our farmers to produce better quality products for our ever-growing market.

We did so because this Government recognised that the Department of Agriculture needed additional support to further develop the agriculture sector in the Cayman Islands.

The agriculture sector is vital to our country, contributing significantly to food and nutrition security, culinary tourism and cultural preservation.

As such we have extended Saturday’s Market on the Grounds with the opening of the daily Market at the Cricket Grounds, which is a private-sector led initiative in which shoppers can avail themselves of fresh produce, healthy snacks, art and crafts. So far, from what I’ve seen, it has been a resounding success. Government and the farming community thank Dart for doing their part to host Market at Camana Bay each Wednesday.

And because of the high quality of produce, meat and other agriculture products, more and more supermarkets are stocking their shelves with local foodstuffs and restaurants are serving local fare.

It is proof positive that agriculture is a thriving business and a vital industry providing not only fresh foodstuffs for our consumption, but jobs for our people.

Today our farms are producing more than ever, which in turn contributes to healthier lifestyles.

And while agriculture is an important industry, I believe there are more and more backyard gardeners growing their own fresh vegetables, herbs and spices. Not only is it a relaxing hobby, many gardeners will tell you it is therapeutic. I operate my own farm so I know how enjoyable it is to work the soil.

Today we are honouring the men and women who come from a long tradition of working the land, raising livestock and poultry. The people we honour today went beyond subsistence farming. They went over and beyond to make a difference in the lives of those in their communities.

In the early part of last century, in the 1911 census specifically, they were called provision cultivators who grew enough for their families and surplus for sharing, barter or trade.

Back then crops consisted mainly of cassava, potatoes, corn, beans, pumpkin, yams, cocoa and eddoes. These were added to breadfruit, bananas, plantains, coconuts, sugarcane and fruit growing from trees in the household yard.

Many Caymanians backed their loads in thatch baskets supported by a broad strap around their foreheads. Today baskets are still used by some gardeners to bring in the provisions from their grounds. I too use a traditional basket to bring in produce from my farm in East End.

Many farmers still grow the traditional crops I mentioned earlier, but with the help of the Department of Agriculture, the Agriculture Society and CARDI, the variety of crops has expanded to include tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, bok choy, pears, turnips and more.

And today those who practice the calling of agriculture have modern machinery to help them cultivate the soil and prepare livestock. Gone are the days when farmers had to get their provisions out of the bush on donkeys or horses and in some cases pack them in canoes to take them home for consumption, sharing or bartering.

Yes, we have come a long way not only in the way we grow our foodstuffs, but in the quality, quantity and variety. But at the end of the day all of us who toil the soil and raise livestock and poultry are carrying on the time honoured traditions of our forefathers and mothers.

I appreciate the people who took time out to nominate those they thought deserving of this national award. In all there were 350 nominations and today we honour 320 recipients.

Once we have awarded everyone, I invite you to join us as we continue to celebrate our agriculture pioneers with refreshments including fresh produce and beverages.

And remember that as we celebrate all things agriculture today that the annual Agricultural Show is just right around the corner on Ash Wednesday, 10 February. I hope you will join us at the Stacey Watler Pavilion Agriculture Pavilion in Lower Valley. The show on Cayman Brac will be 27 February and 19th March on Little Cayman. These shows will give us additional chances to fellowship and thank the farmers who work tirelessly day in and day out to help feed our country.

Pioneers of agriculture in the Cayman Islands will be honoured at National Heroes Day celebrations on Monday, 25 January, 2016.

The spotlight on farmers will include the categories of early pioneer, pioneer, emerging pioneer, memorial scroll, and long service award.

There will be more than 320 awardees of whom 142 will be given long service certificates, 109 will be placed on the memorial scroll and there will be around 20 in each of the other categories.

“The farmers of this country, on all three islands, have played a very important role in our history, and continue to sustain us,” said Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP. “From the early days of our development, until present times, farming has been the backbone of our society and it is only fitting that we recognise those who have played their part in helping to feed our people.

“From the small-time farmer to those who farm on a larger scale, we honour them all and thank them for their efforts. Farming in the Cayman Islands’ climate can often prove challenging and we pay special tribute to their hard work and perseverance.”

It is also expected that a new national hero will be named at this year’s celebrations to add to the existing eight, including the only living recipient Hon. Sybil McLaughlin, MBE, JP.

The Cayman Islands’ other national heroes – Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden; Hon. Thomas William Farrington, CBE, JP; Hon. Sybil Joyce Hylton, MBE; Hon. Ormond L. Panton, OBE, Hon. Desmond V. Watler, CBE; Hon. Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon.; and Hon. William Warren Connolly, OBE, JP – will also be honoured by youth parliamentarians on Monday.

A minute’s silence will be observed and wreaths will be laid in tribute to the Cayman Islands’ nation builders.

Pastor Robert James Arch, Cert. Hon., from Church of God Universal will say the prayer while the national song, Beloved Isle Cayman, will be performed by Rudy Myles, Cert. Hon, OMH, and Lisa Scott who is the great-granddaughter of the song’s writer Leila Ross-Shier.

Cayman Arts Festival Primary String Players comprised of children from George Town and Savannah Primary Schools will also provide entertainment at the event. Following the ceremony there will be a celebration of food provided by local cooks, and music by the J.R. Douglas Band and Blake Hurlston Band in the George Town Public Library car park.

Award recipients will also have the opportunity to have their photos taken with the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, and Mr. Tibbetts at George Town Town Hall after the ceremony.

For more information on National Heroes Day 2016, contact the Protocol Office on 244-3612 or xnationalevents@gov.ky.

9 AM, Tuesday, 19 January, 2016
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

I am keenly interested that Cayman Economic Outlook has chosen to address the question of “Inequality” this year. I understand from the theme that the conference aims to consider how to address the imbalance created by deepening global inequality. I look forward to hearing the perspectives of the esteemed speakers here today on this important issue.

For my part, I intend to look at what we are doing to address inequality in the Caymanian context. So while the conference has listed my talk today as a ‘State of the Nation Address’, it could perhaps be best titled ‘Addressing the State of Inequality in the Nation’.

It has been said that: “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”

You would be forgiven for thinking that this is a ‘sound bite’ from US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during a television interview on CNN this past weekend. But in fact it is a 2,000-year-old quote by Greek biographer Plutarch.

My point being that this issue of inequality and imbalance is not new. But we have to ask, is inequality really deepening? Perhaps. Are there any solutions that will entirely eradicate inequality from the world? I doubt it.

Communism, the last ‘great’ experiment to supposedly bring about a more equal society failed. The iron curtain in eastern Europe is gone and today even China holds Mao’s ‘little red book’ in one hand and Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ in the other. And because of this, by focusing on economic growth, China has moved more than 500 million people out of extreme poverty over the past 30 years.

We know we cannot fully solve the problem of inequality. But we can, and must, work to dismantle the barriers to equality and strive for a culture and environment that fosters fairness and creates opportunities for individuals to help themselves. Opportunities for employment, for housing, for medicine, food and education.

As Premier of the Cayman Islands I, and the Government that I lead, face the reality of inequality every day. It is not an abstract concept to those of us in Government. We walk among and talk to people at all levels of society. What challenges us is how best to provide opportunities for Caymanians while maintaining the social balance in our three small island communities. Communities with a large, fairly transient workforce on the one hand that makes a significant contribution to our society and to the Gross Domestic Product, and a local population that has not reached its maximum development potential, but certainly expects and deserves the opportunity to do so.

In that context, the inequality that I will primarily speak about today, and indeed the imbalance that the theme of the conference is referring to, is economic inequality.

The first role of Government in tackling economic inequality is to support the drive for economic growth, which benefits everyone. Governments do not create growth or wealth but they can and should create the conditions for the private sector to do so.

This Government’s record in promoting growth is one we can be rightly proud of. By the end of 2016, if current forecasts hold true, under this Government the economy will have grown annually by an average of 1.9 per cent over the three years following our election – and this includes lowered expectations for 2016 given current economic concerns. Contrast this to an average increase of 0.81 per cent in Gross Domestic Product for the preceding three years. Not only has GDP growth more than doubled, but this is a level of economic growth that is acceptable in today’s post great recession economy.

Consider that record against the position in the four years previously. Those of you who reside here will well recall that before the 2013 election Cayman was not in a good place. Yes the country was looking to get out of a global economic slump but there were problems in leadership and a general lack of direction that compounded our problems and slowed the potential for economic growth. If we reflect on the Cayman of four years ago, and consider how much better a place Cayman is today, you will appreciate how much has been done by this Government to improve stability and confidence. It is a transition that did not occur by accident – it occurred because we had a plan to move the country forward to create an environment for growth and opportunities for Caymanians and all who live, work and invest here. And we have been focused and disciplined in carrying out that plan.

Our first priority was to get Government back to a strong and stable financial position. We have been so successful in bringing order back to the management of our public finances that by June this year we will be in full compliance with all of the requirements of the Public Management and Finance Law; returning control of and responsibility for the budget process to the Cayman Islands Government for the first time since 2009. This one achievement certainly helped reinforce the confidence of the United Kingdom Government and of international investors in Cayman.

Indeed that step was crucial in creating the investor confidence that has underpinned our economic strength in recent years.

In monetary terms, when we took office in 2013 the previous administration’s budget surplus was $53.6 million dollars. Our budgets over our first three years have each created surpluses of over $100 million dollars; all while paying down debt and reducing taxation and, in the current budget, providing a 4 per cent cost of living adjustment for civil servants whose salaries had been frozen for at least seven years. While this represents a cost to government of $7.5 million per year, it also represents money left in the pockets of individuals to be spent in the local economy.

We recently began the transition to multi-year budgets with an 18-month interim budget that will take us from 1July, 2016, to 31December, 2017, and which has a forecast surplus of $64 million dollars. This reduced surplus is deliberate as Government takes advantage of its improved financial position to continue to tackle concerns about inequality regarding pay in parts of the public service, including long serving teachers, police officers and others in uniformed services. These civil servants not only had their salaries frozen, but they saw new entrants to the profession being in positions to negotiate higher salaries in line with the cost of living in today’s Cayman. These long-standing and experienced public servants find themselves working for much less than new entrants. This serves as a huge disincentive for them to remain as teachers or in the uniformed services. They deserve better, particularly given their contribution and importance in building and protecting our society.

This next budget will also fund plans designed to correct challenges in the public education system and to improve teaching and learning results. The Needs Assessment Unit and the Department of Children and Family Services will also receive needed funding to enhance services to the most vulnerable and at-risk people in our society. Funds will also be available to implement a new Conditional Release programme to help rehabilitate prisoners to better function in society and live useful and crime-free lives following release from incarceration.

These are all important policy initiatives that directly address inequality and provide opportunities for Caymanians. But we would not have been able to achieve any of these without first having stabilised and improved Government finances.

The second priority in our plan has been supporting and enabling major private sector investment, which creates jobs and drives long term economic growth.

Let me offer you a quick glimpse at some of those developments and the anticipated jobs they will create:

• St. James Point Resort and Condo in Beach Bay will employ 750 persons during construction and provide 325 permanent hospitality jobs. It is expected to open in early 2018.
• The Kimpton Seafire on Seven Mile Beach is nearing completion and will employ 400 persons when it opens in November with 266 rooms and seven restaurants.
• The Treasure Island hotel has been sold and will become Margaritaville Resort. Plans to develop the old Hyatt site continue and Dart has confirmed it will build a second hotel as part of the Camana Bay expansion. Plans are moving ahead for the building of Phase One of Cayman Enterprise City’s campus in South Sound to be completed in 2018.
• Development continues in the Eastern Districts with the proposed Ironwood Golf Resort and expansions to Health City.

But this Government is not just supporting big business. Economic equality means freeing up the entrepreneurial spirit and supporting those who want to establish and grow their own businesses. Therefore, to encourage business growth, Government waived various outstanding fees owed by small businesses still struggling in a post-recession economy. Additionally, licensing fees for small businesses were lowered by 50 per cent or 75 per cent depending on location while licenses for micro businesses are now free. This cost Government about $1 million dollars annually but also allowed many new smaller businesses to start up. We have seen business license grants more than double since then. Again, the goal was to create equal opportunities for Caymanians and we have done so.

I am a firm believer that the private sector is the driver of growth and the creator of wealth in our economy. However, there is a role for Government to invest in key public infrastructure needed to support private sector-led growth.

The hallmark of this Government has been its willingness to commit to the investments needed to develop that infrastructure after years – or in some cases decades – of talk. The $1 million dollar renovation and improvements to the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brach were completed last year and already tourist arrival numbers have significantly increased. Work is well under way on the first phase of the $60 million dollar re-development of the Owen Roberts International Airport. I would add we expect that project to come in on time and on budget and also, we will not borrow a penny to do so. The second phase is about to go out to contract.

We have committed to finding the best way to bring cruise ship berthing to George Town and await the results of a report on options to limit damage to the undersea environment before finalising plans. We have also discussed with the cruise lines their possible participation in the project as we will need a guarantee on the throughput of passengers required to repay any financing package. This project will not only help to safeguard our important cruise business into the future, but it will also enlarge our cargo port.

Both will protect existing jobs as well as bring many new jobs during the project phase leading to many hundreds of more jobs well into the future. And both projects are vitally needed as shown by the ever-increasing arrival numbers of visitors under our watch. We had a record-breaking 385,379 air arrivals in 2015 and a record 1.7 million cruise visitors to our shores last year. That’s a 6.6 per cent increase over 2014 in cruise visitors and the best since 2007. We expect air and cruise numbers to grow even more this year.

The George Town revitalisation plans are being strengthened through a positive dialogue with businesses and other stakeholders. In the meantime, Government is committing to infrastructure improvements necessary for the plans to succeed, including further road developments to Humber Lane, Bobby Thompson Way, Fort Street, Edward Street and the Linford Pierson Highway.

These infrastructure improvements create jobs now as we deliver them but they are also crucial to securing our future growth and prosperity. However, while growth is central to tackling inequality it must be growth whose benefits are felt by all. That is why the second task of Government is to ensure equality of economic opportunity.

The most obvious example of that is the opportunity to find work.

As I said to you in 2014, to address the unemployment of Caymanians we first had to lay a solid foundation of confidence and investments to help create those jobs. This we have done and our efforts have seen total unemployment fall from 6.3 per cent in 2013 to 4.7 per cent in 2014. Unemployment amongst Caymanians fell from 9.4 per cent in 2013 to 7.9 per cent in 2014. A six-month interim survey indicated that Caymanian unemployment increased to 8.3 per cent during the ‘slow’ tourism season, but I fully expect this to fall back again and continue its downward trend when the next full survey results are published in a month or so.

However, national statistics mask individual problems. I believe this Government deserves huge credit for its achievements in delivering growth and cutting the unemployment rate but I understand that is no consolation if you are one of those still unable to find work. If it is your livelihood that has been lost; if it is your family struggling to pay household bills then the reality is very different from that much more positive national picture.

That is why this Government recognizes it must do more. In a growing and successful economy we should not accept a position in which Caymanians who want to work, and are able to work, find that they cannot get work. Both Government and business should find this unacceptable and agree that that if this issue is not aggressively tackled it will create more inequality and cause division in our society.

Government must do more and business must do more. In my view, we need to do more together. I have therefore called for employers to work with us to find a way to employ capable Caymanians who are out of work. To aid this effort, in February Government will launch the ‘Ready2Work KY’ jobs programme to make it easier for businesses to hire Caymanians and train them. It is a multi-pronged approach to up-skill those who need it and help Caymanians who already have skills but are unemployed find gainful employment. It will be a Government and private sector partnership with government covering the costs of the employee’s salary and benefits during the training period. The initial cost will be $1.7 million dollars and will be one part of an overall plan that will seek to provide paths to employment for Caymanians experiencing barriers to work. Where necessary, support services will help ensure that employment is maintained and work performance is where it should be.

The programme closely resembles another successful Government and private sector initiative, the Hospitality Training School, which has provided opportunities for young men and women to get on-the-ground training and experience with various hospitality jobs coupled with classroom time. At the end of the programme, the successful participants receive employment offers in the tourism industry.

While these programmes work to help those who are in need now, we will not shy away from providing our young people with a 21st Century education that aligns training with job opportunities and skills. In a small country such as ours, we must ensure that our people are given the opportunity to participate in the economy at whatever level and in whatever way that meets their aspirations and abilities.

In the year ahead, we will also strengthen the institutional framework of our educational system by bringing into force a new Education Law to improve success rates and outcomes and raise overall standards. We will do our part as a government to prepare our people for the future economy, but we cannot do it alone. We expect the private sector to do its part too. And we expect our people to do what is needed to maintain jobs and continue learning. At the end of the day, we expect that those Caymanians finding jobs will give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and I encourage those of you who may have a job to offer, to make a Caymanian your first choice.

Getting Caymanians into work is central to reducing inequality but we also need to do more to provide opportunities for advancement of those in work. Government has a role to play in supporting life-long learning and in fostering ambition and drive in our people. We look to businesses to offer bright and able Caymanians better opportunities for promotion – we want to see more as equity partners in the firms or sitting on the boards of companies. In the coming year we will pass a new Legal Practitioners Law, which will enhance the regulation and economic opportunities for the legal profession and also ensure fair treatment and opportunities for Caymanian attorneys within law firms.

Again, it is much easier to create opportunities at times of growth – that is why the commitment of Government to support growth underpins all that we do.

There are times when it is right for Government to intervene directly to tackle economic inequality. This is not about Government acting as a trade union but it is about recognizing that sometimes the existing imbalance in economic power needs to be tilted back a little.

That is what lies behind the drive to establish the minimum wage. This will directly benefit those most economically unequal in our society. So beginning 1 March this year Government will introduce a national minimum wage of $6 per hour and $4.50 an hour for workers receiving tips or other benefits such as housing. We believe it will help reduce the inequality caused by the low wages that both Caymanians and expatriates earn in some parts of our economy.

It is also the thinking behind the proposed changes to the Labour Law. I recognise business concerns over some of the proposals and we are listening, but businesses too must recognise the inequalities in the labour market. One of the changes in the Law will be an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65. It is another area of inequality for people who are willing, able and need to work beyond the age of 60.

Government can also play its part in tackling inequality using other fiscal and regulatory levers at its disposal. The budget surpluses we have generated because of better money management also allow us to avoid the need for any new taxes or any new borrowing. We knew that any such move would have been counter-productive to our mission and would have hurt the economy.

In fact, as I have noted, we have been able to reduce the cost of doing business and the cost of living for individuals through lower taxes and fees. These include a 2 per cent reduction in the duty charged on most goods imported by retailers, wholesalers, or other licensed traders. This equates to at least $4 million dollars annually.

We also reduced the import duty paid by Caribbean Utilities Company on fuel used for electricity generation – an overall 50-cents or 75 per cent reduction per gallon of fuel imported, at a cost to government of at least $12 million dollars annually. This directly benefits every person and every business by lowering their electricity costs – money that remains with businesses and consumers to spend in the local economy. We also know that these duty reductions provide the greatest benefit to the poorer parts of our society for whom utility costs are a higher proportion of their outgoings.

Seeking to ensure that the motoring public fully benefits from the market reductions in the price of fuel, the legislative intervention by Government through amendments to the Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage Law has seen results with lower market prices for imported fuel and has brought greater equity for consumers. But more needs to be done before we are happy that the oil companies are treating our people fairly. And we are taking those necessary steps.

A strong economy and stable government finances also enable us to take some responsibility on the global stage for tackling inequality. We are not in a position to be a major giver of international aid but we were, for example, able to offer support to our neighbours in Dominica in their time of need following the devastation brought by Tropical Storm Erika, which swept through that country devastating villages, wrecking bridges and leaving a reconstruction bill worth half the country’s annual GDP. We could only do so because of the economic platform this government created.

The economic platform that we have built serves a further benefit. Since late last year, and continuing into 2016, concerns with a slowing Chinese economy have created uncertainty in world markets and warnings of a potential economic slump later this year. If this should happen, we are much better placed than ever to ward off a recession. Government’s infrastructure projects, coupled with the private sector projects mentioned earlier, will keep our economy moving. In addition, our cash reserves are healthy and we have significantly reduced debt over the past three years and shown that Government can, if it wants to, manage its treasury in a disciplined way.

The economy and economic equality are central but Government also has to be willing to tackle social and political inequality.

At the social level that includes opening up debate on difficult social issues like sexuality even if we find it uncomfortable or (worse!) politically contentious. And beyond the debate we must have the political and moral courage to acknowledge that discrimination in any form is wrong and take the necessary measures to address it.

The Government has also responded to concerns of inequality that people with disabilities face. This year Government will enact its first Disabilities Law so that people with disabilities can better fulfil their roles in society. Part and parcel of the revitalization of downtown George Town is making it more accessible for our people, residents and tourists with disabilities.

Finally, Government must ensure political equality. The most obvious example is the introduction of one person, one vote to replace the previous one person one vote, another person six votes system. Opposition to this change has come consistently from some quarters – I wonder sometimes what is so frightening about this fundamental principle of democracy.

Equality at the ballot box is vitally important but democracy is not a once every four year’s occurrence. After all, the voters in a “one party state” get that much. No, we must also ensure equality of political access; the openness and transparency of Government; good governance and appropriate decision-making. Those things have been the hallmark of this government in marked contrast to what has gone before. No more is government characterized by decision-making to benefit those making the decision. No more is there on-going suspicion of corruption and scandal. Instead we have a Government willing to open up public debate (for example over cruise berths and our waste management strategy) and a Government willing to act in the interests of the whole country.

It is that approach to Government that has given us the strength to tackle the problems we inherited. It is that approach that has delivered strong and stable finances, created business confidence and fostered economic growth. It is that approach that will drive further prosperity, create better employment and economic opportunities for our people and tackle the inequality that is the subject of this conference.

In closing, I sincerely thank Fidelity for asking me to speak today and I thank each of you for your patience and kind attention.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the conference.

Caymanian Julian D. Lewis will take over as the new Director of the Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) in late February.

Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush announced the posting for Mr. Lewis, who has served as assistant director in the department’s Electronic Monitoring Centre (EMC) since 2011.

He replaces Mr. Brent Finster, a public safety communicator with 35 years of experience, from the United States, and the department’s first director since August 2008. Mr. Finster’s previous positions included Telecommunications Manager for a county fire district in the San Francisco Bay area, and Communications Director of Aspen, Colorado.

Appointed following a public recruitment process, Mr. Lewis will manage the Cayman Islands’ Public Safety Communications Centre (PSCC – formerly known as 9-1-1), as well as the electronic monitoring (of offenders wearing ankle bracelets) and national closed circuit television (CCTV) programmes.

Mr. Lewis, who possesses a bachelor’s of law degree from the Truman Bodden Law School, previously served in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Force for 11 years. At the department, he is one of two Caymanian Assistant Directors who were being mentored by the Director as part of a succession plan.

“I am truly honoured to be heading a dynamic and highly dedicated staff that provides service to clients 24-7,” Mr. Lewis said. “We work in a challenging field where no two days are the same. Yet while the demands on our 24 members of staff are high, they are invariably handled adeptly. Nevertheless, we have to keep up our training and professionalism, so that we continue to provide excellent service to our clients,” he added.

In fact, the PSCC’s workload grew by 5.8% in fiscal year 2014-15 over the previous year, while 9-1-1 telephone calls rose by a whopping 20.5% from 79,899 to 96,244 during this time. 9-1-1 clients include government entities such as the police and emergency medical services, as well as the general public.

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Officer Eric Bush commented, “I welcome Mr. Lewis and look forward to working with him in his new role. He has proven his capability and capacity for hard work and excellence since joining the department in 2011.”

Thanking the present Director for his services, Mr. Bush continued, “Mr. Finster has served very ably for over seven years. During that time, he has established an impressive legacy with the implementation of the first national CCTV initiative, the expansion of electronic monitoring, the relentless drive to improve emergency dispatch services and, more recently, the on-boarding of non-emergency dispatch.”

He added, “Mr. Finster was also one of the first department heads in the Ministry of Home Affairs to implement a formal succession plan, which guided training and development needs for staff in the department. The rigorous recruitment process proves that succession planning works.”

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good morning. It does my heart so good to come to Cayman Brac and the grand re-opening of the Cayman Brac Beach Resort is the icing on the cake to my visit here today.

Thank you for joining me in celebrating the reopening and rebranding of this important tourism asset to not only Cayman Brac, but all three of our Cayman Islands.

As most of you know, Mr. Linton Tibbetts and two co-investors opened the first Brac Reef Hotel in 1977.

This was one of two positive things happening on Cayman Brac that year despite the fact that much of the Western world was still reeling from the recession of 1973 to 1976; the other being the opening of a Cayman National Bank branch at Cotton Tree Bay here on Cayman Brac.

Mr. T as he was affectionately known realized that that the Brac was still feeling the ills of the recession and that his people needed jobs. He set out to further develop the tourism product of Cayman Brac and help grow those jobs.

He knew, like most good business people, that he had to lay the foundation – literally and figuratively – to create those jobs and build the tourism product.

He also knew that to sustain development and jobs, the Brac would have to get visitors to this Island. So Mr. T, along with Capt. Willie Kirkconnell, Burke Ryan, Edward Ritch and a few others, formed a company and bought several DC3 planes to provide direct flights from the St. Petersburgh/Clearwater Airport to Cayman Brac under the name of Red Carpet Airlines, proving a very useful passenger and cargo service.

That first hotel built in 1977 was such a success that the Brac Reef Hotel was sold to the Divi Corporation in 1983, but on the condition that Mr. T build more hotel rooms to lure even more tourists to Cayman Brac.

In February 1985 the Brac Reef Resort opened its doors with much fanfare and about 200 welcoming guests at the grand opening.

Then-ExCo member for Tourism, Aviation and Trade Mr. Norman Bodden said in his speech at that grand opening that Mr. T had a good reputation as a successful businessman and construction of the new Brac Reef Hotel in such a choice location did not only attest to his vast business experience, but also stood as a definite expression of Mr. Tibbetts’ confidence in the continued development of tourism in the Cayman Islands and particularly in Cayman Brac.

Fast forward to where we stand today with the grand re-opening of Cayman Brac Beach Resort. I firmly believe that Mr. T’s family is carrying on his legacy of promoting Cayman Brac and ensuring her economy is sustained in part through tourism and the many developments he contributed to our country.

It was a commitment to the Island and the country that we saw in spades in November 2008 when Hurricane Paloma devastated Cayman Brac and reduced the site you are now standing on to rubble. Mr. T and his family could have thrown in the towel and walked away from all the damage back then, but they were determined to press ahead and rebuild.

Today I am happy to be a part of this grand re-opening and rebranding of Mr. T’s vision and foresight. I commend the family for championing the cause of growth and tourism on the Sister Islands. We saw the family’s commitment to carry on his legacy in 2014 with the opening of the Little Cayman Museum and continue to see it with today’s events.

This enhanced property is a huge benefit to the Brac’s tourism product and on behalf of Government I sincerely thank the family for its investment in Cayman Brac.

Before I close, I want to extend my condolences to the Tibbetts family on the passing of Miss Polly on 4 January this year. It was such a pleasure to spend time with her have a chat about the family and all of the accomplishments when the Little Cayman Museum was officially opened. I have a picture on my desk in my office of that visit of Miss Polly and myself, which I truly prize. I am sure the family will agree that Mr. T’s accomplishment and vision was shared by Miss Polly and we have her to thank just as well.

As I am anxious for you to take a tour and see the new freeform resort pool, upgraded accommodations and resort-wide renovations – as I have already had the pleasure on a previous recent visit – I will close now.

Again, thank you all for joining me in this all-important day for Cayman Brac and the successful future of leisure and dive tourism in the Cayman Islands.

Businesses that are publicly exhibiting films in the Cayman Islands are following new guidelines, as The Film Exhibition Control Law (2015) came into effect on 1 January 2016.

The law, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in June 2015, replaces the Cinematograph Law (2009) and designates a Film Control Board that has the authority to rate movies being shown in Cayman. The law also calls for the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) to license the premises used for the public exhibition of films.

Commerce Minister Wayne Panton said the legislation seeks to bolster the film industry in Cayman.

‘Government hopes to encourage a variety of businesses to operate on these shores and this legislation provides further clarity for film festivals and other public screenings that can be staged here and grant Cayman positive international exposure’, he said.

‘At the same time, the law calls for the protection of consumers by clearly identifying film content and building in safeguards against minors watching harmful material. Government is not taking away the role of parents in determining what constitutes appropriate viewing, but rather ensuring that parents can make better decisions regarding what films their children watch’.

On 16 December, Cabinet appointed Rita Estevanovich, Tonie Chisholm and Andrew Ebanks to the Film Control Board, for a period of three years. Ms Estevanovich is the chair.

Under the law, persons who intend to screen films that do not carry ratings, such as locally made movies, will need to contact the board in order to obtain a rating, so that the board can review the film’s content. There is a $25 fee to receive a rating.

Movies that are screened without any ratings will be deemed as unsuitable for children; premises are neither permitted to allow children to view such films, nor allowed to screen those movies before 7 p.m. Failure to abide by these conditions will result in a penalty of at least $2,000, and refusing to pay that penalty will result in an additional fine of $4,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both.

The board has the option of banning a movie from being screened if it is considered unsuitable for viewership in Cayman.

In respect to licenced premises, DCI has various powers to ensure compliance with the law. To apply for a premises licence, a person must provide DCI with a valid trade and business licence; and proof of compliance with relevant planning, building, safety, fire, and health codes. The licensing fee will vary between $100 and $1,500, depending on the cost of admission for the screening.

The Gambling (Amendment) Law 2015, which came into effect on 1 January 2016, amends The Gambling Law (1996 Revision) to allow for gambling on cruise ships and exclude raffles being staged by non-profit organisations (NPOs).

The amendment, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in October 2015, legalises gambling on cruise vessels if they are (1) registered in the Cayman Islands under a contract of carriage from a major cruise carrier; (2) passenger ships, carrying more than 12 people; and (3) in international waters and on an international voyage between Cayman and another port of call.

Gambling is not permitted on any vessel while it is in port in the Cayman Islands or in Cayman’s territorial waters.

The amendment also legalises raffling by NPOs such as church groups, sports teams and community service clubs. Previously, NPOs that raised cash through raffles were considered in breach of the law and subject to penalties.

Commerce Minister Wayne Panton said the legislation will encourage more cruise vessels to register in Cayman, while also paving the way for community fundraising.

‘The initial goal of the amendment was to attract the cruise ship industry to Cayman, with legislation that endorses gambling on their international voyages’, Minister Panton said. ‘After further discussion with my colleagues, it became clear that there was also a need to legalise the staging of raffles by voluntary organisations that raise funds for programs that contribute to society’.

Persons who breach their business licence requirements in Cayman will be subject to receiving tickets and paying fines under the new Trade and Business Licensing Law.

The law, which commenced on 1 January, includes penalties that will be levied on business owners who commit offences ranging from failing to clearly display their trade and business licence; to hindering a police officer or Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) trade officer during the course of an activity, such as a search of a business premise. Tickets range from $100 to $2,500.

DCI will administer the ticketing system, which the department’s Director Ryan Rajkumarsingh says is not to punish people, but rather to encourage them to fulfil their responsibilities under the legislation.

‘Over the years, business owners who follow the law have asked repeatedly that Government implement a mechanism that addresses those who are not in compliance’, he explained.

‘So it was no surprise that, when DCI held educational meetings leading up to the implementation of the new TBL, this was one of the main subjects that attendees raised. Business owners see compliance as one of the main factors that ensures fair competition in Cayman’.

Business owners will have two ways of dealing with tickets. They can either pay the ticket within 28 days after it has been issued, or request, within 28 days of receiving the ticket, a Summary Court trial.

Failure to either pay the ticket, or to notify the Summary Court within the specified time frame, will result in business owners being summoned to court.

The new law focuses on creating a level playing field for businesses, and is intended to lead to greater efficiencies in the overall business licensing system. Among other features, it reduces eapproval times for licenses, clarifies business licensing categories, and, through the ticketing regime and other provisions, improves DCI’s enforcement powers.

Above: A rendering of the Ironwood project

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Fellow Caymanians, residents and guests; Happy New Year.

Here we stand on the threshold of the New Year with all of its possibilities as we say farewell to 2015. Just as our Christmas gifts were filled with unknowns before we pealed back the paper to reveal the surprise inside, so is the year 2016.

We had to put effort into opening those gifts just as we will have to put effort into making 2016 a better year for each of us and for the country as a whole.

We celebrate the achievements of the year just passed and your Progressives-led Government will build on those successes, continuing to bring prosperity to our country and our people. We will maintain the confidence in country and government that is now so evident by the level of investment and economic activity in these Islands.  The prospects for the New Year and the years to come are bright and under this administration the people of these blessed Islands can look forward to a future filled with opportunities.

While much of what the New Year holds for us is unknown, there are some things that, the good Lord willing, we intend to accomplish in 2016. We will continue to build on the outstanding achievements of 2015, including an improved economy and the restoration of public and investor confidence in the Cayman Islands.

We will continue to maintain the country’s much-improved financial standing with surplus budgets and tightly controlled public expenditure.  In June this Government was successful in getting the 12-month 2015-16 Fiscal Year Budget approved in the Legislative Assembly with a projected surplus of $119.8 million.

The financial forecast for Fiscal Year 2016-17 shows operating revenues to be $896 million while operating expenditures are expected to be $851 million resulting in a forecast surplus of $64 million. The 2016-17 plan also puts us on a path of calendar year budgets, with an initial budget taking from 1 July, 2016, to 31 December, 2017.

By June of this New Year we expect to have met all the requirements of the Public Management and Finance Law, fully complying with all the Principles of Responsible Financial Management, proving our capability to assume full autonomy of the budget process. This will mean we will no longer be required to have our proposed financial plans vetted and approved by the United Kingdom.  For the first time since 2009, the Cayman Islands Government will have full control and responsibility for the country’s budget and finances.

That has happened because this Government – your Government – has met the agreed fiscal targets each and every year, following the master plan we set forth in the 2013-2017 Medium Term Fiscal Strategy and we have stayed true to Government’s Broad Goals and Objectives.

The rewards from our approach to fiscal discipline have been significant. Our relationship with the United Kingdom Government has been restored; our debt burden has been reduced; cash balances have increased significantly, to the point where an overdraft facility has not been necessary, and we are aiming to repay a US$312 million bond due in November 2019 from our own resources. We are also in a position to continue the delivery of surplus budgets.

It has been this Government’s mission all along to restore Cayman’s public finances to a sustainable level in a realistic manner and we have done so without imposing any new taxes on our people or businesses and without the need for any new borrowing. Indeed, the converse is true. We have consistently eased the tax burden by reducing fees and taxes and we will not impose any taxes or undertake any new borrowings for the remainder of our term.

In fact, it is this Government – your Government – that has worked hard to reduce the cost of living for all.

We begin this New Year with a further reduction in the duty charged on diesel that Caribbean Utilities Company uses to generate electricity. The first reductions were our gift to the country in January last year. These further cuts will mean even more savings to our people, residents and businesses. This reduction means a cost savings to all who use electricity in our homes and businesses and equates to $8.4 million dollars annually left in the pockets of CUC electricity consumers.

This Government has also provided a savings to consumers of at least $4 million dollars annually by reducing the import duty on most consumable goods.

Civil servants are better off because we had the desire and will to give badly needed pay increases to our civil servants with a 2.5% honorarium in 2014 followed by a 4% cost of living adjustment last year. This year we begin addressing the long-standing problem of pay stagnation within the Civil Service starting with teachers and spreading across the wider Civil Service in phases in the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.

Cutting import duty on fuel imported by CUC and on consumable goods and giving deserving pay adjustments are measures designed to reduce the cost of living and to stimulate the economy as everyone will have more money with which to buy goods and services. It’s a win-win situation for all.

As a government we have delivered on most of the things we promised the electorate when we took office: that we would restore Government finances; we would work to restore the economy; we would reintroduce good governance; and we would rebuild the relationship with the United Kingdom.  We said all these things would translate into greater economic opportunities and greater employment opportunities for Cayman, and they have.

As the statistics prove and as the various development projects I will outline shortly demonstrate, Cayman’s economy is in fact rebounding, creating more jobs and economic opportunities.  But what is not happening to the degree that is necessary, is employment of Caymanians. While overall unemployment has fallen from a high of 6.3% in December of 2013 to 5.6% in September of  2015  Caymanian unemployment remains unacceptably high at 8.3%.

For those who may doubt the statistics, the almost 1,000 Caymanians who turned up looking to take part in the government work programme in the run up to Christmas should provide a reality check.  The unemployment level of Caymanians is just too high in an economy that is expanding and where there is clear evidence of significant job creation. Since this administration took office in May 2013, work permit numbers have increased from about 17,000 to 22,000 presently. Yet Caymanian unemployment remains stubbornly high.  Something is very wrong with this equation.  While we must acknowledge that there are significant issues that stand in the way of employment for some Caymanians, this is simply not the case for most Caymanians.

Everyone calls on Government to do something about unemployment, but the reality is Government can only do something about it if we can get the private sector to hire more local people. One of the significant changes that I have observed over the course of the last 10 to 12 years is the attitude of local businesses to giving Caymanians a chance.  There is a reluctance these days on the part of many businesses to take on Caymanians and invest in training them to do the job.

There needs to be a sea change in the business community where businesses are more willing to take on Caymanians who don’t meet precisely all of their employment requirements and train them.

I have already met with the Chamber of Commerce and some members of the hospitality industry and am proposing to meet this month with a group of building contractors to explain in detail government’s expectations with respect to Caymanian employment.  The time for excuses has passed.

The great push over the course of the balance of this term is to deal with what I consider the Achilles heel of this administration – Caymanian unemployment – and to get as many of our people back into good jobs.

The many projects that Government and the private sector are    undertaking will provide many employment and economic opportunities and Caymanians must share in them.

Many of you have seen work on the first phase of the estimated $60M expansion to the terminal building at Owen Roberts International Airport is well under way. It will continue with the next phase starting in March with a completion date in the first half of 2018. Throughout all of this work the terminal will remain fully functional, safe and secure.

Improvements to the airport and its expansion are helping Government provide opportunities for Caymanian businesses to participate in the project, creating employment for Caymanians.  Even more jobs will be needed once the work is done as more people will be needed not only at the airport but at stores, restaurants and other businesses that support the airport and needs of travellers.

We anticipate 387,566 air arrivals by the end of this calendar year and 411,192 by the end of calendar year 2016.

Dovetailing quite nicely with the airport expansion and the expected increase of air arrivals, are many hotel projects in the works. One of those is the Kimpton Seafire Hotel, which is set to open its doors to the public in November this year with 266 rooms and seven restaurants on Seven Mile Beach. In fact the Seafire has already booked a major event for its opening month, the One Young World Sustainable Finance Summit. That three-day event will bring 500 young world leaders and many notable speakers to the Cayman Islands to discuss ways young people can drive financial policy.

Kimpton is a unique, boutique brand. Its foray into Cayman is its first venture out of the United States and will need 400 employees when completed. Another solid brand hotel coming to Cayman is Margaritaville.  As many of you know the Treasure Island Resort is being converted to the Margaritaville Beach Resort on Seven Mile Beach, which will feature 280 rooms, multiple bars and restaurants and is expected to open in December this year.

In addition to creating jobs during the development of both hotels, Kimpton is offering 62 luxury residences and Margaritaville is offering 110 condominium suites for sale, providing real estate investment opportunities.

I am equally excited about the five-star Beach Bay hotel going up at St. James Point in the District of Bodden Town. The developer estimates that 750 jobs will be created during the construction phase with another 325 permanent hospitality jobs. As this Government has done with all development projects, we insist – and the developer agrees – that hiring Caymanian workers and local firms is a priority. And we are training our own to take their rightful places in the hospitality industry through the highly successful Hospitality School.

In addition to creating jobs, these projects are also pumping millions of dollars into Cayman’s economy. And there is more to come.

There is the redevelopment of the Old Hyatt hotel, a second Dart hotel – also planned on Seven Mile Beach as part of the Camana Bay expansion – the Health City hotel and the proposed Ironwood golf resort in North Side. The rebranding of the Reef Resort in East End as a Wyndham property has brought another new global brand to the Islands.

We have already seen what an increase in tourism can do for an economy by looking at Cayman Brac where improvements made by this Government to the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport has boosted air arrivals on the Brac by 20 per cent. The knock-on effect has meant an increase in visitors, which spurred the Brac Reef Hotel to make property upgrades to handle the welcomed load of more people as well as 21 more jobs at the airport.

Supporting these developments are ongoing road works. You will have seen the much improved Godfrey Nixon Way and Smith Road thoroughfares. We will continue in this New Year to make needed improvements to Linford Pierson Highway, giving it four lanes, widening Thomas Russell Way and making improvements to Edward and Fort Streets. Dart will begin the extension of Esterley Tibbetts Highway, making even more improvements to our road infrastructure.

Dart will also build an additional two lanes of roadway from the Century 21 Roundabout to the Butterfield Roundabout near AL Thompson’s. This will include a new roundabout in the vicinity of the Lakeside Apartments on Esterley Tibbetts Highway, which will ultimately accommodate the Airport Connector Road. While Dart will fund the road works between the Century 21 Roundabout to and including the roundabout near Lakeside, Government has agreed to fund the extension south of the new roundabout to the Butterfield Roundabout.

I mention all of this development to show that investor confidence in the Cayman Islands has been restored by our Progressives-led Government. Indeed we have worked hard in the past two and a half years to restore trust, faith and belief in our country and in Government. There is no way Cayman can return to things as they were when we took office in May 2013.

There is further evidence of confidence in Cayman and Government in the Financial Services Industry. We continue to attract companies that want to domicile in Cayman because we are engaged in vigorous international cooperation regimes complemented by our robust anti-money laundering and countering of terrorist financing programmes. We remain focused on the importance of the financial services industry to our economy and will continue to provide the necessary policies and legislation to help the industry grow.

As long as the Progessives-led Government is at the helm of the good ship Cayman, we will also stand our ground on the global stage. Once again the United Kingdom tried unsuccessfully to strong-arm the Overseas Territories on beneficial ownership when we travelled to London to attend the yearly Joint Ministerial Conference last month. Our stance on beneficial ownership and our zero tolerance position on corruption and illicit activity remain unchanged. We have effective mechanisms for the sharing of information for tax purposes both on request and by automatic exchange of information. We are transparent for tax purposes and we collaborate to avoid any abuse of our system by criminals.

And I believe it is because we stand our ground when we know we’re right that the UK’s confidence in the Cayman Islands Government, renewed under our leadership, is all the more stronger.

We have also restored the confidence of the private sector, working hand-in-hand with them in 2015 to help ensure that more of our Caymanian people are hired into good, long-term jobs and that they are properly trained to take up the jobs they are qualified to do. But as I have said before, more businesses need to step up to the plate and do their part in hiring and training Caymanians.

We know we have to do our part too. When the PPM was last at the helm of Government we laid the foundation for the transformation of our education system to make it a world-class structure. In the upcoming year we will revise the Education Modernisation Law 2009, and bring into force a new Education Law, which will do many things to shore up our educational system. We continue to focus on long-term economic growth and developing the skills of our people for the future economy.

As we approach another New Year we will continue to look to the future and the opportunities that will come. I know in my heart of hearts that this Government will continue to do what is just and right to make life better for all Caymanians and those who call our shores home.

And despite the unfortunate departure of two of our members, your Government remains strong and we will continue to work for the betterment of our people and our country.

We have bid farewell to another Christmas in which we celebrated again the birth of Christ and His teachings of love and tolerance. We need to love and be tolerant of one another and appreciate that discrimination in any form is wrong. Our Constitution speaks specifically to Cayman being a God-fearing country based on traditional Christian principles, including tolerance. Indeed Christ himself exhorts us “to love one another as I have loved you”.

So as we go into another New Year, I want to leave you with this quote from an old Chinese proverb: “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

It is this Government – your Government – that is “doing it”.

As we start this New Year, it is my hope that the people of the Cayman Islands will see all that we have done to restore confidence in the country and to restore stability to Government finances and to the economy.

The New Year offers so much hope, prosperity and, yes, challenges. But the Progressives-led Government is fully equipped to meet those challenges head on.

On behalf of Government I wish each of you a very happy and prosperous New Year. May God continue to find favour with these beloved Cayman Islands.

Councillor for the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Financial Services Roy McTaggart has joined the Progressives in the run up to the May 2017 general elections in the Cayman Islands.

Premier and Leader of the Progressives, of which he is a founding member, Hon. Alden McLaughlin said he was delighted with Mr. McTaggart’s decision to officially join the group.

“Roy has been an integral part of this Government since the May 2013 elections. It is obvious that he shares the same ideals and philosophy of the Progressives,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “He has worked side by side with us to help restore trust and confidence in the government and the Cayman Islands as a whole. For that we are grateful and welcome him with open arms.”

Mr. McTaggart, who joined Government after he was elected as an independent, said the move to the Progressives is natural and logical.

“As you can see from my voting record over the past two and a half years, I have generally supported policies and legislation introduced by the members of the Progressives, so this move is what I consider the next natural thing for me to do as I intend to remain a part of Government following the next election, assuming I am re-elected,” said Mr. McTaggart. “I have been able to put my financial experience to work for the country and have helped develop policies to grow our economy, put a stop to excessive and wasteful spending and helped to ensure a high quality of life for our citizens that they expect and deserve.”

Mr. McTaggart is a former chairman of the Board of Cayman Airways, a member of the Commission for Standards in Public Life and is chairman of the Young Caymanian Leadership Foundation. He has been active in many roles in the community from serving in several roles with the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, including two years as president. He has also been the treasurer of the Church of Christ and enjoys mentoring Caymanian students in need of positive role models. He was also a member of the Board of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.

Mr. McTaggart joined KPMG in the Cayman Islands in 1985, transferred to their Orlando office in 1986, and returned to the Cayman Islands in 1988.

He was admitted to the partnership in 1991, became joint Managing Partner in 2003 and appointed Managing Partner in 2007. He was Managing Director of KMPG in the British Virgin Islands from 2007-2012.

By Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

We find ourselves once again at the time of year when everything and everyone is just a little more special. It’s Christmas.

There’s a magic in the air as we bustle about in search of the right gifts and food. But today I would like us to slow down just a little and consider all that we have to be thankful for in Cayman.

Today the world around us is filled with news of doom and gloom from terrorism attacks to countries facing serious financial hardships. We hear and read stories of people fleeing their homeland because of wars or injustice and of countries that are overwhelmed with the burden of the refugees.

In a world where so much seems to be going wrong, we sometimes don’t appreciate how blessed we are in the Cayman Islands.

That’s what we should be doing this Christmas season; counting our many blessings and being thankful for them.

While we are not without our own issues in Cayman, we have most certainly been richly blessed as a country.

Christmas is a time that reminds us to be thankful for our families and friends and the many opportunities to gather for food, fellowship and making memories. I know that I am thankful for my wife, my two sons, my father and sisters as well as my extended family and the many people I am fortunate enough to call friends.

We can be thankful that once again God has spared us the wrath of another devastating hurricane this year and we pray our good fortune and blessings continue into the upcoming New Year.
In Cayman we are blessed with a sun that is constantly kissing us and we are surrounded by the most beautiful water in the world.

We are also blessed and thankful that we are a country that, as it says in our Constitution, is “A God-fearing country based on traditional Christian values, tolerant of other religions and beliefs”.

I count as our blessings and am thankful for the many businesses that have chosen the Cayman Islands as their home base and for the tourists who find our homeland as appealing as we do.
We are thankful for the farmers and fishermen whose provisions we consume year-round, but especially at Christmas.

I do believe that sometimes we forget, in the grand scheme of things, that Cayman is blessed beyond measure. So let us turn aside the tragedy, turmoil and treachery we see the world over and instead dwell on thankfulness.

It is my hope that during this special time of year you take some time to reflect on your personal blessings and those of the Cayman Islands and offer thanks.

It is my sincere hope that each of you has a joyous Christmas and that these feelings of goodwill to our fellow man will carry over into the New Year.

Today many will unwrap their Christmas gifts and receive nice surprises. But there are still gifts we can give. I have a few suggestions made by Oren Arnold, a novelist, journalist and humourist:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

On behalf of Government, my family and myself, I wish each of you a very blessed Christmas season.

The Immigration Department continues with efforts to improve customer service to members of the public at its main office on Elgin Avenue, George Town.

In a bid to reduce waiting times and enhance customers’ experience, several new measures have been implemented.

Included in these service offerings is online access to view waiting times for services at the front counter. For example, customers can log onto www.immigration.gov.ky and click on the button “Immigration Online” to sign up and check the anticipated waiting time for a particular service at the public counter.

While visiting the office, customers can also now enjoy free wifi internet as they wait for assistance at the counter.

“We are cognizant that, at times, waiting can be lengthy, so the wifi access has been provided to customers for their personal use and has been a great success,” said Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Samantha Bennett.

The department has also introduced additional payment options which now allow customers to conduct transactions with debit and credit cards in addition to the previous methods of cash and cheque.

Additionally, English Language tests for work permit applications can now be booked by telephone and email, eliminating the need to visit the office in person to schedule such an appointment. This can be arranged through the Immigration Call Centre on (345) 949-8344 or on englishtestdoi@gov.ky.

Immigration is also reminding the public that the office has extended opening hours on Wednesday evenings, from 4pm to 7pm.

“We are extremely pleased to offer a few customer service enhancements to the public,” said Ms Bennett. ”We are currently working on additional areas where we can make the customer service experience a pleasant and efficient one, and we will strive to make additional improvements in early 2016.”

Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith commented that the initiatives would bring greater value to the customer experience and a move in the direction of positive change generally.

From a staffing development perspective, increased numbers of staff from various sections of the department have been introduced to, and are actively participating in, internal cross-training.
“The aim of widening this initiative is to foster a culture of flexibility and personal development, enabling staff to respond to fluctuating workflows and the seamless delivery of service to customers, even in times of staff capacity shortfalls,” Mr Smith remarked.

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has received dozens of donations of wrapped gifts, baskets of groceries, gift certificates and cheque donations which will benefit some 600 families.

The Gift Giving and Donation Programme seeks assistance from individuals and community groups in providing gift items and food during the Christmas season. The DCFS in turn provides those items to families, children, and the elderly.

Acting Deputy Director for the DCFS (for strategic and programming), Cassandra Parchment said: “It’s been a part of the DCFS for many years; it really came to fruition after Hurricane Ivan when a large amount of people reached out to give to those in need and it has continued to this day.”

Ms. Parchment said, giving to people in need anytime but especially at Christmas time is invaluable. “It is easy to get wrapped in the commercialism of this time of year and we are so thankful to the community who have the sense of giving and empathy it’s the people who give to us who make this absolutely possible,” added Ms. Parchment.

Acting DCFS Director, Paulinda Mendoza-Williams also voiced her appreciation, “On behalf of our department, the Ministry of Community Affairs and the clients we serve, we wish to express a generous thank you to our donors.”

The DCFS has had around three dozen donors which include individuals, entire families, private corporations and schools. The department maintains the programme is extremely important because the need for assistance in the Cayman Islands is growing.

The DCFS notes that some years there is a spill over of items and it is able to extend the programme into the New Year. The department would like to inform the public that it will accept donations all year round if people are willing to give.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning and thank you for coming to this press briefing.

I am pleased to announce that Cabinet yesterday approved terms for a Development and Concession Agreement between the Cayman Islands Government and Ironwood Cayman Ltd. This agreement is intended to facilitate the construction, development and operation of what will be known as Ironwood Village located off Frank Sound Road.

Just by way of a brief overview, the development will be constructed in phases and include a PGA championship golf course and resort designed by none other than golfing legend Arnold Palmer who I had the privilege of welcoming to Cayman previously, as some of you may remember. Incidentally, I’ve been informed that this course will be the first of its kind in the Caribbean.

The development will be similar to the Arnold Palmer Design Company’s world class property in Bay Hill, Florida, and includes a town centre, beach club, luxury hotel accommodations, watersports facilities and other amenities. Mr. David Moffitt of Ironwood Cayman and Mr. Roy Saunders, vice president of operations of the Arnold Palmer Design Company Ltd. will provide you with further details on the proposed development in a few moments. But for now, let me just say that the Government sees this project as one that will significantly reinforce the appeal of the Cayman Islands as a world class tourist destination.

As you are aware, the Government has been in negotiations with the Ironwood group for the construction of a 10-mile extension of the East-West Arterial for some time. These negotiations have proven to be extremely intense and challenging but the Government remains committed to working toward concluding an arrangement with the developer and ensuring that the terms of any such agreement will be in the best interests of the country and the people of these Islands.

Notwithstanding the delays in finalising an agreement for the construction of the road, Government and Ironwood have agreed that Ironwood will bring forward its plans for commencement of the development project itself. This will inevitably provide a much needed financial stimulus to the economy of the Cayman Islands and result in the creation of valuable job opportunities for Caymanians and further needed development in the Eastern Districts.

This Development and Concession Agreement will provide Ironwood with duty waivers and concessions on planning application fees, import duties and charges payable on all materials and equipment imported by Ironwood for the development, as well as on stamp duty payable on any land acquired for the development after the date of signing this agreement, up to a maximum concession value of 6 per cent up or a maximum of US$21.9 million dollars. The maximum waiver amount is based on Ironwood’s estimated project development costs of US$365 million dollars.

All duties and fees will be paid initially by the developer with Government refunding qualifying duties and fees in the form of an annual rebate once the developer has submitted its annual claim backed by satisfactory audited year-end accounts.

As many of you know, Government historically has entered into development concession agreements to incentivize development of specific major tourism related private sector capital projects such as the Kimpton Hotel and Beach Bay hotel and resort.

The most recent concessions were given to help Beach Bay develop and included duty waivers on construction materials and furniture and fixtures for the construction of the development and stamp duty for land purchased for the development. In that case Government will be giving up potential income of about $25 million to help ensure that project gets built.

But I must remind everyone that the income we receive for decades into the future from hotel room tax, visitor spend, duty from the sales of condos and more from all of these developments will more than make up for the concessions. And the jobs that will be created directly and indirectly from these projects will be an added economic benefit.

Both Government and Ironwood remain dedicated to the construction of the road extension so this agreement allows for a further maximum period of 12 months to conclude negotiations and obtain all appropriate consents including that required by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in accordance with Government’s obligations under the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.

If, as we all hope, negotiations for the road construction are successfully concluded within that 12 month time frame, then the concessions granted under this agreement will at that point in time be applied against certain financial guarantees that will be required to be provided by the developer as part of the road agreement.

In the event that the negotiations for the road construction are not brought to a satisfactory conclusion within that one year period, then Ironwood will continue to have the benefit of the concessions provided under this agreement for a maximum period of 8 years from the date of signing.

In keeping with this Government’s firm commitment to the creation of employment opportunities for Caymanians, the agreement requires Ironwood, its contractors and sub-contractors to work with the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre and the National Workforce Development Agency, and to endeavour to meet certain substantial hiring targets of Caymanians that we set in Cabinet. Ironwood will also be required to provide regular reports on its recruitment of Caymanians during the course of the development. In short, this Government sees this deal as a win-win for the country and the people of these Islands.

A speaker series entitled “Getting to Know You” began at Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service 3 weeks ago where esteemed men of the community come into HMP Northward to speak to prisoners about their life experience and provide words of encouragement to prisoners. The Director of Prisons, Mr. Neil Lavis started off the series with stories of turnarounds and triumph over obstacles from his own life, his time in the UK Prison Service and most recently, since his move to the Cayman Islands.

Last week, Member of the Legislative Assembly and Councilor Joseph Hew came in to give the prisoners a few words. He noted that his parents were the strength that he leaned on throughout his life. He told the men that his parents did not give him and his siblings a silver spoon but instead taught them the value of education and hard work and ensured that they were loved. He encouraged the prisoners in attendance to not see Prison as the end of the road but as an opportunity to change courses and make better choices in the future. He talked about working hard on their dreams, not giving up despite setbacks. He also talked about the wealth of untapped opportunities there are for small businesses and tradesmen in Cayman.

The series entitled “Getting to Know You” invites other men in the community to share their life experiences with the prisoners. If interested, please feel free to contact Prison Chaplain, Ms. Cathy Gomez at cathy.gomez@gov.ky or at 947-3000 ext. 256.

Summing up the recently concluded Joint Ministerial Conference in London, Cayman Islands Government officials said the discussions were constructive, and reaffirmed that Cayman continues to maintain its zero tolerance position on corruption and illicit activity.

“Our position on beneficial ownership, and our zero tolerance position on corruption and illicit activity, remains unchanged,” said the Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, noting that the JMC communiqué recognises the appropriateness of Cayman’s regime to tackle the global issue of series crime including corruption and serious fraud.

The communique affirms the position taken by the Premier in the Legislative Assembly last Thursday specifically that:

1. The OTs should not be referred to as tax havens;
2. There is agreement to hold beneficial ownership information in central registries or “similarly effective mechanisms”.
3. There is no agreement to public registries.
4. There is no agreement to direct access to information by foreign law enforcement, tax or regulatory authorities.

“The significance of this JMC, and the mark of its success, is that we have advanced a mutual understanding with relevant UK agencies,” added Hon. Wayne Panton, Minister for Financial Services. “The core issue, for the UK and its territories, is to further enhance our cooperation on investigations related to serious crime.”

Cayman therefore has invited representatives from the UK’s National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office to engage with its Attorney General’s Chambers and Financial Intelligence Unit in order to improve effective and efficient collaboration.

The communique continues to recognise that central registries are not the only effective medium by which beneficial ownership information may be properly held.

“Unfortunately, there has too often been a mischaracterisation of the issue of beneficial ownership and of public central registers being the only solution for sharing of information in terms of tax cooperation and collaboration in relation to the global investigation and prosecution of serious crime such as corruption and serious fraud,” said Premier McLaughlin.

“We have effective mechanisms for the sharing of information for tax purposes both on request and by automatic exchange of information. These mechanisms have been assessed and blessed as being in accordance with current international standards. They include bilateral tax information exchange agreements and multi-lateral approaches such as the Multilateral Convention in relation to which we were an early adopter and in relation to which a total of 90 countries will now be automatically reporting in 2017 or 2018, in accordance with Common Reporting Standards promulgated by the OECD. Other bilaterals include both the US and UK FATCA-styled inter-government agreements,” the Premier continued. “From any objective perspective, we are transparent for tax purposes and we collaborate to avoid an abuse of our system by criminals.”

Minister Panton also underscored the decision by the UK and the British Territories to include in the communiqué that it is inappropriate to refer to the territories as tax havens, and that the territories are responsible for their own tax rates and generating public revenue.

The communiqué also recognises the contribution of the Overseas Territories’ international financial services industries to the global economy.

“As an international centre, Cayman welcomes this acknowledgement that we support the prosperity and development in the global economy,” Minister Panton said.

Tuesday marked Day One of the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2015.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and the Cayman Islands delegation joined other OT Governments for meetings hosted by Minister for the Overseas Territories Mr. James Duddridge at the historic Lancaster House in London. The opening plenary began with discussions covering Climate Change and Energy, Education and Skills, Health, and Sports

The UK emphasized its own focus on creating more apprenticeships in partnership with the private sector and encouraged OT’s to explore such an approach.

On Tuesday evening, OT Heads of Government were invited to a private dinner hosted by Minister Duddridge who was joined by Minister Desmond Swayne, Minister of State for the Department of International Development.

The plenary meetings conclude on Wednesday.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Marco Archer is attending the 64th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure.

The programme began with an introduction to the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy, exploring its development and identifying what are now the key challenges.

At the opening event Monday evening, Rt. Hon. David Hanson, Shadow Minister for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, highlighted reforms of parliamentary expenses and dealing with the sheer volume of communications enabled by modern technologies as some of the key issues facing Westminster. He was one of several speakers who discussed parliamentary procedures and challenges throughout the night.

“This seminar is very timely in relation to events in our own Legislative Assembly in the Cayman Islands,” said Min. Archer. “While in the LA this year we have agreed on several measures to move the Cayman Islands into the modern era of democracy with an advanced constitution, a modern parliament and an equitable electoral system.”

The seminar is aimed at newly elected Members of Parliament and Clerks. The ever-evolving programme highlights current best practice and how Parliaments adapt to changing domestic and global political environments.

While in London Minister Archer will attend an interesting programme of sessions and events where he will receive briefings from the Speaker of the House of Commons, The House of Lords Speaker, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Clerk of the House of Commons. Minister Archer will also have an opportunity to see Parliament in action.

The seminar comes to a close on Friday, 4 December, 2015.

Cayman Airways has debuted its new mobile boarding ramps in the Cayman Islands.

The ramps mean easy deplaning in both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.

The carrier recently launched the use of the new ramps for its Boeing 737 jet flights and smaller Saab and Embraer flights.

“We have invested in boarding ramps to improve our passenger’s travel experience while increasing the efficiency of our operations,” said Fabian Whorms, CEO of Cayman Airways. “These new boarding ramps provide a quicker, more comfortable boarding and deplaning experience for everyone, but particularly for those with limited mobility or those needing wheelchair assistance. We know how much it means for individuals to be able to walk on and off a plane on their own and for families to easily board together.”

The ramps offer much better accessibility for those requiring wheelchairs.

“The boarding or deplaning process using traditional stairs can be a very distressing time for those who have historically had to be carried on or off an aircraft.,” said Parker Tibbetts, patron of the new Cayman Islands Disability Policy. “The ramps stand to allow these individuals a tremendously improved and more comfortable travel experience while preserving their dignity and self-respect.”

News article from the CaribJournal.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin started off a busy week of activities in London for the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2015 by hosting Caymanian university students at the annual Cayman Islands Students Reception held at the Cayman Islands Government London Office on Saturday 28, November, 2015.

Students from across the UK took time out of their studies to join the Premier who was accompanied by Hon. Wayne Panton, Minister for Financial Services, Commerce and Environment.

“Being in a room surrounded by the future of the Cayman Islands is a poignant reminder of why we are here and the importance of what we are striving to achieve during this week at the JMC,” said Premier McLaughlin. He also took the opportunity to encourage students to take full advantage of potential apprenticeship and training opportunities while in the UK.

On Monday, the Premier attended the UK Overseas Territories Association’s Political Council meeting at The Royal Overseas League, Over-Seas House, Park Place where OT leaders had a final opportunity to discuss items on the agenda for JMC.  Premier McLaughlin led discussions with other OT’s on the issue of beneficial ownership.

“It is critical going into the JMC that, wherever feasible, we as Overseas Territories speak with one voice especially on areas of mutual interest, so this meeting is in essence our final tune up before we sit with the UK Government.”

The JMC Plenary meeting, which is hosted by Minister for the Overseas Territories, Mr. James Duddridge begins on Tuesday afternoon at Lancaster House.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin speaks to students at a reception in London Saturday evening.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, head of table, speaks at the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association in London. Joining him were Minister of Financial Services Hon. Wayne Panton, his Chief Officer Dax Basdeo, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Sherpa Jason Webster and Andre Ebanks of Mr. Panton’s Ministry. 

Cayman Islands Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell has been named as the Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year 2015 in the second annual Caribbean Travel Awards hosted by the Caribbean Journal.

“Much of the tourism infrastructure in the Cayman Islands is so good that you could be fooled into thinking it’s easy,” stated the Caribbean Journal. “But it’s thanks to sound management, and a genuine concern for the visitor experience. Cayman Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, our Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year for 2015, has provided just that — from stewarding another very strong year of arrival growth to, more importantly, helping to launch the long-awaited redevelopment of Grand Cayman’s main airport.”

The 2015 awards also recognised Cayman Airways as the Caribbean Airline of the Year and the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman as the Caribbean Hotel of the Year.

The online publication launched the awards in 2014 to honor the hotels, destinations and people who help make Caribbean travel better. The annual ‘best-of-the-best’ roundup looks at the region both from the perspective of the people who travel to the Caribbean and the impact the tourism industry has on this beautiful part of the world.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

It is with deep regret and sadness that I mark the passing of Aunt Julia Almeria Hydes this morning.

We have truly lost a national treasure and a national icon in the Cayman Islands.

I fondly recall her 106th birthday party at the Harquail Theatre earlier this year when friends, family members and well-wishers gathered to help her celebrate. I was so hoping to help her celebrate her 107th birthday in a few weeks.

Aunt Julia was born the youngest of 12 children on 25 January, 1909, in West Bay where she lived her entire life.

What I will always remember about Aunt Julia was her drum playing and singing praises to God. Her drumming came intuitively after her cousin, master fiddler Leighton “Duxie” Ebanks, handed her a pair of drum sticks made out of guava wood. I remember in an interview she gave a while back that she said she felt a great sense of joy when she held those sticks. She never took lessons, just watched, paid attention and made up her own style of drumming.

With the passing of Aunt Julia we have lost the last living member of the traditional Caymanian music fraternity. I am sure she is now in heaven joining in a Kitchen Band and playing her drums and singing with Duxie, Boyd Hydes, Radley Gourzong, Cleveland Ebanks, Montgomery Albert and Reid Green.

Aunt Julia touched many, many lives over her years in Cayman. She also received many, many awards for her contributions to music and culture in the Cayman Islands, including the Cayman National Cultural Foundation Award for pioneering work in cultural heritage as well as the Certificate and Badge of Honour. Personally, I am proud to have known her.

To recognise the great loss to our Country, Cabinet has ordered that the Cayman Islands flag be flown at half-mast today and tomorrow in her honour.

God bless Julia Almeria Hydes. May she rest in peace.

Statement by The Hon Minister for Finance & Economic Development in the Legislative Assembly on the Government’s Financial and Performance Reporting and the Adverse Audit Opinion Received on the 2013/14 Entire Public Sector Consolidated Financial Statements 26th November 2015

Madam Speaker, I rise to make a Statement on Government’s financial and performance reporting and the Adverse audit opinion received on the 2013/14 Entire Public Sector (“EPS”), Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial and Performance Reporting

Madam Speaker, on 5th November 2015, the Acting Auditor General released two (2) Audit Reports, dated 25th September 2015, on the Financial and Performance Reporting of: (1) Ministries, Portfolios and Offices; and (2) of Statutory Authorities and Government Companies for the years ended 30 June 2013 and 2014. I will refer to these collectively as Public Sector Entities.

For the financial year ended 30 June 2014, the Auditor General reported that of the 42 Public Sector Entities which existed:

• 23 received unqualified or “clean” opinions; and
• 14 received qualified opinions.

Hence, of the 37 Public Sector Entities whose audits have been completed, none of those Entities received an Adverse opinion from the Auditor General.

The audits of the following five (5) Public Sector Entities are still ongoing:

• the Ministry of Education, Employment Gender Affairs;
• the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture;
• Cayman Islands Airports Authority;
• the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company; and
• the Tourism Attractions Board.

For the financial year ended 30th June 2015, the Acting Auditor General provided an update on the status of the 2014/15 audits and reported that as of 24 November 2015, of the 42 Public Sector Entities whose audits have been completed:

• 19 received unqualified or “clean” opinions; and
• 5 received qualified opinions.

Again, an Adverse opinion has not been issued with respect to any of the 2014/15 audits completed as at 24 November 2015.

The 2014/15 audits for 18 Public Sector Entities have not been completed as at 24 November 2015.

Madam Speaker, as you know, an unqualified or “clean” audit opinion is issued when the information contained in the financial statements of an entity can be relied upon because it represents fairly the financial position and performance of that entity.

A qualified opinion means that a portion of the financial statements cannot be relied upon, but the rest of the statements can be relied upon by the reader.

The Acting Auditor General reports that the Public Sector Entities continue to make improvement in the quality and timeliness of annual financial reporting. The financial statements of Public Sector Entities continue to show a greater degree of reliability and credibility and improvements have been made on accounting practices, supporting information and the presentation of information.

The Ministry of Finance will continue to provide guidance and support to individual Public Sector Entities to ensure further improvement of the quality of their financial statements.

Adverse Audit Opinion on the 2013/14 Entire Public Sector (EPS) Consolidated Financial Statements

Madam Speaker, the EPS consolidated financial statements are prepared by the Ministry of Finance. The consolidation exercise involves taking all of the financial statements of the Government’s 42 Public Sector Entities, consolidating the financial information and eliminating inter-agency transactions and balances.

The robustness of the consolidated financial statements for the EPS, is dependent upon the quality of information contained in the financial statements of individual Public Sector Entities.
If an individual Public Sector Entity is a significant entity within the EPS and that entity receives a Disclaimer of Opinion or an Adverse Opinion from the Auditor General, then the consolidated financial statements of the EPS will likely receive a Disclaimer of Opinion or Adverse Opinion from the Auditor General.

Madam Speaker, whilst 37 of the 42 Public Sector Entities have received Unqualified (or clean) and Qualified audit opinions on their 2013/14 financial statements, the Auditor General has issued an Adverse opinion on the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements. This requires an explanation because the public will not readily understand how an Adverse opinion is issued on the EPS consolidated financial statements when 37 of the 42 Public Sector Entities have received either an Unqualified (or clean) or Qualified audit opinions.

The reasons for the Adverse opinions are not due to audit issues occurring in the underlying financial statements of Public Sector Entities. Instead, the Adverse opinion is due to the accounting treatment and decisions of “macro” issues that impact the EPS consolidated financial statements and not the underlying financial statements of individual Public Sector Entities.

The “macro” issues that have led to an Adverse opinion on the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements include:

1. Material Omissions;
2. Property Plant and Equipment, Valuation and Completeness;
3. Erroneous Opening and Closing Balances;
4. Revenue and Related Receivables Completeness; and
5. Consolidation Integrity Issues.

Material Omissions

Madam Speaker, the Audit Office identified that both post-retirement benefits (health care and pension) and the accounting for the Public Service Pensions Board were not fully included in the EPS consolidated financial statements.

The post-retirement healthcare liabilities, of approximately $1.2 billion, were not included on the face of the primary statements in the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements, but are referenced as disclosures in Notes to the financial statements.

It was a policy decision of the Government to disclose details of the post-retirement healthcare liabilities and expenses in the Notes of the financial statements. This approach is similar to the accounting practices in countries such as the United States of America and Canada.

Such disclosure in the Notes to the financial statements is effectively adopting a modified version of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (“IPSAS”), No. 25.

The Ministry of Finance intends to present a Bill to the Legislative Assembly in 2016, to amend the Public Management and Finance Law in order to permit the use of a modified version of IPSAS 25.

Pension obligation liabilities, on the other hand Madam Speaker, have been stated on the face of the Government’s Balance Sheet for many years and further details relating thereto are provided in the Notes to the financial statements.

Madam Speaker, the Government is also exploring options to reduce the pension and post-retirement healthcare obligations such as: increasing the retirement age of Civil Servants from 60 to 65 years; introducing health insurance premium co-pay for Civil Servants; and reducing the current CI$5.0 million “cap” on the maximum lifetime medical benefits for Civil Servants. In the private sector, for the sake of comparison, with respect to supplemental benefit plans, the maximum lifetime medical benefits “cap” averages CI$2.5 million. The latter two points of co-pay and lifetime medical benefits are significant and changes thereto will require time for education and discussion with the Civil Service and time for persons to adjust their spending patterns. Consequently, it is expected that any such changes will not occur until 2018 and not for political expedience as speculated by some media outlets. If anyone knows of an approach that is more viable, more palatable and less inflammatory or financially damaging to middle and low income Civil Servants, I am inviting them to make it known to all of us.

Madam Speaker, appointments to the Public Service Pensions Board are determined by statute, which the Government can amend and because of this degree of influence by Government, IPSAS would dictate that the Board’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses be included in the EPS consolidated financial statements.

However, any assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Board are comingled with those of the three Public Sector Pension Plans (the “Plans”). The assets of the three Plans are for the direct benefit of current and retired Civil and Public Servants including Members of the Legislative Assembly. The Ministry of Finance is of the opinion that the assets of the Plans should not be included in the EPS consolidated financial statements because the money in those Plans belong to Civil Servants and retirees; the Cayman Islands Government via the Public Service Pensions Board only manages these funds. The treatment and decision to exclude such matters from the EPS consolidated financial statements is a very conservative and prudent approach that has been adopted.

The Audit Office disagrees with this treatment and is of the view that the Plans’ assets, liabilities and activities ought to be combined with those of Public Sector Entities. This disagreement is one of the factors that has led to an Adverse audit opinion being issued because the value of the assets in the Plans are significant, approximately $0.5 billion. The Ministry of Finance, therefore, is of the view that its prudent approach has, ironically, contributed to an Adverse opinion by the Auditor General’s Office.
Madam Speaker, the Government intends to review the Public Sector Pensions Law with the view of segregating the assets of the Public Service Pensions Board and those of the three Plans and, mandating separate reporting for each.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Valuation and Completeness

Madam Speaker, IPSAS requires that consistent accounting policies are applied across all entities in the EPS. However, not all of Government’s assets are reported at their revalued amounts, and most Statutory Authorities and Government Companies have yet to complete a revaluation of their fixed assets. Public Sector Entities with significant fixed assets, report such assets at cost as opposed to their revalued amounts.

The Ministry of Finance will ensure that fixed asset revaluations are conducted on a 5-year cycle similar to that of Central Government in order to ensure consistency of accounting policies across the EPS.

Additionally, the Audit Office is doubtful with respect to the completeness of both the inventory and value of the road network, which is currently valued at approximately $1.1 billion.
The Ministry of Finance has already engaged the National Roads Authority to compile a complete roads inventory for valuation.

Madam Speaker, it is envisaged that the roads inventory list will be completed by early 2016.

Erroneous Opening and Closing Balances

Madam Speaker, currently, the audit reports of Public Sector Entities are often completed after the 31st October each year which is the statutory deadline for the submission of the EPS consolidated financial statements. The EPS consolidated financial statements therefore are unable to reflect any material audit adjustments of these entities upon first submission to the Audit Office. An element of the improvement to Public Sector financial reporting has to be the completion of audit reports for Public Sector Entities by, or before, their statutory deadline dates.

It is envisaged that the Audit Office will complete all of its audits within the legislated two-month timeframe for entity audits (i.e. by the 31st October each year), and any audit adjustments will then be reflected in the EPS consolidated financial statements.

Revenue and Related Receivables Completeness

Madam Speaker, the Audit Office reported that there is no system in place to ensure that the Government is collecting and reporting all revenues and related receivables.

The Ministry of Finance intends to conduct a review of Government revenue items to determine which items can be assessed for completeness. Going forward, revenue completeness should then be assessed by respective agencies at the end of each quarterly report to Cabinet.

Consolidation Integrity Issues

Madam Speaker, the Auditor General found that there was no formal reconciliation of inter-agency transactions and balances between Public Sector Entities. The Ministry of Finance currently makes judgments and elimination entries for thousands of inter-agency transactions. This approach is not robust enough to ensure that all inter-agency transactions are fully eliminated. It is agreed that Public Sector Entities should confirm and agree inter-agency transactions and balances amongst themselves. Implications of not doing so could be that receivables, payables, revenues and expenses are overstated or understated in the financial statements.

Going forward, Public Sector Entities will now be required to confirm and agree inter-agency charges. Transactions that are not substantiated will be written-off. The Audit Office will undoubtedly find that in auditing the 2014/15 financial year disagreements of inter-agency transactions are substantially reduced. This is another example of progress being made.

The Ministry of Finance will also implement the inter-agency module, known as Advanced Global Inter-company System (“AGIS”), in the Government’s financial reporting system by 30th June 2016.

The use of AGIS will reduce inter-agency transaction mismatches as these transactions will require agreement by both counterparties prior to recognition in their respective ledgers.

Madam Speaker, it is also intended that the Law will be amended further in 2016 to strengthen the powers of the Ministry of Finance in order to enforce compliance with the Law and Financial Regulations, to hold Chief Officers accountable and prescribe sanctions which are proposed with the objective of achieving an improved quality of information and timeliness of reporting, particularly as it relates to the consolidation of the EPS consolidated financial statements.

It is intended that finance functions will be centralised within the Ministry of Finance to improve compliance with the Law and consistency in the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Currently, each Ministry, Portfolio and Office has its own separate Chief Financial Officer and finance function. Suffice it to say, the Audit Office has said what it thinks of the decentralised approach every time they have issued an opinion on the Government’s financial and performance reporting.

The Ministry of Finance will produce a Public Finance Manual, which is in accordance with best practices and GAAP. The Manual will be disseminated to all Public Sector Entities and will serve to improve the consistency in the application of GAAP. It is expected that the Manual will be completed 30th April 2016.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Finance, with the support of the Government, is taking steps to address the matters that have led to an Adverse audit opinion being issued with respect to the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements.

It should be noted that the Adverse opinion on the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements is the first audit opinion that has been issued on the EPS since the Law was introduced in 2004. Prior to the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements, such earlier years were given a “disclaimer” of opinion by the Auditor General’s Office, which meant that it was not possible to reach an opinion on the consolidated financial statements for the years prior to 2013/14.

An Adverse opinion is not the opinion the Government desires to receive. However, the Government sees this as a significant attestation that its financial performance has improved and evidence exists to substantiate this improvement. The Government intends to use this opportunity to address the issues that caused the issuance of an Adverse opinion and, aims to achieve greater accountability and transparency.

Addressing the qualification factors will be done via further changes proposed to the Law in 2016 and, by administrative means such as the Ministry of Finance providing enhanced guidance in required areas, and restarting meetings with Chief Financial Officers on a monthly basis.

I trust that having outlined the reasons for an Adverse audit opinion being issued, it is realised that Public Sector accounting treatments in the Cayman Islands are not significantly different from those adopted in more advanced economies, such as the USA and Canada.

It is also important to note that these audit issues are policy-related factors whilst the underlying individual accounting agencies that make-up central Government, increasingly are receiving unqualified or clean audit opinions – signifying a material improvement in their financial evidence and retention of records.

Madam Speaker, the following illustrates that significant improvement has been achieved with respect to the audit opinions issued on the 2014/15 financial statements, as of 24 November 2015:

• Eight (8) Central Government Agencies received an Unqualified (or clean) audit opinion;
• Two (2) Central Government Agencies received a Qualified audit opinion; and
• The audits of six (6) Central Government Agencies were ongoing (as of 24 November 2015).

Nonetheless, the factors leading to an Adverse opinion on the 2013/14 EPS consolidated financial statements, will be addressed effectively and decisively.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The National Community Enhancement Project, announced by Minister of Community Affairs Hon. Osbourne Bodden in the Legislative Assembly in late October, provides opportunities for unemployed Caymanians to work for up to three weeks (two weeks before Christmas and one week in the New Year), as well as enhancing the physical environment for the benefit of the community.

Similar initiatives have taken place in recent years.

Registration for the three-week initiative on Grand Cayman takes place Tuesday to Thursday (December 1-3, 2015).

The Project will cover repairs and maintenance, gardening, cleaning parks, beaches and roadside verges. A similar project has already commenced on the Sister Islands under the supervision of District Administration.

The initiative is led by a cross-Ministerial team. The Office of the Deputy Governor is providing administrative coordination.

Other Government agencies involved include: the National Roads Authority, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Public Works Department – in particular its Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Section.

The three-week project will run from December 7-18; and continue January 11-15, 2016.  Participants in the project will be expected to work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Operational Project Manager is Mr. Mark Bothwell, who is also Manager of PWD’s Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Section. He notes that people may sign-up and complete registration forms at the following places and times during Tuesday to Thursday (December 1-3):

National Workforce Development Agency (upstairs, Midtown Plaza) – December 1 & 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• George Town, Bodden Town and East End Public Libraries –December 1 & 2 from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.; and December 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• West Bay – December 1 & 2 from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.; and December 3 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• North Side Public Library – December 1 ONLY, from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.

Work will only be offered to unemployed Caymanians ages 18 and older, as well as unemployed spouses of Caymanians, and unemployed permanent residents who have the right to work. Supporting documentation to prove immigration status is required at registration.

All persons must attend a mandatory orientation day at 9 a.m. on December 7, when contracts will be signed by those who meet the criteria and are accepted.

For further information, please contact the Hotline (917-0153), or email NCEP@gov.ky.

By Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker,

It is once again my duty and pleasure to present to this Honourable Legislature the Government’s Strategic Policy Statement for the year 2016-2017, the year of our next election.

I thank the Minister of Finance for delivering the Strategic Policy Statement, the last one of this Administration before the next general election scheduled for May 2017 and which contains good news with respect to Government finances and the economic prospects of the Country. It was a short two and a half years ago that the Minister of Finance and I stood before this Honourable House to speak to this Administration’s first Strategic Policy Statement for the financial years from 2014-2015 through 2016-2017.

Nothing has happened since that time to cause us to deviate from our promise of “a stable future through hard work and perseverance”. If anything, we have been buoyed by the success of our policies to work even harder to sustain the stability that we promised and that the earnest labour of our team has made possible.

As I said recently at the Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative luncheon, if you stop to consider how different a place, indeed how much better a place, Cayman is today then you will begin to appreciate the importance of this stability to each and every Caymanian and to each and every business in Cayman. You will also appreciate how hard we have worked to restore confidence in Government, and in the future of Cayman. This renewed stability and confidence can be measured in our better relationship with the UK and the improved partnership between Government and business.

Couple this with the restoration of government finances and a much-improved economy, and you get the picture of just how much has been achieved in two and a half years.

None of this occurred by chance. It occurred because this Government has a clearly defined vision and plan for Cayman. And it occurred because we set about in a disciplined way to carry out those plans.

Our first Strategic Policy Statement in November 2013 began to lay the groundwork for the success that we have had so far.

Madam Speaker as you know our first SPS used as its basis two objectives; Government’s 2013 – 2017 Medium Term Fiscal Strategy, coupled with Government’s Broad Goals and Objectives.
That strategy is a four-year financial plan that seeks to restore Cayman’s public finances to a sustainable level in a realistic manner. It set out the targets and parameters to be met annually so that Government finances would meet all the requirements of the Public Management and Finance Law by 30 June, 2016.

I am happy to remind this House and the listening public that this Government has met the agreed targets each and every year and, all things being equal, we will be fully compliant with the requirements of the law by the end of June next year and will therefore have proven our capability to assume full autonomy of the budget process.

I am especially pleased that all of this has been achieved without the need to impose any new taxes on our people or businesses and without the need for any new borrowing. Neither is any new borrowing planned over the remainder of this term. Indeed we have greatly reduced Government debt and have also reduced the fees and taxes on individuals and businesses. I will say more about this a bit later.

The second plank of the Strategic Plan was this Government’s 12 Broad Goals and Objectives. These were agreed by all members of Government over several days of examination and discussion and covered activities around strengthening the economy, developing our workforce, securing the community, reforming the public service, modernising our infrastructure, providing for a healthy populace, improving education, improving good governance, developing Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, balancing environmental protection with development needs, improving agricultural production and working toward a more just society.

Our strategy provided the broad parameters around which government could spend on capital investment and on operating expenditure, while simultaneously reducing debt and building cash reserves. To complement this, the Broad Goals provided the priorities on which Government would spend and invest. In other words, Madam Speaker, this Government did what most households do – consider your income, identify your priorities and spend accordingly; including paying down loans and putting something aside for a rainy day.

I beg your indulgence, Madam Speaker, to highlight a few of the priority items of two and a half years ago and to note their status today:

• Improving tourism cruise and stay over numbers – DONE;

• Implement the George Town revitalisation project with Phase 1 focussing on improving road corridors – STARTED;

• Supporting small business by reducing taxes and assisting entrepreneurs – DONE;

• Support responsible larger scale developments, including those using local investment – STARTED;

• Review the PMFL and make required changes and introduce multi-year budgeting – STARTED;

• Improvements at the airport and cruise and cargo ports – STARTED;

• Create a solution for the George Town Landfill – STARTED;

• Review and improve the education system – STARTED;

• Introduce Daylight Savings Time – STARTED;

• Approve amendments to the Trade and Business Licensing Law – DONE;

• Approve a Builders Law – DONE;

• Approve a National Conservation Law – DONE;

• And approve a new Liquor Licensing Law – DONE.

Honourable Members will quickly realise that all of the aforementioned – and much more – has either been accomplished or is under way and will be completed over the remainder of this term or within the next three years, should God and the good people of the Cayman Islands see fit to return this Government to lead the Country following the General Election in 2017.
As I keep saying Madam Speaker, this is a Government that gets things done!

And I say again – this did not happen by chance. It has happened because we created a sensible, achievable multi-year strategic plan as a guide. Each year we carefully prioritised both capital and operating expenditure, and importantly – we were disciplined in carrying out our plans.

So today we have an economy that is stronger; an economy where business confidence has been restored. And an economy where private sector investment is growing and is set to grow further, with major private initiatives such as the Kimpton Seafire Hotel, which opens in November 2016 with 266 rooms and seven restaurants; the expansion of Camana Bay including a new hotel; the redevelopment of the old Hyatt site; redevelopment of Treasure Island into Margaritaville Beach Resort; and St. James Point, a new $200 million hotel and resort at Beach Bay – among others – close to completion or in the works.

Indeed, there are several new developments of varying sizes in the planning stages or under construction along the Seven Mile corridor, South Sound, out to the Eastern Districts and over in Cayman Brac. Developers, from small to large, have seen the improvement in the economy and are preparing for an increased demand as condos sell and tourist arrivals increase. These all provide jobs and further enhance the economy as well as generate good revenues for government.

Add to these plans to expand Health City, Cayman Enterprise City, and promising developments around intellectual property, strong financial services and increased tourism numbers, and there is no doubt that Cayman has a good mix of solid economic drivers for growth over the next three to five years.

Our tourism arrivals are at record highs because of the work that we have done. Last year Cayman welcomed 382,816 air arrival visitors. So far this year, through the end of September, we have had 295,469 air arrival tourists.

Our goal is to grow the visitor air arrival numbers past the 400,000 volume level over the next two years. We anticipate 387,566 air arrivals by the end of this calendar year and 411,192 by the end of 2016. This is achievable given the number of new hotels coming on line.

Speaking of increases, Madam Speaker, from June 2013 through the first few days of this month, 3,109 new trade and business licenses have been granted. This is a result of renewed confidence in the Cayman economy coupled with reductions of fees to small businesses made by this Government to encourage entrepreneurship. This has provided opportunities for Caymanians to own their own businesses and has meant jobs for our people.

To further help small businesses, earlier this month the Cayman Islands Development Bank began offering a loan programme tailored for those who own small and medium sized enterprises with proven track records for at least two years. The programme has been structured in such a way as to maximise the assistance we can give while not imperilling the bank’s financial stability through bad decision making, as has been the case under previous administrations.

This loan programme enhances Government’s already strong initiatives. For business owners these initiatives include reductions in licensing fees, duty costs and the benefit of CUC duty reductions, among others.

Private sector investment and growth, coupled with Government’s own infrastructure developments, will help grow our Gross Domestic Product by a projected 1.7 per cent in 2016. And GDP growth is expected to continue to rise annually over the medium term, closing out 2019 with a projected increase of 2.5 per cent. These are healthy and stable rates of growth. Importantly, they are sensible targeted rates of growth that avoid rapid, unplanned economic expansion that could outpace the ability of the country to effectively keep up. So the economy has grown well over the last two years and is expected to grow further in a sustainable fashion.

With this growth hundreds of private sector jobs have been created and overall unemployment has fallen from 6.3 per cent in 2013 to 4.7 per cent as of December 2014, rising slightly during the off-season to 5.6 per cent in September 2015. There is, though, the sore spot in the otherwise remarkable recovery of our economy. While overall employment has fallen the unemployment of Caymanians has increased marginally from 7.9 per cent to 8.3 per cent over the period from October 2014 to April 2015. While this increase may perhaps be explained by the seasonality factor, the reality is that Caymanian unemployment numbers are headed in the wrong direction. We are working with the Chamber of Commerce and the private sector to get more of our people employed and get those unemployment numbers once again going in the right direction. I believe that together Government and business can solve this challenge. But let there be no misunderstanding, while we will continue to work with businesses to help grow the economy and create jobs, this Government will not sit back and accept that Caymanians who are willing and capable of working are being passed over. We recognize and value the contributions of all who work to help us build this economy, but with almost 22,000 work permits on record, it must be possible for businesses to hire more Caymanians.

The good news, Madam Speaker, is that we believe that by working with the private sector we can improve those numbers as projected job growth should see the unemployment rate reach a low of 4.5 per cent by 2019.

Besides unemployment for Caymanians there are other challenges we have faced with one of the most recent examples being the concern that money transfer agencies no longer had access to Cayman banks. Just a short couple of hours ago we held a press conference with GraceKennedy Money Services to announce that Western Union has reopened for business in the Cayman Islands. Once again it is possible for people to pay for overseas remittances in Cayman Islands dollars and they no longer need to scramble around to get US dollars to send overseas.

The reasons for this glitch in the money transfer business were complex, but essentially revolved around the risks perceived by overseas regulators concerned that terrorists were looking to fund their illegal efforts using money transfer companies. Those same regulators were also concerned that money transfer companies may also unknowingly be used to launder money. I don’t need to go into all of the details here, but the short of it is that the issue was hurting many people in our community and their families overseas who rely on remittances. Indeed, many people were anxious about the upcoming Christmas season and the limited ability to make those remittances. I congratulate the Minister of Financial Service and his team for working with GraceKennedy to come up with a viable solution and to the Foster family for accommodating Western Union.

The issue was also damaging what this Government has established as an improving economy that has provided stable Government revenues and I am immensely pleased that it has been resolved. Government’s strong revenue stream coupled with firm control over expenditure, has delivered, and will continue to deliver solid surpluses; surpluses that are used to rebuild cash reserves to pay down debt, and to invest in our country and our people. And so, Madam Speaker, cash reserves are projected to rise from about $173.9 million dollars at year end 2014 to an expected $340 million dollars at the end of this financial year. Meanwhile, core government debt has been reduced from about $548.5 million dollars to $503.3 million dollars over this same period.
And as the Minister of Finance has noted we are expected to be in a position to repay the US$312 million bullet bond when it comes due in November 2019. This will mean that by the end of the financial year 2019 core Government debt will be reduced to $193.6 million dollars.

In short, Madam Speaker, the Cayman Islands economy is in safe hands with the Progressives-led Government.

Allow me to run through several of the fiscal successes that we have achieved:

• Government’s financial performance exceeded budget expectations for both Fiscal Years 2013-2014 and 2014-15 and will continue to do so over the next three years as demonstrated in this new SPS;

• Annual accounts of Government agencies for 2014-2015 were prepared and submitted to the Auditor General for examination within the legal deadline – and we will continue to make improvements as we go forward;

• The 2013-2014 audit opinions resulted in no ministry, portfolio or office receiving disclaimers or adverse opinions;

• Financial results for Statutory Authorities and Government-owned companies for 2014-2015 are significantly better than budgeted;

• Continued repayment of public sector debt is planned;

• And compliance with all borrowing and cash reserve ratios will be met in 2015-2016 and beyond with the exception of 2019 when the bullet bond is repaid.

We promised the country to restore government finances and we are fulfilling this promise. We are, Madam Speaker, a Government that gets things done.

Our ‘To Do List’ shows that work on the initial phase of expansion to the terminal building at Owen Roberts International Airport is well under way and will continue with the next phase starting in January with a completed date in the first half of 2018. With the expansion and improvements Government continues to provide opportunities for Caymanian businesses to participate in the project hence creating employment for Caymanians. These jobs will be needed during the construction phase and into the future as more workers will be required at the airport and at the stores, restaurants and other businesses that support the airport and the travelling public.

As I am sure you are aware, Madam Speaker, over on Cayman Brac we made significant improvements to the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport enabling that airport to handle international flights. The first flights began this past weekend from Cayman Brac to Miami and in just a few days on, 28 November, Cayman Airways will fly from the Brac directly to Holguin in eastern Cuba. Because of the improvements made to the airport under our watch, Cayman Brac has seen a 20 per cent increase in arrivals from a year ago. That means an increase in visitors, which is helping to bolster the economy on the Sister Islands. An increase that has spurred the Brac Reef Hotel to invest in upgrades to the property to cater to the increasing visitor interest in Cayman Brac. The improvements at the airport have provided 21 more jobs for firefighters, immigration and customs officers and at the Cayman Airways call centre and airport ramp. This is not only a starting point to trigger more jobs, but it is an investment in our people and the future of the Brac.

Madam Speaker, we took office with the promise that we would fix the George Town landfill and provide a solution for the long term processing of our refuse. We knew the task was complex and there was no magic bullet to be found – but we promptly started down the road to come up with a holistic and sustainable solution to managing the Country’s solid waste. I am happy to say that now through the end of this month, the draft National Solid Waste Management Strategy is in the public domain for discussion. Once we get feedback from the public, the Strategy will be finalised and an Outline Business Case developed on the best options for the successful implementation of an Integrated Solid Waste Management System for the Country. As the timeline is now set we could be looking at work starting on the landfill in 2017. As I have said in this House before, the process may appear slow, but it is sure.

As I have also said previously, whatever options are presented by the experts to solve our landfill needs, we know that recycling and composting must be part of the solution. In order to jump-start this aspect, Government has already begun to encourage more recycling and composting to further help improve waste management throughout the Islands. Those of you who are already taking your recyclables to the various bins around the Islands, I thank you. You are doing your part – but in the New Year recycling efforts will be further ramped up with new recycling stations added and private sector companies being contracted to collect items for recycling.

Madam Speaker another major infrastructure project this Government had the will to take on was that of cruise ship berthing. When the people of the Cayman Islands elected us, they did so giving us a clear mandate to deliver on our campaign pledges, one of which was to build a cruise berthing facility in George Town Harbour to help ensure the country’s continued economic success. We are doing things differently than previous administrations, which cost the Country millions of dollars for breach of contract because of an unwillingness by the-then Government to follow the rules. I believe in all sincerity that the country has never before had a Government such as ours that is this open with its projects and willing to accept challenges and consider options where practical. But that is expected of us as a progressive government. Openness and transparency – coupled with accountability – has always been our modus operandi.

I must reiterate Madam Speaker that the Cabinet has not yet made a final decision on this all-important project, but we will not be intimidated by special interest groups or individuals at the expense of the greater national good. It is said that the finest steel must go through the hottest fire and we pledge to make a responsible decision that takes into account all of the factors.
There are hundreds of local jobs that cater to and depend upon cruise tourism. It is our duty to ensure those jobs are kept intact, maintained and expanded on into the future. These jobs include Caymanian tour and taxi operators, employees of George Town merchants and restaurants, and employees of businesses of all sizes across Grand Cayman that cater to and benefit directly and indirectly from cruise tourism.

The Outline Business Case estimates that about 500 jobs will be made available during construction of the cruise and cargo facility. This will mean real, tangible opportunities for Caymanian businesses, professionals and trades people to be involved in this historic and economically important project. The large nature of the project is such that local businesses will also benefit through an increase in sales and revenues.

Once the cruise berthing facility is up and running, the increased economic impact is expected to continue, adding about $245 million to our Gross Domestic Product as well as employment for about 1,000 people over the next 20 years, assuming at least a 1 per cent growth in cruise visitors. Net benefits increase to a potential $1.2 billion if cruise visitors grow by at least 3 per cent per annum. At the end of construction, the port would have been built mainly by Caymanians for Caymanians and will be owned by the people of the Cayman Islands.

Insofar as local labour is not available, there will be a need for guest workers who will also contribute to the economy for the time they are in Cayman. They will need places to rent and they will buy goods and services from local businesses.

Hand-in-hand with the development of a cruise berthing facility is the revitalisation of George Town. Plans are under way to improve the green spaces in George Town, including a new seaside park area in South Sound and a park in the vicinity of the old Glass House. I have seen the initial architectural renderings for the South Sound park and it looks impressive. The adjoining landowners have all agreed to back the plans and I look forward to seeing the public make use of the park. The old Glass House should be demolished early in the New Year and a local business has generously committed to completing the new park at its cost. Both are expected to be completed next year.

Phase One of the George Town revitalisation project has started with major upgrades to Godfrey Nixon Way and Smith Road already completed. Humber Lane will soon be joined to Smith Road, connecting Smith Road to Elgin Avenue, and Elgin will later be connected to Eastern Avenue via a new road – all of which will take traffic congestion out of the town centre and allow for some roads to be pedestrianized or made one way to improve traffic flows. Other road works involve improvements to Linford Pierson Highway, giving it four lanes, widening of Thomas Russell Way and improvements to Edward and Fort streets.

The public, particularly the business sector, now has an opportunity to provide their input on how to best improve the town centre once the roads have been completed. Once plans begin to take shape it is anticipated that what comes forward will provide true economic and social renewal for George Town. This includes the introduction of mixed-use buildings in the town centre to encourage people to again make their home there and bring back life to George Town in the evenings and on weekends. The revitalisation of George Town will help bring businesses, jobs and added opportunities back to our capital.

Madam Speaker, it also gives us an opportunity to spread the economic opportunities beyond Cardinall Avenue and North and South Church Street and into the capital’s historic neighbourhoods. Some have noted that the revitalisation efforts could be seen as the gentrifying of parts of George Town. This is certainly not the case. Revitalisation is just that – a chance for renewal and a rebirth. The planned new roads will improve more than traffic congestion – they will also improve land values and property owners will have opportunities to develop or to sell their properties if they wish. Revitalising George Town is about benefiting the entire town – everyone who lives in George Town, does business in George Town or owns property in George Town – not just a select few. Without initiatives like this, George Town’s business centre and its historic neighbourhoods will severely decline in the coming decade. Madam Speaker, we cannot allow this to happen under our watch.

So, Madam Speaker, we have worked extremely hard at providing an environment where business can flourish and where Caymanians can have opportunities. Caymanians understand well that we cannot build this country alone and so we welcome those who come to help us work and build. But, as I have said many times, as we build Cayman and create opportunities for others to join us, it must be understood that Caymanians will not be left behind. Caymanians must have access to the opportunities that arise from the work that Government does. And in fact many of our people have benefitted from these opportunities over the years.

Let me assure this Honourable Legislature and the public at large that every major new development that starts up in Cayman, especially if they receive concessions from this Government to ensure the project starts, are advised that Caymanians must be employed during the construction phase as well as afterwards. Additionally, concessions granted are done with a requirement that construction starts within a reasonable time or the offer expires.

Madam Speaker, it has been said that a rising tide lifts all boats, but a rising tide will not lift people who cannot get on-board the boat. So as our economic tide once again rises it is important that Caymanians have opportunities for education, training, re-tooling, and a chance to show what they can do. We in Government will do our part but the private sector must help as well.

We have had discussions with the Chamber of Commerce and with larger businesses in the hospitality and banking industries, and we will continue those discussions to ensure that the opportunities that abound in Cayman continue to be spread to all that live and work here. The conversations have been fruitful thus far and we look forward to continued cooperation and partnership with the private sector in this regard.

We all recognise that there has been a structural shift in our two pillar industries since the 2008 great recession and we cannot ignore that reality. Financial services business is growing but there has also been consolidations and some financial20services businesses have decided that operations need to be leaner – and so some jobs in banking, for example, are fewer than they used to be.

We are seeing what are undoubtedly phenomenal growth opportunities in the hospitality industry with several new hotels, resorts and restaurants under way or being planned. The Kimpton Seafire alone is expected to need some 400 employees when completed. This is why we started the Hospitality School last year and are trying hard to grow the trainee student numbers this year and every year going forward. Every young person who graduated from the Hospitality School was able to find employment in good paying jobs at a hospitality employer of their choosing. We have a number of Caymanians now training in a variety of hospitality roles overseas – the opportunities abound in a whole range of roles in hospitality – and the overall salary package and benefits are also good.

Caymanians need to once again look at the good jobs in hospitality as being good jobs for Caymanians. The hospitality businesses that we have spoken with have indicated that they will continue to work with Government to not only encourage Caymanians to enter this industry but to also seek them out and to continue to provide opportunities for training and advancement. Our efforts will be redoubled in the coming years and given our track record I have no doubt we will be successful.

The hospitality training school model is proof that this partnership can pay dividends and we thank the businesses that worked to help ensure the success we have had so far. As a consequence of this success, a cross ministerial effort is now under way to see how else we can use the hospitality school model and to work with private sector, including the Chamber of Commerce, to develop various work programmes that provide skills and educational opportunities to Caymanians that can lead to real job opportunities.

But we also know Madam Speaker, that there are some Caymanians who may need a bit more assistance than others and we will be looking over the short and medium term to see how best to move them to employment. In the short term this will include what we are terming the Caymankind work programme where individuals will be provided an opportunity for temporary employment with Department of Environmental Health and the Recreation, Parks and Cemetery Unit to assist with an Island-wide clean-up programme. This will provide some relief for as many as we can afford over the Christmas season and will mean a better Christmas for many families.

I am sure that we will see more comments from some that this is a waste of money – well that is one point of view. But in my opinion it comes mainly from those who do not know the meaning of need, of not having the means to put food on the table let alone buy their children a gift for Christmas. This programme will not be operated like others in the past.

It will also allow us to get more people registered with the National Workforce Development Agency, and to get them into programmes that can assist with longer term employment. This is not a handout Madam Speaker, but a hand up for some individuals to get back into employment for a short period and to then hopefully start on their way to full time work.

Caymanians desire nothing more than to work, to provide for their families and to have an opportunity to build a career. Therefore, we are re-focussing our efforts on preparing our people to join the workforce.

A technical and vocational education and training coordinator has been appointed and will take up his position in the National Workforce Development Agency in January next year. He will provide planning and implementation of programme activities that support a national TVET agenda. He will also provide on-the-ground support to help job seekers receive the training they need.

The Ministry of Education is exploring and collaborating with the private sector to develop and deliver community based apprenticeships and work-experience internships. The Ministry also plans apprenticeships within the Public Works Department.

The recent work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Employment provides insight into the various barriers to employment, from lack of transportation to a criminal record. We are now actively working across the Ministries and with the private sector to mitigate those barriers and move people from welfare to meaningful work.

Another pledge we made was to reduce the cost of living for our people and residents alike. This is something near and dear to us all. Our people have no other place to call home. So while many boast of our high per-capita GDP, we also know that not all of us fall on the right side of the income curve. Therefore if the cost of living is not reined in, our people will not enjoy the fruits of their labour, save for their future, invest, or spend to support the wider local economy.

Our first commitment to address the cost of living was to introduce no new revenue measures. We recognised that we could not effectively tax the country out of a sluggish economy and to date we have stuck to this pledge. Government has done its part not to increase the burden, but we are now shifting our attention to where our people truly feel pain … at the pump! This, Madam Speaker, as has been explained by good friend and colleague, the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure, has the ability to impact so many areas in our economy.

Madam Speaker, since coming to office, we have been concerned that the prices at the gasoline pumps do not generally fall in line with changes in refined fuel prices on the global market. The Minister of Infrastructure has already advised that he is seeking a third fuel provider to help drive competition and thereby lower fuel prices. He has also been challenging Cayman’s two main fuel suppliers to provide information on the cost elements, which determine the prices at which they sell fuel to the local gas stations, as prices at the pump appear to us to be too high. Additionally he set about looking at a legislative and regulatory framework that would assist with ensuring that prices for refined fuel sold locally are fair.

We are confident that all three Cayman Islands can have optimum fuel prices while allowing the petrol companies a fair – and not excessive – return on their investments. But to be able to do so practically, and to be able to seek legal remedy, Government must be in a position to know the exact cost, not an estimate, for which fuel is acquired and marketed by the fuel importers.
To this end, we tabled in the Legislative Assembly changes to the Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage Law so that fuel importers are mandated to provide Government with the actual cost of the fuel they import or risk paying a fine of $250,000. These changes have been passed into law, and as we have seen, the prices are now coming down – even before the law has come into force. Perhaps they are seeing the light Madam Speaker?

To further reduce the cost of living, this past January Government reduced the duty Caribbean Utilities Company pays on diesel by 25-cents per gallon. The savings from this is now reflected on our electricity bills. There will be an additional 25-cents per gallon reduction next January, moving us from a high of 75-cents per gallon to just 25-cents per gallon by January 2016 under this Progressives-led Administration.

This reduction means a cost savings to all who use electricity in our homes and businesses and equates to $8.4 million dollars annually left in the pockets of CUC electricity consumers. So you see how focusing on fuel alone can have an impact? It is our hope that as fuel prices fall, as they should, the net impact will be felt across other areas in our economy, putting even more money back into the pockets of our citizens.

The cost of living has also been kept in check by Government reducing the import duty on most consumable goods from 22 per cent to 20 per cent – providing a savings to consumers of at least $4 million dollars annually.

All of that is proof-positive that this Progressives-led Administration gets things done.

Madam Speaker, at this year’s Fidelity Cayman Economic Outlook in February I also announced that the negotiations with Dart for the sale of the freehold of the Dragon Bay lands had begun and we were negotiating for fair market value. Dart currently holds the leasehold of this property under a 99-year lease, which has a balance of about 75 years to run. I’m pleased to announce today negotiations have been successfully concluded, and once the matter is finalised in accordance with the requirements of the Governor (Vesting of Lands) Law, the details of the sale will be brought to this House for final approval.

The valuations required under the Governor (Vesting of Lands) Law came in at $16 million on the high side and $12 million on the low end of the spectrum. The Department of Lands and Survey successfully negotiated for a price of US$14.57 million for the sale of the freehold of the property. Dart has committed to developing the property and Government will make revenue from property sales and development as a result.

As part of the deal, which was negotiated as part of the third Amendment to the NRA Agreement, Dart has also agreed to extend the Esterley Tibbetts Highway and make more improvements to our road infrastructure. Dart will build an additional two lanes of roadway from the Century 21 Roundabout to the Butterfield Roundabout near AL Thompson’s. This will include a new roundabout in the vicinity of the Lakeside Apartments on Esterley Tibbetts Highway, which will ultimately accommodate the Airport Connector Road. While Dart will fund the road works between the Century 21 Roundabout to and including the roundabout near Lakeside, Government has agreed to fund the extension south of the new roundabout to the Butterfield Roundabout. Dart and the National Roads Authority are currently working out the details of these much-needed road improvements. Confidence in Cayman was evident again this past September when Government inked a deal for the construction of St. James Point, a $200 million dollar hotel and condominium project to be built in the Bodden Town District at Beach Bay. We have signed a deal with the developer that takes into account the expected large contribution to the economy and have given some duty concessions on imports of materials along with other new hotel properties. Details of this were made public some months ago. This will be returned to the Government and the people of the Cayman Islands in spades when the hotel and condos are up and running and tourists are spending and enjoying the offerings of the eastern districts. It will mean money spent in the Cayman economy, jobs during the construction phase and good jobs for Caymanians after construction. On completion, the St. James Point project will assist tourism numbers and benefit the economy.

In addition, greater demand for the services of Health City could bolster stable growth for tourism services. Indirectly, these are seen to generate economic expansion in other areas, particularly wholesale and retail, transportation and the utility sectors.

One of our top and toughest jobs when we took office was to restore investor confidence in Cayman. Our success is proven in the number of private sector projects in the pipeline. We have kept our promises. We get things done.

Madam Speaker as our business community reaffirms its commitment to hire and train Caymanians, this Progressives-led Administration understands all too well our obligation to provide well educated and work ready Caymanian employees.

Education has been and continues to be a major priority of this Administration. School reports have shown improvements, but they also show we are falling short. We are working with educators to ensure that standards continue to improve and that they are more result oriented. Government is committed to education. We are spending the money and we expect results.

Madam Speaker, the previous PPM Government laid the foundation for the transformation of our education system into a world-class structure. This year amendments will be made to the Education Modernisation Law 2009, which was never brought in to force. The revised law will, among other things, establish the starting of school age as 5 years at the beginning of Year 1, empower the Minister of Education to establish a national curriculum in government schools, establish an Office of Education Quality Assurance, require all schools to have a written Student Behaviour and Discipline Policy and make it an offence to create a disturbance on school premises.

Our focus is on long-term economic growth and developing the skills of our people for that future economy.

We know that if our people can’t find gainful means of employment, crime could increase. That could harm our reputation on the global stage, give would-be visitors pause to consider another destination and, more importantly, bring harm to our people. While the elected Government does not have constitutional responsibility for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, we do control its budget. To that end, we will continue to ensure police powers and resources are proportionate and effective to detect and reduce crime.

There are things, however, that we can do, and have done, legislatively to address crime. Under this Administration this House approved the Second Hand Dealers Law to protect the public from unwittingly purchasing stolen goods from licensed second hand dealers and better regulate pawn shops and metal dealers to track who has sold what to them, helping prevent them being used as dumping grounds for stolen items. It is also an additional law enforcement tool.

We successfully passed the Conditional Release Law, which will have a major impact on re-offending rates. The objective is to help rehabilitate prisoners to function in society and live useful lives, to protect society from the criminal acts of repeat offenders and to reduce costs of incarceration.

Part of that rehabilitation includes allowing some offenders in the prison system to take part in projects that aim to assist the community and allow prisoners to pay back to society. To date projects undertaken have included painting of the George Town Fire Station, refurbishing three houses and assisting on restoration work at the Botanical Gardens.

I can also report, Madam Speaker, that Government recently hired seven new prison officers.

While I am on the subject of our prisons, I must express my dismay at the fact that some of the people being incarcerated should not even be there. I am speaking about our people with mental illness.

That is why we have developed a Strategic Outline Case for a new long-term residential mental health facility.

It is time we took care of those among us who are most vulnerable. Mental illness is not a crime, but more often than not those with mental illness find themselves housed in our prisons because we just don’t have enough bed space at the hospital.

Despite this, it is at the hospital and Health Services Authority that we are making great strides, giving that Authority a sense of direction and purpose. Under the past administration the HSA had no long-term or short-term plans to effectively provide high quality, cost efficient healthcare.

We have not forgotten the dream of home ownership that many Caymanians struggle and strive to achieve. Therefore we are making it easier to buy a home for qualified Caymanians. Last month we restarted the Government Guaranteed Home Assisted Mortgage programme, which backs first-time Caymanian homeowners by guaranteeing 35 per cent of the deposit. It allows buyers to borrow up to the full cost of the home without making a deposit. This approach opens the door for many to home ownership and is a hand up, not a hand out.

Madam Speaker, this Administration has also done much to modernise our legislative framework. Members of this House and the public will recall that we passed a Motion moving us to One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts in time for the elections in 2017. The order made by the Governor establishing 19 single member electoral districts was gazetted today. At the last meeting of this House we also passed a Motion to start the process of making this Honourable Assembly autonomous, putting responsibility with the Honourable Speaker and the Clerk and we also agreed to have the Standing Orders of this House modernised. These comprised an overall package that I think is so critical in moving the Cayman Islands into the modern era of democracy with an advanced constitution, a modern parliament and an equitable electoral system.

Madam Speaker, I have highlighted only a sampling of the ways this Progressives-led Administration has tirelessly worked to demonstrate in a tangible way that the Cayman Islands is in much better shape than the way we found it when we took office in 2013.

We have kept our promises. We get things done. We have delivered on our manifesto promises of education improvements, introducing a minimum wage, delivering on electoral reform, working with and encouraging business and improving employment.

But, Madam Speaker, we are not finished.

As you will recall, in September 2014 Government received a report from Ernst Young that made more than 80 recommendations for Government reform. The report was clear that it only gave advice and analysis to support Government’s consideration as to future action.

Government considered the recommendations and used the report as a key input in our decision making. In so doing, Government recognised that the EY report was only one source of potential projects and other ideas for reform should also be considered. So, for the past year or so, the detailed work necessary to develop and analyse candidate projects has been undertaken.
We have kept our promises. We get things done.

Madam Speaker, I believe we have a duty to take a long-term view and to put in place the delivery of the reforms this country needs. If we remain bound to electoral cycles we remain bound to short term action that will not tackle some of the fundamental issues we face. Our country needs more than that. Our country deserves more than that. And that is why this Government is setting out a clear plan of future action.

We have excluded some of the EY recommendations because they clearly conflict with our policy – for example recommendations to raise fees would clearly run counter to the commitment this Administration has given the country to seek to cut rather than raise duties and fees. Alternatively, we have excluded recommendations because the further analysis we have done indicates the benefits are insufficient to justify taking the ideas forward.

As I said earlier, Madam Speaker, Phase One of Project Future includes projects already in flight and I’ve already updated the House on the Owen Roberts International Airport, cruise berthing facilities and a new sustainable waste strategy for the Cayman Islands.

We can chalk off one recommendation in Phase One as complete: The EY recommendation to move the London Office to the Portfolio of the Cabinet Office was implemented in July. While it is by no means the most fundamental of reforms, it does show our willingness to get on with things even as we finalise the full programme. Again, Madam Speaker, we have kept our promises.
For example we continue to make progress in the following projects:

• Work to develop the business cases for the creation of a new Office of the Ombudsman and a new Public Utilities Commission is nearing completion and, if approved, both will move swiftly through to implementation.

• Every parcel of surplus Government land has been reviewed and an initial portfolio for sale has been created. Cabinet has already given approval for the sale of the first of those pieces of land.

• The communications project was kick started with a Capability Review conducted by the UK’s Government Communications Service earlier this year. The next step is the presentation of the Communications Capability Review and its recommendations to Cabinet.

• We are progressing work on the business case for the potential merger of primary schools on Cayman Brac, either on one of the existing sites or a completely new site on the Bluff.

• The Portfolio of the Civil Service and the Public Service Pensions Board launched employee consultations on the proposed changes to the Public Service Management Law and the Public Service Pensions Law to facilitate raising the normal retirement age from 60 to 65. The forecast implementation date for the new retirement age is April 2016.

Another project we hope to complete in the SPS period is a review of the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company or CINICO.

CINICO provides cover for the whole civil service and their dependents, for retirees and for seafarers and veterans. The entire cost of the premiums paid to CINICO in respect of those customers is currently met by Government.

The current level of contributions is inadequate to meet future liabilities and a strategy is needed to bridge the gap. The Government has announced it will look at the issue of co-pay for some civil servants. The Deputy Governor has been asked to take the issue forward and is doing so linked to a project conducting a wider review of the terms and conditions of civil servants.
The project will review the operation of CINICO in the context of the wider health insurance market and consider the best means of providing health insurance to civil servants, seafarers and veterans. The project will also examine the scope for CINICO to diversify its range of products.

We have laid the groundwork for the remainder of this administration and into the future because if not us, then who? If not now, then when? It is time our elected representatives look beyond the narrow confines of the electoral cycle and political advantage and look to the future of our people and our country and begin laying the foundation for that future. Ours is a progressive government that looks beyond personality politics focused on self-aggrandizement and political survival as was the case in the past. We have kept our promises. We get things done.
Looking ahead as you have heard, Madam Speaker, Project Future fits in nicely with this Progressives-led Government’s Strategic Policy Statement.

Uppermost in our priorities is jobs for our people. This Administration will continue to seek out private companies that are committed to helping us develop the country and putting Caymanians to work.

Government supports the completion of private sector labour and pension legislative reform. The Labour Relations Bill 2015 seeks to clarify the 30-year-old Labour Law to protect and enhance the rights of employees and employers where prudent. Government has heard the concerns of the private sector and others and will consider those carefully prior to bringing the Bill to the Legislative Assembly.

The Ministry of Education will implement a new governance model for education based on the results of the Outline Business Case that is being done in this fiscal year. That model includes greater community involvement; improved communication; broader skills by tapping into the experience of volunteers, business, industry and the public sector; and improved accountability, support and challenge for school leadership.

Also Madam Speaker, the National Training Council will be operational and work with the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs to determine current and future workplace plans including areas of future occupational demand. This will support Technical and Vocational Education and Training in schools to assure quality, sustainability, value for money and that the needs of stakeholders are met.

Youth and sports facilities will be expanded and upgraded to promote sports development and tourism opportunities including the Haig Bodden Playing Field, the Centre of Excellence at Truman Bodden Sports Complex, the boxing gym in Bodden Town, the Red Bay Primary School and Donovan Rankine and Old Man Bay Playing fields. Over on the Sister Islands we will complete construction of the 25-metre swimming pool at the Cayman Brac Playfield as well as complete the internal works of the multi-purpose hall on the Bluff.

Work will be done with sports associations to strengthen their internal structures and processes and a more comprehensive physical education curriculum and school sports will be implemented.
Just as we are duty bound to properly train up our future generations, we are also duty bound to care for our elders and those who have a legitimate need for Government assistance. The Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports will develop a National Older Persons Policy, a Social Assistance Strategy and complete the Poor Persons (Relief) Regulations.

We also have a responsibility, Madam Speaker, as a Government to look after those who find themselves running afoul of our judicial system. I spoke earlier of the Conditional Release Law. Going forward we will work with that law in tandem with providing the Department of Community Rehabilitation capacity to increase staffing levels and resources to aid in the delivery of community corrections services. The objectives are to rehabilitate prisoners to function in society and live useful lives, to protect society from the criminal acts of repeat offenders and to reduce costs of incarceration.

As we strive to assure that those most in need in our society have their needs met, we also keep in mind our fiscal responsibilities.

One way we will do that is to implement the Procurement Law, which will lay the foundation for all future public sector procurement in the Cayman Islands. The Law will strengthen the procurement process with increased transparency and a greater focus on value for money while providing improved opportunities for Caymanian suppliers to be successful. By setting up government-wide contracts and doing bulk purchases for commonly used goods and services, the Government will approach the market as a single entity resulting in significant savings because of larger economies of scale and improved efficiencies.

We will also implement the Public Authorities Law to provide a consistent overarching governance, financial management and personnel management framework for Statutory Authorities and Government Companies to improve consistency of approach and to strengthen accountability in the Legislative Assembly and the public.

Madam Speaker, this Progressives-led Administration is striving hard to do better with services across the public sector. To that end we will continue to improve E-Government by developing and implementing a plan to significantly increase E-Government services. Part of that plan includes the implementation of an online declarations processing system, which will allow members of the public to submit and process Customs Declaration forms and imported goods electronically.

The first new E-Government initiative to come through the steering committee is the automation of the Tax Undertaking Certificates process, which will complement the suite of E-Government services available to our financial service providers. This is now in the final stages of user acceptance testing. A more significant project for small business services is going through the business case and procurement processes. In addition the changes to support the new Trade and Business Licensing Law have been implemented.

Following the workshop with the E-Governance Academy team from Estonia, we are completing the documentation of the overall strategy, preparing the outline business case to implement the strategy and have issued a request for proposal for business process re-engineering support for the E-Government progamme.

Heavy emphasis will also be also placed on cyber security. In today’s world, as we have all seen, achieving cyber security and data protection is not a single destination, but a continuous journey and I have advised the staff in the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that there is a sufficient, urgent focus on data security across Government.

Bringing the Cayman Islands into the 21st Century will be the consideration of new legislation to introduce trademarks in the Cayman Islands. In fact, Madam Speaker, General Registry staff is already undergoing training and developing systems. The introduction of local registration is expected to provide additional revenue for Government from an increase in registrations and renewal activity and to increase employment opportunities in the Government and the private sector. The local registration of trademarks will also allow residents and local businesses to protect their intellectual property without the need to obtain and maintain United Kingdom or Community registrations.

We will also continue to be a force to be reckoned with on the world’s financial stage. The Department of Financial Services Policy and Legislation will develop and maintain innovative financial services products that are consistent with international regulatory standards and are intended to both increase Cayman’s market share in the global financial services and ensure positive assessments by international standard setters.

As I have said previously, Madam Speaker, Government supports the Deputy Governor in his efforts for real structured reform of the Civil Service and is looking far into the future, not just the remaining months in this four-year term. As such we will continue with the implementation of the five-year strategic plan that will stretch from July 2016 to December 2021. Under the banner of a reimagined civil service, the five-year strategic plan will improve how the civil service operates and improve the effectiveness and efficiency with which the civil service delivers political priorities.

Just as we are working to shore up our Civil Service, I have to acknowledge and I take great comfort in knowing that our Civil Service has a proven track record for meeting challenges head on, and delivering favourable results on behalf of the Country.

When faced with the call to “do more with less”, the Civil Service has responded. Headcount within the Civil Service has gradually declined, and as a result of numerous austerity measures aimed at reducing personnel costs, each year human resources costs have come in below the approved budget, thus contributing millions of dollars toward the Government’s achievement of annual budgetary surpluses.

Madam Speaker, the Government recognizes these achievements and the sacrifices that have made them possible. While keeping a steady control of expenses, we have endeavoured to reward good stewardship. In June 2014, the Government awarded a one off 2.5 per cent honorarium to the Civil Service. This was followed in July 2015, by the Government awarding a 4 per cent cost of living adjustment to all civil servants.

In 2013-2014, the Immigration Department undertook a process of job evaluations, which resulted in pay increases for Immigration Officers. In the current financial year 2014 – 2015, other uniformed positions have also been evaluated. As a result of favourable job evaluations, Customs Officers have received pay increases and similar increases are currently being made to Police Officers.

We note, Madam Speaker, that notwithstanding such efforts civil servants’ pay has been controlled by strict policies for many years, often times to the detriment of our most loyal and hardworking staff. As at 30 June, 2015, approximately 35 per cent of the Civil Service have suffered pay stagnation where they have not seen any increase in their pay points for seven or more years. This number increases to almost 50 per cent of the Civil Service who have experienced pay stagnation for five or more years.

The result, Madam Speaker, is that highly experienced employees may now be earning less than persons who are newly hired to the same roles. In such cases, new employees have been able to negotiate higher salaries; meanwhile, the pay for long serving staff has been frozen. This has resulted in sometimes pronounced disparities been existing staff and new hires.
I’m happy to say, Madam Speaker, that steps are finally being taken to address these issues as well. The Government has commenced a phased approach to this problem. Starting in the current financial year, teachers will be the first to see pay increases to remedy pay stagnation. Teachers whose pay has not increased for three or more years and who have received favourable performance evaluations, will receive between one to three increments based upon how long their salaries have been frozen.

In 2016-2017, this programme will be rolled out in phases across the wider civil service. The Government has approved a bespoke budget, which has been earmarked for addressing pay stagnation within the Civil Service. This will allow the Civil Service to address the internal pay inequities that have crept into the system as a result of prolonged austerity policies that froze pay for existing staff, even where those employees earned additional qualifications and proved themselves to be excellent employees.

Madam Speaker, while the Government wishes it could do more to reward its staff, it is important to recognise that programmes have been deployed in a consistent, sensible and sustainable manner. We cannot fix everything in this term. In the coming financial year, we will continue to support the Civil Service while still holding it accountable to achieve favourable results on behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands. The Government has taken a responsible approach to restoring the fiscal health of the country and it has shared the fruits of this success with those who have helped to make it possible.

Madam Speaker, please allow me before I conclude today to speak a bit more about the world around us. It is by God’s grace and divine providence that we set out these plans for our future. We have striven as a Government to put our people first, to put the long term stability, our international reputation, and our children’s future at the heart of what we do. We have worked together as a team and indeed, everyone in this country has laboured with us to turn things around. We have done everything within our power.

But as we well know Madam Speaker, there are many things that are outside of our power. Indeed our world is faced with challenges, the likes of which we have never before seen. As a country whose economy is dependent upon confidence, whether as an investor or a traveller for pleasure, we must continue to keep a watchful eye on the events of the day. Madam Speaker in this interconnected world, few places on Earth today will be immune from the impact of further escalations in this global war on terror and I’m tempted to say war of terror.

And as other parts of the world wrestle with this war and the ensuing migrant crisis, we must not forget that political and economic realities are changing right here in our own neighbourhood. We have had our fair share of experience and challenges managing our own migrant crisis. Overnight, this too could escalate. Furthermore, as we approach our very own Cayman Thanksgiving on Sunday, 6th December, we must pause to give thanks for safe passage through another hurricane season. This did not have to be the case, as every resident here during Ivan or Paloma will recall.

This is why we reached out in support for our neighbours in Dominica when disaster swept lives, livelihoods and communities away just a few months ago.

And yet in the face of all this Madam Speaker we still have hope; hope for a bright, prosperous and peaceful future. This is an Administration that has a vision and a plan. And even if the world goes through a rough patch, we will still benefit by taking the steps we have to maintaining sound fiscal management and placing the well-being of our people at the centre of all that we do. This is what each of us took an oath to uphold and protect as Premier.

So as I present this motion for approval of the Strategic Policy Statement, let us continue to look to the future – not just the challenges, but the opportunities that will also come through technology and other breakthroughs in health care, energy, transportation, agriculture, education, management of natural resources and communication. We must ready our people and our children not just for today’s economy but for the economy of tomorrow. If we are wasteful and saddled with debt, we might not be able to afford the future.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, as I said earlier, let the naysayers spout vitriol all they want. I am reminded of the words from American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage”.

The Progressives-led Administration has that courage. We’ve proven it time and again during this term. It has so far been a good season for the Cayman Islands and Caymanians and all who work here and invest here under our Administration. So I am confident, Madam Speaker, that in their full wisdom, the people of the Cayman Islands will continue the season of the Progressives-led Government.

Throughout our tenure we have been transparent, open and honest, sharing with this House and the wider public milestones – and there have been many – that the Progressives-led Administration has made from Getting Back on Course and Staying the Course. Now is not the time to change that course. We can never, ever go back to things as they were.

We knew when we took office that we would not be able to leap frog from where we were – a time of grave concern and uncertainty, a weak economy, failing businesses and dire unemployment – to where we needed to be in a single bound. We have made progress and we are determined to keep our promise to the people of a brighter future. We are and have been a Government of transparency that has restored the confidence of the United Kingdom, restored stability to the country, restored confidence in the Government and restored the economy. We are good47stewards of government’s money and we will remain disciplined in our approach to public expenditure.

I want to personally thank my elected colleagues on this side and you Madam Speaker. I especially wish to thank the Minister of Finance, the Financial Secretary and the entire team in the Ministry of Finance for their hard work in preparing the SPS. It would be remiss of me if I did not also thank those public officers who are committed to the change that is required to move our country forward and who work hard every day to ensure the success of our policies. I appreciate everyone’s contributions.

Madam Speaker, everything this Progressives-led Government does is for the betterment of the Cayman Islands, her people and those who call our shores home. We are looking far down the road, not just the remainder of this term. We are laying a solid foundation for a Cayman that will continue to have strong economic growth and sound public finances. A Cayman that will provide a safe and attractive living environment, economic opportunities and employment, a high standard of living and good quality of life for all our people.

We have kept our promises. We get things done.

May God continue to guide us and pour his blessings on these beloved Cayman Isles.

Government has approved a bespoke budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 to address pay stagnation within the Civil Service. The programme will be rolled out in phases.

This will allow the Civil Service to address the internal pay inequities that have crept into the system as a result of prolonged austerity policies that froze pay for existing staff, even where those employees earned additional qualifications and proved themselves to be excellent employees.

“I take great comfort in knowing that our Civil Service has a proven track record for meeting challenges head on, and delivering favourable results on behalf of the Country,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin.

When faced with the call to “do more with less”, the Civil Service has responded. Headcount within the Civil Service has gradually declined, and as a result of numerous austerity measures aimed at reducing personnel costs, each year human resources costs have come in below the approved budget, thus contributing millions of dollars toward the Government’s achievement of annual budgetary surpluses.

Government recognises these achievements and the sacrifices that have made them possible. While keeping a steady control of expenses, Government has endeavoured to reward good stewardship. In June 2014, the Government awarded a one off 2.5 per cent honorarium to the Civil Service. This was followed in July 2015, by the Government awarding a 4 per cent cost of living adjustment to all civil servants.

In 2013-2014, the Immigration Department undertook a process of job evaluations, which resulted in pay increases for Immigration Officers. In the current financial year 2014-2015, other uniformed positions have also been evaluated. As a result of favourable job evaluations, Customs Officers have received pay increases and similar increases are currently being made to Police Officers.

Notwithstanding such efforts civil servants’ pay has been controlled by strict policies for many years, often times to the detriment of the most loyal and hardworking staff. As at 30 June, 2015, approximately 35 per cent of the Civil Service have suffered pay stagnation where they have not seen any increase in their pay points for seven or more years. This number increases to almost 50 per cent of the Civil Service who have experienced pay stagnation for five or more years.

The result that highly experienced employees may now be earning less than persons who are newly hired to the same roles. In such cases, new employees have been able to negotiate higher salaries; meanwhile, the pay for long serving staff has been frozen. This has resulted in sometimes pronounced disparities been existing staff and new hires.

“I’m happy to say that steps are finally being taken to address these issues as well. The Government has commenced a phased approach to this problem. Starting in the current financial year, teachers will be the first to see pay increases to remedy pay stagnation,” said Mr. McLaughlin.

Teachers whose pay has not increased for three or more years and who have received favourable performance evaluations, will receive between one to three increments based upon how long their salaries have been frozen.

“While Government wishes it could do more to reward its staff, it is important to recognise that programmes have been deployed in a consistent, sensible and sustainable manner. We cannot fix everything in this term. In the coming financial year, we will continue to support the Civil Service while still holding it accountable to achieve favourable results on behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “The Government has taken a responsible approach to restoring the fiscal health of the country and it has shared the fruits of this success with those who have helped to make it possible.”

26 November, 2015
Legislative Assembly
By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Members of this Honourable House are aware of the Government’s ongoing discussion with the United Kingdom in regards to the collection and sharing of beneficial ownership information.
While discussions on beneficial ownership information will not be on this year’s official Joint Ministerial Council agenda, following recent correspondence and telephone discussions with the UK Overseas Territories Minister Hon. James Duddridge, I do expect to have discussions on this subject with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office while my team and I are in London next week.
Today I will summarise for this Honourable House, our financial services industry, and the public the evolving shift in the UK’s position on beneficial ownership. I also will reiterate our Government’s position.

As quick background, in 2013 the UK chaired the G8 Summit, placing anti-corruption at the core of its agenda. At the time, their call for public, central registers of beneficial ownership information was, to a degree, matched by actions in the European Union as part of its 4th Anti Money-Laundering Directive. Immediately following the G8 Summit, Government clearly stated that we would continue to ensure that our jurisdiction met international standards, and that we would take further actions only when proposed standards were adopted internationally.

Stemming from that commitment to the UK, we conducted a public consultation on beneficial ownership and, in December 2014, we published the results in our Consultation Report on Maintenance of Legal and Beneficial Ownership Information. This report included two main points. First, we reiterated our commitment to international standards, and in particular we stated our support for the G20 High-Level Principles on Beneficial Ownership Transparency. Second, we outlined a number of areas in which possible enhancements of our regime could be undertaken.
However, the UK Government’s stance on anti-corruption and ensuing initiatives has evolved since the 2013 G8 Summit.

The public is aware that the Acting Overseas Territories Minister, the Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps, visited Cayman this past August, during which we were pleased to hear his support for our beneficial ownership regime. He said, and I quote, that ‘there is more than one way to skin a cat’. This perspective is certainly in line with the Financial Action Task Force’s recommendations, which allows multiple ways in which a jurisdiction may satisfy requirements regarding beneficial ownership information.

A further important shift in the UK’s position came one month after Mr Shapps’s visit, with their acknowledgement that beneficial ownership information will NOT need to be available to the public. As a result of this important repositioning, consideration shifted to the standards by which the Cayman Islands, and indeed all Overseas Territories, maintains beneficial ownership information, and the protocols for information sharing between competent authorities.

To develop the enhancements outlined in our 2014 consultation report, the Ministry of Financial Services has formed joint public- and private- sector working groups to consider and recommend enhancements relating to the availability, accuracy and access to beneficial ownership information.

However, the UK’s position has evolved yet again. Just this week, the UK Overseas Territories Minister Duddridge has had telephone conversations with me as well as the Premiers of the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda on the issue of access to beneficial ownership information. He has told me that the UK is now seeking direct access by its law enforcement agencies to beneficial ownership information in the Cayman Islands and other Overseas Territories. I have advised him that this is not something to which the Cayman Islands can agree.

The information concerned does not belong to the Cayman Islands Government. It is property of the owners of the respective legal entities. Further, as far as we are aware, there is no country in the world that allows unrestricted access to beneficial ownership information by the law enforcement agencies of another country.

There are established mechanisms in place that allow requests for information to be made to the relevant authorities in Cayman by overseas law enforcement agencies, tax and regulatory authorities. The information collected and shared through these mechanisms is importantly, information which we have cross checked and verified – we do not simply rely on an honour system. These mechanisms were approved by the UK and have been assessed to be in accordance with globally accepted standards. They are working well and our position is that they should continue to be the means by which the UK and other countries obtain information on beneficial ownership of legal entities in the Cayman Islands.

To do otherwise would place the Cayman Islands at a competitive disadvantage with other jurisdictions that do not permit unfettered access to beneficial ownership.

The Cayman Islands, as we have said time and time again, is fully committed to complying with international standards with respect to the provision of financial services and particularly as it relates to transparency and beneficial ownership information. We have demonstrated this full commitment in number of meaningful ways, such as being an early adopter to the Convention on Mutual Tax Assistance and leaders in the implementation of US and UK FATCA as recent examples. However, what we are not prepared to do is to adopt a scheme which our competitors (some of whom are G20 member states) do not subscribe to, put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage and thereby cause our business to migrate to competitor jurisdictions. That will not serve our interest obviously but ironically neither would it serve the interests of those who would have us do that: business would simply move to less well regulated jurisdictions.

Our position on beneficial ownership information remains the same:

1. We will not agree to a public register unless and until that becomes the global standard and all of our competitors also subscribe to that standard.
2. We will not agree to unfettered access to Cayman Islands beneficial ownership information by external law enforcement, tax or regulatory authorities. Requests for such information must continue to meet established criteria and to be dealt with by the relevant Cayman Islands authorities established for that purpose and approved as being in accordance with global standards.

Colleagues, the summation of the matter to date is this: Cayman’s position on beneficial ownership information has not changed. We will uphold our commitments to globally acceptable standards.

This is the message I have already delivered to Mr. Duddridge and which I intend to reiterate when we meet in London next week. Honourable colleagues, I am looking forward to the continued, united support of this House as we work assiduously to best position the Cayman Islands in relation to beneficial ownership.

Minister of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports recently attended the CARICOM meeting in Kingston Jamaica on prevention of Crime by focusing on At Risk Youth and Vulnerable Populations.

The Cayman Islands are an associate member of CARICOM and were invited to take part in the meeting. Accompanying Minister Bodden was Social Work Manager with the Department of Children and Family Services, Ms Leonora Wynter-Young, Chair of the National Youth Commission, Reverend Donovan Myers and Assistant Chief Officer, Joel Francis.

The meeting which is the sixth annual meeting focused this year on the theme Juvenile Justice Sector reform and Building Safe Communities.

Minister Bodden said that many of the root causes of crime across the region are very similar and it was instructive to learn of the different initiatives which were being employed in these various countries where the challenges may be greater than ours.

Challenges with the family were a common critical problem but other contributing factors included drugs and unemployment.

One of the key approaches highlighted was the fact that several Caribbean countries have now embraced, at the highest levels within their various countries, Community Policing as a policy direction to lead the way in which the policing activities are carried out. For example in Guyana there are some 49 police based youth groups which seek to provide heathy youth activities for young people and which address the issue of public trust in the police.

The meeting was jointly held in partnership with United States Agency for International Development.(USAID) This group funds and otherwise supports many of the crime reduction and community development initiatives in the Caribbean and in Jamaica is establishing 25 community resource centres which function as a hub for community interaction, empowerment and transformation from its members. They are built in the heart of Vulnerable Communities by young people who are part of a NGO vocational program. They house a police sub-station and include space a Community Development Council Office and other community activities inching a space for business enterprise activities.

Minister Bodden said that this was a very interesting approach for creating safer spaces within vulnerable communities and he was pleased to have been able to attend the opening of the first one of the 25 Community Development Centres in the Rockfort, Kingston.

Ms Wynter-Young said that she welcomed the opportunity to discuss with her colleagues from the region, various community strengthening initiatives which Cayman used through the Department of Children and Family Services and the Family Resources Centre. She was also interested in the discussions which promoted alternative sentencing options for young people and amendments in the law for some countries which allowed expunging the criminal records of young people with the exception for crimes such as murder and treason.

She also made a number of good contacts from community development practitioners and there was already a sharing of ideas and resources since her return to Grand Cayman.

Reverend Myers of the National Youth Commission which is charged with youth advocacy and empowerment in the Cayman Islands was very interested in a youth-led community programme out of Jamaica called the National Integrity Action Movement. The group which involves young people at the University of the West Indies had the goal of changing the behaviour of young peoples toward living a life of integrity. Through this movement, they created young people called Integrity Ambassadors. Young people are selected and engaged in a programme geared towards encouraging reflection, leading to commitment and action around issues of integrity. The students participate in a range of activities including role play, games, use of technology, field trips, discussions and guest presentations.

As the meeting drew to a close, the problem of data gathering was highlighted aa a common one throughout the region. This included lack of data in relation to community development and youth crime and it was agreed that this would be the main theme for the next meeting of the CARICOM technical group on the subject in 2016.

Visiting Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Mr. Pratap Singh, called on Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, at the Legislative Assembly today (Friday, 20 November 2015).

The High Commissioner, who has also jurisdiction for Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands, met Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick on Tuesday, toured Health City on Wednesday and met with the Indian diaspora on Grand Cayman later that evening at Treats Cafe.

Calling today’s meeting “very cordial”, the Premier said he was delighted that the High Commissioner had enjoyed his stay in the Cayman Islands and that the visit was productive.
In response, the High Commissioner looked forward to consolidating better bilateral relations between India and the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Singh was accompanied by the unofficial Honorary Indian Consul in the Cayman Islands, Dr. Krishna Mani. The meeting was facilitated by International Affairs Analyst in the Cabinet Office, Mr. Jamaal Anderson.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin will leave the Cayman Islands Friday to travel to London to attend the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in London from 1-4 December, 2014.

The JMC will bring together political leaders from the Overseas Territories and UK Ministers.

The JMC meets once a year to provide a forum for the exchange of views on political and constitutional issues between the governments of the Territories and the UK Government.

Issues to be discussed this year include child safeguarding, economic development, and setting a vision for the UK and the OTs in 2030.

“It is vitally important that we attend the JMC each year to keep the Cayman Islands in the forefront. Through our participation we can ensure that Cayman remains in the global spotlight and continues to build sustainable economies, create jobs and drive prosperity,” said the Hon. Premier. “Once we do these things, we can ensure a better quality of life for our citizens and visitors.”

On Saturday, 28 November, the Premier will host a reception for Cayman students who are studying in the UK.

On 3 December, Mr. McLaughlin will host an invitation-only dinner for current and potential future Friends of Cayman where he will deliver a speech and entertain questions.

During the JMC, participants will also review and implement strategy and commitments in the 2012 White Paper ‘The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability’.

Traveling with the Premier will be Financial Services Minister Hon. Wayne Panton, Cabinet Secretary Mr. Samuel Rose and Joint Ministerial Council Sherpa Mr. Jason Webster, Financial Services Ministry Chief Officer Dax Basdeo and Andre Ebanks of the Ministry.

Bodden Town elected representatives will gather Thursday morning to welcome the opening of a temporary parking lot just in time for Friday’s Bodden Town Heritage Day as part of Pirates Week festivities.

The event will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, 19 November, 2015, on government owned land off Ena Close on Anton Bodden Drive.

Once Heritage Day festivities are completed, a permanent parking lot will be opened on the site to create 97 parking spaces for future visitors attending functions at the Harry McCoy Sr. Community Park off Gun Square and for people to visit the Mission House and other historical sites.

Bodden Town Members of the Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Hon. Anthony Eden, Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden, Minister Hon. Wayne Panton and Councillor Alva Suckoo Jr. have been working tirelessly to get the parking lot constructed, not only for Pirates Week but for events that are regularly held in Bodden Town where there is limited parking space.

The public and media are invited to attend the Thursday event.

Statement from Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin

The Cayman Islands joins the rest of the world in mourning those who died in France in Friday’s terrorism attacks.

I commend the swift action of police in rounding up and detaining suspects.

To our residents and visitors from France, you and your nation are in our thoughts and prayers.

We know that the threat of additional terrorism attacks remains high, not only in France but throughout the civilized world. This was not just an attack on Paris and France, but an attack on all mankind.

Statement by the Premier

Good morning. Thank you for joining us today as we provide the country and the press with this update on what used to be referred to as the EY report but that has developed into a series of projects under the “project Future” banner.

While the EY report made over 80 recommendations, it was clear that it only “provides indicative advice and analysis to support [the Government’s] consideration as to future action”. In other words, the report was not, as some would have it, some kind of blueprint for the Government to follow. Even its authors acknowledged that it was only ever an aid to Government thinking. Therefore, it has been right for us to take our time; to carry out the further analysis that EY themselves said was necessary; and to consider properly other potential reforms that were not contained in the EY report.

I am pleased to announce that we have now completed that work and the Programme Brief we are publishing here today makes public the full Project Future programme which was formally adopted by Cabinet last week.

Our programme is ambitious and far-reaching. For the first time, the Government is putting forward a comprehensive and coherent programme of reform, reaching right across the public sector.

As you will see from the Programme Brief, there are currently 51 projects making up the Project Future programme. Clearly, Government cannot tackle that agenda all at once. Hence the programme is presented in 5 phases to be implemented over the next 5 years.

Phase 1 covers the 17 projects we have already started. When last we spoke about Project Future in April, I talked about six projects that were in flight. In the six months or so since that last announcement we have continued to make progress with those projects:

• Work to develop the business cases for the creation of a new Office of the Ombudsman and a new Public Utilities Commission is nearing completion and, if approved, both will move swiftly through to implementation.
  
  
• Every parcel of surplus Government land has been reviewed and an initial portfolio for sale has been created. Cabinet has already given approval for the sale of the first of those pieces of land.
  
  
• The communications project has kick started with a Capability Review conducted by the UK’s Government Communications Service earlier this year. The next step is the presentation of the Communications Capability Review and its recommendations to Cabinet.
  
  
• We are progressing work on the business case for the potential merger of primary schools on Cayman Brac, either on one of the existing sites or a completely new site on the Bluff. As you may be aware, Caucus has also asked that the possible movement of the secondary school to the new site be considered as part of the business case and that has inevitably made the analysis more complicated. We expect the business case to be delivered in the second quarter of 2016. In the meantime, the Ministry is carrying out works at the site that can stand alone but will be useful for school purposes should the OBC recommendation be to proceed with the construction of a school on the site.
  
  
• Last week, the Portfolio of the Civil Service and the Public Service Pensions Board launched employee consultations on the proposed changes to the Public Service Management Law and the Public Service Pensions Law to facilitate raising the normal retirement age from 60 to 65. The consultations will continue with stakeholders across the civil service through the month of November. Feedback received from these consultations will be considered and reflected in the draft Bills which will be submitted for approval by Cabinet and onward submission to the Legislative Assembly. The forecast implementation date for the new retirement age is April 2016.

In addition, 7 other projects related to EYs recommendations that were already underway have been brought within the Project Future framework. Again, there has been significant progress over the last six months on what are some vitally important projects for the future of these Islands.

That includes progress on the major infrastructure projects mentioned in the EY report – the expansion of the airport; resolving the future of cruise berthing; and solving the problem of finding a sustainable solution for our waste management needs. I will not dwell on those because there have been major announcements on the progress on each of those over the last few weeks. However, I have made the point before that the progress on delivery that marks this Progressives-led Government out from its predecessors is, in my view, unprecedented in our history. We are a Government that gets things done.

Other projects now within the Project Future framework are:

• The work on promoting E-Government benefitted from the visit to these shores of a team from the E-Governance Academy of Estonia. Learning from their experience and others, the Director of E-Government is actively working to document the Government’s strategy based on internationally-recognised principles. This will be immediately followed by the outline business case with a view to moving to a pilot of a single service, e-Government portal solution within the first half of 2016.
  
  
• Similarly, our work on improving Government procurement has made good progress. Work is being taken forward by the new Director of Procurement to modernise the legislative framework and devise an appropriate set of standards and tools to implement that framework successfully. He is also identifying areas where there is a savings potential from Government contracts.
  
  
• We have also continued the implementation of new ways of working, supported by a new IT system in customs and moved forward the implementation of private sector pensions reform which I will mention again in a short while.

A further 3 projects have started in the last few months:

I have said previously that this programme is not about wholesale redundancies among civil servants. However, it is clear that there will be impacts on individuals and I gave a commitment that we would manage that effectively. Hence one of the early projects commenced has been to develop a policy to safeguard staff impacted by organisational rearrangements – be that outsourcing to a new provider or simply restructuring within the civil service. We need to ensure both that civil servants are treated fairly and respectfully and that any transitions are smooth to ensure service continuity.

EY’s report referred to changes in approach that could be made by the Tourism Attractions Board. In line with their report, the Board’s administrative staff relocated to Pedro St James in July; a marketing process for the letting of the Pedro Café commenced last month and it is anticipated that the Café will be leased by January, 2016; and two new tours have been agreed with Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited.

Work has begun to pave the way for a new National Cultural Strategy, during development of which EY’s recommendations in respect of the existing cultural offer and the organisational arrangements to support it will be considered. The Ministry plans to convene the steering committee for the project in early 2016 with a view to having a draft policy & plan out for public consultation late in the third quarter of 2016.

We can chalk off one recommendation as complete. The EY recommendation to move the London Office to the Portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary was implemented in July. Not the most fundamental of reforms, I agree, but indicative of our willingness to get on with things even as we finalised the full programme.

The projects comprising phases 2 and 3 will be determined when we see the business cases for the 9 projects being worked on. These are vitally important projects for the future of these Islands and our people. They include projects to further help tackling unemployment amongst Caymanians; the implementation of the education reforms we are currently under way; and a series of projects to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, including planning and building control.

We anticipate that at least some of those will be implemented before the 2017 election and those will constitute phase 2. The most pressing need we will address in phase 2 is the need to further tackle unemployment amongst Caymanians. The issue has been raised in the House and in the press in recent days.

The Government does not view unemployment as the fault of business. Nor do we believe that every work permit issued is a job taken away from a Caymanian. However, we do believe there is more business can do to provide opportunities for Caymanians. We also accept that is more Government can do. This project will refocus Government’s efforts into activities that make a positive difference in supporting Caymanians into employment and it will provide a more effective framework for working with business to enable them to do more.

Our economy is large, successful and growing. In those circumstances, we should be able to say that any Caymanian who wants work should be able to find suitable employment in a reasonable period of time. Government and business need to work together to make that a reality. This project will get that done.

Those projects that cannot be completed within 18 months will be planned ready for implementation immediately following the election as phase 3.

I should say at this point that I am not taking the electorate for granted. However, Governments have often been criticised for its short-termism and it is right for this Progressives-led Government to take a long-term view and to put in place the delivery of the reforms this country needs. If we remain bound to electoral cycles we remain bound to short term action that will not tackle some of the fundamental issues we face. Our country needs more than that. Our country deserves better than that. And that it why this Progressives-led Government is setting out a clear plan of future action. We are happy for the electorate to judge us on whether they agree with our plans and we will be proud to lay our record of achievement before them in 18 months’ time.

Projects have generally been allocated to phases 4 and 5 because they are complex and likely to take time to plan and implement or because the potential benefits are lower than those in earlier phases. They include the potential reform of health provision in these Islands; consideration of options for the future of the National Mail Service; and further efficiency and effectiveness projects right across public service.

In a dynamic, well-managed programme, both the content and the phasing will change. Projects currently in the programme will be excluded, for example if the business case does not justify taking them forward. Equally, new projects will be defined in response to changing circumstances. The programme as drafted is therefore only the starting point and not the final statement of the Government’s ambition. We will keep the general public informed as changes are made as part of the on-going reporting we will do on the implementation of Project Future.

Taken together, this programme will implement, in full or in modified form, the overwhelming majority of EY’s recommendations. That gives the lie to those who said that the EY report was simply destined to gather dust. I would like to repeat my thanks to EY for the stimulus they gave to Government’s thinking.

As I said previously though, we have not just taken EY’s recommendations on regardless. The booklet we are publishing today details 16 recommendations from EY that we will not be implementing. Generally, if something has been ruled out it has been for two reasons. We have excluded some things because they clearly conflict with our policy – for example recommendations to raise fees would clearly run counter to the commitment this Progressives-led Government has given the country to seek to cut rather than raise duties and fees.

Alternatively, we have excluded recommendations because the further analysis we have done indicates the benefits are insufficient to justify taking the ideas forward. This would apply, for example, to EY’s recommendations in respect of the Cadet Corps and CIMA.

In some cases, we are taking forward particular projects very closely related to the issues raised by EY but we have made a decision to exclude the specific recommendation they made.

For example, EY’s recommendation to abolish the National Pensions Board and move its responsibilities to CIMA misses the point. That is to tackle the substantive need for better, more effective regulation of private sector pensions. Hence we are taking that underlying need for pensions reform forward, not least with the draft National Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2015 currently going through consultation and finalization.

As I have said before and will continue to confirm, this Progressives-led Government is a government that gets things done. The Programme Brief we are publishing today is not “just another report”. We are publishing this programme not to decorate the shelves in offices at the Government Administration Building but as a call to action.

I said at the start of this Statement that this Project Future programme is ambitious and far-reaching. Thus while it is a programme of reform of the public sector, it is not for the public sector. Rather, it is for the people of these Islands. This programme has the potential to transform public services for the benefit of our people. From improving the education of our young people to ensuring the commercial future of our mail service. From the support we offer to those who need social assistance to the efficiency and effectiveness of our public works. From helping more Caymanians into work to the everyday experience that customers have of front line public services. This programme leaves no stone unturned as we drive through much needed reform.

This Progressives-led Government is a government that does indeed get things done. Our programme is ambitious, yes. But we will get this done.

Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson

It is certainly an honour to be part of this historical event, as we discuss the largest government reform programme in the history of the public service. As Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service, I am also pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the preparations we are making, to ensure the effective implementation of Project Future.

The Hon. Premier has outlined the projects that Cabinet has selected as part of the Project Future programme, as well as those projects which focus on changes to transform the way the civil service operates in areas that impact the entire civil service. I congratulate the Premier and his Government for their leadership and vision in undertaking this challenging work. This is an important step forward in our public sector reform journey. The decision-making framework that the Government has employed will ensure that the work of the public service is aligned with the Government’s political priorities, as these projects are taken forward.

As the Premier has said, Project Future is the most far-reaching and comprehensive public sector reform programme in our history. As Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service, it is my job to ensure Project Future is implemented successfully.

There have been major reform initiatives in the civil service before that have not delivered all of the expected results. This is why I am determined to approach this programme differently, to ensure we succeed.

Why will things be different this time around?

Firstly, we have completed the groundwork needed to define the changes properly. This has taken us some time, but the investment of that time upfront will be crucial in ensuring success as we move forwards.

Secondly, I am determined that we will match international best practice in our implementation strategy for Project Future. We are introducing the use of Business Cases as a management tool for transparent, evidence-based decision-making within the civil service for projects. We are also introducing a formal project management methodology to guide us in implementation.

The Project Future Programme Booklet provides you with an overview of our comprehensive implementation strategy, which centers on using a robust project management methodology. The booklet provides a high level overview of some key components of our strategy, under the headings of: Structure, Roles and Responsibilities, Methodology and Resources and Capacity-Building.

Thirdly, we are investing in training and capacity building within the civil service. The successful implementation of Project Future requires new skill sets and ways of working. Already we have provided project management training for over 75 civil servants. This week we conclude2Business Case Development workshops for 88 potential business case writers, as well as separate workshops for Cabinet and Project Future Steering Committee members, Chief Officers, and the Business Case Review Panel.

Fourthly, we have established the Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit (SRIU). Through the SRIU, we have allocated, for the first time, dedicated resources to shape and drive the effective implementation of a major change initiative, to provide targeted support to Chief Officers and their project teams, and to facilitate the training and development of our public servants.

Finally, alongside Project Future sits the work on the 5- year strategy for the civil service, which I launched a couple of weeks ago, and which hundreds of civil servants have already been involved in. If Project Future makes clear what we need to do, the 5 year strategy will set out how we will work to achieve it. I have recognized the need to transform our civil service and to equip civil servants better to do the jobs being asked of them. Changes in public service are therefore being matched with the technical and cultural changes needed within the civil service.

These factors in themselves do not guarantee our success. However, they do create the conditions necessary for us to succeed. A lot of hard work will be needed from a lot of people to actually deliver the benefits that Project Future promises to our communities. As sponsor of the programme, I am determined to provide the leadership and support they need.

As Deputy Governor, I believe that the changes envisioned by Project Future bring opportunities for an improved public service. At the same time, I am aware that the proposed changes also bring some measure of uncertainty. I want to assure public servants and our community at large that, as we go forward, we will keep our social responsibility at the forefront in our decision-making. We will also ensure that employees who are directly impacted by change are treated equitably and fairly, helped to transition and empowered to succeed.

Some persons may view the EY report, and the Project Future projects that flow from that report, as a programme of outsourcing. I would like to correct that misconception. Project Future is, first and foremost, about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our public services. Many of our projects will engage us in improving our in-house delivery of services. If, as part our investigations, we can see a role for the market, we will certainly explore that opportunity. At the end of the day, our work will be guided by our desire to achieve more for the people we are here to serve.

Deputy Premier of the Cayman Islands
Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, JP

Good Morning everyone,

As the Premier has said, this media briefing has been called to share the news that Cabinet has formally approved the cruise berthing facility recommendations, allowing the project to move to the next stage. This decision was not taken lightly and has involved long hours of deliberation.

Ten reports from some of the world’s foremost experts in their respective fields have been reviewed and discussed. And several major factors have been taken into account in weighing the benefits to the Country.

We are all aware that successive governments have wrestled with the provision of a cruise berthing facility and several million dollars have been spent with little to nothing to show for it.

Today, that has changed because all the reports, studies and intellectual property gathered under this PPM-led administration belong to the people of the Cayman Islands. Furthermore, all of the reports have been released for public review.

The cruise berthing facility is the largest government infrastructure project ever to be considered for our Islands and I am proud that the procurement decisions associated to this project have followed international best practice.

Having campaigned on the premise of a berthing facility, this government could conceivably say that we have a mandate from the people of the Cayman Islands to deliver on that pledge. Rather than take that as a hard and uncompromising line, we adopted a best practice approach and sought to gather as much data, information and statistics as possible, to make an informed decision.

In 2013, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a world recognized and respected firm, was contracted by Government to develop a Business Case for the berthing facility. PwC were tasked to assess the project and provide an independent opinion of the socio-economic benefits and the environmental risks.

The business case identified that two piers would be most suited to our needs and recommendations included having the cruise lines involved in the finance modeling.

The next big piece of work was the EIA which confirmed early on in the process that the cruise pier development would not impact Seven Mile Beach. PwC then updated the original Business Case with the EIA’s findings and provided a cost benefit analysis of the overall project.

In other words, calculations were done to quantify the economic value and also place a dollar figure on the impact to the environment, so that an assessment could be made of the economic benefits the piers could bring to the Country.

Shortly thereafter, Government also received the 2014/2015 Business Research & Economic Advisors Report (BREA) report that had been commissioned to provide data on cruise passenger volumes and their spending patterns in Grand Cayman. The BREA report is based on figures from 2014, allowing comparisons to be made virtually in real time.

In September 2015 PwC delivered their economic assessment of the project to government. This was presented as an addendum to the OBC outlining the findings of the EIA, and a supplementary report which included their assessment of the BREA report. In their final analysis, PwC came to the conclusion that the estimated economic benefits of the cruise berthing facility exceeded the environmental costs associated with the project.

I have taken the time to lay out these various steps to illustrate the volume and scope of information that has been scrutinized, analysed and provided to government so that the very best decision for the future of these islands could be made.

Having carefully considered this information, Cabinet has approved this project proceeding to the next stage. And we are committed to providing a facility for our Islands that will deliver the greatest economic benefit with the least environmental impact.

While there is much to be proud of with respect to the process that has been followed, it has been disconcerting to see this project polarizing the community.

This is somewhat surprising considering a berthing facility has been on the cards for development in the George Town harbor for over a decade. I can only surmise that some of the trauma is due to the realization that we are a government that gets things done, and when we say we’re going to do something, something happens.

Even with the studies, statistics and feedback from the cruise lines themselves confirming the need for these piers, this has not been an easy decision for Government. We are fully aware that our tourism product is supported by the natural beauty of our environment. Therefore it bears repeating that we remain committed to identifying the best possible option that will deliver the most economic benefit with the least environmental harm.

I hope that the supporters and opposers to this project will be somewhat reassured to hear that Government is reviewing the proposed designs to see how we can achieve even less environmental impact. Included in this is consideration to moving the piers to deeper waters to minimize dredging.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that cruise tourism contributes 24% to our Islands GDP and of the 2 million tourists who visit our shores annually, the vast majority – some 1.6M of them arrive by sea.

Grand Cayman is operating in a fiercely competitive regional and global marketplace, and the only hope we have of maintaining and growing our market share is by providing infrastructure which is on par or better than our competitors.

This is why this government has not shied away from tackling this project head on. We are taking the necessary action to lay a solid foundation that will support the economic and social growth of our country well into the future.

At the functional level, cruise tourism in our Islands is made up of a growing number of Caymanians who rely on this industry for their livelihoods. They are not nameless, faceless statistics. They are the taxi drivers, tour operators, retailers, restauranteurs, tours, attractions, and a host of other service providers that work very hard to support this business.

In light of the decision to move forward, the Ministry of Tourism is speaking with cruise lines to identify a funding model that will deliver the best possible outcome for the country, while ensuring that the piers are owned by the People of the Cayman Islands.

Assuming the Ministry is successful in securing agreements with the cruise lines, we would realistically expect passenger volumes to be maintained or increased. This would effectively allow the project to continue on to its next phase of development; which will be approval by the FCO and the issuing of tenders for the design/ build aspects.

Looking to the future, I am confident that this decision will grow our business environment; foster economic development, bring increased business opportunities; create jobs; and over the longer term, it will enhance and sustain the cruise tourism industry in the Cayman Islands.

On behalf of the Government I would like to say thank you to our consultants, stakeholders and partners, members of the public and to all who contributed to getting us to this point.
By moving forward, we are doing what is right for this country and securing opportunity for generations to come.

I thank you for your attention.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to what is an historic motion; a motion that will change and improve our electoral system for the next election and indeed for all elections to follow.

Harry Truman once said: “Men & women make history – and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

Madam Speaker, we who were elected to lead this country will consider whether we will make history here today, and seize the opportunity before us – to put this issue to rest – and to modernize our electoral system once and for all.

Earlier I laid on the table of this Honourable House, Draft Order (Read the Draft Order).

We are now about to debate Government Motion Number 8 – and later we will vote on whether this Legislative Assembly will adopt the recommendations contained therein; recommendations that in simple terms seek to introduce Single Member Electoral Districts across all three Cayman Islands – where each voter will have one vote for one candidate of their choice.

It will also allow for voters to hold their elected member to account as they will have a single representative to look to. And as a representative it will allow me to focus my energies on those in my constituency and to be able to better serve as a representative to them. But I hasten to add that this does not mean that I do not also pay attention to the needs of the wider community as what affects one may affect all.

The recommendations also seek to introduce an additional seat in George Town, increasing the number of elected members to a total of 19. This sensible change allows for roughly equal numbers of voters in the three biggest districts and proper representation for a growing George Town, one with the largest number of voters on record – 7,377 compared to 4,527 in Bodden Town or 4,163 in West Bay.

But the added seat also helps protect the integrity of the election process. Having an odd number of electors helps prevent a tied election.

Many of us here today campaigned and were elected on a platform that included single member constituencies and one-person one vote. And we have not forgotten the 2012 referendum on the issue where the majority of those who voted said yes to One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts.

Any government worth its salt keeps the promises it made while campaigning. And this Government intends to keep a promise by voting yes to Motion 8 of 2015-2016 and accepting the Electoral Boundary Commission’s Report.

And in the process we will check off yet another of the boxes of assurances we made to the good people of the Cayman Islands; proving yet again, as we have been saying, that this is a Government that gets things done.

So Madam Speaker, this Government, and I believe the majority of the members in this House, will vote in the affirmative to bring about One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts. And it is time, Madam Speaker; it is time that we get this done.

If you would allow me Madam Speaker to go down memory lane for a minute as regards to how we have come here today.

For more than a decade it has been the Peoples Progressive Movement that has led the charge for many progressive changes to our democratic process – including One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts.

We were sitting on the Opposition benches in 2002 when the United Kingdom encouraged the country to look to modernize our Constitution. And during those Constitutional discussions the PPM took a firm position on One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts. Indeed in our submissions to the United Kingdom we noted that:

“The present system in which a resident of George Town has four votes but the resident of East End only one, is unfair and, in our view, undemocratic. We strongly support the proposal to move to one man, one vote.”

So those of us who were part of the PPM in those early days have led the charge on this from the beginning.

In more recent times, I helped to draft the OMOV/SMC Referendum Petition and was amongst the very first to sign it. I, together with the Progressives, worked to assist the OMOV movement and indeed hosted a strategy weekend where we brought in individuals knowledgeable in such things to give advice on how to move this forward and to organize at the grass roots level so as to have a chance with a People Initiated Referendum being successful. And as I stated earlier, most – if not all – of us on this side campaigned on and were elected on a platform that included equality of the vote and Single Member Electoral Districts.

Unfortunately the now Opposition Leader, and his Government at the time, did not support equality of the vote or Single Member Electoral Districts during the Constitutional talks here in Cayman and in London. And so we were unable to get it into the 2009 Constitution.

But the PPM fought to ensure that there was provision made in the Constitution to permit a move to single member Electoral Districts if this House decided it wished to.

That same Constitution also contains other checks and balances such as limiting the holder of the Office of Premier to two consecutive terms; allowing for a People’s Initiated Referendum; and the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

This progressive thinking and action has put the Cayman Islands in a better position today. And with the passage of Government Motion Number 8 and the implementation of Single Member Electoral Districts and One Person One Vote, we will be completing the job we started so many years ago.

So yes Madam Speaker, it’s time to ensure that each voter’s ballot counts the same as all the others whether you vote in East End or West Bay.

The road here has been long and winding, the journey has been far from smooth and certain. But we are here now. It is time.

I am hopeful that the Leader of the Opposition will join with us today to unanimously vote yes to the motion. I believe that, as George Bernard Shaw noted, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

So I am encouraging this House to accept the recommendations of the Electoral Boundary Commission, which the Governor appointed at the request of this House.

The Commission was chaired by Dr. Lisa R. Handley who was selected by the Governor. Dr. Handley is an esteemed elections expert who has provided assistance in over a dozen countries where she has served as a consultant on issues related to electoral boundary delineation and electoral system design.

Her Excellency also invited me as Premier, together with the Leader of the Opposition, to suggest one person each to serve on the Commission. I recommended attorney Adrianne Webb and The Opposition Leader recommended attorney A. Steve McField.

Ms. Webb has served as commissioner on two separate occasions in the past and Mr. McField is an attorney-at-law of many years, past president of the Caymanian Bar Association, a political commentator and a noted scholar of our constitution. Both have served on various boards and committees that support democracy. In essence, both were well qualified to undertake this task and together with Dr. Handley they collectively proved to be more than up to the task. Indeed, in my view they did an admirable job.

All told, the Commission spent many months, held several meetings and travelled to every district listening to everyone who spoke to them. They also encouraged written submissions and where these were provided they took the views under consideration. It also used data from Government’s Statistics Office and took time to carefully assess where voters resided. All of this assisted in their drawing up the recommended boundary lines for each electoral constituency. And in doing so they sought to take heed of traditional neighborhoods, but to also look to ensure that each electoral constituency had as diverse a demographic sector as possible.

So yes, we played our part over many years in promoting OMOV/SMC. But despite this Madam Speaker, as I have said previously, over time I and others did hear from some individuals in the public of their concerns around having electoral districts that are not diverse enough and too small, possibly lending themselves to the creation of political garrisons.

I have to say Madam Speaker that I and many on this side took note of the concern – and I believe that the commissioners, as they held their public meetings, also heard the same concerns. They listened and in my view, as I noted a few minutes ago, the electoral districts have been drawn to help ensure that as wide a demographic group as possible was included in each electoral constituency. And so certainly any concern that I may have had in that regard has been assuaged.

So with passage of the motion for One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts we will pave the way for amendments to the election law and begin the education and public awareness of the new electoral districts and voting system. This is a matter not only for the entire House, but also for the entire country to think and talk about.

We have never been distracted from our ambition to implement One Person One Vote and Single Member Electoral Districts and I am pleased that we will today bring this to fruition and have it implemented in time for the next general election.

Our first order of business following the election was to restore stability to the country, restore the confidence in Government and the restoration of the economy and Government finances. All this we have done and we will continue to work hard to ensure that the good reputation of the Cayman Islands remains.

As I have said many times in the past – this Government is one that has a plan and is disciplined and is delivering on that plan. This is a Government that gets things done.
And we are delivering on our plan for electoral reform.

Many years from now, as the history books are written, future generations of Caymanians will be taught that it was the present members of this House that chose to modernize our electoral system. They will learn that it was us who understood clearly that “Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”
I look forward to the debate of honourable members and for the support of all members of the House on this historic day with this historic motion.

Thank you.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good morning, Thank you for joining us today as we share with you some exciting news concerning the cruise berthing facility project.

I am pleased to confirm that yesterday Cabinet formally approved the cruise berthing facility recommendations regarding project delivery so the project can now progress to the next stage. In my address to the Chamber of Commerce in late September I outlined what some of the next stage would comprise and the Deputy Premier will go through this as well when he speaks momentarily.

This Government is very aware that our natural environment is integral to the viability of our tourism product. As I have said several times before, we are committed to ensuring that any berthing facility built under our watch will be done carefully and responsibly to cause the least possible environmental impact.

But as I stated at the Chamber luncheon, we have spent 40 years building an important cruise tourism economic driver and we are duty bound to ensure that we do not sit still and allow it to move to Cuba or other destinations in the region.

We have a clear understanding from the cruise ship companies that over time, as they continue to move to larger ships, fewer cruise passengers will visit Grand Cayman as the larger ships will not stop here unless there is a berthing facility.

And I will add that this Government was elected by the people of the Cayman Islands to deliver on our campaign pledges, one of which was to responsibly build a cruise berthing facility in George Town Harbour that would help ensure the country’s continued economic success including ensuring that existing local jobs that cater to and depend on cruise tourism are kept intact, and retained into the future.

These include hundreds of Caymanian tour and taxi operators as well as employees of George Town merchants and restaurants, and indeed employees of businesses of all sizes across Grand Cayman that benefit from cruise tourism.

But in addition to protecting our important cruise tourism business, enhancing key port infrastructure, securing jobs today and creating new jobs in the future – this project will also serve as a needed economic boost.

According to the full Pricewaterhouse Coopers report, the anticipated positive economic impact from capital expenditure during the construction of the cruise and enhanced cargo berthing facility, over a three-year period, is estimated to be at least $156 million.

The Outline Business Case estimates that about 500 jobs would be made available during construction as the project would require administrative staff, labourers, divers, skilled tradesmen, project management, engineers, foremen and operators among other positions. This will mean real, tangible opportunities for Caymanian businesses, professionals and trades people to be involved in this historic and economically important project.

At the end of construction, the port would have been built mainly by Caymanians for Caymanians and will be owned by Caymanians.

The large nature of the project is such that local businesses will also benefit, seeing an increase in sales and revenues.

Insofar as local labour is not available, there will be a need for guest workers who would also contribute to the economy for the time they are in Cayman. They will need places to rent, they will buy food and goods from grocery stores, restaurants and local merchants.

Once the facility is up and running, the increased economic impact is expected to continue, adding about $245 million to our GDP as well as employment for about 1,000 people over the next 20 years, assuming at least a 1 per cent growth in cruise visitors. Net benefits increase to a potential $1.2 billion if cruise visitors grow by at least 3 per cent per annum.

This project would also give entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop new tours and attractions for the increase in visitors; we’re giving them a three-year lead time! And I am certain they will come forward.

Of course all of this assumes that we will be able to pass all the hurdles, and tick all the boxes, as we move forward with consideration around financing and mitigating the environmental impact of the project.

I am hopeful that we will be successful in getting to the construction phase because I am convinced of the long-term benefits of this project for Cayman and Caymanians. But I assure all we will get there by following a process.

This is the approach we have taken with all of our infrastructure projects – the airport, the landfill, the revitalization of George Town, and yes the cruise and cargo port. In everything we do, in every project we are shepherding along, we are doing so methodically using best practice methods and at all times being open and transparent.

The country has never before had a Government this open with its projects and willing to accept challenge and consider options where practical. But that is expected of us as a progressive government. Openness, transparency, coupled with accountability, has always been our modus operandi.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has contributed to the conversation on cruise berthing – those who have written letters, spoken to us in person, in favour or against, written on blogs, marched in protest, or who perhaps quietly encouraged or patted us on the back for being brave enough to take this forward in the transparent fashion that we have. Governments must make decisions but it is important to ensure that all voices are heard and this we have done.

I can assure the country that this Administration, which I have the honour and privilege to lead, continues to be a Government that is thinking carefully and seeks to get things done but we are also a Government that acts with the long-term benefit of our country and our people uppermost in mind.

I also invite all to compare this Government, and where we are today, with any previous Government that sought to build cruise piers but failed and in the end costed the country millions of dollars.

Yes I believe we are a Government that gets things done – but we get things done by following due process and being open and honest with the Caymanian people. The process with respect to this project is not concluded, it merely continues to the next stage. And as I have said before, there will be no dredges in George Town Harbour tomorrow, next week, or next month. Instead we will proceed carefully to ensure the minimum environmental impact as well as discussing with the cruise lines their participation in the financing so as to ensure the success of the project as well as to guarantee the long-term viability and benefit of the industry to local people and businesses.

I will now turn the briefing over to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism who will provide a bit more detail.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (26 October, 2015) Tourism Minister Hon. Moses Kirkconnell took the opportunity while attending the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference in Mexico to update cruise line executives and FCCA officials on the latest developments regarding the cruise berthing facility.

Following Government’s decision to move to the next steps on the Islands biggest infrastructure project, the Minister provided cruise executives with an overview of the findings of various related studies and reports.

“The opportunity to dialogue with the FCCA and cruise executives is mutually beneficial as it gives all parties the chance to share important information about the industry that we are partners and stakeholders in, said Minister Kirkconnell. “Although cruise line executives have been following developments in the media, I have provided more detailed explanations and answered their questions regarding the current plans and pier development proposals.”

The Minister also directly addressed the concerns of persons who favour Cayman offering bigger and better tenders rather than constructing a berthing facility. “The cruise industry is transitioning to mega ships and the major lines all have vessels currently under construction. Given that in 2014 approximately 82% of our cruise business came from the Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines respectively, the Ministry of Tourism reached out to them about their future plans and have been advised that tendering is not something they are willing to consider in the future. Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd told us ‘When Royal Caribbean International launched Oasis Class ships 6 years ago it was never intended that these vessels would be tendered. Royal has never tendered these ships and we have no plans for tendering them in the future.’”

“Giora Israel, Senior Vice President of Global Port and Destination Development for the Carnival Corporation also responded saying ‘The key for a smooth operation of large ships in transit ports is the availability of piers / berthing facilities. The itinerary planning executives at our various cruise brands that will operate those ships in the future, will consider the availability of piers/ berthing facilities as a key element in considering a port / destination, and are unlikely to consider tender ports for such class of vessels.’”

Mr. Israel continued “Carnival Corporation announced earlier this year the construction program for a series of larger ships, the first to be delivered in 2018. These state-of-the art ships will have a capacity of over 6,000 passengers and will use for the first time in the cruise industry the environmentally friendly LNG. The ships will require piers / berthing facilities that can efficiently operate in all he destinations where they will operate in the future.”

With ships getting larger and longer, many ports in the Caribbean are lengthening and upgrading their pier facilities to accommodate the newer generation of vessels which more of the cruise lines are moving to. “As more of these megaships are introduced it is becoming clearer that if Cayman wants to seriously be considered as a cruise tourism destination into the future, we have to provide the services and facilities cruise lines require, otherwise our cruise tourism business will sail past Grand Cayman to other destinations,” stated Minister Kirkconnell.

Speaking about the financing of the piers the Minister disclosed that talks had begun and were ongoing. “Whatever agreement is reached for financing the piers will be an arrangement that is unique to Cayman and developed to suit our particular needs. Our goal is to partner with cruise lines and arrive at a formula that will not only fund the piers but will ensure that they are owned by the people of the Cayman Islands. While these discussions are complex and sensitive, we are aware of the significant interest from the community and we will continue to keep the public informed of developments as much as we can, he said.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker, I table in this Honourable House today a draft of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy, which will go out for public consultation on Monday, 26 October, 2015. The draft strategy contains future waste management options that will be considered to develop an integrated solid waste management system for the Cayman Islands.

The purpose of the Strategy is to provide key policies and objectives for the future management of solid waste and the delivery of an Integrated Solid Waste Management System within the Cayman Islands. It also identifies important steps and actions that will be taken to deliver the system and in so doing, address the current unsatisfactory landfill situation. These actions will be targeted to improve the sustainability of all waste management practices, make increased use of waste as a resource, and ensure the protection of the environment and amenity of the Islands.

This draft strategy has been based on the agreed National Solid Waste Management Policy, which set forth our vision, values, strategic direction and objectives to suitably manage solid waste in the Cayman Islands for now and generations to come. The final Policy was published in August this year following a period of public consultation.

In developing the draft Strategy, options for change and improvement in the way that waste is managed on the Islands have been appraised.

These options cover a variety of areas ranging from recycling depots to the treatment of the residual waste that remains after recycling. These collectively contribute to the enhanced sustainability of waste management practices; waste reduction; increased reuse and recycling; the recovery of energy from residual waste; substantially reduced dependence on increasingly expensive and unsustainable landfills; protection of the environment; self-sufficiency as far as this is pragmatically deliverable; and the principle that the polluter pays.

The options analysis has also helped in the development of a reference project, which includes waste management options that have been assessed as having the most potential for fulfilling the policy direction and which are likely to be successful within the Cayman context – including an affordable and achievable solution that is right for the country.

In summary, the reference project comprises:

• Waste reduction measures, including public education and waste reduction.
  
  
• Re-use and refurbishment of bulky waste.
  
  
• Community recycling depots and recycling facilities.
  
  
• Transfer and bulking facilities on each Island.
  
  
• Composting of yard and garden waste.
  
  
• The potential introduction of curbside recyclable collections.
  
  
• And the treatment of residual waste in a waste recovery plant.

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned, this Strategy will go for public consultation on Monday until the end of November. Open house sessions are planned by the Ministry of Health for the week of 16 November to meet with members of the public and get their feedback and comments, after which the Strategy will be finalized.

The next phase calls for the development of the Outline Business Case, which guides final decisions for the creation and successful implementation of the Integrated Solid Waste Management System for the country.

Madam Speaker with the tabling of this draft Strategy we continue to make progress toward a real solution to the country’s waste management challenges. We are following the required process, but yes we are making progress. As I have said before, the process may appear slow, but it is sure. This, Madam Speaker, is an important milestone.

And so, Madam Speaker, while it has taken us a while to get to the point we are today, we are here. I am equally confident that the progress will continue steady and sure and that we will provide the country with a waste management system that is second-to-none, which will serve our needs far into the future.

Madam Speaker, as I keep saying, reaching this benchmark and the tabling of this draft strategy is even further evidence that this is a progressive Government that gets things done.

With these few words, Madam Speaker, I commend this draft National Solid Waste Management Strategy to the House and look forward to receiving comments and suggestions from the Honourable members of this House, our people and residents during the consultation period.

The Elections Office senior management team are already in the planning stages for next General Election. The May 2017 General Elections are approximately 580 days away, and with the passage of the Nineteen Single Member Electoral District Boundaries Order, 2015, the Elections Office will action the mandate from the Legislature, and take steps to incorporate the EBC report recommendations into the plans for the 2017 General Elections, as stipulated for in the Motion.

The Electoral Boundary Commission, was chaired by Dr Lisa R. Handley, PhD of the United States, appointed by the Governor, and included local attorneys Ms Adrianne Webb appointed following consultation with the Premier and Mr. A. Steve McField appointed following consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick had received the final report from the Electoral Boundary Commission on 20 August 2015, and the report accepted by the Legislative Assembly in whole.

The next steps for the Elections Office include making recommendations for Legislative changes to the Elections Law which may be required to implement the mandate, work on logistics of the Elections staff and paraphernalia requirements, training, changes in polling requirements, along with voter communications. It is hoped that the Legislative amendments will be considered expeditiously to allow the amendments to be incorporated in the detailed project plan for the 2017 General Elections.

Wesley Howell, Supervisor of Elections shares that “Communicating changes in the elections process to voters has always been a key priority for the Elections Office, and with the magnitude of the changes recommended in the EBC report, the Elections Office plans to continue the tradition of offering guidance about the changes to voters and other stakeholders”.

By Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Madam Speaker, by this motion we are proposing to remove the Leader of the Opposition from the committee and to add the elected member from North Side. In addition, we are proposing to accept the resignation of the Second Elected Member from George Town as chairman of the committee and in his stead appoint the member from North Side as the new chairman of the committee bringing in an Opposition member, which is in line with convention.

Madam Speaker this motion has become necessary because the Leader of the Opposition has over the past year or so consistently made derogatory statements regarding the integrity and professionalism of the former Auditor General and his office. Our concern is that those statements demonstrate the inability of the Leader of the Opposition to consider the reports and oversight of the Office of the Auditor General with any sense of objectivity. We are even more concerned now that the committee is about to consider the Auditor General’s report on the Nation Building Fund, which was created by the Leader of the Opposition when he was Premier and the fund managed by his office.

The Leader of the Opposition’s involvement in and interference with the committee’s work has made it difficult for the committee to effectively engage with the Auditor General and exercise its Constitutional mandate in examining government’s use of public resources.

These concerns are not new and have been raised in the past and reported in the media.

In a June 2014 letter to the Leader of Opposition, the chair of the committee, asked him to take leave of the committee and allow the Legislative Assembly to elect another member of the Opposition who could and would act in an objective and unbiased manner. The Leader of the Opposition has refused to resign and his ongoing interference has caused the committee to not be able to function as it is required.

Madam Speaker, the country is aware that The Leader of the Opposition has a history of bad blood with the Office of the Auditor General and the contention has not been limited only to the one who just recently left Cayman. Indeed, a 29 August, 2011, report in the Caymanian Compass outlines a statement from the Leader of the Opposition blasting the former acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison, who was about to look into the Nation Building Fund, calling him a “hit man”. Also in that same Compass report is the story that then-Governor Duncan Taylor, in a press statement, cautioned the now Leader of the Opposition to exercise restraint and said it was unacceptable for the then leader of government to make personal attacks on the Auditor General.

And according to a 28 June, 2012, Hansard Report, on page 70 the Leader of the Opposition said in respect of another report by the Auditor General, and I quote: “Madam Speaker, I know I am more targeted and I know I am more in jeopardy… Every one of them knows what the agenda is, they know the geo-politics that are being played but they sit down and grin. They brown-nose the FCO and the Auditor General, and the Governor sometimes when they choose”.

In that same session of the Legislative Assembly the 28 June, 2012 Hansard on page 79, the now Leader of the Opposition continued in this same paranoid vein saying “The aim and objective is not to get Alden McLaughlin; the aim and objective is to embarrass McKeeva Bush and his Government. That is the aim and objective”.

And, according to the 23 August, 2012, Hansard Report on page 205, when speaking of government loans, I quote the Leader of the Opposition who said: “…the Auditor General was jumping down the throat of the civil servant before they could get anything started. And he was in the papers every Monday morning criticising somebody, making it look like the whole world, the whole Government was corrupt or everybody was falling down”.

Madam Speaker, I am sure there are more instances when the now Leader of the Opposition castigated the Office of the Auditor General while he was in charge of Government. But now that he is not, his tirade against not only the office, but the Auditor General himself has ratcheted up.

Just last year on 26 June, 2014, according to the Hansard of this House on page 249, he called the Auditor General “tongue twisting”; in a 12 September, 2014, Hansard, on page 411 he said the Auditor General “cannot tell the truth when he needs to tell the truth”.

And Madam Speaker. On 15 January this year Cayman News Service ran a story in which the now Leader of the Opposition accused the Auditor General’s Office of nastiness, misinformation and false representation, saying that reports written about the accounting of his administration were spiteful.

A few months ago on 14 August in another Cayman News Service report, the now Leader of the Opposition threatened to sue the Auditor General and anyone else who published the details of the Nation Building Fund audit report, calling it a witch hunt and a means to damage him.

Madam Speaker, this is just a sampling of the Leader of the Opposition’s castigation of the Auditor General and the Office of the Auditor General.

As responsible stewards of the country, we – unlike the Leader of the Opposition – welcome the scrutiny of the Office of the Auditor General. When he brings to light issues that need to be addressed, we do not slag him off, but we put our noses to the grindstone, seek to address the issues and make them right.

And it is because of that good stewardship that the Auditor General’s Office is now able to see how Government is managing its projects and improving the public accounts records.
By removing the Leader of the Opposition from the Public Accounts Committee and naming the member from North Side as its chairman, we are ensuring the people of the Cayman Islands that the committee will continue to be fair and balanced and to again be able to get on with its work.

Regrettably, as the Leader of the Opposition has refused to take up the invitation to resign, it is felt best to allow the Legislative Assembly to make the needed changes so as to enable the Committee to better meet its charge to examine the public accounts of the Cayman Islands and the accounts and financial dealings of all authorities, offices and departments of Government, of all courts and of all Government-owned companies.

This Administration is committed to doing what is right, doing it transparently and working for the greater good of the Cayman Islands and our people. This change on the Public Accounts Committee is further evidence of that commitment.

Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Good afternoon,

Today I want to engage you in a conversation about the progress the Government I lead is making as we administer the affairs of these Cayman Islands. I will share with you my thoughts on our broad achievements to date, the challenges facing us, and give you some detail on our plans going forward.

If you will, please cast your minds back to those days prior the 2013 election. Take a few seconds and reflect … and then consider how different a place, indeed how much better a place, Cayman is today.

I suspect that as you reflect you will find yourself appreciating the stability and renewal of confidence in government, and in the future of Cayman. Add to this the return of a constructive and mutually respectful relationship with the UK as well as a more engaged and cooperative partnership between Government and the business sector. Then throw into that mix a much-improved economy coupled with the restoration of government finances. Ponder these factors for a moment …… and you get the picture of just how much has been achieved in just a little more than 2 years.

The transition from there… to here … did not occur by accident. It occurred because on Election Day 2013 the country chose a group of committed people who had a vision and plans for the country and promised good government. And after the election, once a government was formed, we set about creating a plan of action based on our election promises.

Promises… Promises…..

I am reminded of an anecdote about a father reading his young daughter a bedtime story. As soon as he started, the little girl looked up at her father and asked – “Daddy, do all fairy tales begin with ‘Once upon a time?” – Looking down at her curious face, the wise father responded, “No my dear, there is a whole series of fairy tales that begin with …‘If elected, I promise’.”

Yes indeed, the road to government is paved with promises. Making promises; that is the easy part. Delivering on them is the challenge. And as those of you here today know well, this is not unique to government; this is also the challenge of business – to convert promises into deliverables that solve the problems or satisfy the needs and wants of customers or constituents. And it’s a challenge this Government took on in earnest some 28 months ago – and I am proud to say today we have been delivering on our promises.

This Government’s success so far has been down to establishing priorities, creating a plan and then being disciplined in its execution, adjusting occasionally as needed, but always moving forward.

Recently my Government delivered its mid-term report to the Legislative Assembly and, as I said then, if you line up the mid-term report with our election manifesto, you will quickly see that we are delivering on our promises and plans.

To borrow a favourite saying of Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, this is a Government that gets things done. Let me give you a few examples:

For over a decade successive Governments have talked about upgrading the Owen Roberts International Airport. But we are actually doing it – bringing jobs and a much-needed facility to better serve those who fly in and out of Grand Cayman. When complete you will no longer have to apologise to arriving business colleagues or clients about long lines or overcrowding. Instead you will proudly listen when they speak of what a fantastic facility we have.

Under our watch the airport redevelopment has been properly planned, financed and contracts tendered. It has all been done according to best practice, transparently and by the book, and we broke ground on Phase One two weeks ago.

Finding a solution to the George Town landfill has been talked about for just as long and, like the airport, we are proceeding carefully with the required process under the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility and Public Management and Finance Law. We will ensure we have a solid waste solution for the next 50 years. Along the way we have conducted various environmental and site investigative works on the landfill sites on all three Islands. We have remained transparent throughout, publishing every report when done. Recently Cabinet approved the National Solid Waste Management Policy after a period of public consultation. This is a major step to arriving at an overall National Solid Waste Management Strategy, which will lead to a final agreed waste management solution and identify the options available to government. The release of the strategy is imminent with plans to get it to the public by late October or early November. The process may seem slow, but it is sure, and will bring about the correct outcomes.

Another long discussed issue has been reviving the hospitality training school. Again, we have done this, working in partnership with the private sector. We recently celebrated the first graduation with graduates finding good jobs in the hospitality industry. It has been a huge success and we are increasing the number of trainees that will graduate next year. I’d like to thank all involved including those members of the Chamber who help with training and mentoring but also those businesses that have hired young Caymanians who show that they are willing and capable, if only given a chance.

Then there is the contentious issue of the cruise port coupled with an enlarged cargo port. We have done as we promised and looked at the potential impact to the marine environment, the influence on the land, and importantly on how to best mitigate the environmental concerns while considering the benefits to the economy. I would pause here to note that is something no other Government has done. I will say more about the port in a bit.

You will have already seen Phase One of the George Town revitalization efforts started with the widening of key roads in George Town. It is part of an overall plan for improving our main town centre. Again, I will speak more on this later.

We also took on two issues that had been championed by the Chamber for many years – Sunday Trading and Daylight Savings Time. Some were happy with the outcome of these efforts; others less so. But we expanded the variety of small businesses that can legally open on Sundays, satisfying a real economic need, creating more employment opportunities and protecting many small retail operations that partly rely on Sunday trade to remain in business. As for Daylight Savings Time, we have approved its introduction and it will come into effect next year.

We took on many key issues that previous administrations failed to tackle, all the while getting the country’s finances and economy back in good order. This is no small feat.

We now have a budget that, failing some worldwide financial disaster, will bring us back to full compliance with the Public Management and Finance Law tests by the end of this Fiscal Year. It is a budget that continues this Government’s firm control over expenditures and delivers strong revenues and surpluses while looking to reduce the tax burden on people and businesses.
Government’s net operating surplus has increased from about $56 million dollars prior to the election, to about $124 million dollars at the end of 2014 – 2015 and is projected to be $108 million dollars in this budget year.

As striking as the increased surpluses are, they are even more impressive when you consider the almost $70 million dollars given up by Government over the last 2 budgets to accommodate the reduction in the CUC fuel import duty; the 2 per cent reduction in the duty on most goods that businesses import; the reduction on license fees for many small businesses and other concessions and waivers; as well as the 4 per cent cost of living adjustment for civil servants, and other measures, including e-government initiatives and support for CINICO.

This equates to a $70 million dollar economic stimulus that finds its way back into the economy, while the duty reductions help lower the price tag on many imported goods as well as the cost of electricity. This is money that is going back into the pockets of individuals and businesses. We intend to continue to responsibly lower fees and duties in the next budget.

We have also reduced Government’s core debt from $575 million dollars at June 2013 to $503 million dollars by June 2016, a decrease of $72 million dollars, including paying off Government’s overdraft. Government has also established a debt service sinking fund that now has a balance of just over $18 million dollars that can be drawn against to repay loans if needed.

You know as well as I do, our economy is no longer at a standstill or in threat of sliding backward, as was the case in early 2013. Business has improved for large and small companies and the prospects for further improvements can readily be seen. Our gross domestic product grew by 2.1 per cent in 2014 and is expected to grow by about 1.7 per cent again this fiscal year. That’s a very acceptable rate of growth given the uncertainties that remain worldwide. In July 2015 the International Monetary Fund forecasted that the United States, with its huge, diverse economy will have GDP growth of 2.5 per cent in 2015.

We have an economy where stay over tourism numbers continue to grow – with the 2014 air arrivals of 383,000 being the most air arrivals we have had for 14 years. And air arrivals for this year continue to be good with more than 280,000 visitors up to 31 August.

Cruise arrivals have also grown with 1.61 million arrivals in 2014 – an increase of almost 234,000 passengers over 2013. Indeed 2014 was the highest number of cruise arrivals since 2007 – a result of an improved relationship and dialogue with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association. It didn’t just happen by chance. And up to August of this year we have already seen more than 1.1 million cruise arrivals in Grand Cayman. This is a vital industry to many people and businesses in our society and we have to ensure its continued success and growth.

As more hotel rooms come online next year and beyond we are confident that stay-over tourism numbers will continue to grow and we will ensure that our infrastructure is ready to handle that increase.

And this confidence is shared by investors – just last week Government signed an agreement for the construction of St. James Point – a $200 million dollar hotel and condominium project that will be built in the Bodden Town District. It will benefit that district as well as the entire country, providing jobs and economic opportunities for hundreds of our people. Additionally, there are several new developments of varying sizes in the planning stage or under construction, including those on the Seven Mile corridor, along South Sound, out to the Eastern Districts, and across the water to Cayman Brac. Developers, from small to large, have seen the improvement in the economy and are preparing for an increased demand as condos sell and tourist arrivals increase. This will help provide jobs and further enhance the economy as well as generate good government revenues.

Ours is an economy where private sector jobs are again being created and with potential for more diversity in the economic base, including new opportunities in the proposed new Maritime Zone, opportunities with changes to intellectual property laws, and many changes to make our financial services sector more competitive; all of which promotes growth. It takes time to rebuild but we – Government and private sector – are doing well.

But the indicators show that even with the improvements to the economy over the past two years there is additional work to be done to ensure that more Caymanians have the opportunity to compete for the jobs for which they are qualified. I am happy to take on board any criticism around what Government can do better, and happy to consider any suggestions the Chamber may have. But in a spirit of partnership, the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and its businesses members also have a responsibility to ensure that Caymanians who are capable and willing to work are treated fairly and have opportunities for employment and advancement.

Together we can solve this challenge. But let there be no misunderstanding, while we will continue to work with business to help grow the economy and create jobs – this Government will not sit back and have Caymanians who are willing and capable to work be passed over. We recognize and value the contributions of all who work to help us build this economy, but with almost 22,000 work permits on record, it must be possible for businesses to hire more Caymanians.

Besides employment for Caymanians there are other challenges we face; for instance, the current grave concern that money transfer agencies no longer have access to Cayman banks. The reasons for this are complex, but essentially revolve around the perceived risks posed by overseas regulators concerned that terrorists looking to fund their illegal efforts use money transfer companies. Those same regulators are also concerned that money transfer companies may also unknowingly be used to launder money. The increased scrutiny from authorities is especially focused on countries with a large volume of money transfers. Cayman for instance is reported to have $180 million in remittances annually