On Friday, 26 July 2024, the Fifth Sitting of the 2023-2024 Session of Parliament resumed. The Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 was approved unanimously after being moved by Acting Premier Hon. Andre Ebanks. Another significant topic was Government Motion No. 9 of 2023-2024, which addressed recommendations from the 2023 Electoral Boundary Commission. The Acting Premier discussed the low public engagement and emphasised that Parliament is the sole body with the authority to approve or reject the Commission’s recommendations. However, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Roy McTaggart, raised concerns about the timing of implementing the recommendations. Ultimately, the motion failed, and the report was rejected.

During the session, several ministers delivered important statements. Hon. Isaac Rankine, Minister for Youth, Sports and Heritage, congratulated the 2024 Olympic athletes Charlotte Webster, Jordan Crooks, Jillian Crooks, and Davonte Howell. He also commended Sierrah Broadbelt for breaking the Cayman Islands national record in the 200-metre butterfly at the British National Summer Swimming Championships with a time of 2:16.79. The Acting Premier, in his capacity as the Minister for Investment, Innovation and Social Development, announced the implementation of a one-time stipend programme for outsourced bus wardens and drivers.

Hon. Sabrina Turner, Minister for Health and Wellness, provided detailed updates from her Ministry. She shared preliminary findings from the STEPS 2023 survey, detailing obesity rates in the Cayman Islands, and highlighted the need for increased health literacy and mental health awareness as part of the Cayman Islands National Health Strategy, which the Ministry aims to deliver later this year. Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Ports, delivered statements on various topics, including the Cargo Port Expansion, the Cayman Islands National Attractions Authority, Port Authority, Airport Authority, and Cayman Airways Limited.

In other business, Private Member’s Motion No. 14 of 2023-2024, proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, called for a higher standard of banks’ duty of fairness to customers. This included aligning local banking practices with the UK’s Banking Consumer Duty rules and reviewing banking fees and interest rates for fairness. The motion was passed unanimously.

The Acting Premier called for adjournment, reiterating Minister Rankine’s congratulations to the young Caymanians representing the Islands at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. 

The House will return at 10:30 AM on Thursday, 1st August, for a Special Sitting with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons.

To watch Friday’s proceedings, visit:

Fifth Sitting of the Fourth Meeting of the 2023-24 Session of Parliament | 26 July 2024 | Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An3esKM1Jls

 Fifth Sitting of the Fourth Meeting of the 2023-24 Session of Parliament | 26 July 2024 | Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouJAXMMiOdY

 For further information visit: www.gov.ky/governmentinparliament.  

 How to follow: Watch live broadcasts of sittings on CIG YouTube and CIGTV (Logic – Channel 23, C3 – Channel 3, Flow – Channel 106).