Today’s Parliamentary proceedings began with Mrs. Gloria McField-Nixon, the Acting Honourable Deputy Governor, responsible for the Portfolio of the Civil Service, taking the oath to serve as a Temporary ex-officio Member of the Parliament.

Acting Deputy Governor, Mrs Gloria McField-Nixon presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Cayman Islands Expungement Board, in accordance with the Criminal Records Act. The report disclosed that in 2023, 48 expungement requests were submitted. Of these, 26 were approved, 14 were deemed ineligible due to not meeting the crime-free period, and three were deferred. Four applications were referred to the Criminal Records Office for automatic expungement consideration, while one was set aside due to exceeding the allowed period.

Acting Deputy Governor McField-Nixon expressed gratitude to the Expungement Board and the Office of the Deputy Governor for their work.

Other reports presented included the following:

1. Office of the Auditor General Cayman Islands’ General Report on Financial Reporting of the Cayman Islands Government (31 December 2023, November 2024)
2. Report of the Standing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the Auditor General’s Report on Financial Reporting of the Cayman Islands Government
3. Office of the Auditor General’s Report on the Government’s Approach to Sustainable Economic Development (November 2024) and the PAC’s report on this matter. 

These reports were all laid by the Chairman of the PAC, the Elected Member for George Town East, Roy McTaggart. MP McTaggart stated that these reports represent the full body of work completed by the PAC during this political term, ensuring that no unfinished business will carry over after the General Election in April.

The Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, presented a statement on exceptional circumstances appropriation changes initiated by the Ministry of District Administration and Lands for 2025. Cabinet approved a CI$6.25 million increase for land acquisitions, funded as follows: CI$4.25 million reallocated from the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing, Infrastructure, Transport & Development, and CI$2 million in additional Cabinet-approved funding. The funds facilitated the acquisition of two properties for public use, 33 acres at Long Beach, Cayman Brac, purchased to prevent imminent development, and 2.59 acres at Old Cayman Kai Resort, Cayman Kai, North Side, acquired for public access.

The Premier then gave a statement regarding the designation of the four new National Heroes, Hon. Captain Keith Tibbetts, Hon. Ernest Craddock Ebanks, Hon. Frank Hugh George Scotland, and Hon. Francine Eldona Jackson. The Premier stated, “It is my hope that we will be able to begin an awareness and education campaign on our all of our National Heroes in short order, so we can ensure that these and other legacies can be easily called upon by any Caymanian. It is our duty to keep their stories alive and to use them inspire Heroes to come.

The Deputy Premier, Hon Kenneth Bryan provided an update on the “Red Spot”, also known as the fish market, compulsory land acquisition. The Deputy Premier outlined the next steps that the Government will take to secure the land, including emailing the Section 3 and Section 6 notices to emailed to the current owner of the property. 

The Attorney General Samuel Bulgin delivered two statements regarding exceptional circumstance transactions approved by Cabinet. The first addressed an appropriation of CI$42,552 for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The second, on behalf of the Portfolio of Legal Affairs, detailed a sum of CI$117,000 allocated for the relocation and increased rental costs of the Truman Bodden Law School associated with their move to Artemis House in 2024.

During Government Business, the debate on the Referendum (Cruise Berthing Infrastructure, Gambling and Cannabis) Bill, 2024 proceeded with MP Andre Ebanks expressing strong reservations about the Bill, describing it as incomplete, ill-timed, and lacking in-depth policy work. MP Moses Kirkconnell and MP Chris Saunders both said in their remarks that they supported the Bill, with MP Saunders citing tourism reports that indicate a decline in the average traveller’s perception of the Cayman Islands.

Minister Bryan exercised his right of reply and addressed the concerns voiced by his fellow MPs. He criticised the members of the opposition for resisting a referendum despite advocating for democratic decision-making. 

When speaking about the decriminalisation of small amounts of cannabis, Minister Bryan became emotional and reflected on his own criminal record. He thanked the Speaker of House, Sir Alden McLaughlin for not holding it against him when he first joined the Peoples Progressive Movement. 

The Referendum (Cruise Berthing Infrastructure, Gambling and Cannabis) Bill, 2024 was set down for a second reading with 13 votes in favour, 5 against.

Premier O’Connor-Connolly then rose to table the Beneficial Ownership Transparency (Amendment) Bill, 2024. She explained that the legislation aims to enhance the beneficial ownership legislative framework, addressing industry feedback and ensuring compliance with evolving international standards. In her remarks, she assured the members of the House that the Bill would be supported by regulations to aid the implementation of the proposed amendments. 

Leader of the Opposition Hon. Joseph Hew replied to share his stance on the Beneficial Ownership (Amendment) Bill, commending the minority government for bringing the legislation to the reading stage. He expressed one concern in whether smaller corporate service providers would be granted a grace period to become compliant with amendments. 

MP for Bodden Town West Christopher Saunders also shared a singular concern regarding journalists being granted access to information, citing the potential for breaches of privacy.

Minister for Youth, Sports, Heritage and Home Affairs Hon. Isaac Rankine presented the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2025 for its second reading. The Bill aims to define sexual harassment in a broad manner (verbal, physical and visual); establish clear complaint and investigation processes with penalties for offenders and requires employers to provide training and protect victims from potential retaliative behaviours.

MP Hew rose to say that the Bill was long overdue and commended the work of the Premier and Minister Rankine for bringing it forward. Mr Hew then said there is need to think of the legislation more broadly as its intent is to prevent sexual harassment yet speaks more specifically to the reporting and sanctioning of sexual harassment incidents. He also expressed concern at the proposed financial penalty of up to CI$10,000 for claims that were proven to be frivolous or vexatious. Mr Hew said this may deter victims from making claims, especially those who are male. 

Member for West Bay Central Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks. Member for Savannah Hon. Heather Bodden and Member for Prospect Sabrina Turner each rose to share their support of the Bill being presented after years of delay. MP Ebanks-Wilks further detailed the Bill and thanked both civil servants and private citizens who worked on its development. MP Bodden named Mrs Annie Moulton as a key contributor to the progression of the Bill. MP Turner also expressed support while stating that the passage of the Bill would prompt a national education campaign.

Premier O’Connor-Connolly also shared support, stating that by passing the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, “we are sending a strong message that our islands will not be a jurisdiction where disrespect and abuse thrive. We are reinforcing our commitment to foster an environment where everyone, bar none, regardless of age, gender, or background, can feel safe and respected in their workplaces, schools, and communities.”

Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin tabled two bills as the final business of the evening – the Grand Court (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Criminal Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2025. 

Regarding the Grand Court (Amendment) Bill, 2025 – the Hon. Attorney General presented amendments to increase the number of members on the Rules Committee and change court session frequencies. The bill aims to improve court operations and address current procedural challenges.

MP Saunders shared his thoughts, highlighting a discrepancy between the Grand Court Act and the Parliament Management Act regarding the appointment of officers. While the Grand Court Act ensures that staff appointments are made jointly by the Chief Officer and Chief Justice, the Parliament Management Act does not have a similar structure for parliamentary appointments. He then suggested that the Law Reform Commission or another body should review these laws to ensure true independence between the entities. The Attorney General acknowledged the comments from MP Saunders, saying that with the passage of time that there will a harmonised approach to appointments. 

Attorney General Bulgin then presented the Criminal Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Honourable Attorney General highlighted the challenges in the current system, where such individuals are ordered to be detained at a hospital until discharged by the governor, creating safety concerns and logistical issues, particularly for those who have committed violent acts.

Key points of the bill include:

4.    Transfer of Authority – The amendment removes the governor’s role in discharge decisions, vesting that power in the courts. This change aligns with legal precedents that judicial matters should not be handled by the executive branch.

5.    Conditions for Discharge – Courts will now have the power to impose conditions on release, such as supervision, treatment, and relocation, including repatriation for non-Caymanian individuals.

6.    New Housing Solutions – Discussion arose on repurposing the Poinciana Mental Health Facility to accommodate violent mentally ill individuals, as it currently lacks secure facilities for them.

7.    Legislative Adjustments – Various amendments streamline legal language, clarify processes for special verdicts of insanity, and empower courts to issue orders for confinement, supervision, or treatment.

MP Hew thanked the Attorney General for his comprehensive explanation of the circumstances around the proposed amendments. He said that the amendments present options for residents and Caymanians who may display criminally violent behaviour as a symptom of mental illness. 

Minister for Wellness Hon. Dwayne Seymour also spoke, stating that while the Poinciana Mental Health Facility had now received patients, it was not fully occupied. He welcomed the idea of revaluating the intention and usage of the Poinciana Mental Health Facility to accommodate these persons.

With no further replies, the Bill was deemed to have had a Second Reading. 

The House continues today, Thursday, 6 February.

To watch Wednesday’s proceedings, visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/fRdXOvL0M1k?si=4QwqxWum9iOMASdb

Third Sitting of the Third Meeting of the 2024-2025 Session of Parliament | 5 February:  

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).