(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has dropped the $25 fee for expungement applications and declarations of expungement. A release from the Ministry of Home Affairs said this would advance rehabilitation by ensuring that access to a clean criminal record is “not discouraged by modest but meaningful financial barriers”. According to the release, this move will only cost the government about $1,000 per year, based on an average of 40 applications, which is immaterial when considering the public benefit of reducing barriers to reintegration given the circumstances of many of those seeking to lawfully clear their names on spent convictions. The Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) (Application for Expungement) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 pave the way for anyone to make an expungement application or seek a declaration without paying the previous non-refundable fee. The Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Act provides a legal pathway for certain convictions to become spent after prescribed rehabilitation periods,...

(CNS): A very wet January with several cold fronts followed by one of the coldest Februarys in 40 years made this year’s dry season a lot cooler than average on Grand Cayman, according to data released by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. However, in April, the temperature climbed and rainfall decreased to well below the current annual average. The temperature has continued to rise this month, ahead of the summer months, which are expected to be very dry and hot in the region. The CINWS has issued a heatwave forecast for this summer and warns that both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to exceed climate averages and persist for days at a time. Frequent and prolonged bouts of heat are anticipated, with little night relief, posing public health concerns, increasing water and energy demand, and presenting challenges for farmers. During this dry season, there were eight cold fronts,...

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government is making plans to create a newborn investment sovereign fund for Caymanian babies born after 1 January 2027, an idea proposed in a private member’s motion that was supported by parliament last month. Finance Minister Rolston Anglin said the CIG would be taking a “modified approach focusing on long-term financial stability” by supporting the motion’s intent. However, the programme will be a retirement-focused baby bond with no provisions for early withdrawal to ensure meaningful fiscal benefit. The motion was presented by independent opposition MP Dwayne Seymour (BTE) and supported by Chris Saunders (BTW). Accepting the PMM on behalf of the government, Anglin said that it “supports the objective of improving long-term financial security for Caymanian children. However, detailed analysis makes clear that such a programme only delivers meaningful and fiscally responsible benefits when it is structured as a long-term, retirement-focused investment. “In that form, a...

The kerbside pick-up area outside the arrivals lounge (CNS): The Cayman Islands Airports Authority is rolling out new safety and security protocols at Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) from 20 May. In a release, the CIAA said that this aligns with overseas territories aviation requirements established by Air Safety Support International (ASSI) in accordance with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). They are also part of CIAA’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, secure and efficient airport environment, the release said. “The new security protocols represent an important step in strengthening our overall security framework, ensuring we meet our regulatory requirements imposed on the CIAA by ASSI,” said CIAA CEO Albert Anderson. Under the new protocols, all vehicles entering the pick-up and drop-off area outside arrivals and departures may be subject to visual inspection by trained and appointed CIAA Security Officers. Inspections may include full-vehicle checks, including interior...

(CNS): The National Coalition for Caymanians is hoping to engage stakeholders and members of the public to shape a strategy to navigate the ever-changing world of digital technology and artificial intelligence. The Digital Transformation Strategy Task Force is running a series of public surveys until 17 May as part of its final phase of engagement. The findings will help identify strengths, gaps and priorities so the final recommendations reflect the reality and the ambitions of local people, officials have said. Digital transformation is shaping how services are delivered, how businesses compete, and how people engage with technology in everyday life, according to a release about the survey. Maintaining and strengthening the Cayman Islands’ position as a globally competitive jurisdiction makes this work critical. The NCFC said it is committed to innovation and modernising public services for the benefit of all Caymanians. The Digital Transformation Strategy Task Force was established to...

Gun seized by the RCIPS in August 2025 (CNS): The police seized 81 illegal guns in the six-year period 2020 through 2025, but they believe that an estimated 96 are still circulating on the streets. Responding to a freedom of information request by CNS about both legal and illegal weapons, the RCIPS said that in 2025, police officers seized ten illegal guns and Customs and Border Control seized another four. On Grand Cayman, 991 legal firearms are held by around 500 licence holders (475 Caymanian and 21 non-Caymanian). Licensed weapons are stored in gun safes in the owners’ homes, which must meet certain criteria, including being bolted to a wall or floor and equipped with specific locking mechanisms. Given that only one legal gun has been stolen over the last ten years, which was later recovered, it appeared that gun owners adhere to the rules and robust standards for safe...

Hotel Indigo (Photo credit: Dart Group) (CNS): Finance Minister Rolston Anglin has said the NCFC government plans to take on some of Cayman’s biggest companies in order to stop the emergence of unfair practices and sector monopolies. This includes the fuel importers, which control prices all the way to the pumps, and the Dart Group, the Cayman Islands’ biggest landowner, which he accused of having a virtual monopoly over the hotel sector, given how many it now owns. During a recent parliamentary debate on a private member’s motion presented by opposition MP Roy McTaggart (GTE), which called on the government to reduce fuel duties. The motion was accepted, as the government had already announced plans to address the spike in oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East. Anglin took aim at the fuel companies, saying they were playing a “shell game” by selling to each other. They...

(CNS): All frontline RCIPS officers will be wearing body-worn cameras (BWCs) by the end of July, the RCIPS said in a press release. The phased implementation of bodycams is designed to provide an objective record of the interactions between police and the public. By capturing high-definition video and audio, these devices ensure that evidence is gathered accurately, securing the integrity of investigations and increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes, police said. The release described the move as a “milestone” that “marks a significant step in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and creating a modern police service”. The full rollout follows a successful pilot phase over the last two years, which was specific to internal change management, review of judicial pathways and requirements to future-proof the RCIPS. Superintendent Roje Williams, who is heading the project, described the introduction of bodycams as a “transformative moment” for the local police. “This...

CI Seafarers Association, Red Bay (CNS): More than a decade after the Office of the Auditor General recommended that the policy to provide ex gratia payments to seafarers and veterans needed supporting legislation, the government has still not addressed the issue. The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has now raised the issue after an investigation into a complaint from a recipient highlighted the potential risks the lack of such a law presents. Currently, qualifying former seafarers and veterans can apply for this payment, which is now CI$1,500 per month. It is currently being paid to around 950 people and is expected to cost the government approximately $17 million this year. A special report to parliament, presented during the last meeting, highlighted an investigation into a complaint by an elderly retired seaman who had sailed with National Bulk Carrier for 20 years. The man reported that his benefit payments of CI$1,250...

(CNS): Two inmates of HMP Northward were taken to hospital on Monday and treated for injuries, according to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Posts on various social media platforms suggest that the wounds were caused by stabbings during a fight on B-Wing at the prison. However, the official release did not […]