(CNS): The Ministry of Health and the Public Health Department are investigating a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease identified in the Cayman Islands. However, the ministry said in a release that at this time, there is no indication of additional cases and the risk to the general public is considered low. “I want to reassure the public that the relevant agencies are actively responding to this case and taking the necessary steps to investigate the source of exposure and protect public health,” Health Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said. “The risk to the wider community remains low, and we are committed to keeping the public informed as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.” Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can be found in certain water systems. Infection occurs when a person inhales small droplets of water containing the bacteria, the ministry explained. The disease...

Whitefly (photo credit: DoA) (CNS): The Department of Agriculture is actively responding to reports of spiral whitefly infestations across Grand Cayman, with teams working daily to assist affected residential properties and commercial farms. Spiral whitefly is one of the most aggressive whitefly species affecting the Cayman Islands, typically feeding on coconut, banana, plantain and mango trees, ornamental plants and various fruit trees and shrubs. The DoA said it is typically identified by white, waxy spiral egg patterns on the undersides of leaves and by the sticky honeydew it produces, which can lead to the development of black sooty mould, commonly referred to as “black lice”. The department encourages residents to:  Regularly inspect the tops and undersides of leaves.  Quarantine new plants before introducing them to gardens.  Avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen-rich products.  Use yellow sticky traps to monitor activity.  Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings.  Avoid moving infested plant material between properties  Treatment...

Kerry Whittaker (CNS): Sandra Hill, the owner of Cayman Marl Road, has filed a defamation suit against Kerry Whittaker (aka Kerry Tibbetts), who operates a YouTube channel and a Facebook page, both called “Cayman Brac The BEST Island”. The statement of claim states that on 22 and 26 May 2026, Whittaker broadcast shows in which she made repeated claims about Hill, including that she “routinely performs oral sexual acts on men” for professional or financial gain. “I obviously categorically refute the absurd allegations,” Hill told CNS. “This isn’t personal for me, it’s about principle. I intend to take this matter all the way to a damages hearing. History has shown that without a clear legal consequence, this kind of behaviour doesn’t stop, it just moves on to someone else. I’m not in a position to take that chance, for myself or for anyone else who might be next,” she added....

DEH garbage truck (CNS): The Department of Environmental Health will be launching a new online payment portal for garbage fees on Monday, 22 June, accessible via the DEH webpage. The new portal requires customers to pay with a debit or credit card. However, the department said it will no longer accept payments via bank transfer, explaining that manually tracking those payments has long posed a reconciliation challenge, delaying real-time account updates. The new digital payment system will provide 24/7 access, allowing business operators, property owners and stratas to securely settle invoices from anywhere at any time, the DEH said. It eliminates the need to stand in line or travel to a DEH office, resulting in significantly shorter wait times, fewer vehicle trips, and a lighter environmental footprint due to reduced paper use. “The new online portal resolves this by instantly linking credit and debit card payments to client accounts safely and...

(CNS): New Trade Marks Regulations that come into effect on Wednesday, 17 June, will allow the owners, licensees, or authorised agents of registered trademarks to request the Customs and Border Control Service to intervene if they suspect that goods, materials, or articles are being imported that infringe upon their trademarks and to block them at the border. A release from the Ministry of Home Affairs describes how, under the new regulations, owners or agents of the trademark can notify the CBC of the infraction. A separate notice must be submitted for each registered trademark alleged to be infringed, along with a CI$200 fee and the prescribed documentation, including proof of registration or other evidence requested by CBC. The Trade Marks (Customs and Border Control) Regulations, 2025 also allow CBC to request compensation from the owners or agents where costs or liability may arise from the detention of goods. Once the...

Planning approval for the rebuild of a structure on Boggy Sand Beach was successfully challenged in court by the NCC (CNS): In the wake of a recent meeting between government officials, relevant non-profit organisations, developers and members of both the National Conservation Council and the Central Planning Authority, held under the banner of ‘Cayman Forward’, the Cayman Islands Government has declared that a successful first step has been taken in trying to reduce the long-running conflict between conservation and development. While the full details of the one-day talking shop, held on 5 June and mediated by policy experts from the UK, have not been released, Premier André Ebanks told CNS he believes those involved saw it as a worthwhile exercise, especially given the dialogue it started between the CPA and the NCC, as it was clear the parties had not been talking. Alleviating concerns that the National Conservation Act might...