Michelle Ethlyn Johnson-Ebanks (CNS): Michelle Ethlyn Johnson-Ebanks (40), a Customs and Border Control officer from West Bay, appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty to allegations that she tried to kill her husband in February during an altercation in a parking lot outside a bar on Shedden Road, George Town. Ebanks, who is currently suspended from her law enforcement job, is alleged to have run over her spouse, leaving him badly injured. Ebanks is charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent. She was bailed until her trial, which will be before a jury. It is scheduled for November and expected to last around seven days.

Jovanna Ebanks Wright between Deputy Governor Designate Gloria McField-Nixon and outgoing DG Franz Manderson (CNS): Jovanna Ebanks Wright, the principal of Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, was named the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) Employee of the Year for 2025 last week. Wright received the top civil servant prize at a ceremony on Thursday in front of government officials, civil servants and loved ones, according to a release. Recognised for her role in leading the school from a rating of ‘weak’, as assessed by the Office of Education Standards (OES), to achieving its first rating of ‘good’ in 2025, Wright was selected by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson from among twelve Employee of the Month awardees. Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service and Deputy Governor Designate Gloria McField-Nixon announced the awardee, saying she had supported positive outcomes, not only for herself and the teams she...

Rocky’s Diamond Gallery, George Town (CNS): Three men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at Rocky’s Diamond Gallery on Seafarers Way, George Town, on Monday. The stick-up happened shortly before noon, just across the street from the harbour, where one cruise ship was in port. Two masked men entered the store, brandishing a baseball bat and what appeared to be a gun. They smashed several display cases and removed jewellery. They then ran outside and got into a getaway vehicle. No shots were fired, and no one was injured during the incident. The RCIPS said that officers quickly identified a vehicle matching the description of the one used by the robbers and began to follow it. One man fled the vehicle in the vicinity of Shedden Road and North Sound Road. The vehicle then travelled towards West Bay and was stopped by the police on Willie Farrington...

Pedro St James (CNS): The Ministry of Culture and Heritage is marking the Cayman Islands’ inaugural observance of Heritage Month this May. During the month, a diverse range of cultural events and activities will celebrate and reflect on Caymanian identity, culture and heritage, including Emancipation Day on 4 May, according to a release from the ministry. The theme “Threads to Our Traditions” will provide an opportunity to highlight the stories, traditions and cultural expressions that define the Cayman Islands, while creating a shared space for national pride, the release said. The ministry said it remains “committed to ensuring that Emancipation Day continues to be recognised with the importance, prominence, and respect that it deserves, as part of our broader national narrative”, describing it as “a significant and defining moment in Cayman’s history”. The public is invited and encouraged to engage in a variety of cultural activities throughout the month, including...

(CNS): A 61-year-old man visiting the Cayman Islands from Canada died on Friday after getting into difficulties in the water off Governor’s Beach. At around 11:20am, emergency services were called to the area off the West Bay Road, where the man had been snorkelling when he passed out. He was taken to shore by members of the public in a private vessel. Once on shore, members of the public conducted CPR until the arrival of emergency services. The visitor was taken to the government hospital in George Town, where he was later pronounced dead. The RCIPS offered condolences to the man’s family and friends.

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) arrested a 37-year-old visitor to the Cayman Islands after a firearm was discovered in his luggage at the Owen Roberts International Airport on Thursday afternoon. A press release about the arrest said that CBC officers searched the man’s luggage following his arrival and found a handgun with ammunition in his bag. The CBC did not divulge the man’s nationality or where he had travelled from. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an unlicensed firearm but has since been bailed as the investigation continues. The release did not provide any details on the conditions of bail or if the man will be allowed to leave the Cayman Islands if charges are not laid before his due departure date. “This incident underscores the effectiveness of our security measures and highlights the continued vigilance of our officers in safeguarding the Cayman...

(CNS): The governor’s office is seeking nominations for the King’s New Year Honours for 2027 and is asking people in the community if they know someone who has made an “exceptional contribution to the Cayman Islands” and whose dedication, service or achievements deserve national recognition. Nominees should have made a real difference in the community or profession, enhanced the reputation of Cayman, shown leadership, innovation or moral courage or served others through public or voluntary work. Honours span fields such as voluntary service, arts, media, health, education, science, sport, business, and the civil service, the office said. The deadline is Tuesday, 19 May, and anyone can submit a nomination. The Cayman Honours Committee will review submissions and forward selected nominations to the UK. Nomination forms and guidance can be found here. Submissions should be made to the governor’s officeBy email at [email protected] Person at reception desk at the Government Administration...

RCIPS officers conduct Operation Clyro (CNS): After more than two weeks of targeted traffic enforcement on several of Cayman’s major roads and hotspots, the first phase of the police road safety campaign, Operation Clyro, came to an end on Sunday. During the 16-day road safety campaign, officers issued over 1,000 tickets. Around 550 tickets were for speeding, over 160 of which were issued during the final weekend of the campaign. “Speeding continues to be one of the most common traffic offences we prosecute, and speeding remains one of the main factors in serious collisions,” said Inspector Andrey Tahal of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit. “If you’re running a bit late or travelling along what appears to be an open stretch of road, it may not seem like a big deal to push your speed a bit, but the consequences can be deadly. “When speeding is combined with distracted driving...