The Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure (MPLAHI) this week welcomed a high-level delegation from the Government of The Bahamas for a series of meetings focused on planning automation, digital transformation and the integrated management of development and regulatory systems.
The delegation was led by the Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, and the Hon. Ryan Pinder, KC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. The visiting officials met with the Hon. Johany “Jay” Ebanks, JP, MP, Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure, along with senior representatives from across the Ministry and its departments.
The visit formed part of an ongoing exchange of knowledge between the two jurisdictions and provided an opportunity to share practical experience, examine effective approaches to planning and development management, and explore how digital technologies can improve operational efficiency and public service delivery.
Technical sessions included presentations and demonstrations of the Cayman Islands’ planning framework, development application and permitting processes, regulatory workflows, and integrated systems supporting compliance, inter-agency coordination and customer service.
Discussions also explored opportunities to strengthen planning automation, streamline digital workflows, improve the exchange of information between government entities and enhance the transparency and accessibility of public-facing services.
Minister Ebanks welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the value of regional partnerships in supporting public sector innovation and modernisation.
“The Cayman Islands and The Bahamas face many similar opportunities and challenges as small island nations experiencing continued growth and development. Sharing knowledge and learning from one another allows us to strengthen our planning systems, improve service delivery and ultimately achieve better outcomes for our communities. We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from The Bahamas and look forward to continuing this important partnership.”
The delegation also engaged with Ministry and departmental representatives on planning administration, development control, policy development, infrastructure coordination and customer service delivery.
Officials from both governments recognised the importance of modern, transparent and customer-focused planning systems that support sustainable development while accounting for environmental stewardship, infrastructure capacity and community needs.
The visit reinforced the value of regional cooperation in addressing shared development challenges and using technology to improve government operations. The exchange of technical knowledge and practical experience will support continued institutional development and help identify opportunities for future collaboration between the Cayman Islands and The Bahamas.
MPLAHI extends its appreciation to the visiting delegation and to the Ministry and departmental teams that supported the programme of meetings and technical sessions.