Premier Leads Delegations to UK, India and Florida

Premier and Minister for Financial Services and Commerce (MFSC), the Hon. André M. Ebanks MP, is leading the Cayman Islands’ delegation for the annual UK Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meetings from 24-28 November; and the celebration of Cayman Day in London on 29 November.

From 2-4 December Premier will lead another Government delegation to India, for the OECD Global Forum Plenary on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes; as well as for stakeholder engagement and business development.

Lastly, on 8 December the Premier will lead a third delegation in Florida for meetings related to Cayman’s reinsurance regulatory framework.
UK: Joint Ministerial Council (JMC)
During JMC, political leaders from the UK and its Overseas Territories discuss issues of mutual interest. While topics vary somewhat from year to year, Premier said this week’s agenda continues the necessary focus on financial stability and economic growth; climate resilience and environmental stewardship; and technological governance and security.

“To navigate an increasingly complex global landscape collectively, the relationship between the UK and its Overseas Territories (OTs) must be more than symbolic,” Premier said. “It must be strategic and anchored in genuine collaboration, and JMC is a valuable opportunity to advance that vision.

“By recognising and respecting the diverse voices in the room as we each outline our distinct challenges and opportunities, JMC discussions shape policy and operational developments that support our mutual well-being.”

This year’s JMC is led by the UK’s Minister for Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty, who visited the Cayman Islands in September. He and the Premier have known each another for several years in various capacities, with both noting that their discussions have always been mutually respectful, balanced and insightful.

On Sunday evening (UK time) the delegation prepared for the full JMC schedule, which includes bilateral meetings; and meetings with agencies including the UK Overseas Territories Association, and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and the Cayman Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group. Additionally, there will be a range of other engagements, such as with financial services professionals, private-sector organisations and other UK-based stakeholders.

Premier Ebanks also noted that “being in London this week affords our delegation an in-person opportunity to clarify or dispel inaccuracies, with respect to our well-regulated financial services framework. It is not uncommon, particularly during JMC week, for selective, outdated or erroneous information to be circulated, and our delegation will utilise this visit to brief and update relevant UK stakeholders.”

To fully cover the breadth of subjects to be discussed at JMC, joining the Premier are Cabinet Members the Hon. Rolston Anglin, Minister for Finance and Economic Development; the Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability; the Hon. Jay Ebanks, Minister of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure; Parliamentary Secretary Julie Hunter; and Attorney General the Hon. Samuel Bulgin, KC.

Following JMC, on 29 November delegation members will attend Cayman Day, the celebration of Caymanian culture, heritage and identity in London.  Always popular with UK-based Caymanians, including students and young professionals, the annual event also attracts persons who want to know more about Cayman, or who have connections to our Islands. Cayman Day is hosted by the Cayman Islands Government Office in UK.
ndia: OECD Global Forum Plenary and Stakeholder Engagement

The Premier will then travel to New Delhi, India, to lead another delegation for the 2-4 December Global Forum Plenary. He will be supported by a three-person civil service team. 

During the proceedings he will represent the Cayman Islands on the high-level panel titled Advancing a Shared Vision for International Tax Transparency. This will be moderated on 2 December by the Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, Ms Manal Corwin.

“I’m proud that the Cayman Islands has been invited to participate on this panel, and humbled to represent our Islands at the Plenary and the panel,” Premier said. “This is a platform to address how Cayman effectively operates and responsibly collaborates with OECD countries to advance tax transparency, as we collectively build a fairer, more cohesive global tax transparency framework.”

Focusing on current developments in the fight against tax evasion and aggressive avoidance, the Plenary will be attended by more than 300 delegates from 112 Global Forum member jurisdictions, including 12 ministerial-level delegates and representatives of international civil society and academia.

After the Plenary, the delegation will visit Mumbai to engage with public- and private-sector stakeholders about opportunities in investment funds and other financial services, following successful models implemented in other jurisdictions. They also will explore opportunities to strengthen economic ties between the Cayman Islands and India.

Florida: Reinsurance Engagement

Lastly, Premier, MFSC and Cayman Islands Monetary Authority officials will head to Florida from 8-11 December to attend the 2025 Fall Meeting of the US-based National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), to promote Cayman’s developing reinsurance framework and advance our efforts towards the designation of NAIC Qualified Jurisdiction Status.

“Meetings and events held as part of, or around, the NAIC Fall Meeting are important opportunities for our Government to support our country’s growing reinsurance sector,” Premier said. “By building relationships and understandings directly with US federal and state insurance regulators, we bolster Cayman’s experience and regulatory prowess in the regulated reinsurance space.”

During JMC the following Ministers will act for their travelling colleagues.

• Hon. Gary Rutty, Acting Premier;
• Hon. Michael Myles, Acting Deputy Premier;
• Hon. Nickolas DaCosta, Acting Minister for Finance and Economic Development, and for Education and Training;
• Hon. Wayne Panton, Acting Minister for Financial Services and Commerce; and
• PS Heather Bodden, Acting Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability.