Parliamentarians returned to the House on Friday, 2 October for the Third Sitting of the Second Meeting of the 2026-2027 Session.
Ten reports were tabled, including the Children and Youth Services Foundation Annual Report 2025 and the Council of Older Persons Highlights and Activities Report 2017-2025. In presenting the latter, Minister for Social Development and Innovation, Honourable Isaac Rankine, highlighted the Council’s advocacy, stakeholder engagement and public education, as well as its contribution to the Older Persons (Amendment) Act 2024 and initiatives including the Age Proud Cayman Campaign. The Minister assured the House that the report’s recommendations would be carefully reviewed by the Ministry and relevant Government entities, noting that several aligned with existing policy direction.
The Minister informed the House that the recommendations would be carefully reviewed and given serious consideration by the Ministry and relevant Government entities. He noted that many of the issues raised aligned with the policy direction already advanced through the Older Persons (Amendment) Act 2024.
Members of the Government addressed nine questions during the Sitting. Responding to a question about implementation timelines for the two referendum questions passed during the last general election, Premier Honourable André Ebanks reported that the Law Reform Commission was progressing work on cannabis reform and a national lottery. The final report on cannabis and supporting legislation were expected to reach the Attorney General for Caucus and Cabinet consideration between November and December 2026.
The Premier said work on a national lottery was more complex, requiring comparative analysis, stakeholder consultation and consideration of regulatory, fiscal and gambling-harm issues. The final report and draft National Lottery Bill were expected by the end of May 2027, with the Government committed to bringing final recommendations and proposed legislation to Parliament.
Addressing a question on whether the Government was monitoring the potential societal and economic risks posed by rapid artificial intelligence adoption, Premier Ebanks confirmed that risks and opportunities were under review through the Digital Transformation Strategy Task Force. He said the Task Force intended to submit a report before the November 2026 meeting.
Minister for Education and Training, Honourable Rolston Anglin, was asked about measures to narrow the reported attainment gap between boys and girls in primary-school reading and writing. He highlighted targeted teaching, assessment-led interventions, teacher professional development and research into effective approaches for boys. The Minister added, “Our objective is to ensure that our boys who are not achieving at expected level are identified early, receive the right support and are given every opportunity to become confident, independent readers.”
Deputy Governor Honourable Gloria McField-Nixon addressed two questions. The first related to her knowledge of complaints from existing staff at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She confirmed that staff complaints had been raised through established processes; some had been substantiated, some unsubstantiated and others remained under investigation. Mrs McField-Nixon further reported that exit surveys and optional interviews were offered to departing staff.
The Deputy Governor stated that all complaints were taken seriously. She added, “I can further commit to closely monitoring the outcome of this HR concern.”
Responding to the second question about reducing delays in processing Civil Service retirement applications, Mrs McField-Nixon said the Public Service Pensions Board had worked tirelessly to resolve the backlog. She advised that 140 of 166 historical retirement cases had been completed by 25 September 2026. Fifty-eight overdue applications remained, including 26 historical cases and 32 newer overdue cases. The Deputy Governor stated that the Public Service Pensions Board aimed to clear them by year-end while implementing staffing, systems, contribution and process improvements.
The proceedings continued with three statements – one from Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, and two from Minister Rankine. Minister Ebanks-Wilks reported Cabinet’s approval of $1,891,000 in supplementary funding for mosquito-control larvicide, needed to treat approximately 15,000 acres of Grand Cayman amid elevated mosquito breeding.
In the first of his two statements, Minister Rankine reported a $70,000 reallocation from TP131 to TP57 to sustain Children and Family Services support through 2026. His second statement outlined exceptional circumstances that made it necessary to approve supplementary appropriations for the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage in the 2026 financial year. Minister Rankine said Cabinet approved the creation of the appropriation EA 172 Pink House, funded by the transfer of $250,000 from EI 86. This brought the total appropriation for EI 172 to $250,000 and the total approved for EI appropriations in 2026 to $10,775,000.
The House then proceeded with Government Business, beginning with the continuation of debate on the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026. In her right of reply, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, reiterated that the legislation was intended to protect young people from nicotine addiction. She noted that a six-month implementation period would allow Government to work with relevant agencies to prepare for commencement and that enforcement would address the importation, sale and distribution of regulated products. The Minister also advised that further clarity around legal medical use would be addressed through an amendment at Committee Stage.
During the Sitting, the Speaker of the House invited Premier Ebanks to welcome a delegation of Attorneys General, Ministers and other representatives from across the Caribbean associated with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). The Premier highlighted the region’s collective efforts to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Honourable Jay Ebanks, also welcomed former legislator Dr Frank McField to the House.
The Monetary Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was presented by the Premier. The Bill sought to provide greater clarity and flexibility within the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority’s governance framework, align provisions with the Public Authorities Act and change the titles of Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director to Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, respectively. The Bill received support from the Opposition. In his right of reply, the Premier also indicated that further legislation was likely to be brought as Cayman prepares for its next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review.
Premier Ebanks also presented the Local Companies (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to provide Cabinet with greater flexibility to support Caymanian participation in areas of business where local capacity exists. Members on both sides of the House expressed support for the Bill, with discussion focusing on opportunities for Caymanian-owned businesses, the use of temporary moratoriums and the importance of appropriate consultation and oversight. The Bill received 17 votes in favour at Second Reading, with two Members absent.
Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Honourable Jay Ebanks, presented the Development and Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Bill sought to streamline regulatory processes by removing the requirement for certain regulations to receive affirmative resolution from Parliament and allowing Cabinet to waive prescribed fees.
Minister Ebanks-Wilks withdrew both the Environmental Health Bill, 2026 and the Public Health Bill, 2026 to allow further amendments and revisions following consultation. She noted that the two pieces of legislation needed to work hand-in-hand and advised that further consultation would take place with Members of Parliament and the public before the Bills returned to the House.
Minister Ebanks-Wilks also presented the Health Practice (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, which sought to strengthen the governance, flexibility and efficiency of the health regulatory framework, including allowing regulatory councils to delegate functions to subcommittees. The Bill received support from the Opposition.
Attorney General Honourable Samuel Bulgin presented the Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 alongside the Notaries Public (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed changes would require applicants seeking appointment as Notaries Public to disclose expunged convictions as part of the assessment of whether they were fit and proper persons, while not automatically preventing an individual with an expunged conviction from being appointed. Members expressed support for the legislation while also discussing the wider treatment of spent convictions and the importance of rehabilitation.
Following the Second Readings, the House moved into Committee Stage to consider the Bills before it. The Committee was adjourned before consideration of all Bills was completed and the House was suspended until 10 a.m. on Monday, 5 October, when proceedings were expected to continue.