The Second Meeting of the 2026-2027 Session of Parliament commenced on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Following the prayer, Deputy Governor, Honourable Gloria McField-Nixon was sworn in as an ex-officio Member of Parliament. Members from both sides of the House welcomed and congratulated Mrs McField-Nixon, emphasising her public-service experience, professional reputation and family support. They further outlined the importance of the appointment for Caymanian women and young people.
In her response, the Deputy Governor thanked the Members of Parliament, her family, civil service colleagues, former Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and previous female parliamentary leaders. Mrs McField-Nixon reflected on her journey in the Civil Service and said she was “tremendously blessed” to have been entrusted with the role. She pledged to serve the Civil Service and the Cayman Islands to the best of her ability.
During the Sitting, 14 reports were tabled, including annual reports for the Ministry of Caymanian Employment and Immigration, Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Ombudsman and the Parliament Management Commission, as well as unaudited quarterly financial reports for the Cayman Islands Government and reports from a number of statutory authorities and government companies.
In tabling the 2025 Annual Report of the Ministry of Caymanian Employment and Immigration, Minister for Caymanian Employment and Immigration, Honourable Michael Myles, highlighted several milestones achieved during the reporting period. These included the increase of the minimum wage from $6.00 to $8.75 per hour in July 2025, progress on immigration reform initiatives and the processing of more than 63,000 work permit applications by Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development and Education and Training, Honourable Rolston Anglin noted that the March and June 2026 unaudited quarterly financial reports had been published by their statutory deadlines and would be considered in Finance Committee the Thursday, 8 October.
During questions to the Government, members sought updates on a range of matters including sports infrastructure, healthcare, housing, education, beach access and Government programmes.
Responding to a question regarding the Haig Bodden stadium, Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage and Social Development and Innovation, Honourable Isaac Rankine said replacement of the stadium covering is scheduled to commence no later than the second quarter of 2027, with procurement and ordering processes currently being finalised.
Several questions were directed to the Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Honourable Jay Ebanks. The minister provided updates on the James Manoah Bodden Civic Centre, the National Housing Repairs Programme, affordable housing initiatives and public beach access. He advised that assessments relating to the future of the civic centre remain ongoing and that additional information is expected following completion of remediation and insurance-related reviews.
On housing, the minister stated that $1.5 million has been allocated for housing assistance during the 2026-2027 financial period and noted that work is underway to review housing repair policies and delivery models. He also confirmed that the Government continues to explore opportunities to acquire land for affordable housing and public recreational use.
Minister Anglin responded to questions relating to stamp duty concessions, healthcare coverage through the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO) and educational support for students transitioning into secondary school.
Addressing questions regarding CINICO, Minister Anglin advised that progress has been made towards expanding access to private healthcare providers through a phased pilot programme. He explained that the initiative is intended to gather data on utilisation, costs and operational requirements before decisions are made regarding broader implementation.
The minister also outlined support available to students entering Year 7 who require additional assistance in reading, writing or mathematics. He noted that intervention measures include summer school programmes, targeted literacy and numeracy support, small-group learning and ongoing progress monitoring.
Two statements were delivered – one by Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development, Honourable Gary Rutty and the other by Minister Anglin. In his statement, Deputy Premier Rutty paid tribute to President and Chief Executive Officer of Cayman Airways Limited Fabian Whorms, who will retire in December 2026 after more than three decades with the national airline. The Deputy Premier highlighted Mr Whorms’ leadership and contributions to the airline's growth, fleet modernisation and service expansion.
Minister Anglin announced an extension of the Government's Fuel Relief Programme through 31 December 2026. The programme includes continued duty waivers on gasoline, diesel and propane, as well as assistance with residential electricity fuel charges. The minister stated that the extension was approved in response to continued volatility in global energy markets.
Members of Parliament paid tribute to several Caymanians who recently passed away, including national hero Francine Jackson. Members also extended birthday greetings to Minister Michael Myles and recognised Mrs Theoline Seymour Wellington on her 98th birthday.
Ten Bills were deemed to have been read a first time and set down for second readings. They included the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment), Notaries Public (Amendment), Tobacco (Amendment), Monetary Authority (Amendment), Local Companies (Control) (Amendment), Development and Planning (Amendment), Environmental Health, Health Practice (Amendment) (No. 2), Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) (Amendment) and Public Health Bills.
The Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill and the Notaries Public (Amendment) Bill received second readings, although the Notaries Bill will require further consideration at committee stage, following concerns about insurance, age limits, appointment timing and Sister Islands fees.
Rising to present the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Attorney General Honourable Samuel Bulgin said that it seeks to transfer the role of Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority from the Chief Justice to the Attorney General. The Bill also introduces protection against damages, consequential loss and legal costs arising from execution of United States mutual legal-assistance requests. Damages or consequential loss would remain recoverable where the Authority acted in bad faith. Costs could be recovered only where the Grand Court finds undue financial hardship or unreasonable conduct in proceedings, subject to a $50,000 cap.
Members supported the Bill, though further clarity was requested on how the cap would operate where damages exceed $50,000 and in matters involving defective warrants. The Attorney General undertook to examine the Jersey provisions further and expand on the issue at committee stage.
The Attorney General also presented the Notaries Public (Amendment) Bill as a modernisation of the notarial regime intended to address competence, financial-crime risks and Financial Action Task Force expectations for designated non-financial businesses and professions. Key measures include restricting future eligibility to Caymanians ordinarily resident in the Islands, increasing required professional experience to five years for attorneys and certified public or chartered accountants and six years for other professions, mandatory training for non-attorney notaries, strengthened misconduct reporting, confidentiality obligations and a $750 penalty for late renewal, increased from $250.
The proposed professional-indemnity-insurance requirement for non-attorney notaries was the principal concern. Members cited potential premiums of approximately $3,500–$4,000 annually for $250,000 cover, alongside fixed notarial fees and queried whether sole-practitioner attorneys, those covered only through an employer and persons conducting occasional notarial work would be adequately addressed. Premier Honourable André Ebanks stated that Government would discuss with the Attorney General whether the insurance clause should be stood down.
Members also objected to the proposed age-80 restriction, particularly for reappointment of capable, experienced notaries. The Attorney General indicated that committee stage amendments would address age limits and preserve existing permanent-resident notaries, subject to training requirements for non-attorneys.
Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks moved the Tobacco Amendment Bill, describing it as a major update to legislation designed before vapes and electronic nicotine products became prevalent. The Bill would prohibit sale of vapes to persons under 18; prohibit sale, importation and distribution of disposable vapes; update definitions to cover vapes, components, nicotine liquids and electronic nicotine-delivery systems; strengthen enforcement powers and provide a six-month transition period for retailers, importers and distributors.
The minister cited the 2026 Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey, noting that vaping was the second most common consumption behaviour among youth after alcohol, average first use was age 12, 23 per cent of students had vaped, 12 per cent had used a vape in the past year and 7 per cent in the past 30 days.
Minister Ebanks-Wilks also cited risks from disposable-vape lithium batteries and plastics, including landfill fires and reduced landfill capacity.
Various members rose to comment on the Bill and express their support, including Minister Anglin and Parliamentary Secretary Honourable Wayne Panton. The minister deferred her reply to the next Sitting.
The House was adjourned until Thursday, 1 October at 11:00 a.m.