Parliamentarians returned to the House on Monday, 5 October for the Fourth Sitting of the Second Meeting of the 2026-2027 Session.
Premier Honourable André Ebanks tabled two reports: the Report of the Standing Business Committee for the First Meeting of the 2026-2027 Session of Parliament and the Report to Parliament on Motions on National Policy Issues.
During Questions to the Government, Elected Member for Red Bay, Mr A. Roy Tatum, sought updates from Minister for Finance and Economic Development and Education and Training, Honourable Rolston Anglin, on student attendance, mathematics attainment and early intervention services. Minister Anglin reported that attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year stood at 89.4 per cent, with Government targeting an increase of one to two percentage points over the next five years. He also outlined measures to strengthen attendance monitoring, truancy interventions and data collection.
On mathematics attainment, Minister Anglin reported that the Level 2 attainment rate increased to 48.9 per cent in 2024-2025, while provisional 2026 CSEC results showed a national pass rate of 61 per cent. He also announced CI$3.7 million to expand specialist early-intervention support and outlined plans for an Early Years Framework and “Education Passport” to improve continuity of support for children with additional needs.
Responding on behalf of Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Honourable Jay Ebanks, Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, Honourable Nickolas DaCosta, advised that funding approved in late 2025 for a limited feral chicken control programme was not utilised and the programme was not implemented. He said any future policy response would require a coordinated, multi-agency approach.
Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, provided an update on the national sargassum response plan. She advised that a draft plan is being developed with a focus on prevention, early intervention and long-term management. The Minister confirmed that Government is exploring barrier systems and specialised collection vessels and intends to initiate the procurement process, with a more detailed timeline to be provided when Parliament reconvenes in November.
Responding to a separate question from Mr Dwayne Seymour, Minister Ebanks-Wilks said the proposed Healthcare Protection Fund remains under consideration as part of broader healthcare financing reforms, with no implementation timeline yet established.
Several statements were subsequently delivered by Members of the Government.
Premier Ebanks provided an update on preparations for the Cayman Islands’ fifth-round Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Mutual Evaluation, advising that the jurisdiction entered the assessment phase on 1 September 2026.
Minister Ebanks-Wilks announced the publication of the National Cancer Registry Discussion White Paper and the launch of a public consultation running from 5 October to 15 November 2026. She said the proposed registry would provide reliable local cancer data to support prevention, screening and treatment while protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.
Minister DaCosta announced Cabinet approval of a CI$130,000 exceptional circumstance appropriation to expand the National CCTV Programme in East End. He also advised that Government is assessing opportunities to expand CCTV coverage in North Side, Bodden Town and George Town.
Minister Anglin also reported positive early results from the Government’s “Phones Down, Minds Up” policy and provided updates on Education Month, the expansion of facilities at Joanna Clarke Primary School and the acquisition of the Kiddiewinks facility to increase capacity and specialist support at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School.
Minister for Social Development and Innovation and Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, Honourable Isaac Rankine, also outlined a Cabinet-approved reallocation of CI$150,000 within his Ministry’s budget to support community development initiatives, including programmes serving neurodivergent individuals.
Parliament then resumed Government Business, with several Bills progressing through Committee Stage, Report on Bills and Third Reading.
Eight Bills completed committee stage and were subsequently read a third time and passed, including the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America), Notaries Public, Tobacco, Monetary Authority, Local Companies (Control), Development and Planning, Health Practice and Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Amendment Bills. Amendments were made to the Notaries Public, Tobacco, Local Companies (Control) and Development and Planning Bills, while the remaining Bills were reported without amendment.
Government Motion No. 4 of 2026-2027, concerning the issuance of a Deed of Indemnity to members of the Planning Appeals Tribunal, was moved and passed. Government Motion No. 1 concerning the Children (Advisory Panel) Regulations, 2026 was withdrawn.
Parliament also considered Government Motion No. 3 of 2026-2027 on the establishment of a Cayman Islands Sovereign Wealth Fund. In moving the motion, Parliamentary Secretary Mrs Julie Hunter described the proposed fund as a means of preserving national wealth for future generations and stressed that access to its assets would need to be governed by clear rules. She said, “We are not creating this fund for the government of today, we are creating it for the country of tomorrow.”
Members expressed support for the proposal, with debate focusing on governance, transparency, management costs, long-term fiscal resilience and potential sources of funding. Elected Member for Bodden Town West, Mr Christopher Saunders, also highlighted the importance of planning for Cayman’s ageing population and future financial obligations, stating, “We will be remembered for what we leave behind.” Premier Ebanks commended Mrs Hunter for advancing the initiative and invited Government Members to nominate persons to serve on a governance committee for the proposed fund. The motion passed.
Premier Ebanks subsequently moved Government Motion No. 2 of 2026-2027 concerning the modernisation and strengthening of the Whistleblower Protection Act, 2015. The Premier said the proposed reforms were intended to strengthen workplace protections, including protection against detrimental action or retaliation following a disclosure. He emphasised that “people should not have to choose between reporting misconduct and keeping their job.” Members also discussed retaliation beyond the workplace, barriers faced by employees seeking to report wrongdoing and the importance of ensuring workers can raise concerns without fear of repercussions. The motion passed.
Under other business, debate resumed on Private Member’s Motion No. 13 of 2026-2027 concerning increased penalties for offences against children and strengthened child-protection laws. Members discussed stronger minimum sentences for sexual offences against children, monitoring of offenders, the role and accessibility of a sex-offender registry, online risks to children and the need for legislation to keep pace with changing methods of exploitation.
During the debate, Members emphasised that stronger penalties should form part of a wider child-protection framework. Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, Honourable Nickolas DaCosta, said laws must be periodically reviewed to ensure they remain sufficiently strong and modern as technology and methods of exploitation evolve. Minister Anglin also called for serious consideration of existing sentencing provisions and for age-appropriate sex education across all school years.
Attorney General Honourable Samuel Bulgin advised that a review of the Penal Code and related legislation is underway, with his Chambers participating in the working group. The motion passed following a division, with 17 Members voting in favour and two absent.
Private Member’s Motion No. 14 of 2026-2027, concerning transparency, competition and public access in the marketing and sale of foreclosure properties, was moved by Elected Member for Bodden Town East, Mr Dwayne Seymour. He said the motion sought to improve transparency and competition in the foreclosure process and ensure properties are exposed to the widest possible market, stating that a foreclosure sale should seek to obtain the “best reasonable value.” Members also discussed the importance of protecting homeowner equity and increasing competition among prospective purchasers. The motion passed.
Private Member’s Motion No. 15 of 2026-2027, seeking funding for the official Office of the Leader of the Opposition, was also passed.
The Fuel Market Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and National Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were deferred.
The House was subsequently adjourned sine die.