Government in Parliament (2020)

• Parliamentary question asked by MLA Mr. Alva Suckoo, Elected Member for Newlands, to the Honourable Joey Hew, MLA, Minister responsible for Commerce, Planning & Infrastructure

Question:

Can the Honourable Attorney General provide an update on the planned implementation of anti-bullying legislation in the Cayman Islands?

Answer:

Mister Speaker, on the 10^th November, 2020, the Law Reform Commission, in accordance with section 12 of the Law Reform Commission Law (2019 Revision), submitted for my attention its Final Report entitled “Bullying: Legislation Policy or Both?” which includes a draft Education (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and  draft Anti-Bullying (Schools) Regulations, 2020. 

Mister Speaker, the Final Report contains recommendations that speak to the introduction of a legislative framework to address bullying in schools and it is supported by –

(a)    proposed amendments to the Education Law, 2016 to mandate that all schools formulate an Anti-Bullying Policy; and

(b)   the introduction of proposed regulations that focus on –

• defining the bullying concept;
• the formulation of anti-bullying policies; and
• reporting, investigative and enforcement procedures.

Mister Speaker, as this subject falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands (“the Ministry”), I delivered a copy of the Final Report to the Acting Chief Officer of the Ministry for attention.

Mister Speaker, in terms of process, the Ministry will review and consider the recommendations contained in the Final Report and then determine whether it wishes to place the Final Report before Cabinet for consideration.

Mister Speaker, if the Final Report is presented to Cabinet, it is at that stage Cabinet would determine whether to accept the recommendations and approve instructions leading towards the enactment, promulgation and implementation of the legislation. 

Thank you Mister Speaker.

Question:

Can the Honourable Minister say:

B.     How many complaints were received during the 6 month withdrawal period?

C.     How many employers are being investigated for criminal prosecution as a result of the complaints, and what is the status of those investigations?

Answer:

A.    Presently, the Department of Labour & Pensions (“the Department”) has 225 active pension cases which are derived from employee complaints.  

B.     During the 6 month emergency pension withdrawal period (1^st May 2020 to 31^st October 2020), a total of 27 new cases were reported to the Department due to the receipt of employee complaints.  Those cases are presently under investigation by Senior Officers.

C.     Currently, the Department has 15 pensions cases in Summary Court and is preparing charges against a further 2 employers with several others in the preparatory stages, these matters remain ongoing.

It should also be noted that in 2020, the Department concluded 3 pensions court cases which resulted in the collection of the pension contributions for the employees of about CI$325,000.  

Question:

Can the Honourable Minister say whether there are any outstanding permanent residency annual fees that came due between 1^st November 2019 and 31^st October 2020? If so, what is the total amount of the unpaid fees?

Answer:

Between 1st November 2019 and 31st October 2020, 640 persons were in arrears and owed a total of CI$5,147,335.52 to the Cayman Islands Government in permanent residency fees.