Archive for October 20th, 2009

Law makers start work to increase fees

Law makers start work to increase fees

| 20/10/2009 | 2 Comments

(CNS): Legislators have begun the long process of adjusting legislation to pave the way for the fee increases provided for in the government’s2009/10 budget. On Monday morning government amended two laws and revised a third to increase fees for patents and trademarks, securities and investment fees as well as licences for insurance firms. According to the revisions and amendments trademark and patent fees will increase from $150 up to $200 while the securities and investment fees will increase from $1000 to $3500. The revision to the insurance law provides for a schedule of varying fees for insurance licenses.

During the short debate on the legislative changes, all presented by the Leader of Government Business, McKeeva Bush, the independent MLA for North Side, Ezzard Miller was the only other member to speak. Although he and all the other opposition members supported the changes and amendments, Miller queried why the patent increase was so small. He noted that the amount of work undertaken by the office seemed considerable for such a low fee and he said he believed government could have increased the fee to at least $1000 to reflect the amount of work that goes into providing the service.

“I believe that government should at the very least cover its costs for providing these services, if not be looking to make a small profit and I suspect the costs for providing the service at this office are considerably more than $200,” Miller observed, adding that he was concerned fees were not being properly evaluated to determine if they were at the right level to adequately cover the work.

Bush told the member that all the fee increases introduced in this year’s budget were done so in careful consultation with the financial services sector. He said that this was the increase which the industry said it could absorb without becoming uncompetitive.

“We have to be conservative with fee increases and we have consulted widely on the budget to get the private sector on board to assist us. As the minister of finance of cause I’d like to charge more but we must be cautious,” Bush warned, adding that many other jurisdictions across the Caribbean were now offering financial services and while Cayman remained the best it was necessary to pay attention to competition.

Over the coming weeks several more changes are expected to existing laws to enable government to increase a range of fees from work permits to import duty, as well as laws to implement new fees.  The LA resumes this week on Wednesday morning when, among a number of legislative changes to be made, the house will also debate the legal practitioner’s bill.

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Flooding brings misery to residents after heavy rain

Flooding brings misery to residents after heavy rain

| 20/10/2009 | 24 Comments

(CNS): With over seven inches of rain in the last twenty-four hours, many of Grand Cayman’s residents are now suffering from severe flooding and are trapped in their homes. Those living in the swamp area of George Town told News 27 that they feel they have been neglected by government as every time the island experiences heavy rain their lives come to a standstill. With at least another four inches predicted over the next 24 hours, flooding misery is set to continue for many living in low lying areas with poor drainage.

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Leader summons top cop

Leader summons top cop

| 20/10/2009 | 32 Comments

(CNS): Following an unprecedented number of crimes in the last week, including Cayman’s seventh murder of the year, as well as a number of armed robberies in the heart of George Town, the leader of government business has said he wants the commissioner of police to come to the Legislative Assembly and talk to government and all members of the House about what is going on. Aware that the elected arm of government does not have responsibility for policy, he noted that it does have responsibility for funding and he said the situation was not satisfactory.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Monday morning, shortly after yet another armed robbery had taken place in Shedden Road, George Town, McKeeva Bush said that all members of the House were as concerned as the wider public with regard to the spate of criminal activity. He said that while the governor had been in discussion with Commissioner David Baines, given the serious rise in crime and the various statements over the last few days over the investigations, he was not satisfied with what is going on. The LoGB said the commissioner needed to come and talk directly to government and to all the members of the House.

Bush did not say when it would happen but indicated that he expected the commissioner to come as soon as possible since Cayman had to be extremely careful as the rising crime could do serious damage to the jurisdiction. In the recent Finance Committee proceedings, close to $33 million was appropriated from theCayman purse for police and investigative services.

The commissioner told CNS a few weeks ago that, although there was a perception of an increase in crime, in reality the figures were not that much higher than last year. However, since then, Cayman’s seventh murder of 2009 took place on Tuesday night in Newlands and a spate of armed hold ups at local businesses in broad daylight, as well as a spike in street muggings at gunpoint and an excessive number of break-ins and attempted robberies has caused turmoil in the community.

There is little arguing that Cayman is in the grip of an unprecedented crime wave. However, there has been limited information from the RCIPS as to detection levels, arrests or charges during the recent violent and relentless crime spree.

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